Buttons and other interesting finds.

I found this button the other day:

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I think it starts a new thread on debt or real estate.
 
^^^ Looks like an "irrelevant" button to me. :|

Perhaps it would be better to post it in one of the crap threads you are referring to rather than this one which is trying to be at least slightly interesting and informative.
 
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Im guessing this is from a military uniform. Could date from the 1850s or 1860s. Unlikely to have anything to do with real estate.
 
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An old beer bottle found by a person I know. He was digging a metal target and came across this about 8 inches deep in clay. Amazing that he didnt bust it as the target he was seeking was another 3 inches under the bottle. The metal target was a piece of crap, but the bottle is a beauty.


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It is a hand made 3 piece bottle. Made by or for "Machen & Co".

The full writing on the base says: Machen & Co. Beer merchants Liverpool.

Parts of the writing have melted where a pontil was attached when the bottle was assembled. The writing was put on the base of the bottle before it was put together.

There are thousands of pieces of these bottles around old diggings areas. Hard to find one intact and even rarer to have a makers name on the base.
 
now i bet that could tell a story, imagine what it was like out there, drunk people with gold or no gold.
very kool bottle !
 
^^^ Love the info about the Maitland Bar gold nugget.

"The Maitland Bar.

This gold nugget - one of the few in the world that has not been melted- was found on the Hargraves field in 1887."

There you have it folks. Virtually all gold nuggets unearthed before 1936 (date of the article) have been melted.

That's a lot of nuggets. Makes you wonder what the remainders must be worth. :/
 
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This is the top of an old bottle complete with cork and wire. Not certain if this was a beer, wine or spirit bottle.
 
willrocks said:
To remove ALL the rust, soak them in molasses and water (1:9) for two to three weeks. Get cheap molasses from a stock feed store.
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I should do this.

My old man used to do this to vintage and classic car parts. I reckon he used a 1:4 mixture. Definitely works to clean ferrous metal. I will get some and give the 1:9 brew a go.
 
Here's some more buttons...


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Legible names and brands include:

Everlasting Wear
Best Ring Edge
SWS & Co.
Gardiner Cridland & Co.
Staller and Miller - Ballarat

Old Buttons are tricky to clean and identify due to their fragility. Same goes for old chinese coins.
 
Eureka Moments said:
Old Buttons are tricky to clean and identify due to their fragility. Same goes for old chinese coins.
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Large nuggets and specimens are difficult to move.

The "Beyers and Holtermann Specimen"

The world's largest single mass of gold is correctly not a nugget it is a specimen also known as a matrix. However, gold is gold whatever the name tag and an estimated 3,000 ounces of gold makes "THE BEYERS AND HOLTERMANN SPECIMEN" the world's largest single mass of gold.

The Beyers and Holtermann Specimin Beyers and Holtermann were partners in setting up the Star of Hope Mine like many others on the side of Hawkins Hill, Hill End. Later a company was formed and listed on the stock exchange, at this point Beyers and Holtermann remained major shareholders with one sixth each. Beyers had no physical attachment to the mine while Holtermann became above ground mine manager. At this point in time, 2 a.m. on 19th October, 1872 and after the midnight firing a "veritable wall of gold was revealed".

On 26th October, 1872 The Town and Country Journal reported in its telegram section under the heading Hill End, Saturday, "Holtermann's landed a specimen last night weighing between 6 and 7 cwt., supposed to contain 2 cwt. of gold. More in the bottom. Great excitement."

It was photographed, measured and displayed. It is believed to have contained 3,000 ozs. of gold. This is the largest single mass of gold ever known to be recorded and it wasn't a one off. The quote, "monster specimen" was crushed with 272 tons of other ore from the mine at the Pullen and Rawsthorne Stamper Battery yielding 15,488 ozs, and 11 dwts, of gold. A few months later a larger one was found and recorded in the day book from the mine.

The record stated estimated gold content 5,000 ozs. with a total weight estimated at 7 cwt., the miners broke it up underground not wanting the arduous task of man handling another large piece to the surface just to see it eventually broken up and smelted. Holtermann resigned. History Hill purchased from Holtermann's great grandson, Harry Holtermann much of the said Holtermann's personal artifacts. Day books from the mine, collectibles and most important a treasured souvenir. Holtermann chipped the tip off the World's Largest piece of gold. All that remains is now in The Holtermann Room, History Hill, with much more.
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That's 350 kg approx!!
 
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This ones for Ironwood! :)

A lead Red Indian. My mate found it and thought it was a deformed bullet when he first showed me. It was still caked in clay. I cleaned it a bit and saw the headdress sticking out. :)
 
mmm....shiney! said:
You could sell that and get a good price I reckon EM.
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Not mine. :( But isnt it a ripper. Hasnt had a decent clean which would show even more fine details. Cool moulding.

I asked a couple of friends if they could let me take pics of some of their favorite finds and share. Hoping to get some other bit and pieces soon, including some trading tokens. :)
 
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This is a brass thingy that used to attached to another thingy by the ring thingy on the top. It has a cross thingy on one side and a planty, viney thingy on the other.

It's about an inch (25mm) long, but a piece has broken off the bottom of the heart shaped thingy so I dont know what its original size or use was.

Any info anyone can provide about this thingy would be highly appreciated. :)
 
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