Small metal plate

[robertochicago]

Hello All! I found a bunch of these small metal plates at an old farm. They are non-ferrous, and I think they might be brass. One has what I believe to be the word "TRIANGLE" on it. I found them amongst a bunch of garbage, oyster shells, broken plates and bones. Could be the lid to a mason-type jar? Any ideas? Seems too heavy to be a jar lid...

 

[pplinker]

Might be part of a childs set of play dishes.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

I thought maybe an ashtray but no groove for the cigarette...

 

[robertochicago]

I think you could be right about the ashtray. I went back to the same spot today and found a bunch more of them. I also picked up a broken plate and it was from Triangle restaurants. I did a google search and found it was a restaurant chain in Chicago that started in the 1920s. I think I found their dump site. Why they would throw all of these away? The land is a long gone farm that is probably hiding some goodies, but these little plates are everywhere and sound like coins

 

[pplinker]

Without the groove it wouldn't be too functional as an ashtray. Maybe it was a little plate that held mints on each table. Gather them all, if you can't use them, brass is good scrap.