[James Kraft]

Former "Lady Selborne Area" / Suiderberg finds



http://treasurehunters.co.za/forums/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=51

After sitting pointlessly at home today I started mapping the timeline of Pretoria's suburbs on Google earth and realised the area where I assumed the Old Indian shop was in Suiderberg was actually established in 1905 as a "multi racial township" known as Lady Selborne later demolised in the lated 40's or 50's. So armed with new knowlede of the area, I went back there today and believe me I'm glad I did.

Managed to find:
A sugar spoon - Lol, 3rd spoon in the area
A 1945 South Africa 6D (6 Pence)

And something that really blows my mind and need identifying:
At first I thought it was a railway or transit token but could just be some sort of Military Medal.

It has the Pretoria Coat of Arms in front with the enscription "Praestanua Praevaleat Pretoria" on the front and on the back Capital Letters "PM" on top with a number 2849. No more, no less.

Googled the wording. The closest I got was "Praestantia Praevaleat Pretoria? (meaning, "May Pretoria Be Pre-eminent In Excellence") which was on the World War I service medal. A little-known bronze medal was given by the city council to citizens of Pretoria returning from service in the First World War.

I dobt however it is and am looking for some pointers as to who can Identify this piece for sure. I will try and post a clearer picture as soon as I can.

[James Kraft]

Okay, this little round thing kept bugging the living daylights out of me....
So after searching all different angles I finally came up with the correct answer. It is not a service medal but a "Pretoria Municipal Quarry Token". Also found a clear picture on bidorbuy.

Pretoria Municipality Quarry Token
Issued to Native labourer for one weeks work. The labourer on handing over this token got his money for the week. Used between 1913 and 1959. Measures approx. 2.8 cm in diameter.

Finally my mind can rest on this one

[Allen]

Well done !  A positive outcome. The research is just as much fun as the detecting.

[Darrenjay]

I think they punch the holes once e token has been redeemed

[James Kraft]

Lol Oldsalty
I have to agree. I just could not get my mind off from not knowing what it is. I knew it was old and had significance but could not lay my finger on it. A war medal did not make sense in an abandoned / demolished "multi racial township" area. This on the otherhand makes perfect sense.

Agree Darrenjay
This is quite possibly true. Will have to investigate it. Apparently the redeemed the token for money. Have not read up on it as yet.

What a great ending for this weekend. love it!!

[Peter Callahan]

Awesome..I get goosebumps when someone finds things from way back when. This is what its all about. The research, the find, the research again..just makes you want to hunt hunt hunt.

[Grondgeralder]

I wonder how much beer those wages could buy.

Awesome find!

[James Kraft]

Well, I hit Lady Selborne again today. Have to finish the area before the RDP houses project starts. As soon as this happens, all history will be lost forever.

Appart from the usual junk metal, bottle caps and rusted tins I must say I had some interesting finds today.

Below the following:
A) 2 x Old spoons - Possibly old desert spoons. This now brings the total to 5 spoons in this area without a single one being the same as the other.
B) A small bottle - Suspect it might be a small perfume bottle of sorts.
C) Rusted old padlock with makings "RD" in front.

Last but not least the items of the day that really made me jump for joy. Yes, I know that a lot will not agree or share my enthusiasm but to me they are awsome!!!
D) 1 x Live .303 round with markings RL II C - 303 Mk 2 Cordite charge bullet manufactured by the Royal Laboratory, Woolwich Arsenal, Kent England. The stopped manufacturing in 1957 - I am of oppinion that this bullet might have bee accidently dropped by a policeman during the eviction of the Lady Selborn residents and the demolishment of their homes in the early 1950's.

E) The brass centre piece of an old wooden ruler - I almost did not recognise it but recalled my late father having one of these when I was a kid. They used to fold open and extend to about a meter in lenght.

F) My pride and joy - A Pretoria Cycle / Rywiel Bicycle License Tag valid from July 1950 to June 1951 as indicated on the tag. I love it. Just awsome!!

Well, since I am on annual leave I guess Lady Selborne will be my hunting ground in days to come. I have till 6 October to work through the area before it is back to work. That is my 2 cents worth for the weekend thus far. Coil to the soil boys and girls.......

[James Kraft]

Oops...Almost forgot. Found another interesting piece.

It seems to be a brass cap or lid or something made by Guest & Chrimes Ltd, Rotherham, England. No clue what it is though. Established the following regarding the company:
The company produced water pipes, gas pipes and fittings, taps and valves, fire hydrants and water and gas meters.

[Peter Callahan]

Some awesome finds of history. I hope you do manage to find all the old relics from the past before the RDP houses move in.

[Grondgeralder]

That looks like a good spot for old stuff. Awesome finds.

[James Kraft]

Well, here is my 2 cents worth on Lady Selborn today. Even had a traffic officer on Motorcycle popping in to see what was going on. Yesterday it was 2 police officers. Must say it makes you feel a bit more at ease in the open veld when they pop in every now and then....

Anyhows, today Lady Selborne gave some history back again:
An old small Lennons bottle (Nice little thing)
A broken metal heart with lettering Pretoria and 1927 stamped on it. Guess its some sort of pendant or something.
A brass lid - Pissibly an old jewelry case or something similar. Like the patterns on it. Pitty the jewelry was nowhere to be found....Lol
A bicyble tag again. This one is marked from top to bottom: Wielbelasting, Transvaal, Rywiel, 1958, Cycle, No. 232112, Wheeltax. Imagine that, having to pay tax on your bicycle.....Hehehe

A 1952 Georgivs Sextvs Rex 1D Coin.
Did some searching on it and found the following:
The coin is made of bronze and measures 30.8mm in diameter. The front bears an image of King George VI and the words "GEORGIVS SEXTUS REX" (Latin for "George the Sixth, King"). The back bears an image of the a ship (the Dromedaris) on the ocean under full sail, with the date "1952" above, "SOUTH AFRICA" to the right, "SUID-AFRIKA" (Afrikaans for "South Africa") to the left, and "1 D" (abbreviated latin for "One Penny") below. 12,674,000 of these coins were produced for circulation in 1952, with another 16,000 minted in Proof for collectors.

Anyhow, hope you all had a great weekend. For me, tomorrow the hunt continues.....Coil to the soil

[James Kraft]

Definately Gremlin. Really some old stuff there. They might not be of significant monetary value but to me anything historic is a great find. Just love old stuff. Love looking them up and seeing how things used to be. Even found some old pot lids today....Lol.

[James Kraft]

Well I was back at L.S again today. Unfortunately the section I did was quite messy with a lot of junk metal. Seems to be the area where one of the houses stood. Uncoverd some window frames and a variety of bottle caps and can lids. Hunting was extremely slow due to the amount of junk causing the Xterra to go mad. Anyway, did find some interesting stuff:
For a change I found a fork and not spoons....Lol
A large but severely damaged wrist watch. Does not seem like something old though but must have looked impressive when it was new.
A 1965 Suid Afrika 2 cent
A metal badge still to be identified. I managed to clean it up with after the pic was taken. The soild was severely compacted onto it causing the paint to come off during the cleanup. It is an Eagle perched with spread wings. On top overlapping is the letters CVA. All capital letters with the V in the middle and larger than the other letters. Mystery at this stage.

What can I say, not everyday will turn up fantastic finds but these still get my vote just for being interesting. Back again tomorrow. Lets hope for better hunting. Coil to the soil everyone.

[Grondgeralder]

You lucky ducky.

Do a quick bid or buy search for "ZAR Silver"