Hello- just did some internet searching and came up with these for your consideration:

Concerning the lamp oil:
"In 1863, the New York Petroleum Association established standards for
three grades of kerosene based on color and flashpoint, called the fire
test, in degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest grade was called “Straw to Dark
Straw”. The standard grade was called “Standard White” and specified to
have a flashpoint of 1100. The premium grade was called “Water White”
and specified to have a flashpoint of 1150. By the 1890’s “Water White”
kerosene usually had a fire test of 1500. A particularly safe grade
called “Headlight Water White” was marketed in the 1890’s, presumably
for use on carriages."  from http://www.oil150.com/essays/2007/02/kerosense-gasoline

Regarding the Venus watch cover, you might want to post a question and/or pictures on the forum website for The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectorshttp://mb.nawcc.org/.  They answer a lot of similar identification questions and should be able to help you narrow it down.


The sheep dip is listed in a reference to pages 637-638 of a scanned 1887 edition of  Chemist and druggist: the newsweekly for pharmacy, Volume 31 which is online on Google Books:  http://books.google.com/books?id=PybOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA638&dq=Morris,+Little+%26+Son+Limited,+Doncaster+sheep+dip&hl=en&ei=NOXCTK-jBIH98AbTyuHjBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Morris%2C%20Little%20%26%20Son%20Limited%2C%20Doncaster%20sheep%20dip&f=false

The reference just says that one of the winners of the first-class award in the "Adelaide Exhibition- Chemical Section" (which apparently was held in Australia in 1887) was "Morris, Little & Son Limited, Doncaster. Non-poisonous sheep dip, soluble phenyle, and disinfecting powders"

The "our own make" button is listed, but without great detail in the excellent archaeology of buttons document, "Buttoning down Archaeology" by Jennie Lindbergh published in Australasian Historical Archaeology 17, 1999 and available on line at  http://ashadocs.org/aha/17/17_04_Lindbergh.pdf  Included is a basic button bibliography.

Hope that helps-
Best wishes and good luck with your project!
-Leo Demski



> Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:48:13 +0200
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Identification / dating of metal items from South Africa
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Good day,
> 
> 
> 
> I am working on the material culture from the dumps of a farmstead situated in the north eastern Cape of  South Africa (district of Venterstad).  The site dates roughly from the 1880's until the 1920's.
> 
> 
> 
> I was wondering if anyone could perhaps assist with information or sources related to the following items (all metal) that were found at the site.  Anything that could assist with dating and / or identification (where applicable) would be much appreciated.
> 
> 
> 
> "American Waterwhite 150º" (lamp oil) - inscription on the remains of can
> 
> 
> 
> "Day & Martin LD  (18)97 London" - inscription on a lid
> 
> 
> 
> "Venus" pocket watch lid, with the inscription "0875" "84" 
> 
> 
> 
> "Norway" " 511"  "Norvege" - inscription on a small can 
> 
> 
> 
> "Morris, Little & Son Limited, Doncaster" (sheep dip) - inscription on the side of a few cans
> 
> 
> 
> "Port Arthur Texas" "USA" - inscription on the remains of a can
> 
> "T.T. CO" - inscription on a lid 
> 
> 
> 
> Sickle with the inscription "B.Y."
> 
> 
> 
> Button "Our own make"
> 
> 
> 
> "American White rose oil" - inscription on the remains of a can
> 
>  
> 
> Thank you very much.
> 
> 
> 
> Best wishes
> 
> 
> 
> Gerda Coetzee
> Department of Archaeology 
> National Museum 
> P.O. Box 266
> Bloemfontein
> 9300
> South Africa
> Tel.. 051-447 9609
> Fax  051-447 8043
> Sell  083 658 7875
> Email:  [log in to unmask]
> 
> National Museum website:  www.nasmus.co.za
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