Glass Train Button? Help ID

erfranks

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This is a piece, that if it did not have the brass setting, i would prob not have found it. I am thinking button, but have not seen one like it.
I have seen carnival glass pieces but they do not have the brass setting. no markings on the back that I have found it is .73 in round and .16 thick. Any ideas if it is a button or not. Looks like Engine and coal car and billowing smoke coming out of the smoke stack. I hope you can see it. It is a neat piece.

train button 1.webp Train button 2.webp

train button 3.webp train button 4.webp

Thank you looking and HH
 

It reminds me of the old "cats eye" style reflectors from the early 20th C. But why would you bother to put a locomotive on it? :icon_scratch:

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erfranks, finding that would make my day:occasion14: The depression in the center of the reverse side (second picture) may have been where the eye was or possibly still is. If the unlikely event that someone on TNet doesn't ID your find, consider gently removing some more of the dirt there. Doing so may help answer if it is a button or not.
 

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Maybe the business end of a wax seal?

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erfranks, finding that would make my day:occasion14: The depression in the center of the reverse side (second picture) may have been where the eye was or possibly still is. If the unlikely event that someone on TNet doesn't ID your find, consider gently removing some more of the dirt there. Doing so may help answer if it is a button or not.

I clean out the hole in the back, and when cleaning, i could take apart because the ring around the brass setting was falling apart.
it is just a hole, so if it did have a shank i am think floating. also as you can see just three pieces. Glass, Brass setting and there was either felt or leather between glass and brass as a back ground.

train button 5.webp train button 6.webp
 

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Maybe the business end of a wax seal?

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Could be, this one image i coming out not in.. when i took about glass is flat on back.
 

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That would make more since than a button or might be part of watch fob. looks like might have been attached to what ever by rivet that pulled out or if there was a shank it would have been floating shank but there was nothing between leather and brass like top of rivet or screw.
 

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Do a search on "Essex crystal" jewelry. Popular from the late 1800's up to the 1930's. I can't find a train or locomotive but plenty of other reverse painted motifs. It could also be the top of a stick pin.
 

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No idea but I love it!
 

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Top or bottom of a fancy Victorian period cane?
 

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It will be one of those What is it.... But yes it is a very nice piece.. but also researching it i also found out that, during WWII when they were trying to find out ways to save copper for ammo, and the us mint was trying to find something to make the 1 cents with. before they decided on Steel cent they also tried other coins and one was the Glass Cent by Blue Ridge Glass Corp out of Tenn. here is a link and also couple of phots of the Glass one Cent piece.

https://www.ngccoin.com/gallery/glass-cents/?page=1

Glass Cent obv.webp Glass cent rev.webp

Never knew that but very interesting, so maybe my piece was made by them. Who knows
 

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It will be one of those What is it.... But yes it is a very nice piece.. but also researching it i also found out that, during WWII when they were trying to find out ways to save copper for ammo, and the us mint was trying to find something to make the 1 cents with. before they decided on Zinc cent they also tried other coins and one was the Glass Cent by Blue Ridge Glass Corp out of Tenn. here is a link and also couple of phots of the Glass one Cent piece.

https://www.ngccoin.com/gallery/glass-cents/?page=1

View attachment 1934776 View attachment 1934777

Never knew that but very interesting, so maybe my piece was made by them. Who knows

Just a FYI, the United States Mint never made a zinc cent.
They did make a zinc coated Steel cent in 1943.

I've never heard of that Blue Ridge glass corporation before.
Lots of companies must have popped up during that time that produced items made from glass.
Victory Glass was one such company.
They made candy containers out of glass.
Some rarer than others.
The Airplane container followed by the Tank container are the two rarest ones for finding in pristine condition.

Thank you for the information on that glass company.
I appreciate it.
 

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Just a FYI, the United States Mint never made a zinc cent.
They did make a zinc coated Steel cent in 1943.

I've never heard of that Blue Ridge glass corporation before.
Lots of companies must have popped up during that time that produced items made from glass.
Victory Glass was one such company.
They made candy containers out of glass.
Some rarer than others.
The Airplane container followed by the Tank container are the two rarest ones for finding in pristine condition.

Thank you for the information on that glass company.
I appreciate it.

Sorry i meant Steel penny, i knew that you know CRS can get in your brain. Thanks for the correction, :occasion14:
 

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Just a FYI, the United States Mint never made a zinc cent.

I'm pretty sure US cents from 1983 to today are 97.5% zinc
 

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that's pretty cool
 

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