Some finds from a Union camp

[Geologyhound]

This site has been in continuous use since the Civil War so there is a variety of ages to the items which can be found. The most interesting items are the button back, the old pocket watch, and the old pocket knife. The knife, the piece of rolled up scrap lead, and the belt buckle (modern style?) was found by my son on his first outing with my old detector. The lead and button back were in the “splash“ area of square nails from an old stockade. But, the 1957 penny was in the same general vicinity.

There are no markings on the button back that I can see. So I am guessing it is probably not military but I would appreciate any input if it looks familiar to anyone.

With a magnifying glass, I can make out fragments of a couple small letters on the back of the pocket watch - not enough to decipher. It looks like it was made to open. Not sure of the metal. It feels a little on the heavy side. The back might be brass. I am thinking the front might be steel. It rang up a solid 95 in a fire pit with blobs of aluminum, an old power saw blade, and tons of iron. So the whole watch was covered in a layer of black. There may be remnants of silver plate. I am guessing this is relatively recent?

Not sure what the aluminum caps are. There is a crimp side to them like they were attached to a cardboard tube.

This is the second shotgun shell (Western Super X number 12 paper case) I have found here. The rifle casing is FA 36 (Frankford Arsenal 1936).

There is also one item which has a thin metal “flap“. I don’t know if this was some part of a music box?

Thanks for looking and any help you can offer regarding some of the random items above.

 

[fwcrawford]

Can’t help you on the other items, but that reed plate is from a musical instrument… I have found them around old house sites.

 

[jim tn]

Some neat finds whether you can get a true I D, or not. Interesting spot and with all the nails and trash, suspect something good is hiding there someplace. HH jim tn

 

[Tinhorn]

really good finds, that is a great spot. Pocket Knife - About 1975 I found a pocket knife in a trench Civil War camp [ in some rocks they threw out the ditch ] & found a pocket knife. It wasn't rusted really bad (probably water went into the rocks off the knife) & could read the big blade. I could read "Beckmen Sheffield" or "Sheffield Beckmen" ( or Beckman ) I sent a letter to somebody History guy who said several "Jobbers"came from Sheffield, England to sell knifes to North & South soldiers. Maybe those letters you can see help. He said there were several "jobbers" from Sheffield & one of then was "Beckmen" & others. I gave all the relics I found to a College I went to & stupidly didn't take any pictures.

 

[NEPA Bud]

Think your looking at a pump organ reed.just found these someone got creative with

 

[Geologyhound]

suspect something good is hiding there someplace.

From the nail beds, I have identified about four buildings. A couple of them blend together. Wall-to-wall nails should’ve presented serious issues to any older detectors. It’s causing problems for me too, but I’m new to the D2. Even off the fast program and adjusting reactivity and sensitivity, i’m getting a lot of random sounds. It is hard to pick out consistent signals. I am hoping persistence pays off!

Think your looking at a pump organ reed.

That certainly does look like it! I never would’ve guessed. Thanks!

Maybe those letters you can see help.

Unfortunately about all I can make out on the watch is part of a V, and possibly part of a C or O. There was one other spot that looked like the point of a crescent moon.

 

[Ronstar]

Neat recoveries! Antique store might be able to look up what letters/symbols you can see and look thru their catalogs and find a match.

 

[Geologyhound]

Neat recoveries! Antique store might be able to look up what letters/symbols you can see and look thru their catalogs and find a match.

Thanks! I got a wild hair and looked up pocket watches with a crescent moon. There was a Crescent watch company from the late 1800s through about 1928 with a crescent moon and star stamp. They made gold, silver and nickel watches, so I’m wondering if this is actually nickel on the front. If I could find a serial number then I could find a date. But, finding any number is the problem – especially if it’s on the inside as this thing will never open again without breaking. I’m thinking about putting some hot peroxide on the back to see if I can clean it up a bit. That shouldn’t harm brass should it?

 

[JCR TX]

Peroxide will not hurt it.

 

[fwcrawford]

From the nail beds, I have identified about four buildings. A couple of them blend together. Wall-to-wall nails should’ve presented serious issues to any older detectors. It’s causing problems for me too, but I’m new to the D2. Even off the fast program and adjusting reactivity and sensitivity, i’m getting a lot of random sounds. It is hard to pick out consistent signals. I am hoping persistence pays off!

That certainly does look like it! I never would’ve guessed. Thanks!

Unfortunately about all I can make out on the watch is part of a V, and possibly part of a C or O. There was one other spot that looked like the point of a crescent moon.

I found this illustration in an 1897 Sears catalog (reproduction).
Not sure if this looks like what you have, but you mentioned you could see part of a crescent moon… this one was made by WESTERN.