One unknown found yesterday-Key like?

[Don in SJ]

I got out detecting twice this week, both short hunts, and button finds were satisfying enough for me. One of the pieces I found yesterday, registered as a copper coin would, but it of course looks more like the top part of a key-like relic but yet it is not really thick enough in my opinion. I don't think it is an early watch winder, but perhaps.

If you look closely you will see the inside perimeter of the relic is recessed. Not sure it the stem is broken off or not, no eivdence of an uneven break.

It was found within feet of where I got this years Jews Harp and the set of Tallyo cufflinks buttons back in February, the newest coin found there was a 1800 Half Cent, with a NJ copper and a William III also being found there and about 30 buttons, with quite a few being pewter or tombac.

Todays button finds were one pewter, one tombac, and one no backmarked brasslike button, the other two buttons in the one photo are from another site I hit on Monday (the lined cast button and the one marked GILT)

So, I really have no idea what the use for this unknown relic was. Fairly certain it is period for the site (late 1700's to very early 1800s)

 

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[Gypsy Heart]

Looks like a key (winder) for a music box

 

[johnnyi]

Don , when I see your name on a "what is it" find I know with out looking it will be a toughee. Is the square opening too large for a watch key? Is there any evidence on it anywhere that a small loop may have broken off which would show it to be a key fob?

 

[Don in SJ]

John, Gypsy might be correct or maybe it is a watch winder, I have a few watch winders and can't locate the ones with stems yet to compare. But looking under magnification, the hole looks beat from use and was perhaps at one time 6 sided, not square or round. So if watch winders had 6 sided slots, then that would be a match. The stem could be broken off, but if it was there is a lot of wear on the ends hiding that fact. So, if not broken off is the stem long enough to be a watch winder or some type of music box key? Considering the isolated site it is, I would lean more to watch winder if it fits...
Do not think this is that tough of one to call, at least I had hoped not. Here is one John I posted last year that has not been solved at all. Look at entire thread, found a more complete one that I posted photos of further down the thread...........

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,177369.0.html

Don

 

[jimbob450]

The way the inside is grooved it may have held a picture,kinda
like a locket. Jimbob

 

[johnnyi]

Don, I agree that knowing the size of the hole would make this fairly easy. I grabbed a few of my watch keys which are pictured here, and you'll notice the shafts on the three complete ones that have the complete shaft are fairly short also as is yours. I don't believe on your shaft was broken off. The inside of the openings on this variety of keys will not accept round wire of a greater diameter than 56 guage (.0460) if your's is around that size I'd say for sure it is a watch key that may have once held a decorative porceline or something similar.

That other link of your's though! That is a challenge!

 

[Don in SJ]

I think what jimbo said makes sense that the inside held something. I just measured the hole diameter , largest reading I got was 1.8mm with the calipers. Wish I could find my winders to compare, only one I have available is one where the shaft is entirely snapped off.

Yes, the brass tube post is a challenge, almost like a counterbalance, on a small scale though, useage? may never know, but wanted to make you aware of it since perhaps more have been found in South Jersey, other than by me.

Don

 

[allen]

i think Gypsy is right !

 

[johnnyi]

Maybe so Allen. So far I haven't been able to find any reference to antique music boxes having seperate keys though that weren't part of the box. Maybe they do exist and this is one of them.

 

[Don in SJ]

Maybe so Allen. So far I haven't been able to find any reference to antique music boxes having seperate keys though that weren't part of the box. Maybe they do exist and this is one of them.

I just googled antique music box keys (images) and saw nothing really close to the style of what I have, a watch winder looks much closer to what it might be.

 

[johnnyi]

Don, I didn't think to use 'images" Actually there is a modern one for old boxes which confirms a square more in line with your measurements than mine. The style wouldn't matter so much. http://images.google.com/imgres?img...prev=/images?q=music+box+keys&hl=en&sa=N&um=1

 

[Don in SJ]

Still leaning more to watch winder key if anything, music box keys seemed to be a bit heaftier.

 

[Silver Searcher]

i'm leaning towards watchwinder to, I will through in a couple similar to Dons :P one is a clockwinder key (heavier)

SS.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I have to agree. Watchwinder as well...Don, you have been pulling some nice relics out of there. I'd be willing to bet, there is a real banner find comming up.

 

[mick56]

Bezel for a coin or photo.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Bezel for a coin or photo.

Sorry, I don't see it mick

 

[mick56]

Bezel for a coin or photo.

Sorry, I don't see it mick

The second picture from the top, looks like the inside is grooved to hold a coin or something.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Bezel for a coin or photo.

Sorry, I don't see it mick

The second picture from the top, looks like the inside is grooved to hold a coin or something.

Ok, I see what you mean but, There was most likely an insert to make the "key" more "functional/practical

 

[frogwizard]

Found this while looking for something else.

 

[Don in SJ]

Found this while looking for something else.

Not beefy enough to be part of a regular key, I found some of my plain watch winder keys last evening and after comparing the shaft size and hole and shape of hole, I will have to say it was some type of watch winder unless some other strong evidence surfaces otherwise. It would be nice to find out what possibly could have been in the insert area...

Don