Nailed it!

DigToChina

Bronze Member
Sep 9, 2016
1,221
2,486
GTA East, Ontario
Detector(s) used
AT Pro, Fisher F2, ProPointer AT
I dug so many nails today! The good news is that there were a lot of square nails on this circa 1843 homestead.
B84C0955-4B94-4DB7-B24A-C905B2E27487.jpeg

There were so many nails and signals that I was only able to make a 30 foot run the width of my swing and found nails in every single hole I dug today. I had high hopes for older finds with those nails and even higher hopes when the 1936 penny came out without verdigris.
08A1A4A8-F838-40E7-AC8A-F00DB43E49AE.jpeg

Seeing George V is always nice 😁. Next notable coin was dug on a flash of 77-81 numbers amongst the grunt of iron. Another George V but large and 1918. The pics don’t show it but this one has a surprising amount of its lustre left.
8FCC2659-E58D-4383-B6E1-909B7491C2CF.jpeg

C1855DC6-6742-4DF9-87AC-0B16EEF298EE.jpeg

Followed quickly by a 1919 😁
53CCE9A4-46A0-4610-BE23-1285768960DE.jpeg

EA896465-A041-4021-9414-54C7DAAA9EF5.jpeg

Would have loved to find an Edward but I’ll take a Vicky in May anytime! 1899.
96CD3A59-2CA9-43D7-A624-B2E73FB3B38F.jpeg

5D6D6F3B-FB40-4762-B81A-50F0B00E3C21.jpeg

Wanted to see some silver but wasn’t to be today. Still happy with the LCs and the axe head (with wedge). I will be going back to this house. Also have permission for the one across the street built in 1875 😁.
E299FC80-FD69-4BA3-84DA-986976750B76.jpeg

8D588E73-2B6D-49F6-B429-394F87D8B243.jpeg

HH
Dig

PS: what kind of bell is this? The bell still tolls. Seems more modern to me.
 

Upvote 17
I dug so many nails today! The good news is that there were a lot of square nails on this circa 1843 homestead.View attachment 2083625
There were so many nails and signals that I was only able to make a 30 foot run the width of my swing and found nails in every single hole I dug today. I had high hopes for older finds with those nails and even higher hopes when the 1936 penny came out without verdigris.
View attachment 2083626
Seeing George V is always nice 😁. Next notable coin was dug on a flash of 77-81 numbers amongst the grunt of iron. Another George V but large and 1918. The pics don’t show it but this one has a surprising amount of its lustre left.
View attachment 2083631
View attachment 2083632
Followed quickly by a 1919 😁
View attachment 2083633
View attachment 2083634
Would have loved to find an Edward but I’ll take a Vicky in May anytime! 1899.
View attachment 2083637
View attachment 2083638
Wanted to see some silver but wasn’t to be today. Still happy with the LCs and the axe head (with wedge). I will be going back to this house. Also have permission for the one across the street built in 1875 😁.
View attachment 2083639
View attachment 2083640
HH
Dig

PS: what kind of bell is this? The bell still tolls. Seems more modern to me.
Awesome hunt you had!!! Congrats!!! I believe that is a crotal bell.
 

I dug so many nails today! The good news is that there were a lot of square nails on this circa 1843 homestead.View attachment 2083625
There were so many nails and signals that I was only able to make a 30 foot run the width of my swing and found nails in every single hole I dug today. I had high hopes for older finds with those nails and even higher hopes when the 1936 penny came out without verdigris.
View attachment 2083626
Seeing George V is always nice 😁. Next notable coin was dug on a flash of 77-81 numbers amongst the grunt of iron. Another George V but large and 1918. The pics don’t show it but this one has a surprising amount of its lustre left.
View attachment 2083631
View attachment 2083632
Followed quickly by a 1919 😁
View attachment 2083633
View attachment 2083634
Would have loved to find an Edward but I’ll take a Vicky in May anytime! 1899.
View attachment 2083637
View attachment 2083638
Wanted to see some silver but wasn’t to be today. Still happy with the LCs and the axe head (with wedge). I will be going back to this house. Also have permission for the one across the street built in 1875 😁.
View attachment 2083639
View attachment 2083640
HH
Dig

PS: what kind of bell is this? The bell still tolls. Seems more modern to me.
Also does it have any number's or name on either side of the bell slot on the bottom.
 

