I guess I could learn to like cornfields.

[WHADIFIND]

I like what I'm finding in cornfields now that I've learned a bit about how to hunt them. But, in all honesty, I really don't think I'm cut out for them. Maybe it's because I'm too old. They seem to be a younger person's game. They just seem way too much like, "going to work", instead of going for a walk with my detector. Might help if the ground wasn't frozen. LOL

Anyway, I got out for a bit today because I just couldn't sit any longer. I figured the uneven ground might give at least some that wasn't frozen solid. That part worked but man!!! I am pooped! Just from walking! (stumbling).

No coins but I managed a few interesting finds.

Feel free to comment.



I intended to just walk around and take a closer look at the spot where I found broken glass today.






The last one was rather a convenient set up. It came with it's own shot glass?
It still had the cork in it.



Whenever I find one of these inserts I always hope there will be a mason jar full underneath it.



More bullets.



Backmark says BENEDICT & BURNHAM EXTRA Still has thread attached!!!



Cuff link? I haven't done much to clean it yet. It kind of looks like there might be a letter there, I'll work on it.



This one is interesting too. Can't make anything out on it but it appears to be pretty old.

And, lastly, I found what's left of a pocket watch. There is probably enough information on it to make a pretty good identification. But, I'm to pooped to try.





I haven't tested yet, but I suspect it's silver because it came out of the ground shiny like that.

The inner plate has a wealth of info on it but I just can't seem to get good pics.
Maybe some better eyes can tell us some about the maker etc.



If anyone wants a better pic of a certain spot, let me know and I'll try.

Thanks for stopping by!

HH!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[BosnMate]

This is for the young whipper snappers that visit this post. Among the stuff that Whadifind recovered was the crumpled up thing shown in the picture. That was a 35mm film container dating way back. I remember them in my child hood before they were changed to plastic containers. Of course the youngest of the bunch visiting this site doesn't have any idea what film is. Man times they have changed. Film had to be placed into the camera, and then instead of down loading to the computer and printing, the film had to be taken in to be developed. What a quaint idea that was.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

Great digs, love the watch case. Very nice relic and I hope you can track down more info on it. I have dug items like your "cuff link" and was told by a more experienced MDer that they are harness related. Some still have leather attached too.

Field hunting can be challenging but they are still my favorite sites to hunt due to their age and most are "pre aluminun" around here. Lots of interesting relics and some old coins and tokens.

Yes, definitely get permission Bluedragon, for any land you hunt, field or not.

HH

I do ask permission, im just saying half the fields around here I have no idea how to track down the people to even ask...thats what sucks...lot of nice ground here that I cant find the owner to..lol

 

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

The watch is a really cool find. and I think that the other piece is a Rivet,
And like you I do not get on someone Else's property without permission!
I know folks who shot first and ask Questions later. Private property is private
property.......No matter where it is...........ALWAYS get permission........HH

It would be a shame to kill some one and go to prison over that...but that is there choice...I bet they would second guess their decision after court...LOL

 

[hoosierguy]

I do ask permission, im just saying half the fields around here I have no idea how to track down the people to even ask...thats what sucks...lot of nice ground here that I cant find the owner to..lol

A lot of counties here in Indiana have online GIS sites that will show you satelllite/maps of land with plats etc, and the registered owner(s). You don't really have to have the address of the property if you know where it is and can find it on a aerial map. Contact your County Recorder's office and they should be able to tell you if your county has the site. Here's a link to my county (Harrison) in southern Indiana:

eGIS v3.0 - Built on ArcGIS Server 10

The company that hosts this GIS info also has a free Android and Apple app that lets you carry it with you! If you tell me which county you're in, I can let you know if your county is signed up, or you can download the app to your smartphone and look it up yourself:

http://www.39dn.com/index.cfm/solutions/egis-mobile/

 

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

A lot of counties here in Indiana have online GIS sites that will show you satelllite/maps of land with plats etc, and the registered owner(s). You don't really have to have the address of the property if you know where it is and can find it on a aerial map. Contact your County Recorder's office and they should be able to tell you if your county has the site. Here's a link to my county (Harrison) in southern Indiana:

eGIS v3.0 - Built on ArcGIS Server 10

Thank you...that is neat.....now to see if they have one for Lake and Newton counties....I sure hope.....thank you much my friend

Thanks for being the person to truly help....and not just say ask for permission like every one else....you cant ASK if you dont know who TO ask...

