Found a couple of neat things while sifting--need help with ID

Charmin

Bronze Member
Sep 3, 2007
2,284
281
Oklahoma
Detector(s) used
White's Prizm III and Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
In my parents yard is a spot that has so many signals you can't use a metal detector. I kept thinking I needed some sort of sifter to use in this area. Stoney56 had a cool idea for a table sifter and my dad made one for me. This thing worked great! I found buttons, glass beads and lots of pottery shards.
I need some help identifying a couple of things, though. The first is a really neat metal "cadet" button, but I am not sure where its from? It says: CADET W.M.A. and has some kind of symbol in the middle with three stars on each side of the symbol. On the back it says: SCOVILL MFG CO WATERBURY.
There is also a little lead ball that has a seam in the middle--what is this? Lead shot?
And I found lots of small glass tubes that are hollow inside :icon_scratch:--are they maybe perfume vials? They have all been broken and are different lengths.
Here's some pics and thanks for any help!
kind regards~~sandcreek4
 

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Wentworth Military Academy and College
Wentworth Military Academy is a private, co-educational, full board military high school and college with a 130 year history of success. Founded in 1880, we are the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River. The unique learning environment of our military structure encourages our students to develop the life principals of self-discipline, self-respect, respect for others, integrity, and personal responsibility both inside and outside of the classroom. In our full board environment each student is given daily instruction and opportunity to attain these important life skills. Through both our superior academics and teaching principles our students are able to achieve the pride and confidence that sets them apart as Wentworth cadets.



http://wma.edu/

Could be?
 

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savant365 said:
Wentworth Military Academy and College
Wentworth Military Academy is a private, co-educational, full board military high school and college with a 130 year history of success. Founded in 1880, we are the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River. The unique learning environment of our military structure encourages our students to develop the life principals of self-discipline, self-respect, respect for others, integrity, and personal responsibility both inside and outside of the classroom. In our full board environment each student is given daily instruction and opportunity to attain these important life skills. Through both our superior academics and teaching principles our students are able to achieve the pride and confidence that sets them apart as Wentworth cadets.



http://wma.edu/

Could be?
That was quick, savant365! Thank you so much!
regards~~sandcreek4
 

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No problem, I am not sure if thats where it came from but its not too far from where you are. Someone with a reference book on buttons will have to verify it to be certain.

HH Charlie
 

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savant365 said:
No problem, I am not sure if thats where it came from but its not too far from where you are. Someone with a reference book on buttons will have to verify it to be certain.

HH Charlie

Nice find, Sandcreek4... and good solve, Charlie! :thumbsup:

It is indeed a uniform button from the Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. The central design is an adaptation of the Missouri state seal.

This button variety is listed as #SU 427 B in Albert's button book.

It's worth about $5-7.
 

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Thanks PBK for the confirmation, I love it when I am right ;D Does Alberts give any kind of value for the button or just tell you where it came from?
 

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PBK said:
savant365 said:
No problem, I am not sure if thats where it came from but its not too far from where you are. Someone with a reference book on buttons will have to verify it to be certain.

HH Charlie

Nice find, Sandcreek4... and good solve, Charlie! :thumbsup:

It is indeed a uniform button from the Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. The central design is an adaptation of the Missouri state seal.

This button variety is listed as #SU 427 B in Albert's button book.

It's worth about $5-7.
Thanks for that information, PBK!
regards~~sandcreek4
 

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It's worth about $5-7.

Seriously?!?! Where do you go to sell such a button for $5-7? I've been throwing the buttons I find in the trash! I'll have to start looking harder at them to see if they are worth anything.
 

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mts said:
It's worth about $5-7.

Seriously?!?! Where do you go to sell such a button for $5-7? I've been throwing the buttons I find in the trash! I'll have to start looking harder at them to see if they are worth anything.

That is the button's retail value. (Actually, there are one or two scarcer backmark varieties of this button which can be worth slightly more.) My estimate of $5-7 is based on prices for five #SU 427 B buttons offered in a recent list from dealer Bob Edmondson, ranging from $5.50 to $9.

WMA.JPG
 

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mts said:
It's worth about $5-7.

Seriously?!?! Where do you go to sell such a button for $5-7? I've been throwing the buttons I find in the trash! I'll have to start looking harder at them to see if they are worth anything.
e-Bay
 

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mts said:
It's worth about $5-7.

Seriously?!?! Where do you go to sell such a button for $5-7? I've been throwing the buttons I find in the trash! I'll have to start looking harder at them to see if they are worth anything.

Early US buttons are worth more than most of your coin collection put together, be careful!
 

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The lead ball is a hand-made musket/pistol ball. The seam is where the mold came together and the flat spot is where the sprue was cut off. The caliber is the diameter in decimal inches- 0.32" equals .32 cal etc.

Daryl
 

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BioProfessor said:
The lead ball is a hand-made musket/pistol ball. The seam is where the mold came together and the flat spot is where the sprue was cut off. The caliber is the diameter in decimal inches- 0.32" equals .32 cal etc.

Daryl
Thanks Daryl! I thought probably a handmade pistol ball, but wasn't really sure.
kind regards~~sandcreek4
 

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CRUSADER said:
mts said:
It's worth about $5-7.

Seriously?!?! Where do you go to sell such a button for $5-7? I've been throwing the buttons I find in the trash! I'll have to start looking harder at them to see if they are worth anything.

Early US buttons are worth more than most of your coin collection put together, be careful!


Yep. Hope you didn't throw a GW inaugural or a "Jackson for President" in the trash. There are many $1,000+ buttons. I hope your find of a lifetime is not in the Landfill already.


Stick around here. Read some posts, and Learn a bit. Reading the button post currently on our finds banner up top would be a good start. If you've never seen three buttons worth as much as a down payment on a new house, then you should certainly read. The 2 1/2 buttons there are worth more than all the other finds currently on the banner Combined.
 

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buttons like civil war era buttons -- are highly collectible * some buttons can be worth big bucks * -- those 32 caliber lead balls were blackpowder pistol and "squirrel" hunting small game rifle sized bullets :wink: --- be care of the "junk" you throw away --many detectorist learn the hard way that things they thought were junk were in fact civil war items .
 

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ivan salis said:
buttons like civil war era buttons -- are highly collectible * some buttons can be worth big bucks * -- those 32 caliber lead balls were blackpowder pistol and "squirrel" hunting small game rifle sized bullets :wink: --- be care of the "junk" you throw away --many detectorist learn the hard way that things they thought were junk were in fact civil war items .
Hey everybody--Just wanted to clear something up---I'm not the one throwing away buttons--that was "mts" who made that comment about throwing old buttons away. I have kept eveything found in this yard ;D. Thanks again for all the info on this stuff!
regards~~sandcreek4
 

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message was for MTS and others who chuck things without thinking -- thus it was not "aimed" at you -- it was a "in general" statement .
 

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ivan salis said:
message was for MTS and others who chuck things without thinking -- thus it was not "aimed" at you -- it was a "in general" statement .
Thanks Ivan for clearing that up :icon_thumright:!
kind regards~~sandcreek4
 

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