Mystery 19th century finds

[McCDig]

Detected a 19th century homesite to and had two mystery finds. The first is a letter 'L' made of brass and filled with lead. The second is a hollow lead disk that fit inside a concave brass piece. Any ideas? I'm guessing the letter 'L' may have been attached to a saddle or bridle.

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[firemanphob]

1st probably a harness adornment and second a bridle rosette.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks firemanphob! If so, these go in with one other bridel rosette I've dug on this part of the property.

 

[smokeythecat]

I tend to agree with that. If the letter is small it's possible it's a CW kepi hat letter, but almost all were not lead filled.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

What the finder described as a "hollow lead disk that fit inside a concave brass piece" is a clock pendulum weight. The pendulum's metal shaft, which was shaped like a miniature long 2x4 board, fit through the tunnel in the disc. Yours is a very simple, non-ornate version. The photos below shows some ornate ones, and some plain ones like yours. They date from the mid-1800s into the early 1900s, after which time, most "wind-up" clocks were superseded by electric ones… but some are still being made today, for wealthy folks who like antique-style clocks.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I'm curious as to the measurements of your letter 'L'?
I've seen letters similar to this before, but they were attached to a tractor.

As you mentioned, due to the bent over pins it was more likely attached to leather.
Great I.D. on the clock pendulum by TheCannonballGuy!

Ok, I've learned something new today, now I can go back to bed.
Dave

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Antiquarian. Letter measures 1 and 5/8ths inch square, height and width, so unlikely an insignia.

 

[McCDig]

Thank TheCannonballGuy. Very complete description on the lead weight. The weight is shaped like a convex lens and is hollow in the middle with an opening at both ends along the midline and a hole in the middle, as if to accept something like a wooden rod.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks smokey. Very cool to get these artifacts. Everyone has a story to tell. Site dates from 1830.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks Antiquarian. Letter measures 1 and 5/8ths inch square, height and width, so unlikely an insignia.

You're right of course, hopefully someone here will recognize exactly what you've got here.
Dave

 

[Red-Coat]

One never knows how reliable auction attributions might be, but these were described as:

Group of Four Early US Military Cap Letters. 1½" high of heavy stamped brass, lead filled. Brass wire prongs on the reverse for attachment. Exhibiting some oxidation else perfect condition. Probably C. 1835, but possibly earlier. Very scarce.



The typeface on yours is a lot thicker, but they're about the same size. I have no idea how much that may have varied, if indeed the attribution is correct.

 

[McCDig]

Thank you for the help, Dave.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Red-Coat. This looks like a helpful reference