US Brass Lock and a New Territory

Gypsy Heart · Jan 22, 2009

Went to hunt my favorite old town today and the owner pulled up to one of the old houses I have been eyeing up ,but could never track him down for permission! So I ran across the road and introduced myself and asked if I could hunt his old house. A big smile and a yes!!!! We got to talking and he mentioned that he lived in the neighboring town and his family had once owned the property for the entire town and had sold it to the railroad to begin the town there! And he was living on the original homestead farm of about 800 acres. Then he mentioned that he had been sawing some trees up in the woods and had lost a maul that had belonged to his grandfather(now passed away) and that it really bothered him because it was his grandpas. He said he would be running the wood splitter up there later and asked me if I would come look for it after I was finished detecting.

After he left ,I only was able to hunt about ten minutes but dug this great brass padlock. I tried to find something on it but the only thing I found was some guy had one on Ebay and called it a watch fob for a hotel key?

So ....long story short....I met him up there and after about 30 minutes of detecting I found the maul. I was really happy because I didnt want him to think I was a dork who couldnt find anything! LOL And he was very happy and wants me to see if I can now find his logging chain....LOL

So after a nice chat ,he started giving me permission to hunt several of his properties including the farm which includes four old homesteads!!!!! And the best part is he is friends with the adjoining neighbors where a civil war skirmish took place and is going ask permission for me to hunt those areas also!!! :icon_queen:

theloadroom · Jan 23, 2009

WoW, much luck and good things to you!

Gypsy Heart · Jan 23, 2009

McEtrak said:
Excelent lock find Gypsy...............Is there any place a key would fit ?..........If not...........Nice Fob...........If so..........
.....................A keeper 4 the grandkids 4 sure !

Thanks everyone! I am really happy with it and will clean it up
Yes there is a key hole on the bottom of the lock....no other markings
The box is 1 1/4 x 1 1/4th..... with the hasp its exactly 2 inches tall

John Deere Digger · Jan 23, 2009

Super lock and nice other finds. Good luck with those other sites.
JDD

PBK · Jan 23, 2009

Neat lock! :thumbsup:

This "US" warded brass padlock was made around 100-110 years ago. Most aren't marked, but Franklin M. Arnall's book, The Padlock Collector, identifies the maker as the E. T. Fraim Lock Co. of Lancaster, PA. Although it's sometimes listed as a lock from a U.S. mail bag, and on eBay some sellers have also called it a military lock, in fact it was a retail item sold in hardware stores and mail order catalogs— not an official government lock. "US" was just the model name. When RFD mail delivery began, many people bought these "US" locks to use on rural mailboxes. There were also locks with "MAIL," "RFD," "RR" (for Rural Route), and other official-looking names that were sold for the same purpose.

stoney56 · Jan 23, 2009

Gypsy,
Awesome! :thumbsup:

Only one word come to mind about the sites. DROOL!!

allen · Jan 23, 2009

very nice lock and way to go on getting even more sites to detect....

N.J.THer · Jan 23, 2009

That is a great looking lock and it sound like you hit a home run with the permission to detect all his properties. Congrats

NJ

Roger Mn. · Jan 23, 2009

Nice lock Gypsy. Looks like your going to be busy detecting for a long time.

47thelement · Jan 23, 2009

WOW!! I'm jealous. How are you going to find the time to hunt all that land. Better get get some fresh batteries! Good Luck! HH!

Detectingfreak · Jan 23, 2009

nice job on the lock!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

capt1989 · Jan 23, 2009

I think that you are going to be one very happy/busy Gypsy. Congrats on making the best of the opportunity. I'm taking notes..

john

kimsdad · Jan 23, 2009

Holy cow!!

What a great find! That lock rocks! :thumbsup:

Nice job getting permission and hitting the jackpot. Sounds like your skill in finding the maul really sealed the deal!! That place ought to keep you real busy for a long time!

Love your springtime avatar, but you seem to be shrinkinggg...