Nice saves on the large coppers. Gotta love a good square nail. The bell is a crotal style but I believe it would have been a sleigh bell attached to a leather strap. Like these here. Probably not that modern actually. Late 1800s maybe?
29d44eb85bd932fb1ec57a999c840951.jpg
 

Thanks for the confirmation on the bell KS. I meant more along the lines of age as well. I don’t see any markings on it at all. 🤷🏻‍♂️ It’s not brass. Think it’s like a pot metal or something. Here’s a better picture.
View attachment 2083676
View attachment 2083677
Well done on the recoveries.
Your crotal/rumble bell is quite unique as most of this design were attached to a leather/corded strap/wood backing.
They'd be in a series of bells and many times ranging in size even.
What makes this one a unique is the attachment is made of brass instead of the typical steel stud ones.
Screen Shot 2023-05-14 at 9.01.46 AM.png


The metal (not brass as you stated) but of Tombac, which has some early history.
Tombac, or tombak, is a brass alloy with high copper content and 5–20% zinc content. Tin, lead or arsenic may be added for colouration. It is a cheap malleable alloy mainly used for medals, ornament, decoration and some munitions. In older use, the term may apply to brass alloy with a zinc content as high as 28–35%.
 

Nice saves on the large coppers. Gotta love a good square nail. The bell is a crotal style but I believe it would have been a sleigh bell attached to a leather strap. Like these here. Probably not that modern actually. Late 1800s maybe?
View attachment 2083679
I have to admit, I was cursing them by the end of my detecting day but dang it, the little buggers are the shape of potential. Thank you for the info too!
Well done on the recoveries.
Your crotal/rumble bell is quite unique as most of this design were attached to a leather/corded strap/wood backing.
They'd be in a series of bells and many times ranging in size even.
What makes this one a unique is the attachment is made of brass instead of the typical steel stud ones.
View attachment 2083681

The metal (not brass as you stated) but of Tombac, which has some early history.
Tombac, or tombak, is a brass alloy with high copper content and 5–20% zinc content. Tin, lead or arsenic may be added for colouration. It is a cheap malleable alloy mainly used for medals, ornament, decoration and some munitions. In older use, the term may apply to brass alloy with a zinc content as high as 28–35%.
Thank you for the details Pepper. Definitely see the zinc leaching so assumed it was likely newer. Shame there isn’t a design on the bell but being my first crotal and possibly an older one, I’ll spend the week trying to stabilize it. Thinking of boiling in paraffin and the. Hanging in the oven on a low heat to drip so the inside doesn’t freeze? Not sure.
 

I have to admit, I was cursing them by the end of my detecting day but dang it, the little buggers are the shape of potential. Thank you for the info too!

Thank you for the details Pepper. Definitely see the zinc leaching so assumed it was likely newer. Shame there isn’t a design on the bell but being my first crotal and possibly an older one, I’ll spend the week trying to stabilize it. Thinking of boiling in paraffin and the. Hanging in the oven on a low heat to drip so the inside doesn’t freeze? Not sure.
The organic coating might come off if you use some hydrogen peroxide. Try with a Qtip in a small spot.
 

The organic coating might come off if you use some hydrogen peroxide. Try with a Qtip in a small spot.
Well I’ll be damned. Cleaned it with the HP magic sauce and the attachment post is made of brass. Don’t know how you could tell from those pics but colour me impressed.
 

I dug so many nails today! The good news is that there were a lot of square nails on this circa 1843 homestead.View attachment 2083625
There were so many nails and signals that I was only able to make a 30 foot run the width of my swing and found nails in every single hole I dug today. I had high hopes for older finds with those nails and even higher hopes when the 1936 penny came out without verdigris.
View attachment 2083626
Seeing George V is always nice 😁. Next notable coin was dug on a flash of 77-81 numbers amongst the grunt of iron. Another George V but large and 1918. The pics don’t show it but this one has a surprising amount of its lustre left.
View attachment 2083631
View attachment 2083632
Followed quickly by a 1919 😁
View attachment 2083633
View attachment 2083634
Would have loved to find an Edward but I’ll take a Vicky in May anytime! 1899.
View attachment 2083637
View attachment 2083638
Wanted to see some silver but wasn’t to be today. Still happy with the LCs and the axe head (with wedge). I will be going back to this house. Also have permission for the one across the street built in 1875 😁.
View attachment 2083639
View attachment 2083640
HH
Dig

PS: what kind of bell is this? The bell still tolls. Seems more modern to me.
Nice!!! Congrats!!!!
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top