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Keeping fingers crossed

Ronstar

Ronstar

Well-known member
Had an invite to go with a couple of guys just learning to metal detect and they were looking to me to share my knowledge. They both bought Nox800 so I’m out of my element as far as speaking their numbers.

In a field up behind the one guys house is the remnants of what used to be a couple structures. I learned the current house he lives in used to be up there and moved down to its current location in the early 1960s. When we got up there I noticed a lot of scrap metal including copper lines, cloth wrapped electrical wiring, smashed stove and ice box etc etc.
I saw and old porcelain sink laying in the mess and something shiny just under it. It has been out there in the open for over 60 years and no signs of weathering, interesting. I figure it weighs about 2 lbs and the base where the copper water line was attached is that nice green. I wiped off the small amount of dirt on it and stamped across the front is STERLING!!!!!!!
Will get it tested asap.
Keeping fingers crossed…….
 

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I’m thinking it could be the name of the company “Sterling Plumbing” and not necessarily Sterling Silver.
 
Preliminary test with cheap acid test is indicating 925…… needs to be professionally tested Im thinking. I’m not giving up yet……..🤞🏻

What little I can find so far the brand Sterling has a different font style (so to speak) and I am finding sterling silver fixtures……. You would think in a rich mans castle and not a simple farm house but who knows…..
 
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Ronstar said:
Had an invite to go with a couple of guys just learning to metal detect and they were looking to me to share my knowledge. They both bought Nox800 so I’m out of my element as far as speaking their numbers.

In a field up behind the one guys house is the remnants of what used to be a couple structures. I learned the current house he lives in used to be up there and moved down to its current location in the early 1960s. When we got up there I noticed a lot of scrap metal including copper lines, cloth wrapped electrical wiring, smashed stove and ice box etc etc.
I saw and old porcelain sink laying in the mess and something shiny just under it. It has been out there in the open for over 60 years and no signs of weathering, interesting. I figure it weighs about 2 lbs and the base where the copper water line was attached is that nice green. I wiped off the small amount of dirt on it and stamped across the front is STERLING!!!!!!!
Will get it tested asap.
Keeping fingers crossed…….
Click to expand...
Best of luck on your new treasure hunt…….Looks good to me
 
Is the inside of the valve the same color. You may be able to disassemble it. I also would think Sterling is a Brand name, but hey, I would also go back and look for that Gold toilet! Very neat.
 
JCR TX said:
Is the inside of the valve the same color. You may be able to disassemble it. I also would think Sterling is a Brand name, but hey, I would also go back and look for that Gold toilet! Very neat.
Click to expand...
Looking at the gouges and heavy scrape's.
I'm not not seeing bronze or brass underneath.
 
This is turning out to be a real detective case. Sterling Co was founded in 1907 and eventually bought out by Kohler (unk date). Back in their early days they did produce “high end” custom faucets and other hardware. I did find one example of a Sterling silver faucet set for some foreign royalty type (complete with engraving etc). They were a quality business way back when, the newer line bearing their name is still good but as most things not as solid built as way back when. This house was built in the early 1900s so…..
The one thing I simply can not locate is a picture or sketching of the Sterling brand logo. Thinking it might be a bit more fancy lettering would be plausible and definitive, the lettering here is straight forward and block style.
As noted, the base is heavy and solid and no indication of being a plating. We’ve all seen sterling rings with those same gauges and this is very much the same. I’m going back up and see if the other one is there, after all if real I’m up a $1,000 plus in scrap. If not, I’m up $1,000 in knowledge!!!!
 
Ronstar said:
This is turning out to be a real detective case. Sterling Co was founded in 1907 and eventually bought out by Kohler (unk date). Back in their early days they did produce “high end” custom faucets and other hardware. I did find one example of a Sterling silver faucet set for some foreign royalty type (complete with engraving etc). They were a quality business way back when, the newer line bearing their name is still good but as most things not as solid built as way back when. This house was built in the early 1900s so…..
The one thing I simply can not locate is a picture or sketching of the Sterling brand logo. Thinking it might be a bit more fancy lettering would be plausible and definitive, the lettering here is straight forward and block style.
As noted, the base is heavy and solid and no indication of being a plating. We’ve all seen sterling rings with those same gauges and this is very much the same. I’m going back up and see if the other one is there, after all if real I’m up a $1,000 plus in scrap. If not, I’m up $1,000 in knowledge!!!!
Click to expand...
As far as faucet quality today.
I'll take American Standard all day long.
Screw in replacement seats and valves.
Once installed. Never have to remove them.

