Civil War Relic? Not sure. Need help.

[Lowryevans]

I found this metal detecting today. Found it in a field where I know that Union Troops had camped. It is Brass and has an "S" on it and a hole in it with 2 rings around the hole. It has the numbers 1 through 8 around the outer ring of the hole. Anybody have any ideas?

 

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[CC Hunter]

Looks to me like the front door from one of the old U.S. Post Office, P.O.boxes, with a combination lock.

CC Hunter

 

[CC Hunter]

Possibly someone else can elaborate further on this, yet I believe this particular style of combination lock P.O. Box door dates well after the American Civil War period.

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[kuger]

...I can tell ya I remember them being in my small town post office when I was a kid 35 years ago

 

[CC Hunter]

...I can tell ya I remember them being in my small town post office when I was a kid 35 years ago

Yep!!!

Same here, and I've got a few years on you!


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[CC Hunter]

Here's a similar design, that was patented in 1903. These combination dial locks, are known as Permutation Locks.


Finding part of a P.O. Box locking door out in a field, makes for a bit of a mystery. Wonder if there was a mail theft or robbery there years ago?


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