Business, Buttons, Buckles, Bee's and a lost toy.

[OutdoorAdv]

I went away on a business trip, dug some buttons and buckles, then got stung by some bee's and lost my new toy!

For the last 5 years, I have spent one week in CT every month for business. I used to travel with my machine and swing after work when its was nice out... sure beats sitting around in the hotel. However, for some reason I haven't been bringing my machine with me lately. On last months trip I did some new research and hiked to a few cellars I had discovered. Needless to say, I couldn't wait to spend a bit of time at them this month when I brought my machine with me.

Two weeks ago my new Garmin GPSMAP 64s arrived. I loaded it with a bunch of topo maps, some satellite images and some custom overlays of old maps. I was psyched to use it out in the field. A good hiking GPS is a huge asset when bushwacking in the woods for cellars and for marking locations of interest. Anyway, as I was climbing over some rocks in some very thick brush a couple evenings ago, I felt stings on the back of my legs. I look down and realize I'm getting stung by yellow jackets. I brush them off my legs and take off in a full sprint. 50 yards later I stop, catch my breath and realize my new GPS isn't in its clip anymore I only got stung twice, but was willing more stings not to take a $250 loss on that new GPS... so back to the nest I go to look for it. After a quick search I realized it was truly a needle in a haystack situation with all the underbrush in this area. I returned the following day and still couldn't find it. Tough loss!

I hit a few different cellars this week and all were detected pretty hard in the past, however I managed to squeak a few buttons and other various relics out of the thick iron. I don't dig many oxen shoes back home, so I'm excited to put a few through electrolysis. I typically dig an insane amount of horse shoes though.



I got a sweet watch winder which was a very nice surprise. Also a Civil War era Infantry cuff button with a "Fine Gold Plate" backmark. An online resource says that backmark is "likely manufacture by Steele & Johnson, ca. 1860". I've been digging a lot of iron keys lately and was very surprised when this one turned up. Excited to get home and preserve it.



I pulled this pewter spoon out from at least a foot down and I was hoping it would be my first rat tail spoon... I was a little bummed when I flipped it over, but its still a cool relic.



This copper or brass "saw" sort of thing is odd. Any ideas? It reminds me of a pocket knife saw, but it cant be based on the metal its made from and the rivet through it is old and looks like its hammered by hand. The thing below it I believe is part to a sterling silver mechanical pencil... not as old as the other artifacts that turned up.



This is the second GPS I have lost! A few years ago I lost my Garmin GPSMAP 60csx when it went overboard on a boat on a remote lake in Maine and sunk straight to the bottom! I had the GPS for about 5 years though and took it all over the country with me on many adventures. So it was a little easier to swallow that loss since I felt like I got some good use out of it. But losing this one was certainly not as easy. If I replace it I am going to tether the damn thing to a belt loop.

 

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[Tnmountains]

We were just talking about how bad the yellow jackets are. You did well though and it shows what a good machine and detectorist can pull out of a dug site. No idea on the brass teeth thing. The buttons will clean up well. I feel your pain on the GPS. A tether is a good idea. The old maps are nice as they will show old home sites in the middle on no where. I have not thought of over laying them on a GPS map. Beats just looking for the site.
Good post and find enjoyed it!
HH

 

[OutdoorAdv]

We were just talking about how bad the yellow jackets are. You did well though and it shows what a good machine and detectorist can pull out of a dug site. No idea on the brass teeth thing. The buttons will clean up well. I feel your pain on the GPS. A tether is a good idea. The old maps are nice as they will show old home sites in the middle on no where. I have not thought of over laying them on a GPS map. Beats just looking for the site.
Good post and find enjoyed it!
HH

Thanks Tnmountains! I shoot for colonial and there are some good 1850's era maps for most areas I hunt... so if a house was 60 years old in 1850, good chance I can pull some colonial stuff from them. The overlays are a bit of an art and can get you ballpark to the area. I use Google Earth and rotate, resize the old map piece to try and match up creeks and roads that still exist. In the case of these sites none of the 3 cellars I hunted were on the 1850s map of this area. haha I just looked for topography that would be suitable to live on. In the past though, I have done overlays that have gotten me within yards of a site where there is no trace of a home left... I guess it all depends on how accurate the old map was.

