Dug up a Wheel Barrow!...Plus Silver.

[Wildcat1750]

I got a nice solid hit on the Ace 250. It was 8 inches down and so strong that I was certain to find an aluminum can. I was even a bit careless and nicked it a bit with my digger. I’ve found many silver plated spoons with most of the plating gone but this was my first solid coin silver spoon!

It has engraved initials RB on the front and a maker’s mark I&S. BALDWIN on the back. My research of land deeds and genealogical records for the site show a possible match to Rebecca Barnum (b. November 25, 1813 – d. January 5, 1869 in Redwing, Minn.) who was married to Hart Barnabus Baldwin on May 6, 1835. She would have been a sister-in-law to Abraham Lines Baldwin (b. 1827 – d. 1924) who farmed the land from the late 1850s until and lived here until he died in 1924. There is no way of proving this connection but it is quite possible. The maker’s mark on the back is just a coincidence and I don’t believe there is any relation.

My second best find is the button with the delicate leaf design on it.

Getting yet another strong signal I dug and dug until at last I uncovered an entire crumpled wheelbarrow! At first I thought it was a car hood but once I had much of it uncovered I was determined to remove it once and for all.

Thanks for looking!
Nick

 

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[RelicMedic]

Amazing hunt! That's the stuff I love...all of it! That spoon is killer. Great digs!

 

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[Wildcat1750]

I guess my bias toward putting it back into servicable condition is based on two factors , 1. I am a silversmith/jeweler so I am drawn to
seeing the bowl "put right" 2. I am a silver addict , especially when it comes to "older American ,English , and Canadian silver. I do
however respect the opinion of all of you who do not share my opinion regarding this spoon !

Good point, Argentium. I'll admit that the dent in the bowl bugs me. I'm open to everyone's wonderful suggestions here. That's why I enjoy this forum so much!

 

[BuckleBoy]

That spoon is nice !- consider taking it to a local silversmith , having the bowl restored - the joy of restoring a nearly 200 year old spoon
such that you can use it , especially since you found it -would more than offset the expense in my opinion .

That is the find of the hunt--and a great find at that! I agree, restoring it would be the thing to do. Expensive, but worth it, since you will probably not find another in one piece. I've never dug one. But I have seen several come up in pieces, and dug one in pieces myself.

Cheers,

Buck

 

[Wildcat1750]

That is the find of the hunt--and a great find at that! I agree, restoring it would be the thing to do. Expensive, but worth it, since you will probably not find another in one piece. I've never dug one. But I have seen several come up in pieces, and dug one in pieces myself.

Cheers,

Buck

I realize that I have an intact example of a very nice piece. It can be traced to a specific local Silversmith and a specific crafting date of 1833-1834. There is even the remote possibility that the spoon’s owner and the makers are related. Coincidentally both sets of Baldwins trace their ancestry back just one generation to Woodbridge, CT in the late 1700s. Perhaps it was part of a set given as a wedding gift to Rebecca Barnum Baldwin in 1835?

The idea of having this spoon restored by a modern day silversmith, as you and Argentium suggest, intrigues me. I’m wondering now just how expensive this would be and what procedures might be involved.

 

[hamiddetecting]

Awesome

 

[RiverRat3]

Always a good day when you get some silver.

 

[HappyRyan]

Wow! a Wheel Barrow... Now i have seen everything.

 

[Argentium]

Wildcat1750 , if you do a search for local silversmiths (internet or phonebook) I imagine you'll find more than a few - the silversmithing
tradition being so established in New England . you'll see that this is an easy job. ( they see these all the time -a lot of spoons get
munched by garbage disposals) shouldn't cost much .the process basically involves a polished steel piece , used in conjunction with a
mallot to "boss" the dent and restore the original shape to the bowl . The spoon bowl is held upside down over the supporting steel
piece (known as a stake in silversmithing nomenclature) and the mallot impacts the bowl until it conforms to proper shape .

 

[AC1955]

Wow...a wheelbarrow to haul your finds! Absolutely LOVE the spoon. Great finds.
Button is cool, too. Personally, I'd leave the spoon alone, but that's me.

HH,
Anita

 

[Wildcat1750]

Wildcat1750 , if you do a search for local silversmiths (internet or phonebook) I imagine you'll find more than a few - the silversmithing
tradition being so established in New England . you'll see that this is an easy job. ( they see these all the time -a lot of spoons get
munched by garbage disposals) shouldn't cost much .the process basically involves a polished steel piece , used in conjunction with a
mallot to "boss" the dent and restore the original shape to the bowl . The spoon bowl is held upside down over the supporting steel
piece (known as a stake in silversmithing nomenclature) and the mallot impacts the bowl until it conforms to proper shape .

Thanks for the explanation, Argentium! Does the spoon get polished to its original luster or will it maintain its aged tone? I realize that might be a necessary trade-off. My spoon has a shallow scratch in it that probably would need to be smoothed out.

 

[Argentium]

Concerning the patina - Normally - with most coins , and most antiques , and many an old jewelry piece , I would argue in favor of
not cleaning or polishing . Domestic silver , with it's unique relationship to table (food and bev.) service , has for centuries been handed
down to successive generations - who have enjoyed the elegance and beauty of silver in their daily lives . This is my logic for wanting
the piece restored in the first place - so the tarnish removal and a bit of polishing is actually apropriate care in this situation .

(after looking at the pics again - the dent to the bowl doesn't look too bad )