Did Anyone Call for a Limo & a Cicada Watch?

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I’m literally going crazy not being able to field hunt these days! So I made the decision to approach the owners of a c.1870 farmhouse across the street from a ‘naturalized’ park that I’ve been making some interesting ‘horse related finds’ at over the past two years. I took the finds from the park, which was part of the original farm with me to show to them. They were very interested and offered to let me detect their now very small property on Sunday morning. I even gave them a horseshoe and a half dozen iron & brass horse buckles I'd found.

I had some time to kill Sunday before I went to the old farmhouse, as it was only 7:00am, so I decided to hit the c1923 Ritson Public School.

Built in 1923 when The City of Oshawa was growing. Ritson PS has seen its share of students, but the 2011-12 class was the last. The Durham District School Board voted to close down Ritson PS. Ritson was built when General Motors of Canada Ltd., was making its mark in Oshawa, and drawing new families to the area. "When Oshawa became a city in 1925 there were eight elementary schools and the population (of the schools) was 3,000 and Ritson was one of those." That year, there was a six-classroom addition to the school, marking the last construction to any school in Oshawa for 20 years. The school was named after John Ritson, who came to Oshawa in 1820. Apparently, John Ritson was travelling through Oshawa from Ottawa when his wagon broke down on the Kingston Road. He decided to stay in Oshawa when he heard of the need for teachers, and became Oshawa's first schoolteacher. He purchased land on Concession One, where present day Ritson Road is located, and where he lived with his wife and seven children.

My first find was the aluminum Jack & the Beanstalk game token, which I've been unable to find any information of online. Next came the 'Kronatron Electro' Cicada Watch, then the limo arrived! This watch is so clean it looks like it could be wound and used today! After not finding much else except for a handful of pennies, I headed to the farmhouse. My one and only find of interest at the small farm property was a Canada (100th Anniversary) Ontario 1867 Commemorative Coin.

These were medallions issued by the Shell Oil Company as a promotion (1965-68) during the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. There was one medallion issued for each Province in Canada. The White Trillium Flower and Moose are two popular Canadian symbols for the Province of Ontario. Pieces for other provinces from this set had similar designs, such as a Tiger Lily flower, etc. Even though the date says 1867, it was actually produced in 1967. In pristine condition, these can bring up to $20 US dollars retail!

Thanks very much for looking,
Dave

 

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[pepperj]

It's time to break in one of those bad boys Dave, just need a screening device and it would be fun at the RR site.

 

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[heepiepow]

Dave--you are awesome!

Could you expand on that beeswax-mineral oil formula? I find very few iron or brass pieces here. When I do my go-to is WD-40 which is oddly inept at preventing further oxidation and keeping a stable shine.

--Dave, also. Daves are awesome!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

It's time to break in one of those bad boys Dave, just need a screening device and it would be fun at the RR site.

When I use to sell these for Wacker I had a snow-blower attachment for it, it sure made quick work of my driveway!
I'd like to hit that site again this fall after the corns harvested... that is if you my knees are up for it.

Dave--you are awesome!

Could you expand on that beeswax-mineral oil formula? I find very few iron or brass pieces here. When I do my go-to is WD-40 which is oddly inept at preventing further oxidation and keeping a stable shine.

--Dave, also. Daves are awesome!

Thanks for your post and for your question David!

Here's a picture of the wax paste I use, it's specially made by a furniture maker in Stratford, Ontario.
Whenever I'm working in the Southwestern Ontario area and need more, I stop into his workshop and pick up a jar.
Dave