Is this a button?

[clf_02]

Found this where I have been finding civil war relics. Is it a button. If not what is it?

 

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[Broken knee]

Do I see the number 5 on it? I don't think it's a button, but possibly a weight? HH
BK

 

[clf_02]

It is an "E"

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I own an excavated one of those thick "beveled" brass discs, marked with the exact same indented letter "E" as on yours. It is definitely not a button. It is similar to a thinner stamped-brass disc with a raised letter E. That kind was discussed at great length a year or two ago here on in the What-Is-It forum. (Sorry, I do not have a link to that discussion.) If I recall correctly, nobody ever managed to come up with a definite ID for them, although there were some interesting guesses.

On both the thick beveled brass and thin stamped-brass versions of these "E" discs, the E is a "plain block letter" font, which was rather rarely seen on pre-20th-Century metal-markings, so these discs are almost certainly a 20th-Century object.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

CONFEDERATE LEATHER CAP POUCH, square-shaped front with attached "E" insignia of unknown association, brass finial, two narrow belt loops on reverse. Third quarter 19th century. 3 3/8" x 3 1/4". Provenance: D. Coiner Rosen Estate Collection, New Market, VA

We have been unable to identify these mysterious letter E items. I agree 20th century. There is no way you could affiliate this item with anything Confederate. You are looking in the wrong century.​

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

What makes you think this item is Confederate?

 

[clf_02]

Same location same day

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Would love to see any CW items you found. Can you direct me to the post?

Nonetheless the E has no serifs. Like CBG said plain block lettering is rarely seen in the 19th century.

I didnt say it was modern. I said it was 20th century. That covers a 100 year period.

Added: thanks for the bullet pic. The lead may be 19th century but the interesting E item is not.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The backmark on the last button you posted has serifs.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Found by my father at same location

Are you saying that the site has no 20th century items?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think this is the thread referred to by CBG, http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/220391-early-enginners-button.html

And here is a very similar still unidentified brass item found by IronSpike.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

After reading the thread I see that this plain block lettering could be Indian War era but not Civil War. I dont think it could possibly be CW or earlier with such a modern letter E even though most were found in older sites..

 

[CC Hunter]

My thoughts concur with TheCannonballGuy and Bigcypresshunter, as the details on these mystery pieces display a letter font style consistant with the 20th Century.

For some reason, and it is merely a hunch, my mind is thinking these are some type of removable "knock-out" plug, from early electrical iems, and the "E" is a symbol for Electric. There is no basis as of yet to back this up, considering this is only an impression.

Through logic, we may not know what an item actually is, yet certainly can ascertain what something is not!

CC Hunter

Last edited by Bigcypresshunter; Today at 09:44 PM. Reason: speling

P.S. BCH, this brought a smile........LOL

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

lol good to hear from you CC.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Highly unlikely but I do like the Typewritter key theory, Ive seen vintage typewriters or printing press thingys that could easily have had something like this artifact attached to it. This is gonna be a hard one guys! good luck

 

[Reed Lukens]

It's a pressurized lid from an old pressure relief or a boiler steam condensate valve. The hole in the top accepts a screw down point to seal it into the valve seat. As it is compressed into the valve it compresses a spring that is activated by a float. When it fills with water, the float pops up the spring compresses, the valve opens, and steam blows the water out. When it's time to clean it you just remove the hold down, pop this cap and the spring and valve beneath it lifts out. I have lids like this on different items also but this one has the screw hold down. Basically think of a U shaped wheel puller holding it down. Kind of like a valve spring cover.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

It's a pressurized lid from an old pressure relief or a boiler steam condensate valve. The hole in the top accepts a screw down point to seal it into the valve seat. As it is compressed into the valve it compresses a spring that is activated by a float. When it fills with water, the float pops up the spring compresses, the valve opens, and steam blows the water out. When it's time to clean it you just remove the hold down, pop this cap and the spring and valve beneath it lifts out. I have lids like this on different items also but this one has the screw hold down. Basically think of a U shaped wheel puller holding it down. Kind of like a valve spring cover.

Reed you wouldn't be able to prodive a picture of what your talking about? I have a concept of what you mean and think this could be a very good answer, also today I was looking at Civil War Telegraph machines and I seen some similar parts on the telegraph that this could have attached too or been a backup piece for even with that E not being 19th centuryish it could still be something similar to that in nature.!

 

[clf_02]

Have found telegraph stuff in the area

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is that a threaded hole on the bottom?

 

[clf_02]

It is not threaded.