these must have had another use

[CASPER-2]

these finds were made by aquachigger the other day

they look mostly from the 1600 - 1700s
I am curious about the circled item
some think they are flintlock screws - but flintlock screws are usually iron/steel and
are threaded differently
the consensus from others that they are screws for furniture drawer plates
which I have seen screws from furniture from 1800s back that seem to match
my question is - does anyone know of a secondary purpose they may have been used
cause I have found like 5-6 of these and have seen many others posted on forums and found by friends
but they are found with no other hardware what so ever - and have found all mine in farm fields and a couple in fields that were old colonial fort sites and have to wonder if they used them for something else off of broken furniture
I guess they could be used as a tamper - but think there was some other purpose that they might have been carried - maybe they used them to clean their ears
any thoughts?

 

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[Broken knee]

There drawer pull studs they go through the escutcheon plate.
BK

I think when there was a fire they would spreed the debris in the fields.
Adding nutrients, the other possibility intentional fires for trash and junk with the same purpose in mind?

 

[DCMatt]

It seems pretty heavy for furniture. The ball finial is almost as big around as the nearby wheatie in the pic. I'm thinking something from farm machinery or a harness set up.

DCMatt

 

[Minrelica]

I agree that it looks to be too heavy duty for furniture due to the fact the threads end so far back from the ball

 

[Breezie]

There drawer pull studs they go through the escutcheon plate.
BK

I think when there was a fire they would spreed the debris in the fields.
Adding nutrients, the other possibility intentional fires for trash and junk with the same purpose in mind?

I agree with BK. Not all hardware was small. Actually, we need the exact length and diameter of the finial ball. Breezie

 

[CRUSADER]

BK nailed it:
(I'm guessing the hole is down, in the picture, I get loads of these)

UK Finds Database - - - UKDFD

 

[releventchair]

Circled item seems to have a square shank,kind of rules it out as a top jaw screw. Many too had a through hole in ball for torque.
Its great with your huge amount of finds an occasional question surfaces!

 

[BosnMate]

With the square shank it had to accept a nut, because it can't turn, so that makes me think that like a carriage bolt, the squared part is to keep it from turning when the nut is tightened, which also means that it was probably used in wood.

 

[CASPER-2]

There drawer pull studs they go through the escutcheon plate.
BK

I think when there was a fire they would spreed the debris in the fields.
Adding nutrients, the other possibility intentional fires for trash and junk with the same purpose in mind?

if they burnt a bureau - there would be many of these and you would find handles and plates too I would think or pieces of them
if they decided to save the brass hardware - then they would have to remove these screws to get them off and you would not put them back
- I have never found 2 totally indentical ones
I dont think I have found 2 in the same field -
that is why I wonder if they may have had a secondary use and some carried them for some other reason than discarding them
they might have even tried firing them out of a musket

 

[Broken knee]

if they burnt a bureau - there would be many of these and you would find handles and plates too I would think or pieces of them
if they decided to save the brass hardware - then they would have to remove these screws to get them off and you would not put them back
- I have never found 2 totally indentical ones
I dont think I have found 2 in the same field -
that is why I wonder if they may have had a secondary use and some carried them for some other reason than discarding them
they might have even tried firing them out of a musket

Yikes, I don't think I'd try firing that out a gun! I guess my point with the fire debris or ash, was if a house burnt down that material was spread in the fields as soil amendment's. In the fields that hunt I have found multiple broken bat wing plates and more of the items in question. These fields have been turned over every year for 300 plus years, so stuff is all over the place. These fields also harbor large quantity's of un or partly burnt coal and clinkers adding to the ash-fertlizer connection. in those days the fire's were fought with buckets and more often then not the entire house/structure was consumed. I would assume some things were found in the ashes and saved what wasn't found was shoveled in the wagon and spread out. To me this seams to be the only plausible answer? well it's something to think about? HH
BK

 

[PeteWmass]

also why sifting cellar holes is so productive too.....sometimes those places would burn down several times....keep using the same foundation...

 

[CASPER-2]

Yikes, I don't think I'd try firing that out a gun! I guess my point with the fire debris or ash, was if a house burnt down that material was spread in the fields as soil amendment's. In the fields that hunt I have found multiple broken bat wing plates and more of the items in question. These fields have been turned over every year for 300 plus years, so stuff is all over the place. These fields also harbor large quantity's of un or partly burnt coal and clinkers adding to the ash-fertlizer connection. in those days the fire's were fought with buckets and more often then not the entire house/structure was consumed. I would assume some things were found in the ashes and saved what wasn't found was shoveled in the wagon and spread out. To me this seams to be the only plausible answer? well it's something to think about? HH
BK

would never think to fire out of a modern weapon but
they fired stones - nails and broken glass -out of their muskets - blunderbusses and musketoons - dont see why they would not fire one of these if they ran out of lead
most of mine were found behind the original 1700 houses and in a fields not even near a house
partners have found some in the same fields and none match - different threads - some are longer - some are larger
if I or friends found 2 - 3 or more in one field and they matched closely then the burning of furniture would be plausible
I just dont believe they would burn the furniture with the brasses still on them
now if you sift a cellar hole of a house that was burnt with everything in it - then of course you would find a bunch of these but you would also find a bunch of handles and plates too
- if you are going agree that you would use a part of a broken spoon for another use - why would you not use metal off of something else damaged or broken too

 

