Circa 1850's Suspender Buckle

[Neil in West Jersey]

I got out to a site near my home the other day. It was overgrown and trashy, but has produced some nice CW era finds in the past including an infantry button with the Steele & Johnson back mark.

I thought this was a piece of scrap until I carefully unfolded it and realized it is a suspender buckle, the second one of this type for me. It made my day. I cleaned it up a little using aluminum jelly and realized there was a nice design and some remaining gilt.
[attachment 137913 1850SuspenderBucklePatent.jpg]

 

[fwcrawford]

Man, you were bound and determined to ID that find.
I would not have a clue as to what that was if it weren't for the research you did.
Congradulations,
Felix

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

Man, you were bound and determined to ID that find.
I would not have a clue as to what that was if it weren't for the research you did.
Congradulations,
Felix

Felix,

Actually, someone from another forum identified it for me and sent me the patent, after I found one similar back in October of last year. That one had some interesting symbols on it. It turned out to be from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, or IOOF. Here it is:
[attachment 137977 scan0004.jpg]

 

[CSA GHOST]

That's some great research Neil, congrats!
David