Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and a day designated to remember all the brave men and women who gave their lives so we could live free in the greatest country in the world. Thanks to them you will be enjoying that cookout, family get-together, parade, fireworks, whatever. They will not.... Let's not lose the meaning of this day.
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Was digging throught a few old FMDAC Quest Newsletters the other day (courtesy of Mark Schuessler) and decided to put up a few pages to give you and idea of how things were way back when. I did the newsletter on my IBM Selectric typewrite, took the pages to work, copied, and reduced them so that the mailing would be cheaper. I then collated the newsletter, and mailed them to the clubs (one for each member). If you are interested click HERE
Pretty crude I know, but the energy and the desire to unite was alive. We succeeded in so many ways back then, and I am sad to say spark has apparently gone out of any kind of unity. Would like to think it has to do with all the latest technology, but I am inclined to think it just that no one cares anymore...
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Had an email from a reader who questioned why I bothered talking about cooking and recipes here. The answer is because I enjoy cooking, and because it's MY website....
I understand that the majority of you who wind up here could care less about food, and I understand. If you fit into that category just don't bother to click on the Poor Gourmand link. No mystery there..
My wife has always been a great cook, and I just naturally became interested in doing more than boiling water, or fixing a microwave dinner. My love for cooking grew even more after spending time with Michel Tocque and his family in France, where food is not just something you have to partake of. It's something you look forward to, and most importantly it's a time for for bringing together family and friends! Something that is lost in the good ole USA.
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A big part of our day is deciding on the dinner menu, with the ingredients being purchased that day, not two weeks ahead. When I am fixing the meal (which is usually when Fay is working), I start early, pouring a glass of red, looking over the recipe, turning on the TV or listening to Jazz. The rest is simply relaxation and a helluva lot of fun....
Keep in mind, not everything turns out to be a gourmet meal, nor does it always look like the photo in the cookbook. What you can count on however is a moment in your day when you are focused on creating something that just might be that meal to beat all meals.
I found a few food photos from our trips to France and posted them in the Poor Gourmand area.....if you are interested. Likewise, if you DO enjoy cooking, and would like to share any ideas, recipes or tips, send them along. Would be more than happy to share them here....
The NYC Task Force Rally is a go, and the date remains JUNE 1ST. Please pass this on to anyone and everyone you know who can help in the effort. It is six days away, and a lot of work can be done between now and then. Let's get going!!
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If you are a SeaHunter II user be sure to see John Howland's latest entry in the Malamute Saloon. Bubba offers a couple of tips on how to keep it free of sand and dirt. Needless to say he also offers up a few off the wall comments apropos to his usual state of inebriation, and a recipe for Sloe Gin (what a surprise!). You can find John's latest blabber here..
Was going through a box of old photos the other day and found this one of the British Bubba from a fly fishing trip to Scotland.
Went out with the MXT Sunday morning, and lasted all of an hour and a half. The temps were already in the 80's, and the humidity was over powering. Just a hint of what is to come I am afraid. In any case I hunted an old school area in Rockwall, and was lucky enough to find a 1943D Quarter. I also decided to run back to the old home site I mentioned prieviously and came away with a 57D Roosevelt dime. Won't retire on that but always pleased to come home with silver. Was a time when I would have detected all day, hot or not, but not anymore. Bitch getting old for sure.....
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As a follow-up to this, I also found a couple of old matchbox cars. Can't count the number I've found over the years..... I decided to put them in the junk boxes (shoe boxes I used for this type of find), and when I lifted the lid off one I started perusing all the various items. After stirring things around a little I found two rings, one 18k with a stone, and one band, 14k with a design. How they wound up in the junk box is beyond me, but they have probably been in there at least fifteen to twenty years.
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I also started noting the slew of buttons that were there, and I really need to seek out a good book on the subject. Suspect there has to be a few worth a buck or two, and it might be fun to see if I can put names to them.
You all might want to take a second look at your junk sometime....
A big thanks to my old friend John McCann for passing along this great story from the "Finds Treasure Forum. Love it...