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Outdoor...if you have the time, you could possibly go back to the bee's nest EARLY in the morning..ONLY if it is cool, them little beasts move pretty sluggishly before it warms up, but I know the heat has been killer lately...sorry for your loss, but congrats on your great finds! That should take some of the "sting" out....lol...thx for sharing. ..ddf

 

[trapperart]

Sorry about your loss congrats on a nice assortment of finds

 

[BARKER]

Hi OA; Sorry to hear your loss. Nice finds though in spite of the setbacks. I'm headed out to a 1690's site Sunday with a TNeter from Nevada. I'm psyched. I'll Post on it then. Happy Hunting. PEACE:RONB

 

[DownNDirty]

Dang Brad sorry about your losing the new GPS-that sucks. But at least you found some cool relics. Nice mix, from a watch winder to a skeleton key and complete buckle to an eagle button. Those yellow jackets are wicked-one got me on the arm last week.

 

[port ewen ace]

nice group o' ole toys there. the saw is a horse mane comb, I found a few and most were brass---lovin' the buckle, key and L shaped horse bridle piece.

 

[Scrappy]

Apple sells little tracking devices you should use. Apparently you can track crap you loose with your mobile phone.

That said, you rock man. We're buds, and I see the work you put forth, and it doesn't come easy. Granted you make it look easy, but that said, as your friend, I'm inspired by your work.

Great finds, and I can see you have incredible stuff coming your way from those foundations.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Outdoor...if you have the time, you could possibly go back to the bee's nest EARLY in the morning..ONLY if it is cool, them little beasts move pretty sluggishly before it warms up, but I know the heat has been killer lately...sorry for your loss, but congrats on your great finds! That should take some of the "sting" out....lol...thx for sharing. ..ddf

Thanks dirtdigginfool! Great tip about showing up early when its still cool out. I woulda gotten stung 5 more times for $250 though. haha While I was looking for it I realized the bee's were the least of my problems as the underbrush was so thick it made it next to impossible. I am going to give it one more try this winter once everything dies down. They are mostly waterproof so it might still be salvageable then.

Sorry about your loss congrats on a nice assortment of finds

Thank you art!

Hi OA; Sorry to hear your loss. Nice finds though in spite of the setbacks. I'm headed out to a 1690's site Sunday with a TNeter from Nevada. I'm psyched. I'll Post on it then. Happy Hunting. PEACE:RONB

Thanks Barker! Best of luck on Sunday. That's a super old site and I hope you pull some sweet finds. Looking forward to your post.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Thats a great assortment of finds.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Dang Brad sorry about your losing the new GPS-that sucks. But at least you found some cool relics. Nice mix, from a watch winder to a skeleton key and complete buckle to an eagle button. Those yellow jackets are wicked-one got me on the arm last week.

Thanks Glenn! A nice colonial copper would have taken the sting out of losing that GPS. I know there's some out there. That's actually the first complete watch winder I've found. I live in the thick of the CW stuff so when the eagle infantry button turned up I was like "really? up here too" haha I was hoping for something a little earlier at that spot, but it is one sweet button and one of the best digs from my trips this week.

nice group o' ole toys there. the saw is a horse mane comb, I found a few and most were brass---lovin' the buckle, key and L shaped horse bridle piece.

Thanks ace! That could very well be a comb... I'll have to look into it. That buckle is pretty sweet... I'm guessing its a early to mid 1800's suspender buckle. I dug part to a shoe buckle frame thats L shaped, so perhaps thats what you were thinking of. I usually dig more buckle pieces at a site like this, so it was odd that was the only piece that showed up.

Apple sells little tracking devices you should use. Apparently you can track crap you loose with your mobile phone.

That said, you rock man. We're buds, and I see the work you put forth, and it doesn't come easy. Granted you make it look easy, but that said, as your friend, I'm inspired by your work.

Great finds, and I can see you have incredible stuff coming your way from those foundations.

Thanks a ton man! I kept telling myself no one else is dumb enough to go through this sort of terrain, so maybe I have a chance at finding something. I lied, I know two other people who are crazy enough. Each day it was an hour drive from my office, 30 min hike in, 1.5 hours of hunting, before it was dusk and I had to hike out and drive home. So the 3 days I went after work I had 9 hours of travel time for 4.5 hours of hunting time. Next time I'll hit it when I can have a full day of swinging. Good luck sifting today man. Cant wait to see what you find.

 

[Carolina Tom]

Well done as usual. I like the watch winder and iron key.

Congrats on another stellar hunt!

 

[Tommy G]

A good assortment of nice relics there, Outdoor! A shame you lost the new GPS. Seems the yellow jackets and hornets are thick this year and hitting many square in the pocket book via dropped equipment. Hopefully you'll come across it on a future return hunt. Good luck!

