Brass Key Fob or Cow/Cattle Tag?

[Wildcat1750]

I posted this find in Today's Finds (http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/620015-brass-tag-eyeball-find-layer-ash.html) but I'm not sure what it is. I suspect it could be a 19th century cow tag. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks for Looking!
Nick

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I found it's mate at an old Woolen Mill site last year Nick.
I'm thinking it's a tool tag.

Dave

 

[MetalArchSC]

I really hope for an ID on these! I found one this year in Maryland with the number 412. Couldn’t find a thing about it when I looked.

Will post a pic when I figure out where I put it.

 

[civilman1]

Too small for a cow tag. I was thinking a crop pickers token or some kind of tool check tag

 

[Jason in Enid]

its not a watch fob, and Ive never heard of a "key fob". Likely an ID tag for a tool, or crop picker.

 

[bowwinkles]

It appears to be a livestock ear tag with the exception of the fancy trim around the edge, which probably makes it for personal use.

https://www.google.com/search?q=vin...lAhXpRt8KHT_GDl0Q7Al6BAgJECQ&biw=1249&bih=545

 

[Rookster]

Tool tag makes sense. Nice find

 

[Wildcat1750]

I found it's mate at an old Woolen Mill site last year Nick.
I'm thinking it's a tool tag.

Dave

Yes, Dave, that is pretty much the same size and design!

 

[Wildcat1750]

I really hope for an ID on these! I found one this year in Maryland with the number 412. Couldn’t find a thing about it when I looked.

Will post a pic when I figure out where I put it.

Hey, MetalArchSC. I'm looking forward to seeing your pic!

 

[Wildcat1750]

Too small for a cow tag. I was thinking a crop pickers token or some kind of tool check tag

I like the crop picker tag idea, civilman1. I hadn't even thought of that.

its not a watch fob, and Ive never heard of a "key fob". Likely an ID tag for a tool, or crop picker.

I was thinking perhaps of tags that are attached to hotel room or locker keys, Jason in Enid?

Tool tag makes sense. Nice find

Thank you, rook3434!

 

[Wildcat1750]

It appears to be a livestock ear tag with the exception of the fancy trim around the edge, which probably makes it for personal use.

https://www.google.com/search?q=vin...lAhXpRt8KHT_GDl0Q7Al6BAgJECQ&biw=1249&bih=545

Thanks for the link, bowwinkles! I was thinking that same thing as well based on similar pics I came across.

 

[xr7ator]

Locker rental key tag possibly as well.

 

[Wildcat1750]

Locker rental key tag possibly as well.

That’s another good possibility xr7ator. I’ve seen locker tags like this for beaches or pools in the past. I sure wish there was a name on this tag as well. The problem is this is such a generic item it could be used for so many different things.

 

[MetalArchSC]

So still looking for the tag but I’ve been researching the area I found it in.

Found in a front yard of a old home which is very near a creek. The land around the creek once had at least two different mills owned by the same family over many years.
So could this have been a tool tag?
Most likely people that lived near the mill actually worked at the mill.... Maybe from a borrowed a tool from the mill.

But wait... there’s another possibility.

The tag reads 412. The house numbers go up as they go towards the creek. There is no present day 412 home but there may have been during the time of the mills....
Maybe a house key tag from someone living closest to the mill.

Or maybe the person who lived in the house worked at the mill and it was his locker key?

Speculation but fun to imagine. More so than some random cow dropped it. Lol.

 

[ARC]

Locker rental key tag possibly as well.

Agreed.

Locker tag.

 

[creskol]

Key tags, safety pin tags used in laundries, crate tags, etc.. these were generic tags used for anything and everything that needed to be kept track of by a numbering system.

 

[Wildcat1750]

So still looking for the tag but I’ve been researching the area I found it in.

Found in a front yard of a old home which is very near a creek. The land around the creek once had at least two different mills owned by the same family over many years.
So could this have been a tool tag?
Most likely people that lived near the mill actually worked at the mill.... Maybe from a borrowed a tool from the mill.

But wait... there’s another possibility.

The tag reads 412. The house numbers go up as they go towards the creek. There is no present day 412 home but there may have been during the time of the mills....
Maybe a house key tag from someone living closest to the mill.

Or maybe the person who lived in the house worked at the mill and it was his locker key?

Speculation but fun to imagine. More so than some random cow dropped it. Lol.

So many possibilities MetalArchSC and I'm guessing that there were a lot more tools out there than cows!

Agreed.

Locker tag.

View attachment 1769416

I can see it, AARC.
What about for a post office box key? The foundation that I found this next to was the site of a turn of the 19th-20th century post office.

Key tags, safety pin tags used in laundries, crate tags, etc.. these were generic tags used for anything and everything that needed to be kept track of by a numbering system.

Yes, creskol. That's why determining the use of this tag is challenging.

 

[creskol]

Yes, creskol. That's why determining the use of this tag is challenging.

My point exactly .. chances of determining what the particular tag was used for is between slim and none, and all purely speculative.

 

[tamrock]

My point exactly .. chances of determining what the particular tag was used for is between slim and none, and all purely speculative.

Indeed. Brass tags have for many years are used in keeping track of a variety of things and identification and they're still used today. I even sell blank brass tags and alpha numeric punch dies I pick up cheap at Harbor Freight Tool to mining contractors who use them to keep track of personal who are in or out of the mine. Being made of brass makes them less corrosion-resistant and they're easy to stamp being a soft metal. This company specializes in brass tags https://nationalband.com/brass-tags-and-the-industries-that-use-them/

 

[MetalArchSC]

FOUND IT!