Had a few emails asking when I was going to put up a new recipe in the Poor Gourmand. Nice to know that a few of you enjoy cooking (and eating it too). Just tried a chicken recipe from the Food Network, and thought it pretty tasty. Be sure to click here and scroll to the bottom.
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When I first heard about the rallies in New York city I was excited. Excited because a group of dedicated, hard working individuals were taking a stand against a disciminatory and biased regulation. Because they were detectorists it was even more important. As a result I contacted Carter Pennington, a friend involved with the formation of the Task Force involved, and offered to help spread the word. I posted the information, as it was given to me, here on my site, and also on a few MD'ing forums. I also sent it out as an attachment to most on my email list. I received some interest from a few, and even committments from others to attend the Rally. What I did not receive however was the kind of response I had hoped for, especially from the various metal detecting forums out there. When I checked back a day or two later I noticed hundreds of views, but virtually nothing in the way of responses, good or bad. When I did get a couple they were comments like "Never heard of this group" or "we have lots of other places to detect, so let's dwell on those". I was stunned and more than a little angry. Apparently apathy is the norm now when it comes to helping out our fellow detectorists. Yes, I know many of you email your congressmen when it's asked, but this is an instance where your presence will be needed if the effort is to succeed. And yes, I know you probably don't live in New York City, but put yourself in their place, and understand that this could very well happen in your community (and already has in many). Seems we all have time to "chat" or "socialize" or "pontificate" about which detector is the best, but have little time to spend helping others. I won't do the ole "I remember when" routine, but in the early years of the FMDAC, officers and many members took days off from work without pay to promote the pastime. Many drove over a hundred miles to simply attend our monthly meetings, and others took trains to Washington, D.C. to speak before Congressional Committees. A few drove two or three nights a week to Philadelphia to present our case to the Philadelphia Park Commisson, or to meet with lawyers who were helping us gain entrance to the parks there. All without being paid a penny for expenses. I ask those of you reading this..."what happened?" As you will note above the June 1st Rally date is not valid now, but a new one will be set soon, and I will make you aware of it as soon as I hear from the Task Force. In the meantime, do me a favor and make your detecting friends aware of the effort. The Task Force will appreciate it very much, as will I. |
Carter Pennington just sent the following updated information regarding my post of May 17th. Please let's make this rally one that made a difference....
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Please, if the following cause affects you in any way please take the time to participate or spread the word....... The Task Force for Metal Detecting Rights, (TFMDR) was established in 1996 in response to the closing of all New York City Parks and beaches to the recreation of metal detecting. At it's inception, it was known as the New York, New Jersey Task Force. This name no longer is appropriate today, as metal detectorists in many areas of the country are experiencing similar problems to those that we are dealing with in New York City and New Jersey. The TFMDR exists, not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of metal detectorists everywhere. It is the mission of the TFMDR to perpetuate the responsible enjoyment of the pastime of recreational metal detecting within all public parks and open lands. We have had some success in this regard, as you are now allowed to metal detect in several New York City Parks with a permit that needs to be renewed annually, but is available at no cost to you.The task force was also able to reopen Prospect Park in Brooklyn to metal detecting, but only on Saturdays and Sundays. Prospect Park does not permit metal detecting on weekdays. In 2011, the permit system that the task force had worked so hard to put in place, started to backslide. Another major park, Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island, was removed from the permit. Even more catastrophic, a new rule was added to the permit which stated that no digging or probing would be allowed within 50' of any flower bed, garden, shrub or tree, Since we were already not allowed in the woods, ball fields or manicured lawns, we are now for all intensive purposes, evicted from the parks again. In response to this latest assault on our rights, the task force planned and orchestrated a well advertised demonstration, (Detect-In), in Central Park this past Saturday, May 14, 2011. With only 17 demonstrators, they handed out hundreds of flyers and detected in Central Park demonstrating target recovery with no damage to the lawns . The Task Force's next demonstration will take place in front of the headquarters of the Central Park Conservancy in the borough of Manhattan. Details will be coming out soon. The Central Park Conservancy is a moneyed group, that has recently signed a second 8 year contract to manage the park, with the City of New York. Members of the Conservancy make large donations for projects to rehabilitate and improve the park, but they do not allow metal detectorists to enjoy their recreation in this public space. We need a much better showing this time, which means that all detectorists need to make every effort to support the task force this time by being there. Remember, this is public use land we are fighting for, These are your parks..... |
Please see my post on the 17th about the forthcoming rally in Central Park, and if at all possible show up and support the effort. I know the task force would appreciate your help, and given the locale, a large showing could have a ripple effect for all of us. Pass this on to your club members and detecting friends ASAP!
