Only 4 out of 5 pieces

[burglarifyoulike]

My dad has been after me for awhile to post this, trying to get ideas on what it might be. Finally had the time... This was found over the course of about 2 years, found the "2" first, then two pieces close together one time, the other piece months later. The odd looking piece that has nothing legible on it appears to be the same material, which may be lead, but I don't know for sure. I do remember the #2 piece ringing a straight 89 all the way to the top on DFX screen. So I'm wondering if the odd piece with rim is related somehow to the others? Anyway, found in a field with items dating from 1950s clear back to possible 1700s (spinning fob seal). Let me know what you think, and thanks!
Should also clarify the #s on item- large 78, small at bottom 866, letters "PITTS"

 

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[bigfoot1]

could be from pitts fire extuinguisher

 

[Breezie]

What city & state was this found? If will be helpful in determining the word(s). Breezie

 

[burglarifyoulike]

Thanks, breezie, I'm glad to see you working on this one. The site is in northern WV, not too far from PA border. Not too near a city, closest is Morgantown 45 minutes away.
thanks, too, Bigfoot. I'll try to find images of Pitts fire extinguisher

 

[Breezie]

There's not a word that ends in 'PITTS' that would make sense on a tag, so knowing that, we can assume PITTS is a person's name or a company name (could be hyphenated.) Since you found this on the WV/PA border, the word PITTS could be associated with Pittsburg. I'll see what I can find, but it will be later tonight before I can do any research. Most interesting find Breezie

 

[burglarifyoulike]

Thank you, Breezie! Appreciate it greatly!

 

[Breezie]

At first, I thought your item might have been a key fob, perhaps to a hotel, since it is large, but after looking at it more closely, I realized the wording and numbers would not be vertically correct with the hole. The hole is recessed; therefore, it is made for a screw to be flush and not for a chain, rope, or the likes. If all of the above is true, there needs to be another hole opposite the existing one so the words & numbers will be vertically correct. I mocked-up a photo of how I think it looked.

Is it made of lead?

Breezie

 

[burglarifyoulike]

I think you are right on with the photo- very impressive! Yes, I believe it is made of lead. I should have shown the back- it is completely flat, and yes, the hole is recessed. You are a great detective!

 

[BryanM362]

Wow, love the mock-up Breezie! Way cool! It does look like a firehouse emblem to me.

 

[tennessee digger]

Good job Breezie!

 

[Bramblefind]

Wow Breezie that is impressive!

Maybe it is a very early elevation marker ( from 1866?) ?

I found some references that indicate the markers in that area in the early 1900s were marked "PITTS".

 

[Breezie]

Thanks y'all for the kudos on the photoshop.

After reading Bryan's post about it looking like a firehouse emblem, I did a search on the history of Pittsburgh's fire departments. I found a PDF file that stated the City of Pittsburgh adopted the 'fire alarm telegraph' in 1866, and they had 97 signal boxes located throughout the city. I'm wondering if this is an ID tag for one of those boxes? It's late here, so I'm headed to bed, but hopefully someone can use the above information to get closer to an ID. (Bramble hint hint; you do such great research.)

Breezie

 

[burglarifyoulike]

All I can say is, "wow, you people are amazing!" Some very plausible and intriguing possibilities. I think this could be either one of the above mentioned items according to the research found (thanks so much, breezie mad bramble find!). this field where i found the item is far removed from "civilization." It is in the mountains in what could safely be described with the cliche "middle of nowhere." The house that was torn down when I was a child was old when my grandparents were young (my grandfather would be over 100), but I don't have any history on the site at all.

 

[DCMatt]

It could be off some kind of farming equipment.

In 1837 Hiram A. and John A. Pitts of Maine developed a highly improved thresher. Their machine threshed the grain from the heads, separated the straw by a blower, and removed the chaff from the grain in a single operation.

Nice mock up Breezie!

DCMatt

 

[burglarifyoulike]

Thanks, DC, could well be that, too.

 

[burglarifyoulike]

Amazon.com: Mount Washington Elevation Benchmark - Hiking Stick Medallion: Everything Else
This photo is of a modern elevation benchmark- could not find any images of any from the time period of the item in question, supposing that it is from 1866. The shape of this is the same, and it seems that lead would have likely been used at that time (1866). I'll try to find out somehow what the elevation is around the site. Thanks again, Bramble!

 

[burglarifyoulike]

I just left a voicemail at the Fire Museum of Maryland asking if they would kindly check their fire telegraph box or boxes to see if it has a tag resembling the item in question, since the date 1866 matches. Thanks again, Breezie!

 

[Breezie]

I just left a voicemail at the Fire Museum of Maryland asking if they would kindly check their fire telegraph box or boxes to see if it has a tag resembling the item in question, since the date 1866 matches. Thanks again, Breezie!

You might want to see if Pittsburgh has a Fire Museum.

Whenever I GOOGLE 'PITTS," 99% of the time the results are either Pittsburgh or a genealogy tree with a person's last name who is PITTS. So the most logical answer (for me) to the PITTS question is either a person/company name or the City of Pittsburgh. I feel like we'll ID this eventually as long as we can keep it active.

You're welcome Breezie

 

[burglarifyoulike]

Thanks for the tip- ill check pittsburgh for fire museums . Did check the elevation for the nearest town; not sure whether this is helpful or not, but the nearest town's elevation is 1,532 ft (467 m). The site where item was found is higher, without a doubt, but since all the markers I saw on Google images were in feet, this doesn't correlate with the elevation bench mark theory, sadly. Unless they used meters in 1866, which doesn't seem likely, or unless someone had stolen it, which is highly criminal, but certainly possible.

 

[surf]

Bravo Breezie!

Brilliant reconstruction, that.