 

[Scrappy]

Thanks Glenn! A nice colonial copper would have taken the sting out of losing that GPS. I know there's some out there. That's actually the first complete watch winder I've found. I live in the thick of the CW stuff so when the eagle infantry button turned up I was like "really? up here too" haha I was hoping for something a little earlier at that spot, but it is one sweet button and one of the best digs from my trips this week.



Thanks ace! That could very well be a comb... I'll have to look into it. That buckle is pretty sweet... I'm guessing its a early to mid 1800's suspender buckle. I dug part to a shoe buckle frame thats L shaped, so perhaps thats what you were thinking of. I usually dig more buckle pieces at a site like this, so it was odd that was the only piece that showed up.



Thanks a ton man! I kept telling myself no one else is dumb enough to go through this sort of terrain, so maybe I have a chance at finding something. I lied, I know two other people who are crazy enough. Each day it was an hour drive from my office, 30 min hike in, 1.5 hours of hunting, before it was dusk and I had to hike out and drive home. So the 3 days I went after work I had 9 hours of travel time for 4.5 hours of hunting time. Next time I'll hit it when I can have a full day of swinging. Good luck sifting today man. Cant wait to see what you find.

Even though it's a journey there and back, it's a great use of time. If you're there for work what else are you going to do? Watch TV in your underwear and text your buddies? Lol.

Anyway, I'm a pro at finding friends gear so we need to go together sometime.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Thats a great assortment of finds.

Thanks Trezurehunter! A couple days I forgot how many buttons I had in my case. So unpacking them at the hotel is equally as exciting as digging them.

Well done as usual. I like the watch winder and iron key.

Congrats on another stellar hunt!

Thanks Tom! I really like that watch winder too. I got home a couple hours ago and filled up my electrolysis tank for that iron key. I was contemplating tumbling the key, but there were some rust lumps I didn't want to break off, so its in the tank now along with a couple of the oxen shoes. Rose heads and the iron buckle are in the tumbler now. They should be done tomorrow, so I'll post a picture of the preserved iron.

A good assortment of nice relics there, Outdoor! A shame you lost the new GPS. Seems the yellow jackets and hornets are thick this year and hitting many square in the pocket book via dropped equipment. Hopefully you'll come across it on a future return hunt. Good luck!

Thanks Tommy! I think losing the GPS was worse than the stings Had I known I would have lost it, I think I would have just walked away from the yellow jackets and taken my stings along the way. ha I sucked it up and ordered another GPS today though. Maybe I'll find the lost one this winter and if it still works, I'll have a backup.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Even though it's a journey there and back, it's a great use of time. If you're there for work what else are you going to do? Watch TV in your underwear and text your buddies? Lol.

Anyway, I'm a pro at finding friends gear so we need to go together sometime.

Watching TV in the hotel room in my underwear and texting my buddies is exactly how I pass the time if I'm not hunting. You're right though man... it is a great use of time, good exercise and sure beats sitting around. I think I stopped hunting on my monthly CT trips because of the great site I have been working back home. Its great to get back into it though.

Let's try and hit it next month. I'll get you some dates that would work.

 

[joeyfresh]

Nice finds Brad and even greater effort. I'm sorry you lost your GPS and I know how it feels. I just lost my camera (floated away) and my last two pinpointers I lost on their maiden voyages.
It was nice to meet you recently and hopefully we can meet up this winter and dig some trash pits.

 

[flatbutton]

Sorry about your GPS, but you did score a nice pile of relics!

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Nice finds Brad and even greater effort. I'm sorry you lost your GPS and I know how it feels. I just lost my camera (floated away) and my last two pinpointers I lost on their maiden voyages.
It was nice to meet you recently and hopefully we can meet up this winter and dig some trash pits.

Thanks a ton Joey! I figure if I'm getting stung, cut up on brush and I lose some equipment, then I'm doing something right when it comes to relic hunting. Ha. When I read this I was imagining you watching your camera slowly float away. Haha. I lost my first GoPro to a watery grave only a couple months after I got it... sunk right to the bottom. When I got my second GoPro, I immediately attached the float to it so it could never happen again. Luckily my Whites TRX pinpointer beeps if I leave it on for a couple minutes... That's been my beacon many times when I left it at the last plug or almost buried it in a trash pit. Awesome meeting you too man. I'm always up for some pit digging anytime.