Need some ID help on these...Michigan detectorists??

[WessThompson]

Well, I hit an area along the water in Sarnia, Ontario last week. For those that don't know, Sarnia is right across the border from Port Huron, Michigan. I was plugging along not finding much of anything, aside from 1 musketball...when I came across these. I found them within' 20 feet or so of each other. I don't know a thing about these...other than they are lead bale seals. I've never found one before these two. I was hoping someone could help me out a little on a date for these!? I don't even know when they stopped using these...heck, maybe they are still in use!?!? As you can see...they both have identical markings...one side says "In Bond" and the other looks like "C.S.C PT.HU.MICH." I'm not 100% sure on the first "C" but that's what it appears to be!? I've tried some searched and came up with nothing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks very much

Wess

 

[Anonymous]

Wess you have a couple of bale/door/cargo seals which appear to be very old. My guess is that the CSC would be ? Steamer or Steamship Company. The Port Huron would have been the destination or the shipping point. I dont know about steamship seals but I have dug many railroad seals this year and have done some research on them. Similar railroad seals were used from the 1850s to around 1900. After that strap seals were used. These seals are an interesting relic of our countries past. I actually dug a seal this year here in Virginia from Canada. It has Canada Customs on one side and Saint Alberta on the other. That must have been one long trip for that cargo.

Marc

 

[WessThompson]

Hey Marc. Thanks for the reply and the info. From what I can find, "Port Huron" only existed as such since about 1830 or 1840...so I guess it's at least that new. It would be nice if I could find out some history on this pair of seals...but I am still happy with the find. My first seals. Saint Alberta!?!? Hmmm. Never heard of it!


Wess