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I recently began to feel so out of touch with today's technology. Just not with regards to metal detectors, but items like Iphone, Ipads, etc... Don't get me wrong. I have a cell phone. Just never use it unless there's an emergency. Likewise I cannot figure out why so many people wander around texting others like there's something earthshattering going on. How the hell did we survive all this just a few years ago?
Well I finally found out how many of you TH'ing techies take your videos when you are out hunting. Call me naive, but I wondered how you did it, and okay, why you did it. I mean it's nice to record history, but having footage of my coil moving left to right, and my digging pull tabs and foil isn't my idea of an award winning documentary. Finally today I was perusing the Friendly Metal Detecting Forum (one of my favorites) and found a post by "PIJoe" (Joey Ortega from West Haven, Connecticut), accompanied by photos. Suddenly I understood! Finally I was "in the know".
I emailed Joey and he okayed me sharing the following photos. I know that they are not new to a great many of you, but I have a feeling many of my visitors are from the old school, like me, and will find this all very informative as well as amusing. If you want to know more you can email Joey at joey.41960@yahoo.com . Thanks Joey.. appreciate it!
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All this seems like a lot of work to me, but then again a lot of things seem like a lot of work anymore. Knowing how ambidextrous I am I suspect I would be falling all over myself in the process of digging and filming. Can also see myself forgetting to shut the camera off when shaking hands with an old friend in the restroom...
Joe Cook took the time to scan a few photos from the good ole days, and sent them on. Thanks Joe. I hate to use the term good ole days, but let me remind all you who are reading this that you will utter those words too someday. Good ole days are every day really, but when you get older they become those days when you were young, dashing, good looking, smart as a whip, unrelenting and God's gift to women and humanity! Well okay, I exaggerate a little....
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For whatever reason I find it hard to get motivated lately, but today I think I figured out part of the reason. It is.....having a friend or buddy who you have fun with when you are in the field. For years back in New Jersey I had Dan Hamilton, and no matter the end of day results, we always came home laughing.
I was reminded of this when Joe Cook sent in the above photos. Joe was literally attached to Bruze Hazelman, and they were inseparable when it came to hunting. Dan and I were the same. Now Dan is still back in New Jersey, not doing much detecting, and I am here in Texas, doing the same. Can't go back now, but will always remember the laughs and good times we had way back then. Oh, if I could only share those stories....
A few days ago I received a package in the mail, and it was from my friend and drinking partner, John Howland, a.k.a. Bubba, as in the Malamute Saloon. It was filled with goodies only available from the Motherland, and so far they have all proven very tasty. One item in particular struck me strange in that it was called "Patium Peperium Gentleman's Relish". What struck me as odd was the word "Gentleman"? For the life of me I cannot imagine any store or vendor selling this to John. I mean after all.... Come on! Then it occurred to me that that he probably ripped it off when no one was looking.... Yeah, that makes a lot more sense for sure....
In any case the little tin stated.."Delicious on Toast", and use sparingly. I looked at the ingredients noticed Anchovies. I love anchovies! I decided that today I was going to have a little Gentleman's Relish on a couple slices of toasted baguette for lunch. I added a few slices of Abruzzo sausage, Pepper Jack cheese and a glass of the house red....
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Gotta tell you, that little tin (about the size of a snuff tin) is pure gold. Great stuff for sure, and now I am seeking out a supplier here in the colonies. John, I heartily approve of your choice, and glad no one caught you. Thank you my friend.
Thanks again to all who took the time to contact me and tell me how much they enjoyed Stout Standards, and urged me to keep it going. You've heard it before but the real treasures are those people you meet along the way. My plans now are to continue Stout Standards.