 

[hoosierguy]

Looks like your counties use a different company...see links below:

County: Beacon - Newton County, IN

Lake County: Lake IN GIS Portal

Regards,

 

[Michiganne]

Thank you...that is neat.....now to see if they have one for Lake and Newton counties....I sure hope.....thank you much my friend

Thanks for being the person to truly help....and not just say ask for permission like every one else....you cant ASK if you dont know who TO ask...

You should be able to buy a plat book for your county somewhere locally, either your local sporting goods store or library. This should show who owns the fields you are hoping to hunt. I would guess most local farmers would know who owns the fields if you inquire at some of the neighboring farms. I know it can be tough to track owners down at times.

Have you tried this website yet? Won't show ownership but will help you find the old home sites.

Indiana Antique Maps and Historical Atlases - Historic Map Works

I use the Google earth overlays with the old plat maps on the site. Invaluable!

Good luck and HH

 

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

I just stumbled across that....thank you

 

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

You should be able to buy a plat book for your county somewhere locally, either your local sporting goods store or library. This should show who owns the fields you are hoping to hunt. I would guess most local farmers would know who owns the fields if you inquire at some of the neighboring farms. I know it can be tough to track owners down at times.

Have you tried this website yet? Won't show ownership but will help you find the old home sites.

Indiana Antique Maps and Historical Atlases - Historic Map Works

I use the Google earth overlays with the old plat maps on the site. Invaluable!

Good luck and HH

Ya im looking at some of those maps right now....thank you...

Iv tryed to get a plat book but there not up to date in this county...I dont know why but they tryed to sell me one from the 60's

Ill just have to go door to door....

 

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

I am truly sorry for derailing your thread..WADIFIND

To the good people that took the time to help me, I THANK YOU

 

[WHADIFIND]

This is for the young whipper snappers that visit this post. View attachment 738960 Among the stuff that Whadifind recovered was the crumpled up thing shown in the picture. That was a 35mm film container dating way back.

Ummmm....not quite. I do remember the film containers but, this was actually a shot "glass" that came with the bottle.

No harm, no foul, just clarification.

Thanks for the response!

HH!

 

[WHADIFIND]

I am truly sorry for derailing your thread..WADIFIND

To the good people that took the time to help me, I THANK YOU

No harm, no foul.

HH!

 

[WHADIFIND]

What you guys are calling rivets off of horse harness is troublesome to me.

Well, if it helps any, the sides of the shaft, the ones toward the points, are sort of flat. Not sure, but it looks like they're designed that way, not worn. It's also non-magnetic.

HH!

 

[BuckleBoy]

I certainly would've tried aluminum jelly on that gilded flat button. I would NOT use water on flat buttons, except water plus aluminum jelly on the gilded ones. Part of why you can't read the backmark on the other one was the water I am certain. Please refer to my post in the "Cleaning and Preservation" section of the forum on cleaning buttons.

Shhhh, don't tell anyone that the best finds are in the cornfields! We don't need any more competition!

Cheers,

Buck

 

[WHADIFIND]

I certainly would've tried aluminum jelly on that gilded flat button. I would NOT use water on flat buttons, except water plus aluminum jelly on the gilded ones. Part of why you can't read the backmark on the other one was the water I am certain. Please refer to my post in the "Cleaning and Preservation" section of the forum on cleaning buttons.

Shhhh, don't tell anyone that the best finds are in the cornfields! We don't need any more competition!

Cheers,

Buck

Ya know, sometimes I think I might should just not find anything but coins. Those I know enough about. As far as relics go, there are just too many different things to learn in order to restore/clean. With coins, it's easy. One NEVER cleans coins!!! Not EVER! ( LOL )

Actually, this picture of the flat button was before doing anything to it but pick off some of the dried mud with a toothpick. That was why the word GILT was able to be read.



