sifting an old site....

[villagenut]

Been pretty hot and humid but have managed to get a few holes in last weekend. These were all screened at a spot that had mid 1800s occupation and Native American history as well. There is a sherd of sand tempered pottery, a ribber button, clay pipe bowl frags, pistol balls, percussion caps from a revolver as well as a musket. There was an old rimfire casing with no headstamp, and this has been the case for numerous casings found at this site. It was suggested that these are blanks but my research has led me to believe that these were just earlier casings from when arms manufactures made their own. Perhaps this site shows a transitional period of cap and ball to rimfires. I did some research on the button and although the Novelty Rubber Co is easily found, I have only seen examples that have additional backmarkings, none with just the company name. Thanks for lookin, vn.

 

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[VTColonialDigger]

Awesome sifting finds, really cool!!

I have found clay pipe fragments before with a black looking lining like yours. I can't figure out what could have caused it or if it is natural from the firing process. Do you have any idea about this?

 

[Blak bart]

Great stuff villagenut !! I always love your sifting posts !! Love to see Florida's history being dug. People dont always believe it but floridas history predates the pilgrims by quite a bit !! Congrats !!

 

[villagenut]

Awesome sifting finds, really cool!!

I have found clay pipe fragments before with a black looking lining like yours. I can't figure out what could have caused it or if it is natural from the firing process. Do you have any idea about this?

I would assume it is old tobacco staining but most that I find do not have any staining whatsoever. But I suppose a lot has to do with soil condition.

 

[villagenut]

Great stuff villagenut !! I always love your sifting posts !! Love to see Florida's history being dug. People dont always believe it but floridas history predates the pilgrims by quite a bit !! Congrats !!

Thanks Bb , that is so true. Florida has a lot of history....Native American, Spanish, Civil War, Seminole Wars, early settlers and even some pirates plowed our waters. And you dont have to go far to find it....

 

[smallfoot]

Found some info that might interest!

The most common back mark found on hard rubber buttons (and other objects) is from the Novelty Rubber Co. which usually shows as "N.R. Co." abbreviated on buttons. N.R. Co. was founded 1853, incorporated 1855 and produced until 1886. Other marks found on hard rubber buttons and objects are: India Rubber Comb Co. (IRC Co.) and American Hard Rubber Co. (AHR Co.) and there may be others including "India Rubber". The "India Rubber" mark does not have the Goodyear patent information and may have been made in England or France or could be considered a "pirated" item lacking the required patent info. I know of one button style with this back mark, a cameo profile, one can assume this is an antique button due to the styling, it is not thought to have been made by any of the large companies noted above.

Hard rubber buttons will differ from other look-alike materials because they are back marked. Some dyed, pressed horn buttons are also back marked but they should not be confused. The company names shown above will appear on hard rubber buttons and objects, horn has different marks.

Collectors call hard rubber buttons "Goodyear buttons", Charles Goodyear held the patent but did not make any buttons. A relative of Charles Goodyear did produce pewter metal buttons much earlier than rubber buttons made an appearance, his name was Amasa Goodyear. Charles Goodyear's vulcanization patent expired in 1865. However, the Goodyear hard rubber patent of May 6, 1851 (covering buttons, combs, etc.) was extended (by Nelson Goodyear) in 1865 and did not expire until May 6, 1872. After the patent expired in 1872, the largest manufacturers still put their names on items they made. Many later Novelty Rubber Co. buttons are marked with only "Novelty Rubber Co." Additionally, the India Rubber Comb Co. (IRC Co.) used their name along with "Goodyear 1851" as a trademark and their successor, The American Hard Rubber Co., filed this as an official trademark in 1906 and used it at least through 1917.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Sometimes sifting is the only way to get the goodies.

When I visit button dumps, my sifter works magic!

 

[Blak bart]

Found some info that might interest!

The most common back mark found on hard rubber buttons (and other objects) is from the Novelty Rubber Co. which usually shows as "N.R. Co." abbreviated on buttons. N.R. Co. was founded 1853, incorporated 1855 and produced until 1886. Other marks found on hard rubber buttons and objects are: India Rubber Comb Co. (IRC Co.) and American Hard Rubber Co. (AHR Co.) and there may be others including "India Rubber". The "India Rubber" mark does not have the Goodyear patent information and may have been made in England or France or could be considered a "pirated" item lacking the required patent info. I know of one button style with this back mark, a cameo profile, one can assume this is an antique button due to the styling, it is not thought to have been made by any of the large companies noted above.

Hard rubber buttons will differ from other look-alike materials because they are back marked. Some dyed, pressed horn buttons are also back marked but they should not be confused. The company names shown above will appear on hard rubber buttons and objects, horn has different marks.

Collectors call hard rubber buttons "Goodyear buttons", Charles Goodyear held the patent but did not make any buttons. A relative of Charles Goodyear did produce pewter metal buttons much earlier than rubber buttons made an appearance, his name was Amasa Goodyear. Charles Goodyear's vulcanization patent expired in 1865. However, the Goodyear hard rubber patent of May 6, 1851 (covering buttons, combs, etc.) was extended (by Nelson Goodyear) in 1865 and did not expire until May 6, 1872. After the patent expired in 1872, the largest manufacturers still put their names on items they made. Many later Novelty Rubber Co. buttons are marked with only "Novelty Rubber Co." Additionally, the India Rubber Comb Co. (IRC Co.) used their name along with "Goodyear 1851" as a trademark and their successor, The American Hard Rubber Co., filed this as an official trademark in 1906 and used it at least through 1917.

Wow...nice work on the info smallfoot...good stuff there !!

 

[villagenut]

Sometimes sifting is the only way to get the goodies.

When I visit button dumps, my sifter works magic!

I often times bring buckets of good ole dirt home from old sites and water screen it in the backyard.....my wife thinks I am nuts

 

[smallfoot]

Just lucky on a search!