As for your find. I'm thinking silver or a silver nickles alloy. Looks solid to me.
 
Mystery solved and silver confirmed!!! Well half way…….
Took the main body of the faucet in to a rock/jewelry shop with all the equipment needed to test and identify this STERLING marked object. After examining under magnification the jeweler asked if he could grind on the metal on the underside, initial visual decision was that it most likely is silver.
So he ground on the bottom of the shank first and then on the body of the faucet head then a quick acid test to confirm Silver Plated. He also said the yellow brass base was very high quality. He weighed it on their scales and it weighs 8oz. I can put this little tidbit to rest now.
Now back out there and see if the other faucet is still up there. No idea what silver plated yellow brass scraps for.

The other two pieces in the photo ate assumed to be the same as would have been normal back then. And I still can not locate an example of what the company logo would have looked like.
 

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Ronstar said:
Mystery solved and silver confirmed!!! Well half way…….
Took the main body of the faucet in to a rock/jewelry shop with all the equipment needed to test and identify this STERLING marked object. After examining under magnification the jeweler asked if he could grind on the metal on the underside, initial visual decision was that it most likely is silver.
So he ground on the bottom of the shank first and then on the body of the faucet head then a quick acid test to confirm Silver Plated. He also said the yellow brass base was very high quality. He weighed it on their scales and it weighs 8oz. I can put this little tidbit to rest now.
Now back out there and see if the other faucet is still up there. No idea what silver plated yellow brass scraps for.

The other two pieces in the photo ate assumed to be the same as would have been normal back then. And I still can not locate an example of what the company logo would have looked like.
Click to expand...
Be nice to find the spigot too.
May weight a pound. 🙂
Good Luck !!!
 
Ronstar said:
Mystery solved and silver confirmed!!! Well half way…….
Took the main body of the faucet in to a rock/jewelry shop with all the equipment needed to test and identify this STERLING marked object. After examining under magnification the jeweler asked if he could grind on the metal on the underside, initial visual decision was that it most likely is silver.
So he ground on the bottom of the shank first and then on the body of the faucet head then a quick acid test to confirm Silver Plated. He also said the yellow brass base was very high quality. He weighed it on their scales and it weighs 8oz. I can put this little tidbit to rest now.
Now back out there and see if the other faucet is still up there. No idea what silver plated yellow brass scraps for.

The other two pieces in the photo ate assumed to be the same as would have been normal back then. And I still can not locate an example of what the company logo would have looked like.
Click to expand...
It’s a definitely a high end vintage plumbing item. Just shine it up and ask if some is interested in buying it. You never know if it’s a collectible and worth more than scrap value.
 
That would certainly indicate a wealthy homeowner. Those people would have had coins to lose!
 
The original home was moved down to the bottom of the hill some 60 yrs ago. We scanned around the edges of the “island” where it appears most likely the root cellar may have been. Its nothing more than scrap metal and wood there now, field edge is right up to the island and we detected out some 50’ around it. Too many old nails and bolts etc. Wish I could have done this way back when……
 
That sounds like the kind of place you can hunt over & over and still find something interesting every time.
 
Ronstar said:
The original home was moved down to the bottom of the hill some 60 yrs ago. We scanned around the edges of the “island” where it appears most likely the root cellar may have been. Its nothing more than scrap metal and wood there now, field edge is right up to the island and we detected out some 50’ around it. Too many old nails and bolts etc. Wish I could have done this way back when……
Click to expand...
Be nice if you could scan Inside the house.
People who could afford faucets like that.
May have stashed wealth in hiding spots
 
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