Thanks to Jessie Thompson for bringing this to my attention, and another thanks to Carter Pennington, who was instrumental in getting this group organized way back when.....
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Please, if the following cause affects you in any way please take the time to participate or spread the word....... The Task Force for Metal Detecting Rights, (TFMDR) was established in 1996 in response to the closing of all New York City Parks and beaches to the recreation of metal detecting. At it's inception, it was known as the New York, New Jersey Task Force. This name no longer is appropriate today, as metal detectorists in many areas of the country are experiencing similar problems to those that we are dealing with in New York City and New Jersey. The TFMDR exists, not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of metal detectorists everywhere. It is the mission of the TFMDR to perpetuate the responsible enjoyment of the pastime of recreational metal detecting within all public parks and open lands. We have had some success in this regard, as you are now allowed to metal detect in several New York City Parks with a permit that needs to be renewed annually, but is available at no cost to you.The task force was also able to reopen Prospect Park in Brooklyn to metal detecting, but only on Saturdays and Sundays. Prospect Park does not permit metal detecting on weekdays. In 2011, the permit system that the task force had worked so hard to put in place, started to backslide. Another major park, Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island, was removed from the permit. Even more catastrophic, a new rule was added to the permit which stated that no digging or probing would be allowed within 50' of any flower bed, garden, shrub or tree, Since we were already not allowed in the woods, ball fields or manicured lawns, we are now for all intensive purposes, evicted from the parks again. In response to this latest assault on our rights, the task force planned and orchestrated a well advertised demonstration, (Detect-In), in Central Park this past Saturday, May 14, 2011. Sadly only 17 detectorists showed up to participate in this demonstration. Of this number, 5 were task force members, 2 were wives of task force members, and 5 others were kids recruited by one of the task force members. Without better support from those that stand to lose all, the detectorist, the task force cannot succeed. Another demonstration is tentatively being planned for Wednesday, June 1, 2011. This demonstration will take place in front of the headquarters of the Central Park Conservancy in the borough of Manhattan. Details will be coming out soon. The Central Park Conservancy is a moneyed group, that has recently signed a second 8 year contract to manage the park, with the City of New York. Members of the Conservancy make large donations for projects to rehabilitate and improve the park, but they do not allow metal detectorists to enjoy their recreation in this public space. We need a good showing this time, which means that all detectorists need to make every effort to support the task force this time by being there. Remember, this is public use land we are fighting for, These are your parks..... |
Been feeling guilty about not getting out in the field that much anymore, but stumbled upon this article and realized there's still hope for this old man.....
Working with a few of the local BSA camps here in the Dallas area to see if I can exchange my detecting expertise for permission to hunt them during the off season. I mentioned this before in the Research link of my site, and decided nothing ventured, nothing gained. Way back when I gave a class to scouts at Camp Tecumseh in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and was given permission to hunt the camp grounds anytime during the off season.
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I took three or four detectors, lots of my finds, and spent about two hours telling about twenty scouts what metal detecting was all about, emphasing of course the correct way to retrieve a target. End result was a lot of detecting time at the camp for Fay and I and lots of neat finds. Something you might all want to think about, but be sure to approach the folks that matter, and in a manner that will guarantee you a kind response.....
Will keep you posted on my efforts........and hopefully my finds.
I still get emails from other TH'ers asking why I don't offer a forum here, and want to explain once again my reasoning....
First and foremost, there are just way too many available now, and many of them very well done, and monitored nicely. To add another would not make sense. Secondly I do not want to spend a lot of time monitoring posts and or responses. I have visited a couple of forums where things tend to get out of hand, and all that results is a lot of ugly name calling.
I find the best forums are those that encourage members to share their experiences and expertise. A newcomer can learn an awful lot by simply asking questions. Two of my favorites: Friendly Metal Detector Forum and American Detectorist .
If you are not familiar with Relic Hunter magazine, check it out now....well done, and a lot of great reading.
