Labor Day Hunt Yields A Decent Button And Another Mystery Piece Of Early Forged Iron (UPDATED PHOTOS AFTER INITIAL CLEANING)

[Doc Bach]

According to the Warren K. Tice book the back marked R&W Robinson button dates from circa 1834 to 1855.

This one is loaded with gilt and the photos just do not do it justice.

Has a very nice decorative rim.

I never imagened that a merc would knock the wind out of my sails but this one did as it was just a foot or so from the button😩

The whatzit piece of forged on the top and a pretty Cool multi kitchen tool on the bottom complete with corkscrew.It's most likely from a later period 1890's?

Any thoughts and opinions are welcomed about the iron relic. It's quite early in my opinion as it came from the same site that I have dug New York Legion and Phoenix buttons and the object pictured below that some of the more knowledgeable forum members and i agreed was probably a Guidon flagpole but cap could this be another one?

Thanks in advance for any information I tried to clean the button with the Andres relic pencils but did not like results that I was seeing 

Maybe lemon juice or naval jelly? There is a lot of gilt on this one that I would like to bring out.

 

[JCR]

Some very nice early items there.  Your button should respond well to lemon juice, Navel Jelly, lightly on a Q tip if stubborn.  The iron relic obviously attached to something wooden.  Thanks for the photos.

[Doc Bach]

47 minutes ago, JCR said:

Some very nice early items there.  Your button should respond well to lemon juice, Navel Jelly, lightly on a Q tip if stubborn.  The iron relic obviously attached to something wooden.  Thanks for the photos.

Thanks JCR I have been thinking about trying those techniques after reading some of the advice from commenters.

When I was a kid myself and my digging partner used crest toothpaste on everything (Barbaric)!

[kac]

Fine brass wire rotary wheel at slow speed or xxxx steel wool. I take a section of the steel wool and roll it up in a piece of paper to keep it together. Any acids will just pit copper alloys.

Have found 2 piece buttons here with similar pattern, guessing mid-late 1800's?

[JCR]

Abrasion is an enemy of Gilt, Silver wash or desirable patina.  Even when using something acidic like Navel Jelly on a Q tip, you want to let the jell sit just long enough to soften the surface crud, then, gently use the cotton swab. It's better to make several light attempts to get it how you want.   I will try lemon juice first if the item is just dull,  if it is encrusted with crud water will not remove, I use the Navel Jelly.     Navel Jelly also works well on Aluminum or Nickel plated items. I have used it with very good success on badly encrusted Silver coins.  It will eat bare Copper quickly, Brass is not as reactive but you have to be careful.  Always rinse the item well in clean water & thoroughly dry.

[Doc Bach]

2 hours ago, JCR said:

Abrasion is an enemy of Gilt, Silver wash or desirable patina.  Even when using something acidic like Navel Jelly on a Q tip, you want to let the jell sit just long enough to soften the surface crud, then, gently use the cotton swab. It's better to make several light attempts to get it how you want.   I will try lemon juice first if the item is just dull,  if it is encrusted with crud water will not remove, I use the Navel Jelly.     Navel Jelly also works well on Aluminum or Nickel plated items. I have used it with very good success on badly encrusted Silver coins.  It will eat bare Copper quickly, Brass is not as reactive but you have to be careful.  Always rinse the item well in clean water & thoroughly dry.

Howdy again JCR and thanks again for your sound advice....

I will pick up for some lemon juice or just buy a lemon and buy some naval jelly at the hardware or auto parts store I see that locktite makes it.Here is another photo after soaking in distilled water that shows off the Gold and what I'm dealing with in terms of the soil encrustation.

The button was down in the midden layer formed by thousands of years of Native American occupation and their fires hence the blackened carbon residue. If you look closely at the mercury dime which was near the surface you can see the stark difference in the soils.

It's probably just an optical illusion and I don't want to go into crazy land but I'm thinking that there is more to the picture than just the incised line pattern on the surface? It looks like a snake or ribbon pattern?

 

[F350Platinum]

I think it was JCR that got me going on the joy of lemon juice, do a Q-tip in it and swab gently, it will shock you. Rinse and done. Cool button! 👍

[JCR]

That button is going to clean up nicely. There does appear to be a pattern overlaying the lined background.  Please be sure and post a detail photo of it when you are finished with it.

[Doc Bach]

2 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

I think it was JCR that got me going on the joy of lemon juice, do a Q-tip in it and swab gently, it will shock you. Rinse and done. Cool button! 👍

Thanks 350! I am excited about trying it out!