Stamped lead plate depicting U.S Hotel in Saratoga, NY

[JOHUNT]

Stamped lead plate depicting U.S. Hotel in Saratoga, NY

I found this on the banks of a river near Binghamton, NY Which is 150 miles away. It is all lead. It has a very intricate design. I gave thought to it possibly being attached to a trunk or something. The writing is as follows. U.S. Hotel
Saratoga,NY
The back reads, no.152
The sides have either deteriorated or is a result of being pulled off of something, but the image is intact. I have included a picture that I found online, which depicts the same scene. Anyone know what this was used for? Thanks

 

[JOHUNT]

My apologies for the typo in the thread title(missing punctuation; U.S.)

 

[Bramblefind]

Hi - neat find! Can you show a photo of the back of it?

I'm actually near Saratoga and I found something a few years back in an old trash dump that is similar to your find - but mine reads "PROSPECT POINT NIAGARA FALLS" and it is not marked on the back. Also mine is not lead.. so maybe it is not related but here it is anyway.

I recall thinking when I found it that it came off an old stove but I didn't find anything like it in my searching back then - I need to re-open my search I guess... or hopefully someone here will know.

 

[jewelerguy]

first thing that comes to mind for both items is souvenir ash tray

 

[JOHUNT]

That's pretty neat! Very similar!
The back is just plain with no.152 stamped near the edge. I will post a pic later on. I guess a lead ashtray would have to be used exclusively as a souvenir!

 

[taz42o]

Is your item maybe pewter? Heres a similar pewter ashtray.

Vtg Pewter Ashtray Milner Building Toledo Ohio Summit | eBay

 

[taz42o]

And one similar to Bramblefind's.

Vintage AC Bosselman Co Niagara Falls Cigarette Ashtray Made in Japan SL1 | eBay

 

[Bramblefind]

Looks good! Thanks very much I don't think mine ever had raised edges and it looks unfinished on the back so maybe it was set inside something else and was decorating the bottom of the ashtray. Same general concept though.

 

[JOHUNT]

Thanks for the info. I don't have much experience with pewter, is it as pliable as lead?

 

[DCMatt]

I found a few U.S. Hotel souvenir china plates on line. All claim to date from around 1900. They must have sold all sorts of items with the hotel and other sites in Saratoga Springs depicted, but I have not found any thing with a metal relief like yours.

DCMatt

 

[taz42o]

Thanks for the info. I don't have much experience with pewter, is it as pliable as lead?

Its not very hard, The older pewter was 85%tin and 15% lead alloy.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

I found a plate kinda like that 1 time -mine was used to print adds & post cards.Like a ink print plate

 

[JOHUNT]

Mine too came from a dump site on land that was once a farm. I found the site while searching for arrowheads. I also got 7 IH pennies and an 1898 Barber quarter, as well as a few nice old bottles. Not a bad little honey hole. I re check the site every year and always come away with something.