Help with ID

[Jamie1993]

I broke self quarantine this morning. I haven't been sick with this COVID-19, just been staying home so I lessen the chances. I started to go stir crazy so I went hunting.
I went to a local middle school where I have found several IHP's, including an 1878.
I'm hoping one of our experts can help me identify two items.
The first is a cuff button.
,
The second item I think is a watch fob.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
All comments are welcome. HH Hope everyone is safe and healthy.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[ironhorse]

sweet fob! you hardly see the spinners intact like that out of the ground
the C &S button could be railway related
great bunch of finds

 

[Jamie1993]

Thanks Ironhorse.

 

[CRUSADER]

The fob watch bling is in the style of a type of wax seal matrix. But by this stage, it was non-functional, more like jewelry.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nice finds, love the wax seal matrix Jamie!

My first thought about your C / S button is that it's a 'private school' uniform/coat button.
If you're able to clean up the back a bit more, we should be able to I.D. it for you.

Dave

 

[Trezurehunter]

Cant help, but those are a couple of nice relics.

 

[devldog]

Nice finds and saves. The watch fob has some great detail on the face. I agree that if you can carefully clean the buttons back where the backmark is readable, this could help to expedite the I'D on your button. Well Done.

 

[Jamie1993]

Thanks Crusader. What time frame would you put it?

 

[Jamie1993]

Thanks, Antiquarian.
Any suggestions on cleaning the back without destroying the button?

 

[Jamie1993]

Thanks,
Trezurehunter. I have found probably 15 IHP in the field along with some nice silver and a gold ring.

 

[Jamie1993]

Thanks, Devldog. I'm cautious about cleaning the back. I have destroyed two other non-valuable buttons before trying to clean them.

 

[Silvermonkey]

Looks like you've got a nice older site to hunt. I love finding old personal items like these. The watch fob is extra special.

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks Crusader. What time frame would you put it?

Late 18th-early 19th C.

 

[Jamie1993]

Thanks Crusader

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks, Antiquarian.
Any suggestions on cleaning the back without destroying the button?

Personally, I use a fine wire brush wheel on a variable speed bench mounted polisher... but that's just me. Some folks soak their finds in olive oil, then use a toothpick to painstakingly pic off the loose verdigris from the back... I wish I had that much patience.

"If the backmark/quality mark is raised rather than stamped in, you'll have to scrape the corrosion off until you start to see the tops of the letters. Don't go any deeper into the corrosion than that, but when you have a rough idea of what it says, you can then work on individual letters as-needed. Afterwards, you can rub the high points with the oil on your fingers to bring out the design even more. In some cases, you have to be gentle with the tooth picking, especially if there is still gilding clinging to the grooves of a stamped-in backmark. This last remaining gilding is the only thing left that will allow you to read the mark easily. If I'd taken a toothbrush and water to it, I'd have never ended up with such great contrast between the design and the background."

Dave

 

[Jamie1993]

Thanks, ANTQUARIAN. I have fine brass and stainless steel brushes at work. I'll start off with the brass one first.