Found this reflector(?) (maybe there is a better name for it) while metal detecting in Chicago, the shield faintly says Oldsmobile very faintly in a cursive font. The base is metal but the shield appears to be made of molded rubber covered in red glass.

Any idea what this specific object is, when it was made and to what model?

Any info you can give would be so helpful. Thanks so much!

 

I'm going to guess that maybe it was the center of a hub cap. As to what year, I'm thinking 70's era with the plastic red reflector.

 

Its much older than the 70's.

Early 1900's is more like it if you compare to these:

http://www.antiqueolds.org/images/Ol...-1901-1915.jpg

 

Sorry, no. That's the snap-in center from a wire hubcap from the 1980s, when Olds went back to that logo, likely from a Cutlass Ciera or FWD Omega. It's nothing special and certainly not worth anything in that condition.

 

Excellent find Joe!

 

From the "Not your father's Oldsmobile era" despite use of the early 1900's logo?

 

Yup. Just look at the hood ornament on any mid-80s full size like my 1984 Custom Cruiser or my wife's 1985 D88.

 

Post it on eBay, say "Very Rare" with a $50 reserve. There's slot of suckers out there, one will bite. 😄