✅ SOLVED Solved

[Johnny Bottles]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the TN forum. I was informed that this is a great place to make new friends & obtain helpful advice. I unearthed a relic a few years ago that still has me stumped it was found at a late 18th century colonial home site with a strong military presence. I believe it to be a brander of some sort for property or goods. It is small in size with a small curvature with the initials DYS it is made of copper.

Descriptions & Notes:

Side A) You can tell the cast molding is different from Side C) Notice* the easy access to pick up with iron prongs. Also* in the center of Side A) might have a maker's mark.

Side B) This is the backside where the item would be picked up with iron prongs.

Side C) On this side, the face is full & rectangular. Notice the bottom has some curvature.

Side D) Is the face S.Y D but made backwards to represent the initials D.Y.S Notice* the lettering is flat. 2in5/8 long

 

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[traveller777]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the TN forum. I was informed that this is a great place to make new friends & obtain helpful advice. I unearthed a relic a few years ago that still has me stumped it was found at a late 18th century colonial home site with a strong military presence. I believe it to be a brander of some sort for property or goods. It is small in size with a small curvature with the initials DYS it is made of copper.

Descriptions & Notes:

Side A) You can tell the cast molding is different from Side C) Notice* the easy access to pick up with iron prongs. Also* in the center of Side A) might have a maker's mark.

Side B) This is the backside where the item would be picked up with iron prongs.

Side C) On this side, the face is full & rectangular. Notice the bottom has some curvature.

Side D) Is the face S.Y D but made backwards to represent the initials D.Y.S Notice* the lettering is flat. 2in5/8 long

Welcome to TN. I hope you have fun and gain lots of knowledge and share your knowledge,

I am sure someone will come along to help you with this. It could be a branding iron. I have no idea. Horrible thought.

 

[Johnny Bottles]

Welcome to TN. I hope you have fun and gain lots of knowledge and share your knowledge,

I am sure someone will come along to help you with this. It could be a branding iron. I have no idea. Horrible thought.

Thank you Traveller777 I look forward with interacting with everyone. My thoughts are the same.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Welcome to Tnet,a fine place to gain knowledge and make friends indeed. What is it made of? That can go a long way to eliminating what it might not be.

 

[traveller777]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the TN forum. I was informed that this is a great place to make new friends & obtain helpful advice. I unearthed a relic a few years ago that still has me stumped it was found at a late 18th century colonial home site with a strong military presence. I believe it to be a brander of some sort for property or goods. It is small in size with a small curvature with the initials DYS it is made of copper.

Descriptions & Notes:

Side A) You can tell the cast molding is different from Side C) Notice* the easy access to pick up with iron prongs. Also* in the center of Side A) might have a maker's mark.

Side B) This is the backside where the item would be picked up with iron prongs.

Side C) On this side, the face is full & rectangular. Notice the bottom has some curvature.

Side D) Is the face S.Y D but made backwards to represent the initials D.Y.S Notice* the lettering is flat. 2in5/8 long

And they used branding irons for wood products too.

 

[Johnny Bottles]

Welcome to Tnet,a fine place to gain knowledge and make friends indeed. What is it made of? That can go a long way to eliminating what it might not be.

Thanks Crashbandicoot. Sir it is made of solid copper. From what I could find the Dutch was into copper trade. Many Spanish coins from the late 1700s were found at the same site.

 

[crashbandicoot]

And they used branding irons for wood products too.

Yep, and if it,s made of lead or lead alloy,like linotype it could have been part of a printing process.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Thanks Crashbandicoot. Sir it is made of solid copper. From what I could find the Dutch was into copper trade. Many Spanish coins from the late 1700s were found at the same site.

Oops,crossed replies.In that case it,s probably a branding iron,but not especially for a nefarious purpose.Traveler called it on a iron for wood products or a labeling tool.

 

[traveller777]

Oops,crossed replies.In that case it,s probably a branding iron,but not especially for a nefarious purpose.Traveler called it on a iron for wood products or a labeling tool.

great minds think alike. See my comment above.

 

[Johnny Bottles]

Yep, and if it,s made of lead or lead alloy,like linotype it could have been part of a printing process.

My first initial thought was for barrels I took it to a wood craftsman. He mentioned that a brander should be flat for wood because wood expands. But I definitely agree with you gentlemen thank you

 

[crashbandicoot]

great minds think alike. See my comment above.

Gave you credit for that one my friend.

 

[traveller777]

Gave you credit for that one my friend.

Us credit. Team work

 

[traveller777]

My first initial thought was for barrels I took it to a wood craftsman. He mentioned that a brander should be flat for wood because wood expands. But I definitely agree with you gentlemen thank you

You are welcome and I disagree with him. For barrels it would make sense to have it rolled a bit or concave. Flat would work but I would have it a bit concaved for barrels. But could have been for wagons or such. No matter what, great find.

 

[Fat]

... if you tried to brand cattle or horses with that you would end up with a rectangle blotch...

 

[traveller777]

... if you tried to brand cattle or horses with that you would end up with a rectangle blotch...

did anyone mention cattle or horses? I totally agree with you.

 

[Johnny Bottles]

did anyone mention cattle or horses? I totally agree with you.

Through my research I was told for cattle it would be bigger so it can be viewed from a distance

 

[traveller777]

Through my research I was told for cattle it would be bigger so it can be viewed from a distance

No one is saying for cattle. Definitely not for cattle. We think wood of some sort.

 

[Johnny Bottles]

... if you tried to brand cattle or horses with that you would end up with a rectangle blotch...

I was told for cattle or game that it would be a bigger brander so it can be seen from a distance

 

[crashbandicoot]

I was told for cattle or game that it would be a bigger brander so it can be seen from a distance

Fat was correct.A cattle iron would have an open framework.

 

[vpnavy]

I moved ya from NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS over to WHAT IS IT? for more exposure.