What is this shield shaped "badge"

[Don in SJ]

What is this shield shaped "badge"

The badge and other items found yesterday, on an earlier hunt a design button and a shoe buckle were found in same area


After cleaning I finally was able to determine the top word was WOODBRIDGE, and most of the other words and the number.


A photo trying to figure out the last two words, again, fairly certain the bottom word will be PHILADA, but the one below the number is a guess yet, perhaps THE PONY


Negative photo view of the badge


Comparison with previous found similar badge and a Martingale

Don

 

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[NHBandit]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Woodbridge Manor ? A key tag from a hotel or motel maybe ? Room 124, "front" could indicate more than 1 building or rooms in the front & the rear of the building. I'm betting there was a Woodbridge Manor motel in Philly at some point. The bottom 2 words are really tough to make out and my guess at front & an abbreviation for Philadelphia may be way off. A quick Google search came up blank.

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Aha I think I found something for you - 1880 Philadelphia Directory

Woodbridge, Annie M. harness 124 N. Front

eta- I think that word might be "Maker"

 

[Silver Searcher]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"



The second word looks like Maker, might this be some type of seal :P are the things at the back fixings or remainder of wire

SS

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Also - There is a Woodbridge, J. Harness Maker listed as early as 1861 Directory at the same 124 N. Front address. Might be there even earlier but haven't found anything more yet.

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Also - There is a Woodbridge, J. Harness Maker listed as early as 1861 Directory at the same 124 N. Front address. Might be there even earlier but haven't found anything more yet.

Well that's obviously it! Well done.

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Also - There is a Woodbridge, J. Harness Maker listed as early as 1861 Directory at the same 124 N. Front address. Might be there even earlier but haven't found anything more yet.

Well that's obviously it! Well done.

That is it for sure but not the era yet, I have found a Mrs Woodbridge (widow) living on N Front St between Arch and Market St (could be same or stones throw from present day 124) who was running a boarding house in 1785. Further research shows that Woodbridge name is listed as saddle/harness makers for quite a while, so still have to narrow down the date era, which I will still lean towards early 1800-1840 due to the PHILADA.....

Sounds like being tack makers ran in the family name for quite some time.

I look hard and wetted the area in front of FRONT, first off the R of Front barely shows but is there, but I see no N for North for sure, there is a letter or two there but not sure what it is.

Thanks Bramblefind for the fast work, FRONT was my first thought of that word, but made no sense, MARCI since it was handscribed made sense, thinking of Woodbridge as a name did not come to mind so therefore concentrated on why a badge would have two city names on it, and the only conclusion was stage coach line, just like more modern RR tags had that type of information.........

Don

 

[daroofa]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Not from Philadelphia, but maybe they did the same thing as New York. Date may be a little later too.

 

[Lucas]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Sure looks like the lead back to a brass boss to me. With maker's name and address.

Green check?

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

No green check till confirm date era. There was no question to about what it was constructed , more like what was the badge for and that is answered but not the date range, still working on that so no greeenieee check, yet.

Don

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

I know you think it is older but I have access to the Philadelphia directories prior to 1861 and in 1860 the only Woodbridge listed is James as a grocer at a different address than 124 N. Front. There also are other names associated with the 124 N. Front address prior to 1861.

I can get you the info.

I found James and Ann Woodbridge in the Philadelphia 1870 census. He is listed as a Harness Maker and born in 1813 and she in 1823. They are both listed as being born in England. I did not find them in the 1860 or 1850 census in Philadelphia.

Of course they could be indexed with a variation on the spelling of their name so they might turn up in earlier years - I did try a few variations though.

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

I know you think it is older but I have access to the Philadelphia directories prior to 1861 and in 1860 the only Woodbridge listed is James as a grocer at a different address than 124 N. Front. There also are other names associated with the 124 N. Front address prior to 1861.

I can get you the info.

I found James and Ann Woodbridge in the Philadelphia 1870 census. He is listed as a Harness Maker and born in 1813 and she in 1823. They are both listed as being born in England. I did not find them in the 1860 or 1850 census in Philadelphia.

Of course they could be indexed with a variation on the spelling of their name so they might turn up in earlier years - I did try a few variations though.

Again, my possible dating was based on the finds in the area and the spelling of PHILADA and that it is pewter/lead and not brass with filled lead in the back as my Martingale is. If they were not at that address prior to 1861 than it is most likely from that time frame. I am not totally familiar with how accurate the information for the directory is, I do know that census information has errors from doing my genealogy research years ago.

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

i thought it resembled these civil war id tags from one of my cw books

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

that martingale from your last finds also looks cw period

 

[vayank54]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

It's to a horse harness or bridle or something along those lines. I've dug similar ones at early 1800's sites. Your's looks to be pewter like the ones I've dug. I believe those do predate the civil war but cant swear to it.

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: What is this shield shaped "badge"

Well if the Philly City Directory is accurate and they were not boarders before 1861 at that address, it has to be 1861 or later. As far as the shield type shape, the other one I found years ago matches the US shield more than this one and saying CW based on Shield shape is not a firm statement since US Shield has been around long before the CW....
The Civil War era date unfortunetely does not match with the vast majority of relics and coins found in this area, but we all know any item can be lost at any time from passerbys...........eg: all those dang modern shotgun casings we all dig at "old" sites.

Don