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Please understand I am not stopping anything now...just thinking in general about things. Hope you will continue to check back as always. Should have some new info up in a day or so. I may be getting old but... STOUT STANDARDS IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL! |
While chatting with my old friend Joe Cook I found that he is an avid collector of spark plugs. Who knew...? Not a small collection either. When you have time be sure to check out Joe and his write-ups by visiting Things-and-other-stuff.com and E3 Spark Plug News
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Joe had been a mechanic for many years, owning his own business, and repairing heavy equipment. He somehow got into restoring antique tractors, and stumbled on a couple neat old spark plugs. He took them out of the engines, cleaned them up, put them on a shelf and Voila!! A collector was born.....
Will be looking at the Club listings as well as the many "links" offered on my site to be sure they are working, and hope that if your club is not listed you will contact me so I can add them. I try to keep things in working order here, but also understand that changes occur out there every minute. Please don't hesitate to let me know if something doesn't work as it should....
Robbie Morin sent along another update on his new Fisher F5, and appreciate his taking the time to share his thoughts on Stout Standards. Be sure to check out his report under Product Reviews, or if you wish, simply click HERE.
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When I started Stout Standards a little over a year ago I wanted to own a website that reflected all the many years of my involvement in the treasure hunting pastime, a place to share photos, memories, and perhaps offer some advice to anyone looking for it. Not that I knew a helluva lot, but there are always newcomers entering the pastime, and just maybe I could offer a few tips. It was also a learning process as well, having just completed a very basic course in web design at Eastfield College here in the Dallas area. I had long wanted to know how to construct a website, and if I goofed with mine, que sera. It soon became a fun project, and along the way I learned a lot via trial and error. Now after many months I think I have something that I am proud of, but if you ask any webmaster, you will know that I have everything ass backward and upside down. I didn’t mean for it to happen...it just did, and I hope eventually to correct a lot my errors. Having said all this I am beginning to wonder if Stout Standards is worth continuing. Yes, I have had fun putting it together, and I have enjoyed immensely hearing from many, many old friends within and out of the pastime, but I had hoped that down the road I might find an advertiser or two to help defray the cost of putting this site out there. That has not happened. Likewise it’s difficult coming up with items that I think others in the pastime might be interested in. Not being as active as I once was I cannot get into the technological end of things, and I cannot come up with all the “Look what I found today” saga’s. I just do not get out detecting that much any more. I have had support from a few friends, and I thank them immensely. I will not list names, but if you look through Stout Standards you will know who I am referring to, and of course John Howland has been a godsend, and I do indeed owe him those bottles of Laphroaig. To make a long story short, I am giving Stout Standards till the end of June, and if there’s not a lot of increased traffic, or additional support, I will take it down and give it a rest. Not something I want to do, but perhaps something I realistically should do.Time will tell..... |
Thanks as usual to Brian Mayer for making me aware of this video. If you are one of the SOB'S (sold on beaches) out there you will enjoy it. I would also urge you to check out the Jersey Shore & Beach Hunters on Facebook.
Hard to believe but my good ole buddy from the land of the Queen actually detects amidst the fruit....or so he says. John Howland's latest entry is up and posted in the Saloon, and hope you will find time to check it out. At first I didn't believe it, but after thinking about it for a while, I changed my mind. If anyone would detect an area like this, it would be John. Likewise, as I read on I definitely became a believer. This guy will do anything for an extra handout, especially if it involves food or drink.... Check it out HERE.
Received the Red River Review today, newsletter of the Minnkota Artifact Recovery Group (North Dakota, Minnesota area), and immediately got caught up in Mike Palmer's find. One of those that you will never forget. Mike has gratiously given me permission to share his story, and here it is as offered up in the Review....
"Finally got out with my new Explorer SE Pro that I purchased from Rick S., and have been dying to swing. Jason and I went for a 2-hour hunt to a couple of spots we had permission to hunt at. First, was an older house where we picked up some clad, and I got a wheatie. I am still trying to get used to the SE, as I had the XS before, and the iron mask was different, the pinpointing definitely different, and I am trying to get used to the Ferrous numbers, as I have not used them before".
"We moved on to the next spot, and right off the bat, Jason picked up a well worn Barber quarter. We thought, hmmm, this spot could have potential. He dug another target, and it was 3 clad quarters in one hole. Meanwhile, I dug a clad dime, a zinc penny, some can slaw, and just kinda wandered around hoping to get some kind of a solid signal."