[Broken knee]

would never think to fire out of a modern weapon but
they fired stones - nails and broken glass -out of their muskets - blunderbusses and musketoons - dont see why they would not fire one of these if they ran out of lead
most of mine were found behind the original 1700 houses and in a fields not even near a house
partners have found some in the same fields and none match - different threads - some are longer - some are larger
if I or friends found 2 - 3 or more in one field and they matched closely then the burning of furniture would be plausible
I just dont believe they would burn the furniture with the brasses still on them
now if you sift a cellar hole of a house that was burnt with everything in it - then of course you would find a bunch of these but you would also find a bunch of handles and plates too
- if you are going agree that you would use a part of a broken spoon for another use - why would you not use metal off of something else damaged or broken too

Sorry, Casper I digressed from your question with my response.
I was trying to theorize why all the furniture hardware is scattered about these older field sites? I don't believe the hardware was just carried around in peoples pockets and lost? Hence the fire theory? And yes I do think those could have been used as tampers as well, and why not if it fits the pipe use it? Those folks had limited resources and used and reused what ever they could. In the sites I've been hunting the amount of pipe fragments that I eyeball and keep one would expect to find more of these items? On the other hand having a utilitarian use as a tamper they would have been coveted as a good pocket knife is or was and not often lost? Any way It's something to ponder over? HH
BK

 

[CRUSADER]

UK Finds Database - - - UKDFD

Why the lengthy discussion?

See above link, this one is solved.

I hardly ever find the plates in the same area, they were most likely taken off & saved or scrapped with the rag & bone man.

If you want to think about all the possibilities of 'how' they got there & burning furniture is one, then this is an endless arguement.

 

[Broken knee]

UK Finds Database - - - UKDFD

Why the lengthy discussion?

See above link, this one is solved.

I hardly ever find the plates in the same area, they were most likely taken off & saved or scrapped with the rag & bone man.

If you want to think about all the possibilities of 'how' they got there & burning furniture is one, then this is an endless arguement.

Cru, why must we question random banter on a cold winter morning? I was interested in the question Casper posted. I'm not normally long winded, so next time I will shorten my responses. Thank you for pointing that out!!
BK

 

[RelicHunter97]

Okay, I'm not denying anyone's expertise, but I'm not completely sold.
What evidence is there that it is from a drawer? People on the internet can say many things :P
Like I said, I don't mean to sound like I doubt the wisdom of others, I just want to know for myself, because my cousin and I have found a few of these and weren't certain on their ID.
Thanks
-Anthony

 

[Breezie]

Okay, I'm not denying anyone's expertise, but I'm not completely sold.
What evidence is there that it is from a drawer? People on the internet can say many things :P
Like I said, I don't mean to sound like I doubt the wisdom of others, I just want to know for myself, because my cousin and I have found a few of these and weren't certain on their ID.
Thanks
-Anthony

Anthony, I can say I know these are drawer pull studs that go through the escutcheon plates because I've seen hundreds of them over the past years (41 yrs. to be exact) of buying/selling antiques & collectibles. I could go through my house and/or shop and take photos for you, but since CRUSADER has already posted a page with photos that would not be necessary. I would suggest you take some time to visit a few antique shops, and look at the hardware on the furniture. This way you can be 100% sure, plus it will give you the knowledge and experience so when someone ask you later on, "what is it?" you can answer with conviction. Breezie

 

[RelicHunter97]

Okay thank you ^_^
I've just never seen such a thing, but hearing it from someone who has seen them for a good part of their life reassures me.
And I love going to antique shops, but I've never seen those.

 

[Breezie]

Okay thank you ^_^
I've just never seen such a thing, but hearing it from someone who has seen them for a good part of their life reassures me.
And I love going to antique shops, but I've never seen those.

Mmm, after reading your reply, I realized I didn't explain correctly. When you visit antique shops, you're probably not going to find them lying around in a box for sale. I meant to look at the hardware on the furniture and open the drawers to see how these screws/studs are made and used. Happy Hunting Breezie

 

[CASPER-2]

UK Finds Database - - - UKDFD

Why the lengthy discussion?

See above link, this one is solved.

I hardly ever find the plates in the same area, they were most likely taken off & saved or scrapped with the rag & bone man.

If you want to think about all the possibilities of 'how' they got there & burning furniture is one, then this is an endless arguement.

I know what the items are - that was not my question here -
alot of these items were most likely UK made in the 1600s early - 1700s and brought over
just like everything else back then - we did not have scrap /rag men in this country to a little latter on in our history
we did not have a ton of raw materials back then just yet and things were recycled till they had no use in them
I am from Ma. and been hitting colonial areas since 1975
I find many old brass, copper and lead items that started out as one thing and were turned into other items
or used for some other purpose -also the areas I hit had tons of indians and they took many items or traded for items and used them for their own purposes
We find small cups that were made from hammered coppers - I found a spoon that that was definitely made from something else - we find the ends of the seal & baluster spoons that a bunch agree were probably used as tampers
have found whizzers made from all kinds of items - I have copper arrow heads that were made from odd pieces of copper or brass
and knew a guy that had a bunch of arrow heads you could see were made from coppers
My father contacted me after talking to him about this - he has a friend with an old powder horn and guy has a large one of these he has in it for a plug
so there is one example of it being re-used
THIS was my point and question

Like I said - if I hit a cellar hole or a field behind an old house and found different types of hardware - then that would answer that
but some of these were found out miles away from a house or cellar at small stockade 1600s fort sites and mostly what else was found was musketballs
a few coins and a few buttons - so it got me wondering what other purpose could one use one for