I'm guessing this is part of a suspender clip. Anyone have a better idea?
Have you ever seen "PATENT ENDS" stamped on an item? I wonder if it's a typo. Maybe it was supposed to read "PATENT PEND".
If you Google "patent suspender ends" you will find several patent applications for suspender ends. Since the loop ends were made of cloth or leather, the patent info couldn't be engraved on the actual ends, so they included the information on the brass buckle. Just my guess.
Well, I could understand PATENTS PEND, but PATENT PENDS doesn't make sense to me.
Also - it looks like the S is upside down. Maybe the stamp setter was drunk.
Check this one out. It also says "ends" on it, and they argued with me that it said "pend". It really, really looks like it say "ends". If we stick together, perhaps we can convince the others!
I realize that this is an 8 year old post, but today we figured out that the words 'Patent Ends' has nothing to do with the patent expiring, but seems to have everything to do with the suspenders having patent leather ends below the buckles on the suspenders. Fun to seemingly sort out one of life's mysteries once in a while.