Oldest US Item in your Collection

[suwanneetrader]

I thought we had an old post about this topic, but I can not find it. I did find Jerry's Oddest. I"ve had this for over 50 years, it was found in Cincinnati. What is left is about 34 inches long. It is hand forged probably by a Blacksmith, tip, hatchet blade and bridlehook broken off. Was heavily pitted and has just been oiled by me over the years, if ever marked not visible now. I think it is American Revolutionary period. I have a few pre Revolutionary items mostly American Indian But to me this may not be the most valuable but is the most interesting. Richard

 

[mmerc20]

That's a really cool piece. I like it. My oldest thing in the collection is this manual. It was printed in 1762 and although printed in England, it is the inscription that makes it US related.

 

"Belonged to Samuel Powel who was the last mayor of Philadelphia under the crown and the first mayor under our independence c. 1776 To Major WF Randolph from S. Powel."

 

Mike

[mmerc20]

The inscription

[BILL THE PATCH]

Here's a odd piece, my son in law was a A/F Engr. He was working at egglin af base doing construction. They were digging up one of the old ww2 spots that were left. He gave this to me saying it was part of the old ww2 foundation. I have no way of telling if it 75 years old or not. It serves me as a door stop. It just a hunk of cement.lol

 

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

 

[917601]

Union 3" Hotchkiss artillery shell base ( three groove) and body fragment recovered from the base of the Kennesaw mountain. Huge battle which ended in the loss of Atlanta. Interestingly, a few 1941 dated .50 cal brass casings were also dug with this lot.

[thorin6]

War of 1812, came out of Freehold, NJ. Most likely an artillery saber, unmarked with a German made blade. Passed on to me by my Mother-in-Law from her father. Unfortunately lost the chain, as she said it came from a neighbor who no longer wanted it sometime in 30's.

 

 

[suwanneetrader]

Nice to have the sheath and even tho broken it is better than most that old. Thanks for showing Richard

[Spathologist]

M1798 saber, Starr contract. I also have an example from the Buell & Greenleaf contract, but the Starr contract was the first, so, technically older.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[albatrosdva]

That chunk of concrete is a core. When testing the strength of concrete they will drill a core out like this so they see the composition of the concrete to know it's strength. Neat artifact.

[albatrosdva]

My oldest somewhat relevant piece, and also, within the family. I have other pieces, one of which I will share when it if finished (lock repair). This pair of stockings was used by my 4 Greats Grandfather Ephraim Ward who was born in Massachusetts in 1741 and died in 1818. The family note was written by his great granddaughter Ellen Ward in the 1890s and tells about her father wearing the stockings at his wedding in 1852 (sure wish the family had a wedding photo!). The stockings are certainly the style of those worn in the Revolution but I cannot prove if they are 1760 or 1810. Still a neat piece.

[albatrosdva]

more stocking, hope you don't mind

[mikie]

My oldest US military items are in this display box. It's a piece of wood salvaged from the USS Revenge, Benedict Arnold's flagship during the battle of Valcour Island in October, 1776. Also a couple of Revolutionary War era musket balls. I've had these for ages. The corner of the old label had some damage and in my foolish youth tried to fix it and only made things worse. Sage advice, leave stuff alone!

 

 

Mikie

[Skysoldier80]

So this is US Militara per say, but you asked what was the oldest thing in my collection?

 

On a TDY to the UK, I hit up some shops and bought a Viking Fielty Bracelet c. 900AD-1100AD. Quite proud of this! The oldest thing that I have ever seen and been able to touch that is not in a museum.

 

This came out of a collection of a Austrain Viking Collection who passed a away. I have a whole provenance letter in a safety deposit box.

[suwanneetrader]

When I started this topic I had hoped we would see some really early rare equipment and weapons (primarily US) although those who have responded have some rare and interesting other items in their collections and thanks for posting. Richard

[General Apathy]

When I started this topic I had hoped we would see some really early rare equipment and weapons (primarily US) although those who have responded have some rare and interesting other items in their collections and thanks for posting. Richard

.

Hi Richard, an interesting topic as a thread, I would say my oldest US military item would be around 1890 but apologies not to hand presently.

 

However my oldest military item is this Roman legion insignia circa AD 133 . . . . . . . a gift from a local French stone mason I have engaged in the past to work on my Normandy stone house, the Romans and the Vikings both occupied Normandy in their relative time periods.

 

A similar stone featuring a wild boar can be seen in this UK English Heritage website covering the roman built Hadrian's wall.

 

 

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall/hadrians-wall-history-and-stories/history/

regards lewis.

.

 

[Skysoldier80]

You win oldest item! Thanks for sharing. That is coin is super cool

[6th.MG.BN]

My oldest item is two promotions to a father and son in a double sided picture frame.

The fathers promotion is to William Potter to the rank of captain in the NY 121st. Regiment of infantry dated June 23rd. 1826 and signed by the NY Governor De Witt Clinton. He was the one who built the Erie canal.

On the back is a promotion for his son William Potter Jr. to Lieutenant in the NY 121st. Regiment of infantry, dated September 8, 1823 and signed by NY Governor Joseph C. Yates.

Ken

[6th.MG.BN]

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