is this a lantern piece, and date on tombac button

[BobinSouthVA]

I think this is a bit of a lantern where the wick would go through the middle, but I've never found any lantern bits so if someone could verify that I would be much obliged.

and is this tombac button 18th century?

they were found within proximity of each other in the woods.

Thanks
Bob

 

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[Lucas]

Kerosene and tombac, Yup & Yup. Nice ID, give yourself a green check!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Kerosene and tombac, Yup & Yup. Nice ID, give yourself a green check!

Agreed.

Tombacs had a rather narrow date range, if I recall. Late 1700s almost exclusively. Of course, they were used until they broke and fell to the ground or were tossed out--so even a date of 1820s is not out of the question if you're looking to find a time frame for your site.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Kerosene and tombac, Yup & Yup. Nice ID, give yourself a green check!

Agreed.

Tombacs had a rather narrow date range, if I recall. Late 1700s almost exclusively. Of course, they were used until they broke and fell to the ground or were tossed out--so even a date of 1820s is not out of the question if you're looking to find a time frame for your site.

Yep dig tons of them, and they all look like that

http://www.chippewanaturecenter.com/oxbow/tombac buttons.htm

SS

 

[Woodland Detectors]

You are in an old spot indeed.

Tombac was a brass alloy with a high percentages of zinc and sometimes "arsenic".

 

[BobinSouthVA]

Kerosene and tombac, Yup & Yup. Nice ID, give yourself a green check!

Agreed.

Tombacs had a rather narrow date range, if I recall. Late 1700s almost exclusively. Of course, they were used until they broke and fell to the ground or were tossed out--so even a date of 1820s is not out of the question if you're looking to find a time frame for your site.

Thanks guys

Yeah I am looking to date this site and based on what I found yesterday I'm really not sure what I have. I'm going to put a post in todays finds later tonight after some cleanup and try to get some ideas.

Here is what I found yesterday, this site is a half mile into the woods (at least in any direction) and the area was farmland 100+ years ago give or take a few years. Searching about 60 acres or so, within a 15x15 foot square I've found

Tombac Button
Lantern pieces x5 now. one looks like the one above so I believe they are from 2 different lanterns
Musketball
Back of a button that reads Extra and another word I can't make out yet
A strange bullet that has 3 rings, but is smaller than other CW bullets I've found, but one side is completely smooth.
A thimble (tin I believe)
Harmonica reed
3 Pieces of 2 clay pipes
Another lead bullet with no patina that I don't believe is pre 1900
some pieces of glass and ceramic
some concave metal disc (about the size of a quarter) with a nail through it.
A wierd piece of metal that resembles one of those things golfers use to pull up divets on the greens. (but it can't possibly be that I think)


I get other tones in all metal mode in this area, but outside of it the land is virtually silent.

 

[Lucas]

http://www.chippewanaturecenter.com/oxbow/tombac buttons.htm

Love this website! ...being a fur trade geek...

 

[BobinSouthVA]

Found 6 more pieces of the lantern. Soon I may be able to rebuild it

 

[BuckleBoy]

I am not certain that the top piece in the last photo is from the lantern--but the wick turner and piece on the upper left certainly are. The piece on the lower left may be a tent grommet (could be as old as mid-1800s).


Regards,


Buckles

 

[timekiller]

Yup! Bottom middle is top to a fired 12 gauge shell!

 

[BobinSouthVA]

Yup! Bottom middle is top to a fired 12 gauge shell!

that one is actually the same color as the other pieces and about half the size of a cent. on the back you can see where it has broken off of a post, but alas I left my camera on and batteries went dead, so I'll post a pic later.

 

[BobinSouthVA]

I am not certain that the top piece in the last photo is from the lantern--but the wick turner and piece on the upper left certainly are. The piece on the lower left may be a tent grommet (could be as old as mid-1800s).


Regards,


Buckles

The gear piece at the top right was actually found about 30 feet from the rest of the parts, however it has the same red color (does not show up very well in my pics) as the other pieces I have found. I assumed it connected to the piece on the right ( the wick turner?)

the other piece at the top was a bit of a surprise. When I first dug it I thought it was one of those bottle toppers that seal around the neck, but saw it was related to the other parts when the hole in the top was revealed during cleaning.

 

[timekiller]

Yup! Bottom middle is top to a fired 12 gauge shell!

that one is actually the same color as the other pieces and about half the size of a cent. on the back you can see where it has broken off of a post, but alas I left my camera on and batteries went dead, so I'll post a pic later.

Sorry about that one Bob,I was going with the size of some I had.It does look like the back of a fired caseing though Maybe rifle or pistol round then I did have a few smaller grommets and put them beside a 9mm round in the pic below.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I am not certain that the top piece in the last photo is from the lantern--but the wick turner and piece on the upper left certainly are. The piece on the lower left may be a tent grommet (could be as old as mid-1800s).


Regards,


Buckles

The gear piece at the top right was actually found about 30 feet from the rest of the parts, however it has the same red color (does not show up very well in my pics) as the other pieces I have found. I assumed it connected to the piece on the right ( the wick turner?)

the other piece at the top was a bit of a surprise. When I first dug it I thought it was one of those bottle toppers that seal around the neck, but saw it was related to the other parts when the hole in the top was revealed during cleaning.

I don't think the gear had anything to do with the lantern pieces. Otherwise, I would've found many more of them over the years. As it stands, I have dug hundreds upon hundreds of oil lantern parts in 18 years, but only a few gears like that (heavy-duty, not clock gears).

Best Wishes,


Buckles

 

[BobinSouthVA]

here is a picture of it in better lighting Pete. You can see the color matches the other parts and there is a spot on the back where a post has broken off.

Not sure which parts match which lantern, but I found the thumbwheel for a lantern today

http://www.thelampworks.com/lw_lambertson.htm

 

[timekiller]

here is a picture of it in better lighting Pete. You can see the color matches the other parts and there is a spot on the back where a post has broken off.

Not sure which parts match which lantern, but I found the thumbwheel for a lantern today

http://www.thelampworks.com/lw_lambertson.htm

Thanks Bob,yea I never had looked at them very close but I knew they most time had pat. dates on them.But never studied how the wheel was put on.Some of the older ones like yours and a few I have that are pat.1865 seem to be braded on.(Or like hit with a punch)That's what was looking like a primer to me. Neat to learn.
Take Care,
Pete