Pioneer WATER, Resonant and Perfectly Patinated Old Cast Iron Street Water Valve Cover brass seal which I'd guess were likely

which I'd guess were likely the dates of birth of the three children of the woman who owned this

The exterior features both red

and perhaps feels all the holier for my lack of capacity to readily translate it

I found these this past summer at a flea market close to me and just pulled them out again--and was struck anew by the lovely and painstakingly executed passages of ornament on them

and surely this dancer with skirt aloft must have pleased the troops

Pioneer WATER, Resonant and Perfectly Patinated Old Cast Iron Street Water Valve Cover brass seal which I'd guess were likelyYou know I love found language (and what a resonant phrase here), and sometimes a great old cast iron object too. And I find the the graphic punch and clarity of the lettering on this just completely satisfying. This would have functioned as a street water valve access cover for a municipal water system, I believe. I found it in mid coast Maine and have since found one other example out there of this particular Pioneer Water cover, but in nothing like