white metal plate

[Ripcon]

Here I am posting the front, back and side views of the artifact.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Could it be an ink stamp? Im going to guess an ink stamp because I remember something similar posted before and a match was found on a Civil War website. But I cant find the old post from Treasurenet. I think Breezie might have found it. I cant remember and the added photos dont ring a bell. And I cant remember how old white metal is. Nice find.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Can you ink it and try it?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal

 

[Ripcon]

It could very well be an ink stamp. I'm guessing it would've been used by an officer for letters and documents?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

BigCypressHunter is remembering correctly... it is an ink-stamp, and more specifically, a person's name-stamp. Here are photos of one which is complete with the (changeable) name component of the stamp.

 

[Ripcon]

Wow! Thanks for the positive i.d. on this...I guess I need to go back out there and see if I can find the person's name? Any idea of the age? I'm assuming it's at least Civil War period..maybe earlier. Would this be something an army officer would have used?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Wow! Thanks for the positive i.d. on this...I guess I need to go back out there and see if I can find the person's name? Any idea of the age? I'm assuming it's at least Civil War period..maybe earlier. Would this be something an army officer would have used?

There was one for sale on a Civil War website but I dont know how much pot metal was used during that period.. If we could find the old post here at Treasurenet in the WII Forum, we could read more about it but the search features here dont seem to work for me. I will send a PM to Breezie.

 

[vhs07]

Great ID!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Yes, it would likely have been used by a WEALTHY officer, or other wealthy person. Having your name made into a METAL "positive" reverse-engraving required extremely skilled micro-craftmanship, by a Master Jeweler. .. just to be able to ink-stamp your name in script, probably as a Signature.

There has to have been a reason for the name to be in script, instead of the usual text letters used when you put your name on something you own.

"Name & Regiment" stencils were popular with civil war soldiers for marking personal property, such as a baggage trunk. Quite a few such stencils have been dug, and it's a thrill to do research on the soldier whose name and regiment are on the stencil.

But, a Signature stamp? That is an expense a person of ordinary income could not justify. But a wealthy officer (or civilian) who's job involved signing lots of documents, such as a Quartermaster or Ordnance Supply officer, might spend that much money for the "Signature" ink-stamp, especially if his hand was getting arthritic, or was disabled in some other way.

 

[trikikiwi]

There was one for sale on a Civil War website but I dont know how much pot metal was used during that period.. If we could find the old post here at Treasurenet in the WII Forum, we could read more about it but the search features here dont seem to work for me. I will send a PM to Breezie.

Here you are mate
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/151616-wierd-lead-handle-vayank-got-right.html

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Here you are mate
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/151616-wierd-lead-handle-vayank-got-right.html

Thats it! Breezie says hers is lead but someone else says they are pewter. Too bad there is no link but we have another photo.

 

[Ripcon]

What great information you all have given me. Much thanks!

 

[Doubter in MD]

The people on this site never cease to amaze me.