Back to the British Badge Field – Crotal Bell, IC Loops & a Button

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I’ve been driving by this field every week since the end of September impatiently waiting for the corn to come off. This is the field where I found the six British Officers Badges this year and last. Well the farmer harvested the corn late last week and was disking the field when I drove past yesterday afternoon. The mild weather here isn’t going to last much longer, so I decided that it I would hit the field today for 4hrs. Detecting was a challenge here to say the least with the ridges & furrows and the leftover cornstalks & leaves!

My first find was an undecorated crotal bell; I can’t remember the last time a bell has come out of the ground with so little corrosion on it before? Then I started finding the Isaac Campbell Knapsack Loops, I found three complete ones today, it’s always amazing what a good disking will turn up! The small-decorated cuff button still has some of its gilt left, on the back it says, ‘Treble Gilt’.

Thanks very much for looking,
Dave

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Gridwalker306]

That's a really nice bell, love seeing those!

 

[Patriot Relics]

Nice looking cuff, no shortage of targets in that field

 

[landmagnet]

Interesting collection and really well photographed.

 

[Old Dude]

I am like you Dave. I just can't ignore a harvested field. Nice bell ( wonder if they are made with tombac? ) and of course the button catches my eye. Get out while we can!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

That's a really nice bell, love seeing those!

Thanks for your post bud, hope you're still able to get out in the west!
Dave

Nice looking cuff, no shortage of targets in that field

Oh, there's a shortage of targets here, the problem yesterday was getting my coil close enough to the ground to find them!
Thanks for your post,
Dave

Interesting collection and really well photographed.

Thank you very much for your post landmagnet and for your kind words!
I take great pains to ensure my pics in the field are clear and not blurry, my biggest problem now is the snow flakes getting in my iphone!
Hope you're having a good year in the UK.
Cheers,
Dave

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I am like you Dave. I just can't ignore a harvested field. Nice bell ( wonder if they are made with tombac? ) and of course the button catches my eye. Get out while we can!

Hi Dave!
That's an interesting theory about this bell being made of tombac, as I mentioned, I've never had a bell come out this clean before either.
Also, it has no decoration on it and the 'loop hole' looks to be drilled, once again, very different from any of the other early crotals I've found which were of a 'cast' construction.
Maybe somebody on Tnet can enlighten us as to the origins or history behind this bell.
Take care buddy,
Dave

Tombac, as it is spelled in French, or Tombak, is a brass alloy with high copper content and 5-20% zinc content. Tin, lead or arsenic may be added for colouration.
It is a cheap malleable alloy mainly used for medals, ornament, decoration and some munitions. In older use, the term may apply to brass alloy with a zinc content as high as 28%-35%.

 

[Nepa-Will]

Nice bell, button, and other interesting finds!

 

[Loco-Digger]

Congrats on that awesome small crotal bell.

 

[pepperj]

Another pile of those brass pull tabs Buddy.The Isaac Campbell Knapsack Loops seems to be your favourite find out of that field.Liking the in situ pics. of the bell it cleaned up really nice.
Thanks for texting the pictures over yesterday as it made my day a lot brighter knowing somebody was having fun digging instead of fall clean up chores.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Congratz on a nice hunt!

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Hey Dave , Looks like another Day in Paradise ! Wish I was out and about , good going friend.


dawg

 

[Carolina Tom]

You are all over the crotal bells this month. Congrats.

I suspect that it will be cold in your area soon. Glad to see that were able to get out. Best of luck to ya!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nice bell, button, and other interesting finds!

Thanks very much for your post Will!
Best of luck to you before the snow arrives,
Dave

Congrats on that awesome small crotal bell.

Thanks buddy, considering the detecting conditions I'm grateful to have even found that!

Another pile of those brass pull tabs Buddy.The Isaac Campbell Knapsack Loops seems to be your favourite find out of that field.Liking the in situ pics. of the bell it cleaned up really nice.
Thanks for texting the pictures over yesterday as it made my day a lot brighter knowing somebody was having fun digging instead of fall clean up chores.

The signals are pretty faint in this field Jim, aside from all the iron, so when the coil passes over the brass loops it really wakes me up!
I did venture to the rear of the field to the are where I found the last British badge in June, but with few signals I'm thinking it was a one-off from that spot.

Hope we can meet up on Thursday, the weather forecast still looks good for later next week.
Dave

Congratz on a nice hunt!

Thanks Cptn. Cave!

Hey Dave , Looks like another Day in Paradise ! Wish I was out and about , good going friend.

dawg

Hey dawg, how's it going buddy, it's been a while!?
Thanks for your post, hope you're doing well my friend.
Dave

You are all over the crotal bells this month. Congrats.

I suspect that it will be cold in your area soon. Glad to see that were able to get out. Best of luck to ya!

Thanks for your post and for your words of support Tom!
The cold weather is definitely here, I just need to detect faster to keep warm is all!

A 'Care Package' is in the mail for you my friend,
Dave

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Great looking bell and button! Congrats!
When the weather gets colder just start putting those hand warming packets in your pockets and gloves...got to dig till you can't!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Great looking bell and button! Congrats!
When the weather gets colder just start putting those hand warming packets in your pockets and gloves...got to dig till you can't!

Thanks very much for your post and for your advice regarding the impending cold weather coming!
You know what, I've never used the 'hot pockets' before?

The way I figure it, when it's cold enough for the ground to freeze solid, that's a pretty good sign that it's time to be heading home for a hot chocolate!
Take care BB,
Dave