new finds at a cellar hole

[bamaart]

So, I'm hunting an old 1700's site today and find a few items. Two flat buttons, and what I think to be silver plated buckle, and a harmonica with the wood still in it...cool. But when I get them home I realize that the buttons have something written on the back......Is there anything besides peroxide that will eat that crust off of the back ? I am out of peroxide and ...well first of all, I live in CT. but I am from the deep south, as is the sister that lives in the same house. She is a southern ex-marine with an attitude...and said that if I use any more of her peroxide that I would be sleeping outside. I believe her. I will catch a rattlesnake by hand, bite its head off and clean these buttons with snake oil before I use that last little bit of peroxide. So, back to the task at hand,...I will buy some peroxide tomorrow, but can any of you guys make out what is on the back of these buttons ? If I come back next time with mosquito bites, you will know what happened.

[Digger_O'Dell]

Looks like Scoville to me

[BTV Digger]

Nice finds. Yeah, that's a tough one on the button back marks. The first one just looks like a common decorative wreath pattern. The second one definitely has a back mark. Perhaps the generic "Rich Quality/London" back mark in fancy script. Those were made by the millions, and are attributable to several manufacturers back in the earlier half of the 19th century.

John

[MangoAve]

So you made it out this past weekend? Was this where the silver buckle came from? The top button just has a wreath, but might say plated as well. The other prob Scoville like the others said. 1812-1838 timeframe. Get peroxide @ walmart. Costs like 88 cents for the bottle.

[bamaart]

Thanks, I knew about the peroxide...I was messing with my sister.