Heavy brass rectangle with "MS" cut into it

J

jhamner

Hero Member
Dec 2, 2008
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729
Hello,
I posted this item I found yesterday on Todays Finds, but except for a very kind Professor of Engineering, I have gotten no responses. I do not blame anyone because this is a tough I.D,. but I thought maybe by moving it here someone may recognize it.
The item is 3" by 1 3/8" and counting the lettering about 1/4" thick. It weighs 5.1 ounces and the background has been painted black. There are no signs of attachment hooks or anything else. The edges are tapered. That's about all I know about it at this point. Thanks for looking.
 

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I saw that yesterday but can't figure it out. Font looks 20th century.
 

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If it's not, it could be, a paper weight. Have you cleaned it up yet? Would like to see it without all the dirt.
 

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Just spitballing, I would say that is a High School foundry project that didn't get a high grade.
 

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Kray Gelder said:
If it's not, it could be, a paper weight. Have you cleaned it up yet? Would like to see it without all the dirt.
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Cleaned it up a little. I will try and post photos.
 

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I bet it was a door sign that was longer, with more letters originally. Maybe the last two letters were from "RESTROOMS"?
 

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I live very near Miller School and did the restoration on the science building when it burned many years ago. I have never seen anything like that associated with Miller School, but that doesn't mean it isn't.
 

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vhs07 said:
I bet it was a door sign that was longer, with more letters originally. Maybe the last two letters were from "RESTROOMS"?
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That's a possibility, but all four sides are mitered or sloped, suggesting that the piece is complete. (But I may be wrong!)
 

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creskol said:
I live very near Miller School and did the restoration on the science building when it burned many years ago. I have never seen anything like that associated with Miller School, but that doesn't mean it isn't.
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Thanks for that information--I have an email in to the school, but they've not yet responded. I know they used to make cast iron frog doorstops and probably other things, but I've never seen one of these MS things made by the school. You must live fairly near us--we're just out of Scottsville--used to play Miller School in baseball and basketball. Thanks.
 

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jhamner said:
Thanks for that information--I have an email in to the school, but they've not yet responded. I know they used to make cast iron frog doorstops and probably other things, but I've never seen one of these MS things made by the school. You must live fairly near us--we're just out of Scottsville--used to play Miller School in baseball and basketball. Thanks.
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As a crow flies, I am about 1 mile from the school. Did you find this in Scottsville?
 

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jhamner said:
Thanks for that information--I have an email in to the school, but they've not yet responded. I know they used to make cast iron frog doorstops and probably other things, but I've never seen one of these MS things made by the school. You must live fairly near us--we're just out of Scottsville--used to play Miller School in baseball and basketball. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Good to see your still around
 

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You could try an image search at the US Patent and Trademark office.
However, in my experience, that tends to lead you down a long rabbit hole with little success.

My guess is it's a nameplate for some sort of heavy, industrial-type machine.
Something meant to take a lot of abuse and withstand the test of time.
I don't think it's a branding-iron, a marking punch, or anything like that. (?)
 

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ffuries said:
Weird as it sounds, but with what looks like 2 solder/attachment points on one end and a single solder/attachment point opposite, it has the appearance of a belt buckle. Homemade or store bought beats me.

Just saying.......
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I see the points you are speaking of-wow, that would be cool if it was a belt plate of some sort! Thanks for pointing this out to me!
 

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Anduril said:
You could try an image search at the US Patent and Trademark office.
However, in my experience, that tends to lead you down a long rabbit hole with little success.

My guess is it's a nameplate for some sort of heavy, industrial-type machine.
Something meant to take a lot of abuse and withstand the test of time.
I don't think it's a branding-iron, a marking punch, or anything like that. (?)
Click to expand...
Thank you--I will give that a try!
 

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Anduril said:
You could try an image search at the US Patent and Trademark office.
However, in my experience, that tends to lead you down a long rabbit hole with little success.

My guess is it's a nameplate for some sort of heavy, industrial-type machine.
Something meant to take a lot of abuse and withstand the test of time.
I don't think it's a branding-iron, a marking punch, or anything like that. (?)
Click to expand...
Sounds like a definite possibility to me!
 

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any ideas?

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