Any ideas?

[Putnam Digger]

I have a few things I found detecting at an old site in the woods that I would like to know more about if anyone can help? The first pic as a flat button. Doesn't seem to have any markings at all,front or back. The next item I have no idea at all. The third is an old two piece button with F.D. on the front. The fourth is an old lock front of some sort with the number 4 in the center at the bottom. Thanks in advance for the help. Putnam Digger

 

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[tennessee digger]

Your FD button is a fire department button. Tennessee digger

 

[nhbenz]

Your fire dept button (correctly IDed above) could likely be dated if there were a legible back mark, but the same pattern has been used for a long time. I believe the iron plate is an escutcheon for a drawer handle. Seeing the back of the first button would help date that too, as the way the loop on back was made varied over the years. And the keyhole piece is also an escutcheon, Victorian era in my estimation.

 

[Putnam Digger]

Thanks nhbenz. The back of the F.D. button says " FECHHEIMER BROS.CO CINCINNATI O. " As far as the back of the first button. The pic is directly below the first pic. Thanks for the help. PUTNAM DIGGER

 

[worldtalker]

That lock plate is damn cool now! GodBless Chris

 

[Putnam Digger]

Thanks Worldtalker! I've found 3 or 4 lock plates but this is the only one with a design on it. I think it's pretty dang cool looking myself.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The McGuinn-&-Bazelon book on button backmark dating says the Fecheimer/Fechheimer Bros. & Co. Cincinnati backmark is found on various post-civil-war era (1870-90s) State Seal buttons and city police department buttons, and the company lasted into the 20th-Century.

 

[Putnam Digger]

Thanks for the info on the F.D button CannonballGuy.

 

[CRUSADER]

The lock (keyhole) is actually part of an early 20th C padlock.

 

[Putnam Digger]

Thanks Crusader. It must have been a fancy looking lock when it was being used. Do you have any info on the design or any more info at all? I would appreciate it.--------------------Putnam Digger

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks Crusader. It must have been a fancy looking lock when it was being used. Do you have any info on the design or any more info at all? I would appreciate it.--------------------Putnam Digger

No, it just has the classic large fronted heart shape, although broken.

 

[pong12211]

The plate and the lock plate both look to me like they came of and old steamer chest of some sort to me... Just a thougt...

 

[Putnam Digger]

Well pong12211 , you just never know. Thats whats fun about MDing. Thanks for looking. I've got a lot more diggin to do in the same area. I just found this old place in the woods over the weekend. Barely scratched the surface.