✅ SOLVED Are these BALE/BAIL SEALS?

[TheRealSuperDave]

I have now found three of these on the same property I have been hunting awhile now in the Texas Hill Country. I have since assumed they were bale seals of some sort. However after looking at hundreds of pictures on the net and reading article after article I now have my doubts....They are hollow in the middle and appear to have been "broken off" of something..It just doesnt seem like they could have been "crimped" and still retain the hollow portion...Any and ALL input would be great and much appreciated....Thanks in advance for the education always provided here!!

 

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[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

no I believe those are lead caps for roofing nails

 

[Indian Steve]

Yep, Roofing nail caps.

 

[ivan salis]

nail caps for roofing nails --when pounded flat they sealed the holes made in the tar paper by squishing flat..

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Lead bale seals are usually about the size of a nickel. Here's a couple that I've found:

 

[TheRealSuperDave]

THANKS for the help.. But now I am more puzzled than ever...I cant figure for the life of me what in the world these things are doing out where I found them...Most everything I am finding dates to the mid to late 1800's to early 1900's...There isn't a "roof" or a building within 4 miles..(as the crow flies) OR has there been as far as my research goes..If they are indeed roofing nail caps, wouldn't it make sense to find a nail or two? I HAVE found a small handful of nails nearby but they were all cut nails, square nails and a few rose-heads, and much bigger in size to belong to these..... I am going to try and take some much closer pics..It appears to me like there is some remnants of writing around the edges
..? (maybe a brand or company name?)...I could be wrong, or maybe it is obvious, but I cant figure it out either way...Again, thanks a million....

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

there may of been a water tank in the area, could of been dropped anything could of happened

 

[stéphane]

it comes Lead bag for farmers, decorations have very apparent air. Date: 1800/1850 +/-

 

[SkaBa]

I find these everywhere on the ranch that I work. They are still on all of our metal corrugated barn roofs. Usually they end up falling off of the nail head at some time. Maybe there was some type of animal shelter with a metal roof there in the past.

 

[TheRealSuperDave]

Thanks! There definitely could have been an animal shelter of some sort. There IS the remnants of an old corral not too far away AND there is a well and old cistern on the property.. starting to make alot more sense....Thank you guys!!!!

 

[stéphane]

In France, we find a lot of lead like that in fields, they served to close the bags of grains(beads) with the bucket of overlaid(inlayed) above, for the noble or king of the region.

 

[lockster99]

Anyone know when "lead head" nails first came out?