STUFF FROM THE CRAWL SPACE

[Stu Pedasso]

The folks wanted to hook up Internet and needed a phone line installed. I volunteered to crawl around in the crawl space and string the cable. I am not a stranger to this area, as I had to fix a water leak for them last year. Their house is 160 years old and there is not much room between the floor joist and the bare ground. I was laying there waiting for someone to toss me some tape when I noticed a pocket knife laying there. Next thing I see is a crude clothes pin, and then a crystal clear marble. I saw what appeared to be an old wooden thread spool half buried in the dirt. I was surprised to see it had a hole in the center with a small cut nail holding a piece of leather over it. Looks like it would fit into the bung of a barrel. Could it be some kind of pressure relief valve? Any thoughts to what it might be? My kid found the spoon(newer) in the dirt floor of the basement portion of the house. I hit the crawl space and basement with my detector, only finding 2 new pennies and a dime.

Stu

 

[Thomas007]

Way to Go Stu

Treasure is where you find it.

that looks like a real old clothespin

HH

Sanat

 

[Stu Pedasso]

I forgot to mention I live in Wisconsin. This winter has been relentless and detecting is impossible until the thaw comes. Believe me, this couple little item were very welcome.

Stu

 

[River Rat]

Neat finds, Stu. The clothes pin looks mighty old.

RR

 

[TimC (North Alabama)]

Cool, I have never been so lucky. It does look to be over 125 years anyway.

 

[Pepper2004]

Love that marble! And the clothes pin is way cool! Glad you got a mini hunt in. Hang in there Spring isn't far off now.

HH,
Pepper

 

[carpetbagger]

As some would say "dirt fishing" sure can be fun
Congrats on the finds
Jeff

 

[Shoe]

Your spool and piece of leather might have been a foot valve for a hand pump. A foot valve is a check valve at the bottom of a suction line that prevents backflow, and is necessary for a reciprocating pump.

 

[dirtfishing]

As some would say "dirt fishing" sure can be fun
Congrats on the finds
Jeff

Now Now, that Moniker has already been taken!!

 

[Newguy]

I own a termite company and do inspections of crawl spaces...you find alot of "stuff" under them old houses, bags of old coins, guns, drugs, jewerly horded by rats, bodies, complete 8cyl engines (that was a weird one), tons of old metal toys, 12 dead cats under one house, 50 or so one gallon containers of human urine(thought for sure that really weird guy was gonna kill me and bury me there,lol)...list can go on and on....oh..and zillions of termites.

 

[ivan salis]

check the knife blade for the "maker" mark --- looks like a old case knife --nice

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

Would be nice if you could take your metal detector back with you and visit that place again. I've took mine under houses and old porches with cracks between the boards. It's hard work but worth it. Very nice finds there. Love that old knife and clothes pin. Good work.

DANGLANGLEY

 

[jimmatt_43]

Hi,I feel your pain,I am in Wisconsin too.Great you had a chance to do a little digging.
That clothes pin is just the coolest.
HH,Jim

 

[sparkymaster]

Awesome finds!!!

I love the knife and clothes pin. I agree, check the knife for the maker. Those old pocket knifes can be worth some serious money.

HH

sparkymaster

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice finds, the clothes pin is cool, I would preserve it before it deteriorates. That pocket knife is in very nice condition, I found a Swiss Army knife this weekend that had been in wet ground, not as nice as yours but I can save it, I think, LOL! The spoon looks to be silver, any hallmarks or stamps on it? HH, Mike

 

[Montana Jim]

Stu - Thanks for sharing! Very kewl finds...



BTW - Great Name! LMFAO

 

[karib2517]

Intresting stuff there .

 

[possumheaded]

I love the clothes pin! Thanks for sharing.

Ed

 

[Stu Pedasso]

I doesn't look like the knife was down there all that long, as it is not rusty. There have been a few people in there since they bought the place. I am thinking one of the contractors lost it. It says "FROST CUTLERY" on the blade.

 

[Wicked Wanda]

Cool finds, love the knife even if it is not old. Clothespin is way to cool. It is going to rain here today. But, we are one day closer to spring.