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1800's I.O.O.F shield found with Ace 250

Z

zaxfire69

New member
Hello everyone. This morning i had a while to detect a site that produced a sweet 1800's I.O.O.F. Belt buckle. Well this morning I went back to the site for awhile and dug this amazing find. It is green patina brass. I haven't had a chance to research exactly what it is, but because of the 3 rings above the eye I do know it is from the Independent order of odd fellows. The 3 links stand for friendship, love and truth. All the other symbols I will have to research to learn the meanings of them. I do know that this exact shield was on the back of my I.O.O.F Patriarchs Militant belt buckle I found earlier in the year. Learned it was from the Late 1800's . I dug this with my Garrett Ace 250 around 4 inchs deep. It sounded off.

IMG_0235.jpg
 
I work in a club that was formerly an old mansion. I was poking around in the cellar one day and found a IOOF manual. It had all their secret codes and knocks and handshakes. I can't find it now but I think I still have it. I do recall they used certain colors with certain words to pass messages to each other about non IOOF who were within earshot. For example. If you said something like my wife bought me a new orange necktie it might mean that the guy I'm with wants to borrow some money and he is not a good risk. Don't do it. Conversely, my wife bought me a new green necktie might mean the opposite. There were all sorts of strange codes but the borrow money is one I remember clearly. I recall another that meant give me an excuse to leave (Hey Bill, your wife needs you home right away.) I thought it was extremely odd (pun intended.) The chapter in my town still meets and has a small hall above an old department store.

Really great find.

Chris
 
Unique find on that one .Nice dig
 
It's fun to try to guess what all the symbols mean. There is the all seeing eye of God. Lower left is the good Samaritan. The one might be life is in your hand. Things we need to do before time runs out is my guess for the last one. The skull had me stumped.
 
WOW that's a super find :surprised: i really love it. hope the research pays off let us know what you find out on it.
 
Guys and Gals. I am no closer to finding out what this find is than when i found it. I do know what the symbols mean, but do not know what the actual piece was called. That is the trouble with not having a I.O.O.F. lodge in my town anymore. I will find out eventually.
 
Hey zaxfire
It's sounds funny but sometimes EBay can be a descent research tool..I looked up IOOF Badges & was surprised to find a about a 150 to 200 items for sale.One of the last pendants I saw had the skull and cross bones.I bet any collector of this sort of stuff would be happy to fill you in.Ask some of the sellers Questions you have.Good luck & let us know.
pat
 
Uncle Willy said:
Did you look up the National Headquarters on the internet. Bet they could fill you in.

Bill
Click to expand...

I did contact them. They have never seen anything like this to date. Even the old timers didn't know about it. I know all the symbols meanings with the exception of one. I BELIEVE this represents the 3 degrees of odd fellowship. Read the paragraph that says (What you can tell others)... Here...http://www.ioofmembership.org/Membership%20Manual.htm
 
This one is a suspender buckle from the 1850s. It also has some odd symbols, such as keys and a fox. No one at the IOOF headquarters in SC knew what they were.
 
That is an awesome find and one of the reasons why this hobby is so addicting! So guys and the risk of sounding stupid, what is the I.O.O.F?

Oakman
 
International Order Of Oddfellows.
And that is as much as I know about the group.
 
Huh...? I've never heard of them. Were they like a secret society? Lots of hoodwinking and spanking.
 
Great find:cheers:
 
Guys I have yet to get a positive I'd on this piece. I sure wish I knew what it was. With all the History Channel shows about Secret Society I have started to research again. Haven't found anything on the Internet about this. I think it is rare and non of the members I have contacted want to discuss this. I hope one day to find out exactly what it is.
 
The I..O.O.F. is the oldest
Free Mason Society.
For information concerning them,
contact your local chapter,
they always welcome new members,
The only true way to learn their secrets.

My Father was an Odd Fellow.

dave...
 
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