"I swung the coil next to a bush, and got a solid 00 25 on the SE. Thinking it was maybe a wheatie or Indian I knelt down, dug a plug, and scooped out the first handful of dirt. Stuck the probe in the pile and was delighted to find a 1910 Canadian Quarter. I was pleasantly surprised to get my first older Canadian silver coin. I called Jason over to show him, and then put the coin in my pouch."
"I stuck the probe back in the hole and she sang out again. I said, oh boy, there's more in here! I reached in and took another handful of dirt out, and mixed in the dirt were 5 or 6 more silver coins, some quarters and a half, I think."
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"Now, I started getting shaky... I looked down in the hole, and I could see more coins in there stacked together, but horizontally in the hole, with the reeded edges facing up. I removed the dirt out around them, and scooped them out of the hole. By the time I was done, I had 21 silver coins laying beside the hole! Totally awesome!!"
"Final total: 3 Barber Halves, 2 Walking Liberty Halves, 4 Barber Quarters, 6 Standing Liberty Quarters(3 with dates), 5 Washington Quarters, and the first 1910 Canadian Quarter mentioned above. Oldest coin was a semi-key date 1897"O" Barber Half and the newest coin was a 1936....."
"My first ever Cache and something I will never forget! It is why I love this hobby and these Minelab detectors so much!"
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Received this email from Art Morgan, founder of the Prospectors Club of Southern California. I am offering it here in it's entirety and hope you will take the time to help with this particular bill. As you will see time is running out... You don't have to be from California to appreciate this type of government intrusion. Dear PCSC member, Please take the time to read the attached Word document, and give our Club your support in attempting to regain dredging rights for all of us. You will need to contact your State Senator as well as Mark Stopher, Email address is as follows, dfgsuctiondredge@dfg.ca.gov You should be able to click on the underlined address above to send him your comments, and you could also attach a copy of the document attached with this email. We all need your help in this campaign to preserve our prospecting rights.... Dear Senator, Please take the very important time to take a look into this SB 657 bill to overhaul dredging in California. Our 500 membership of The Prospectors Club of Southern California, Inc.(PCSC) (a non-profit California corporation) need your help in implementing these needed changes. If you could kindly respond to this request, it would be immensly appreciated. Arthur Morgan - Founder & Webmaster The Prospectors Club of Southern California, Inc. Website: www.prospectorsclub.org Email: amcollects@socal.rr.com There have been two very important developments regarding dredging for gold in California. Here are the summaries and recommended action plans: A. The Department of Fish & Game [DFG] announced that it has completed a "DRAFT" Environmental Impact Statement. Go to the DFG web site http://www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge/ to review the draft and to e-mail comments. The next step of the lengthy EIR process is a public comment period of 60 days. Written comments may be submitted no later than May 10th to Mark Stopher, DFG, 601 Locust Street, Redding, CA 96001, or by email: Mark Stopher, dfgsuctiondredge@dfg.ca.gov. A public hearing will be conducted in Southern California on Wednesday, March 23rd beginning at 6:45 PM [after an introductory period beginning at 5 PM] at 25320 The Old Road in Santa Clarita [Residence Inn by Marriott]. These regulations are not expected to become final before 2012. PCSC PLANS: Outlines of suggested written comments and oral statements will be presented at the March 18th PCSC meeting. Additional details will be forthcoming by way of a supplemental e-mailing to those members who have signed up for receiving the "Treasure News" electronically. B. SB 657: Recently elected Senator Ted Gaines introduced this bill to allow suction dredging to resume in California during 2011. It also provides for the reimbursement of dredge fees to holders of 2010 dredge permits. Details of the bill may be viewed on-line [Google: 2011 California legislation, SB 657]. PCSC PLANS: It is important to contact your individual State Assembly Member and State Senator to signal support for this bill. To find out who your individual legislative representatives are, use the following web site: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html. On this page you should enter your zipcode to be directed to a page showing both your Senator & your Assembly member for California. By clicking on each of their names you will be directed to their individual websites. There are 4 different methods of contact. 1.Telephone [easiest but least effective], 2. e-mail [a little more time consuming but better], 3. snail mail [takes a stamp but is even more effective] and 4. a personal visit to your local politician’s office [by far the best impact is made this way]. YOU MAY EMPLOY ALL FOUR AND YOU MAY CONTINUE FOLLOWING UP!!! Since there are more legislators from urban areas, it is particularly important for supporters of this bill to contact their urban legislator. |
Had a few people get on my case about my recent remarks about my dream detector. Evidently they prefer high tech to the Nth degree, and find my babble old school.....
