??? Iron Hook and PENN Key - ID ????

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

Looking to ID the iron hook and PENN key I dug this afternoon.

Thinking the hook was for a tow chain back when, but not sure.

Wondering approx age of key.

Though not readable in pic, key says PENN in capital letters. No other markings.



Any help is greatly appreciated!

Also dug (not shown) a 1951 Wheat penny. My 1st in awhile.

 

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[villagenut]

if you knock some of that rust off with a hammer,it may be more readily identified.

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

if you knock some of that rust off with a hammer,it may be more readily identified.

tried it. not much change at all. that stuff is on there. did not want to harm it any. need find a better way to clean it.

 

[villagenut]

electrolysis....or soak in apple cider vinegar (ACV).

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

i was thinking about apple cider vinegar as it has worked on smaller objects in the past. worth a shot! thanks for advising! i think i stumbled on a old garage site or something of that nature. too much iron stuff around there and most looks garage and tool oriented. then the wheat penny. need try to find some historical photos of the area.

 

[DigIron2]

I think you might be right with a tow hook idea. It does look like one missing it's eye?

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

I think you might be right with a tow hook idea. It does look like one missing it's eye?

yes, that was my 1st thought when i dug it. nowhere to attach a chain. also looks handmade.

 

[DigIron2]

The loop for the attachment might have been broke off. The only other thing I can think of is maybe a piece of a pot hook?

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

i searched the area very well. so many iron signals. this is a corner in front of a school. couple of oak trees. just thought i would detect there as rain was coming and wanted to get some time in 1st. i was amazed. knew it has to be an old garage or something. too many iron signals there. lots of tool type things, etc. wheat penny was a bonus for such a short hunt. its raining big time now. glad i got that dig in!

 

[cw0909]

Penn Hardware Company?
Mad for Mid-Century: Penn Hardware Company in Reading, PA

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

Penn Hardware Company?
Mad for Mid-Century: Penn Hardware Company in Reading, PA

wow, that is it. i googled and could not find anything about PENN lock company or PENN keys, etc. the name of the co. is PENN hardware company.

we know PENN lock company remained in business until at least 1945 based on the info in the website. looks like i found a pretty cool relic.

thanks for the information.

 

[villagenut]

A good place to start some research is here.......here is an example from the link given.



https://www.google.com/search?q=ham...FAB_enUS465US465&espv=2&biw=1209&bih=740&tbm=

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

A good place to start some research is here.......here is an example from the link given.

View attachment 1368020View attachment 1368021

https://www.google.com/search?q=ham...FAB_enUS465US465&espv=2&biw=1209&bih=740&tbm=

thanks for the info. be VERY interesting to see what was there, had to be a gas station or garage, something of that nature. u can tell when you detect, lots of iron signals. takes still to pull out the better signals and dig...

 

[cw0909]

found an img 1920s and a 1800s catalog
searching...Penn Hardware Company reading,pa.

click thumbnail 4 lg img
http://lcpdams.librarycompany.org:8881/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=61477&local_base=GEN01

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433112076629;view=1up;seq=16

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

very nice. did u look in the catalogs? i got in one but no pics. be cool to see my key in there somewhere.

found an img 1920s and a 1800s catalog
searching...Penn Hardware Company reading,pa.

click thumbnail 4 lg img
http://lcpdams.librarycompany.org:8881/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=61477&local_base=GEN01

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433112076629;view=1up;seq=16

 

[jadocs]

i searched the area very well. so many iron signals. this is a corner in front of a school. couple of oak trees. just thought i would detect there as rain was coming and wanted to get some time in 1st. i was amazed. knew it has to be an old garage or something. too many iron signals there. lots of tool type things, etc. wheat penny was a bonus for such a short hunt. its raining big time now. glad i got that dig in!

Do you have pics of the other tools?

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

I have only one other tool. i can take a pic and post it. A friend of mine snagged the others to add to his tool set. A few wrenches and a screwdriver.