The reason the next one is hard to read is because I was experimenting. I tried to dab a tiny bit of olive oil to give it more reflection. It worked, only too well.



The thing is, there just isn't much left on this button. Too long buried.

The gilted one, I didn't do much more than toothpicking too. But, what I'm afraid of is that there is just too much to learn and too many options. Maybe it would be better if I just mentioned the relics in passing and posted pics of the coins. (I'll catch enough grief with them alone. LOL )

Oh and yeah, mum's the word!

HH!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Nah, don't take my comments that way. The folks who post only the coins probably throw valuable relics into the junk bin for lack of an ID of a good find! (Another piece of advice is to look at the relics posted on the forum, because then you'll be able to recognize the relics you're digging.) Take a look at my post in Cleaning and Preservation. It'll answer any cleaning questions about buttons you might have. I don't toothpick the gilded ones, because it scrapes the gilding off. Aluminum Jelly costs $5 per jar or less and will last for hundreds of buttons and gilded items (one jar will last you for years and years). In terms of learning and options, you are recovering the relics too, so you should take the time to learn how to clean and preserve them--either that or consider burying them back in the ground and leave them for someone who is willing to take the time to learn. Civilian buttons like the ones you posted will be a good training ground on cleaning methods, without much to lose should you mess up. Then when you dig a really valuable button you'll know what to do. I am only trying to help others to not make the same cleaning mistakes I've made. My advice is that you read through my post. Take it or leave it, it's still there. Then at least you'll have options and some experience when you dig that $500 button! The link is here:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/cleaning-preservation/89045-how-clean-buttons.html

Best Wishes,

Buck

 

[WHADIFIND]

I don't toothpick the gilded ones, because it scrapes the gilding off. Aluminum Jelly costs $5 per jar or less and will last for hundreds of buttons and gilded items (one jar will last you for years and years). In terms of learning and options, you are recovering the relics too, so you should take the time to learn how to clean and preserve them--either that or consider burying them back in the ground and leave them for someone who is willing to take the time to learn. Civilian buttons like the ones you posted will be a good training ground on cleaning methods, without much to lose should you mess up. Then when you dig a really valuable button you'll know what to do. I am only trying to help others to not make the same cleaning mistakes I've made. My advice is that you read through my post. Take it or leave it, it's still there. Then at least you'll have options and some experience when you dig that $500 button! The link is here:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/cleaning-preservation/89045-how-clean-buttons.html

Best Wishes,

Buck

Awwww heckfire, Buck! You're not the only one who can josh someone. LOL

You make a lot of good points, of course, and I'm on here to share and learn. It is the best hobby there is. But, you made a couple assumptions. You assumed that I would toothpick hard enough to scrape gilt off. (Remember me? The one who gave Sonofadigger "H" for rubbing his coins in the field? ) There is toothpicking and then there is toothpicking. I didn't leave a single gilt in the mud I picked off. LOL

The other assumption? Is that I HAVE 5 dollars to buy Aluminum Jelly! (I guess I could look thru the over 40 pounds of clad last year. )

And, about just burying the relics back up, I've already considered doing that for others to find. Why, I even thought it might be nice to leave a note in the hole for the next detectorist. Something like, "Here lies a civil war buckle that I could not care for. I do love him but just can't provide the loving care he'll need. Please take good care of him and give him a nice happy life where he can show himself off for all the generations to come. "



By the by, I have studied your cleaning tips in depth in the past. See? I DO care, and read. LOL

HH!

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Guide to World Hallmarks - Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks
WHADIFIND....you might find your makers mark here

 

[WHADIFIND]

Guide to World Hallmarks - Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks
WHADIFIND....you might find your makers mark here

Thanks GAP, I have looked on there, no luck so far.
But, I already know enough for me. It's MINE! LOL

Thanks!

HH!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Just send me the coordinates to where you're practicing catch and release on the relics and I'm happy to come and dig 'em up. I might even bury you a bottle of Aluminum Jelly. If I dig something really good that you weren't interested in learning about or cleaning, I'll leave ya some spare batteries so you can continue to practice the hobby on your shoestring budget.