Old Homestead - 15 minutes - Early 1900s watch Fob

[flysar]

Old Homestead - 15 minutes - Early 1900's watch Fob

First outing with the Xterra 70 (besides the backyard) and between downpours I spent about 15 minutes at a rural homestead location. I found an old watch fob, early 1900's from what I can tell from the internet; only one picture of it on the net. It is non metallic but probably not silver because of the tarnish.

Without knowing what it is made out of where do I start with cleaning?

Included pictures of what it should have looked like new.

 

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[hamiddetecting]

Nice

 

[jewelerguy]

that's cool. interesting that the business took up 4 addresses

 

[Michiganne]

Very nice relic, congrats! I'd start with a soft toothbrush and water.

HH

 

[wheatfinder13]

Very cool

 

[flysar]

Very nice relic, congrats! I'd start with a soft toothbrush and water.

HH

I started with a light bristle brush and water, then soap, and didn't gain anything. I then put it in distiller vinegar 5% acidic and it cleaned off all the green tarnish but left some corrosion. It is plated so it won't clean to new. I'm still curious about the metal content; non- metallic, plated, and rust/corrosion where the plating has rubbed through?

 

[cti4sw]

Watch fobs can be highly collectible... I sold one a few months ago for $140

 

[Mackaydon]

I'll take a chance and suggest this item was made by the Greenduck Co. of Chicago . If so, here's its history:
The Green Duck Company, or the Green Duck Metal Stamping Company, was a prolific company that produced a wide variety of metal products, most notable among those being their political campaign buttons. Started in Chicago, Illinois in 1906, the company bounced around various Chicago addresses for nearly 70 years before moving to Hernando, Mississippi in 1975, closing it doors in 2004. A 1930's catalog also mentioned one of their specialties was watch fobs.
On the chance that I'm correct, then 1906 would be the earliest date for this item.
Don....

 

[Mackaydon]

Yes, it is a Green Duck Company fob:
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Don...

 

[SilverDreams]

Very cool!