Sterling Belt Buckle worth more than scrap price....

[billjustbill]

For two brothers growing up with the family's first Black and White TV in the mid 1950's, there were not that many shows to choose from on just two channels in the 1950's. While we had our small share of cap pistols and holsters, and many times playing Cowboys and Indians with others, for me the TV shows of Roy Rogers were far less interesting than those of Buck Rogers!!!


Well after the "Crockett spurs" find, the very next day, again I got pulled back to those times of yesteryear. At an early morning estate sale, my wife found a large 2-3/4" wide by 3-1/2" silver oval Western Belt Buckle inlaid with both coral and turquoise .... She picked it up because it was stamped "Sterling" on the back. Along with the belt buckle, we found a total of 25 grams more in Sterling jewelry.... Cost? She paid $2 for the jewelry and $3 was marked on the belt buckle.


On the way home from that sale and two more, we stopped at a country-style café for a fresh hot breakfast. As we waited, both of us discussed how we were going to try and pry all the long but thin stones from the heavy buckle. We took turns guessing how many grams the stone-less Sterling buckle would weigh.... Hopes of $25 to $30 in scrap silver were possible........


After getting home, I took my trusty lighted magnifier and went over the big buckle, front and back. It was then I saw a name stamped below the "Sterling" mark. "T Moore". I did a quick Internet search and found several made by the same fellow.....

Tommy Moore Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Cluster Buckle Sterling Navajo Gallup | eBay

Right now, the cowboys and Navajo Indians are winning, and fifty-five years later, Roy Rogers is offering far more exciting adventures than Buck Rogers....

Bill

 

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[nathan104]

That's a beauty, Id wear that one! If you decide to sell for scrap, Im your buyer and you don't even have to pry those stones out

 

[diggummup]

I can't believe you were actually thinking of scrapping that buckle. That's insane! That's $100+ on a bad day! Closer to $200 with the added red coral imho. I'm glad your senses got the better of you.

 

[jerseyben]

Odd to me that your mind would immediately go to "I should scrap this"...

 

[billjustbill]

Digg & Jersey,

From the time we found it to the time I found the maker, I had no experience with Southwestern jewelry. There's so much of the China made fakes around here, I've never taken much interest in the stuff to know the difference. It wouldn't have crossed my mind to think of such belt buckles' costing so much and the only reason my wife picked it up was because the buckle was stamped Sterling....

So many different fields of interest in a good garage sale, I'm still on a learning curve. The "Polo" and "Rolex" baseball caps' resale worth still amaze me..... You both would be proud of me to know I found a bronze 1950's diesel locomotive bell complete with the compressed air mechanism that makes it ring.... Just don't know what it would bring around this North Central Texas area.

 

[dejapooh]

Makes me think that when I get ready to scrap my silver, I am going to put the pieces up here. May have a piece or two.

 

[Beachkid23]

Makes me think that when I get ready to scrap my silver, I am going to put the pieces up here. May have a piece or two.

If there is another mark besides 925 or sterling chances are its worth more then scrap. Infact if someone can wear it and its not dented or broken. It's worth more then scrap. I make fair amout of money off them jewelry scrap lots. But if there is a name or number other then the normal markings, it's probably not scrap worthy as far as jewelry goes.

 

[gino22]

China or not, a buckle like that is an easy hundred if it's Sterling. Not something you see every day, very cool.

 

[nathan104]

billjustbill- When you get ready to move that locomotive bell, let me know. My dad retired from the railroad with 40 years under his belt. He may be interested.

 

[austin]

If you notice your stones all match. Now touch your cheek with a couple of those tourquoise stones. If real they will feel cold and you have a buckle worth a bunch of money. It's an easy way to tell real from fake at shows and flea markets...

 

[billjustbill]

billjustbill- When you get ready to move that locomotive bell, let me know. My dad retired from the railroad with 40 years under his belt. He may be interested.

Here are two pics of the locomotive bell. Apparently, it had been in a storage shed for more than 20 years. The red paint on the interior of the bell appears to be original.

I also found a large wooden handle railroad wrench. No pics of it, yet. It's 16" long, with 4-1/2" long jaws of an adjustable "F-wrench", made by Bemis and Calls. It has " R. I. Lines" stamped on one of the jaws.

Would consider a fair offer for one or both.... You're welcome to P.M. me.

Bill

 

[vpnavy]

OUTSTANDING Bell!

 

[bill from lachine]

Bill,

Anything Railroad related is highly in demand especially from the short line railroads....I did 35 years working for a major Railway in Canada so I know a bit about the industry....lol....

Heck Johnny Cash even wrote a song about the Rock Island line.....here's a link for some of their items.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/sea..._adv_prop=image&fr=moz35&va=rock+island+lines

Here are two pics of the locomotive bell. Apparently, it had been in a storage shed for more than 20 years. The red paint on the interior of the bell appears to be original.

I also found a large wooden handle railroad wrench. No pics of it, yet. It's 16" long, with 4-1/2" long jaws of an adjustable "F-wrench", made by Bemis and Calls. It has " R. I. Lines" stamped on one of the jaws.

Would consider a fair offer for one or both.... You're welcome to P.M. me.

Bill