Brass piece with logo of an S inside of a circle in the middle of a 4-pointed design (flower?)

[FindingHistory]

I have no idea what this brass item is. Found it in an old farm field that had a structure on it that shows up on an 1862 map, but didn't find anything of interest in that field other than this, a 1951 wheat penny, and a metal insert from a "spoon" fairway wood golf club driver from maybe early 1960s. I should've added something for scale, but the dimensions of the main curved square are 2" X 2" and the L-shaped tab at the tap extends upward 1/2" then maybe 3/4" to the right. It is about 1/8' thick, like a decent sturdy belt buckle, but it definitely doesn't seem to have any of the normal parts of a buckle. The bottom left corner of this has cracked off and I assume it had a symmetrical L-shaped tab at the bottom left, same as the one at the top left, but I don't know for sure. If that's the case and those tabs allowed the piece to move like a hinge, then they would have to be oriented/pivot vertically or else it would swing so that the letter S would be on its side, if that makes any sense. There is nothing of interest or markings on the back, just smooth cast brass.

Any company logo that matches the "S" inside the circle in the middle of that 4-pointed flower/cross design? I don't know much about Singer sewing machines but that's a thought... doesn't seem to match, though. Maybe something from an old steam engine tractor, or some decorative piece from a Franklin/pot-belly stove?

Thanks for anything you can come up with, and HH!

 

[Confetrit]

Sorry I can't be of any help with the I.D., but that is a cool piece. Hopefully someone will come along shortly with some help in getting this piece I.D.'d. Best of luck.

 

[u2robert]

I have no idea what this brass item is. Found it in an old farm field that had a structure on it that shows up on an 1862 map, but didn't find anything of interest in that field other than this, a 1951 wheat penny, and a metal insert from a "spoon" fairway wood golf club driver from maybe early 1960s. I should've added something for scale, but the dimensions of the main curved square are 2" X 2" and the L-shaped tab at the tap extends upward 1/2" then maybe 3/4" to the right. It is about 1/8' thick, like a decent sturdy belt buckle, but it definitely doesn't seem to have any of the normal parts of a buckle. The bottom left corner of this has cracked off and I assume it had a symmetrical L-shaped tab at the bottom left, same as the one at the top left, but I don't know for sure. If that's the case and those tabs allowed the piece to move like a hinge, then they would have to be oriented/pivot vertically or else it would swing so that the letter S would be on its side, if that makes any sense. There is nothing of interest or markings on the back, just smooth cast brass.

Any company logo that matches the "S" inside the circle in the middle of that 4-pointed flower/cross design? I don't know much about Singer sewing machines but that's a thought... doesn't seem to match, though. Maybe something from an old steam engine tractor, or some decorative piece from a Franklin/pot-belly stove?

Thanks for anything you can come up with, and HH!

It looks like a baggage tag but no numbers

 

[FindingHistory]

Sorry I can't be of any help with the I.D., but that is a cool piece. Hopefully someone will come along shortly with some help in getting this piece I.D.'d. Best of luck.

Thank you, Confetrit! It is a pretty cool piece - just hoping that it's older than the other stuff I found there.

 

[FindingHistory]

It looks like a baggage tag but no numbers

Thanks u2robert - a good guess, but you're right about the lack of numbers. It also seems thicker/heavier than the old style brass luggage tags with a hole in them.

 

[WV62]

Just a guess, but it looks like some kind of latch handle or a key. That flat arm that comes off that rounded arm at the top of the picture looks like it would key into another part of a latch that is missing.
Just something to think about.
Really nice find,
Ron in WV

 

[laplander]

I'm leaning toward buckle could you show some pics from side back etc...

 

[Draco]

I can see a worn area. Because of the strap maybe? As a Laplander, I think it may be some kind of belt buckle or vertical strapping. I think the piece on the opposite side is missing

 

[HuntinDog]

Can we get a picture of the back and a location of any possible break points??
I'm thinking the size and shape it might be a buckle cover for horse tack.

 

[FindingHistory]

Thank you WV62, Laplander, Draco, and HuntinDog! Sorry for my delayed reply.

Yes, my first impression was a buckle too. I also like Ron in WV's theory about some kind of a latch. I think that all of you have pointed out certain elements that are clues. Hard to tell... but the piece that is missing (breakpoint) is in vertical alignment with the letter S.

I've posted more photos to give a little more clarity & 3D view of it, what the back looks like, and where the one single break point that I can find is located. I've circled that single break point in yellow. Note that the L-shaped protruding piece not only protrudes upward, but it also is slightly lower than the plane of the main rounded square with the S on it, which I'm kind of wondering if Draco maybe is onto something about a vertical strapping and maybe it's something that slid up and down vertically. Hope this helps. I haven't cleaned it up too much and probably will toothpick it later, and if anything additional comes up I will post it, but I can see no writing other than the S. Thanks again! Let me know if you want to see more pics.

 

[FindingHistory]

Can we get a picture of the back and a location of any possible break points??
I'm thinking the size and shape it might be a buckle cover for horse tack.

Thanks, HuntinDog,

"it might be a buckle cover for horse tack" - now that I looked that up online, I can imagine that, too. There's one currently on eBay labeled "CIVIL WAR or 1800's BRASS HEART Harness or Bridle Buckle" and I can see it having some of the same characteristics. The modern ones look much thinner and are stamped out rather than cast, but still have a heart on them (Outfitters Pack Station website). Makes me wonder if maybe there were 3 total break points, the other 2 that I'm just not seeing due to patina or corrosion.

 

[HuntinDog]

They also called them Buckle Shields.

 

[2 Much Trash]

They also called them Buckle Shields.

That’s got to be it

 

[Missouri -- Ma Betty]

Can we get a picture of the back and a location of any possible break points??
I'm thinking the size and shape it might be a buckle cover for horse tack.

Maybe attached to a horse's bridle advertising the horse belonged to maybe the owner of the Circle S Ranch? Ma

 

[FindingHistory]

They also called them Buckle Shields.

Wow, HuntinDog, I think you nailed it!!! Sorry it took me a while to get back on here to reply. Amazing! Thanks so much, and happy hunting! Any clue to what year that catalog was from, probably late 1800s or early 1900s?

 

[FindingHistory]

That’s got to be it

Definitely agree!

 

[FindingHistory]

Maybe attached to a horse's bridle advertising the horse belonged to maybe the owner of the Circle S Ranch? Ma

Maybe so, I am wondering about that. As far as I know the property's been in that family (last name started with R) from mid-1800s until they sold it maybe in the 1950's (but are still living across the road, so I'm intrigued about the S.

 

[FindingHistory]

Wow, HuntinDog, I think you nailed it!!! Sorry it took me a while to get back on here to reply. Amazing! Thanks so much, and happy hunting! Any clue to what year that catalog was from, probably late 1800s or early 1900s?

Found it online -- 1907.