Second Privy Was a Good One

[treasurehunter313]

Hello all,

This Saturday and Sunday I dig out my second privy ever. This privy was located on a family friends property and the house was built in 1857. Unfortunately this happened to be the newest privy. I'm hoping to find the older ones one day. I'm hoping they are not under where the pool now is. This was a really fun dig even though most of the bottles were common and I embossed I had some nice ones along the way. I already posted the snow globe which surprised a few serious collectors that I emailed about it. I let the homeowner keep it. I only kept maybe 5 bottles total from the dig since they were mainly common ones. The best find for me was the Elizabeth PA pharmacy bottle. It is my hometown and where I was digging at. I saw some pharmacy bottles from Elizabeth online and wanted at least one so bad. I have been watching ebay for months, emailed collectors, etc to find one with no luck. I could not believe when I wiped off the bottle what I had! Even better, when I checked it against the few posted online this version wasn't posted! It was definitely the best find for me. I also found a cool ink bottle with JcB co intertwined so I don't know what order they belong so if someone can ID it I'd appreciate the help. The worst find was a set of dentures with a tooth missing haha. I had a lot of fun, but it's so much work. I dig them up by myself and I got this one completely dug out and filled in within 8 hours in two days. I usually have someone around the hole watching for safety. I know I got almost all the bottles because I could actually find all 4 corners and the bottom. Enjoy the pics!

 

[bottle hunter]

That's some amazing stuff, congrats! I really like the ink well, the color is unreal. And what was the tiny jug used for? That's really cool.

 

[treasurehunter313]

That's some amazing stuff, congrats! I really like the ink well, the color is unreal. And what was the tiny jug used for? That's really cool.

yeah I love the ink well! It used to have black ink in it I think cause there's still residue left. I'm hoping someone can ID the company. The shape around the letters looks like the shape the state uses in their logo (PA) so it's probably local. The little jug was probably to some play set or display I kept that as well

 

[treasurehunter313]

Cleaned up better

 

[sandchip]

Good stuff and congrats on finding that local pharmacy.

 

[treasurehunter313]

Good stuff and congrats on finding that local pharmacy.

thank you!

 

[treasurehunter313]

I found out the Ink well was made in Huntington Pa and the monogram is j c b within a keystone motif

 

[bottle hunter]

Man that ink well looks even better after you cleaned it. Nice embossing too, it seems not many have embossing on them.

 

[treasurehunter313]

Is there anyone that is very experienced in privy digging? I may need help locating the other privies on the property. I found the newest one (this one) and I know where the well is because I found that years ago with my metal detector. The property lines also haven't changed so if after this weekend if I can't find another privy I would love to be able to send pictures or diagrams to someone more experienced for their input. They wouldn't of placed a privy anywhere near a well right?

Jeremy

 

[DFX DAVE in M.D.]

Some people use a metal probe rod and push it in the ground when you you see sunk in spots in the ground. You can feel the glass on the probe rob, that is if the glass was pushed up from the ground water, and if the original backfill was garbage, otherwise if the glass is deep a probe wont work.

 

[fliermartin]

great stuff hope you find some of the earlier sites.

 

[jgas]

Yep get yourself a spring steel probe. a 5 or six footer would do nicely. Push that sucker in the ground along the property lines and feel for the difference in the soil. You may hit brick, glass and other debris. Start your digs! Get the gas lines marked though. Ok goodluck and let us know how it goes. Great finds so far! Go get the older ones.....jgas

 

[keith2004]

the other privy should be a shovel throw away usually.they would use the dirt from the new hole to fill in the old hole.normally a probe will find a privy NOT by feeling glass or brick but by feeling the difference between dug dirt and undug dirt ,dug dirt being SO MUCH softer.when/if you get a probe test it on the privy you backfilled and you'll see what i mean.....ya can't hid a hole from a probe.
if ya don't want to buy a good probe( jaken@hughes.net ) make a cheap one with 1/4" all thread,nuts,washers,and a cutoff broom handle.

 

[treasurehunter313]

Thanks for the tips! Yes I use a probe now I'm sorry I should of mentioned that. And I believe I got mine from jake. I will keep you updated! HH!

 

[keith2004]

love my JAKEN

 

[sunrunner]

nice stuff.A lot of your artifacts go back to the 1880s , so I'd say the 1860s hole is close by.

 

[treasurehunter313]

nice stuff.A lot of your artifacts go back to the 1880s , so I'd say the 1860s hole is close by.

really I thought most of if was post 1900... I just bought a book on antique glass so hopefully I'll learn a thing or two haha

 

[DFX DAVE in M.D.]

If you have grassy areas take a look at the grass, the privy holes could look different, the grass could be greener, or darker.

 

[Bass]

Good job treasurehunter and thanks for posting your finds. The other privy should be fairly close to this one. Depressions in the ground, and feeling debris with your probe are usually the dead giveaways. Like jgas said, mark off gas, electric and water lines do you don't hit one of those. The ink and the elizabeth drug store are very nice. Now, go find some more and take plenty of photos as before

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[treasurehunter313]

Good job treasurehunter and thanks for posting your finds. The other privy should be fairly close to this one. Depressions in the ground, and feeling debris with your probe are usually the dead giveaways. Like jgas said, mark off gas, electric and water lines do you don't hit one of those. The ink and the elizabeth drug store are very nice. Now, go find some more and take plenty of photos as before Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

thanks, I enjoy posting to the glass section because there's a lot of feedback. I have been posting less in today's find but I enjoy posting here and will continue to do so whenever I dig! HH!