Has anybody ever found something they lost as a kid?

PullTabPete

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My story isn't actually found by a detector, but I figure a few people have recovered the lost treasures of their youth with one.

In the mid 70's when I was around ten or so my parent's front porch steps which were cement split away from the porch with a nice gap in between the steps and porch. For whatever reason my brother and I put things in the crack. I know a put a Mercury dime in there - not sure why, but my brother probably dared me. I also put my little bicycle license plate with my name on it there. I remember taking a coat hanger and trying to scrape through the crack to get the treasures out the side, but had no luck.

Well 30+ years later my parents were getting a new porch and step, I thought hey I should check. I found the license plate right away and then after a little scraping of the dirt I found the dime.

Anybody else find anything they lost as a youth?

Pete
 

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No, but in a couple of the spots that I hunt, I'm pretty sure that I've recovered a few pulltabs and a bottle cap or two that I cast away as a teenager. :occasion14:
 

I found a small die cast John Deere tractor in my yard that almost certainly was mine. My brother had only Internationals, and I had only John Deeres, so it makes sense.
 

Never found anything I lost but we detected a friend's childhood home and found one of her hair barettes and her beother's toy soldier.
 

About 5 years ago I lost a part to my lawn mower,went out and bought a new part.Back in March of this year (2013),I swing my coil in the front yard and dig down about 4 inches and there's the part.:icon_thumleft:
 

Interesting topic!

I remember as kids making up small "time capsules" and burying them. I specifically remember where we put one. I know we put coins in them, can't remember what esle. Those would be fun to try to find.
 

About 5 years ago I lost a part to my lawn mower,went out and bought a new part.Back in March of this year (2013),I swing my coil in the front yard and dig down about 4 inches and there's the part.:icon_thumleft:

Cool now you have a back up part.

Only stuff I found in my lawn have been construction scraps or the sprinkler lines.
 

Interesting topic!

I remember as kids making up small "time capsules" and burying them. I specifically remember where we put one. I know we put coins in them, can't remember what esle. Those would be fun to try to find.

Do you have access to where they are buried? If not, I would consider asking the current owners if you could recover it, just for fun. It would be cool to find it again and I doubt anyone would want a big cut of the "treasure"

Good Luck.
 

Do you have access to where they are buried? If not, I would consider asking the current owners if you could recover it, just for fun. It would be cool to find it again and I doubt anyone would want a big cut of the "treasure"

Good Luck.

I don't have access, it was in a neighbors yard, in Mich, in the mid 70's. I live in Cincinnati now. I have looked at the area on Google Earth a d it has changed from field-like to wooded. May be hard to find.
 

Yes, I lost a Timex watch in May 1966 while skipping school and swimming in a local farm pond. I found the watch many years later while fishing at the same pond.....and it still worked!!!!

Phillip
 

I dug a 1978 matchbox firebird out of the yard where I played as a kid that was my old toy.
 

Yes, I lost a Timex watch in May 1966 while skipping school and swimming in a local farm pond. I found the watch many years later while fishing at the same pond.....and it still worked!!!!

Phillip

Pretty cool recovery.

Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Just don't have an elephant step on it.
 

I dug a 1978 matchbox firebird out of the yard where I played as a kid that was my old toy.

Was it a "Smokey and the Bandit" version?
 

I was throwing my pocket knife at a tree trying to get it to stick when it bounced off and was lost in the tall grass, I looked and looked but couldn't find it. twenty years later I took my detector to the spot and found it in about two minutes, but it was almost rusted to pieces.
 

My son lost a set of keys to the house and shed sled riding behind his school 8 years ago. I found them this spring about 2 inches deep at the bottom of the hill. All the chrome plating was gone but they still work fine.
 

My son found some of his matchbox cars this spring about 6 inches down. He is only eight but when I change the grade of the land with the tractor, unseen toys tend to get buried deep quickly!
 

Stopped by my parents house the other day and got a picture of the license plate.

Not bad shape for 30+ years between the steps.

license.webp
 

The last time we were at my folks I took the AT Pro. I figured I try to find the spot I used to put up a little US Army tent and "camp out" at night. Sure enough I found the spot and a bunch of coins and little items that I lost in the grass. It was kind of cool to have my kids there and excited to find old "Dad stuff". Memories.
 

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