Help with raised Number brass button/tag/disk whatsit?

[gitterdug]

Anyone got an idea what this is? I found it on a site that has military relics from 1850 or so, but I don't think it is military. The numbers are pretty stylized. The item is brass, and it is cast. The numbers are raised. The edges are not completely rounded over, but there is a "lip" edge. The center nub on the back appears to have been bradded. The thickness would be about right for leather I think. The little nub at the top of the back side is rounded, and I don't think it was ever at a point. Obviously, that added nub would suggest it was meant to keep it in place, and I would think it would be within a hole of some kind. Another feature that kinda struck me, was the hammered face

I think it might be railroad, or from a hotel, perhaps on a piece of leather for a key holder.......anyone seen one of these before? Know what it is? Thanks and HH

Gitterdug......

 

[SIdigger69]

Looks like an old hat badge, possibly police. The number would have been their ID number.

 

[gitterdug]

I don't think they are related to the local fire or police. I was a professional firefighter and have seen many of the historical cap badges and none looked remotely like that....even back before 1900. This was found in the vicinity of old Fort Worth. I suspect it came from the 1800's due to the style. No one I have talked to has seen it before in the area here. It may remain a whatsit forever. LOL. I make some deductive reasoning, as to what it is likely to have been, or attached to. I am still inclined to a Key fob for a hotel.....the "4" just looks so different to me.....oh well.....thanks to all.....

HH

Dennis

 

[C E Stricklin]

The numbers on the front look exactly like the head of a railroad date nail, placed in the end of railroad crossties to indicate the year and month (April 198 the xties were put into service so the railroad track maintainers would know how long the xties had been in use. Every xtie did not have a date nail only one xtie every 1/4 mile or so of railroad track. If this is a RR xtie date nail someone cut the 2" or so spike off the back and then hammered the nub to brad it.

I retired from the railroad after 30 years and have several of them, over the years depending on the time period, they were made of different types of metal, iron, brass, pewter and even cast aluminum (newer type). Also, after the xties began to be treated with creosote to prevent rot, the month number was dropped and the date nails only indicated the year placed in service.

Do an internet search for "Railroad Cross Tie Date Nails" for more information. One site states they started being used in 1899, but I have several in my collection that are older than that, my oldest dating to the civil war era.

 

[gitterdug]

n/t

 

[C E Stricklin]

You are correct, much too large to be a date nail as I suggested.

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[scubadetector]

The only disks I have ever seen like that were hat pins. The knob on top was to keep it upright and the middle was like a nut on a bolt. However I haven't seen or been able to find anything with an 884 on it, or anything even close to it. So I am at a complete loss myself. Hope you find the answer to that one!

 

[gitterdug]

n/t

 

[scubadetector]

I gooled steam engine 884 and found one was built in 1917 and sold in 1945 to Santa Fe and scrapped in 1947. The engine class is 882. Tried to find a picture of that class but no luck yet. Might be on the right track!! LOL pun intended!


http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/?page=atsf

If I understand what I am reading though, the number was changed to 884 in 1945 See note 3

 

[jmt48]

Awesome find!

Jerry