Star Bridle Boss or Artillery Tompion ??

[steelheadwill]

I am hoping someone has seen this style of boss,
Star doesn't mean military, but I've been told it was used on some State militia buttons.
Any comments are appreciated! Thanks for looking

 

[duggap]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

How about posting us a pic of the back.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

How about posting us a pic of the back.

Here you go, all that is visible is iron crust...

 

[duggap]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

I agree you have a rosette, but I think it may be post CW. I say that because of the iron back. I have a US with the iron back and everyone says it post war. Usually we attribute the star to texas but I couldn't find your exact one in any of my reference books. Still a very nice find me thinks.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

I agree you have a rosette, but I think it may be post CW. I say that because of the iron back. I have a US with the iron back and everyone says it post war. Usually we attribute the star to texas but I couldn't find your exact one in any of my reference books. Still a very nice find me thinks.

Thanks Duggap, I appreciate your reply
Post CW is ok with me
Online reference for these is slim & so far I only have button and coin books.
Texas and Mississipi both displayed stars on their buttons, and I have recovered Military items from southern states here in NH
Do any of the examples you see show the high convex, two piece design like this one?
Just looking for some type of provenance before it gets labelled as civilian.
Thanks again, & HH to ya

 

[duggap]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

I don't have a camera or do I know how to post pics, but in Couch's book, if you have one or can borrow one, on page 133 he shows a usa rosette with what looks like a high dome. And remember I could be wrong about yours being post war. Charlie Harris, in his book, has an example of the high dome rosette. I would like to know the real age of it. Any way you go though, it is still a very worth while find and I am sure you will keep it, I would. Regards.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

I don't have a camera or do I know how to post pics, but in Couch's book, if you have one or can borrow one, on page 133 he shows a usa rosette with what looks like a high dome. And remember I could be wrong about yours being post war. Charlie Harris, in his book, has an example of the high dome rosette. I would like to know the real age of it. Any way you go though, it is still a very worth while find and I am sure you will keep it, I would. Regards.

Thanks for looking into this
I have now found Maine Militia Buttons with Stars.
As you said, either way it's a keeper

 

[BosnMate]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

To me, the photo of the rosette in the hand makes it look way too large for it to be for a bridle. So I'm going to add to the mix. There were, even during WWII, wood plugs or covers for gun muzzles that were called "tomkins?" Something like that. The ones I've seen photos all had stars on them. Do you suppose this could be a star off of one of those?

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

To me, the photo of the rosette in the hand makes it look way too large for it to be for a bridle. So I'm going to add to the mix. There were, even during WWII, wood plugs or covers for gun muzzles that were called "tomkins?" Something like that. The ones I've seen photos all had stars on them. Do you suppose this could be a star off of one of those?

Thanks BosnMate,
An intrigueing possibility....
It does look really large in the photos, maybe because of macro lense.
It measures exactly 2-1/2 inches, about 64 mm, & 3/4" high.
It is larger than any boss that I have dug, but not out of the realm.
Appreciate your input, I'll see what I can come up with on 'Tomkins'
HH

 

[BosnMate]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

I remembered wrong, the muzzle cover isn't a "tomkin," the proper spelling is "tompion." I've seen a photo somewhere of a Civil War artillery piece with a tompion on the muzzle, but for the life of me, I can't find it in any book I own, or on the internet. I did however, google "USS Missouri," and out of a huge bunch of photos there are a few showing muzzle covers on the 16 inch guns. One photo shows large painted stars on the covers. The other shows the brass stars, but the photo is so small you really have to look hard. I enlarged the photo, but it goes to pot when that's done. I also found out that the tompions for the shoulder arms were wood plugs, but for the artillery they were more of a leather boot. I'll include the photo of the Missouri for what it's worth.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

I remembered wrong, the muzzle cover isn't a "tomkin," the proper spelling is "tompion." I've seen a photo somewhere of a Civil War artillery piece with a tompion on the muzzle, but for the life of me, I can't find it in any book I own, or on the internet. I did however, google "USS Missouri," and out of a huge bunch of photos there are a few showing muzzle covers on the 16 inch guns. One photo shows large painted stars on the covers. The other shows the brass stars, but the photo is so small you really have to look hard. I enlarged the photo, but it goes to pot when that's done. I also found out that the tompions for the shoulder arms were wood plugs, but for the artillery they were more of a leather boot. I'll include the photo of the Missouri for what it's worth.

I really appreciate the info and great pix!
Thanks for trying to track this down
I sure wouldn't want to be near the target of those 16" guns
Best wishes & HH! Herbie.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Star Bridle Boss

I did some tompion searching,
came across this photo from a celebration of the anniversary of "The Battle of Chapultepec September 12-13, 1847, Mexican War.
can't find much info on 2 to 2-1/4" artillery
just 2-1/2" British 'Mountain Gun', late 19th Century, wouldn't have a star.
Maybe some were used by US military