I knew it would happen, and that I would be accused of time passing me by. They could be right on the money, and perhaps time did pass me by. Who knows. I just want something I can throw in the car quickly, and when I reach the site, turn it on and go. Something that will provide me the best depth possible for the site based on accurate ground balancing.
Think about it? When you hunt a site you want the ability to see all it offers (All-metal), and you also want the ability to decipher what is good and what is bad (Discrimination). Given that, you should be able to turn on the detector, set the volume and begin hunting in the All Metal mode. When you encounter a target, you switch to the Disc mode and determine if it's good or not. If it's to your liking, you pinpoint and dig. Not exactly rocket science.....
Having started out without ID meters I think I could succeed without them today. Yes they are a secondary confirmation, but that is all. I know for certain that those "middle" readouts are the curse we all have to deal with, and I can deal with it audibly just as well as visually.....
I don't begrudge anyone loving the latest technology, the latest beeps and whistles, the latest "must haves"....by the same token let me me yearn the old true and tried methods of a few years ago.
What am I using now? The White's V3 and the White's MXT. Hypocritical? Yep! Love em to death, but why can't I have some of the same features, as standard, "automatic" fare without having to burn out what little is left of my brain?
Continue to get a few emails about how Mollie (our rescue pug from last year) is doing, and if she has warmed up to me. I can honestly say she has not, however I feel pretty certain that she doesn't hate me. She follows me around the house, and is right on my heels much of the time, but when I approach her she runs. Hoping the puppy mill memories go away soon. She's a sweetheart.
Then again there's Barnum (often referred to as Big Jake), MY buddy, and our oldest pug at ten years. Barnum is by my side wherever I go, and I don't know what I would do without him. He is pretty much blind and most certainly deaf (in that regard we make a good pair). He has just recently started to show his age, and I am beginning to worry about him. This evening he stood at the bottom of the steps, wanting to come up stairs with me, but just did not have the strength nor the agility to do it. For the first time since bringing him home ten years ago, I had to pick him up and carry him up to my office, where he has a bed and keeps me company.
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It hurts me to see him getting older and less agile, but I can relate to his situation, and as a result I am able to deal with it. I know this has nothing at all to do with detecting or treasure hunting, but if you have a dog you will understand. Then again if you don't, I would urge you to get one. You will never have a better or more loyal friend, and there's no reason he or she can't go detecting with you!
Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and it will be the first time I didn't have a Mother to call or send flowers to. My mom passed away in March, and while it was not an unexpected passing, it was still difficult. I urge all of you to spend some time with your mom while you can, and be sure to tell her how much you love her.....
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My good friend Archie Ray emailed me to let me know that my "Latest News" link was not loading on his new Samsung Galaxy Tab, and that I should be aware it was much too long. After finding out what a Samsung Galaxy was I decided to divide the link up to segments.....
Now when you visit the link you will be able to see approximately four months of postings, and then encounter a link that will take to back even further..... Right now I have it set as follows:
Hopefully this will make loading that page easier for many of you.... Keep in mind that I am not a website wizard by any means, and often embarrassed by my mistakes. Keep me posted on what is and what is not working.
Robbie Morin sent in more info on the Fisher F5, and I have added it to the Product Reviews area or you can click here. Robbie has been a big help in keeping Stout Standards going, and I appreciate his input. Be sure to also check out the June issue of Western & Eastern Treasures (out now) for Robbie's latest article....
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After thirty some years of detecting I have come up with the detector I think I want to own NOW.... I want a detector that offers only two modes.....All Metal and Discrimination. I want it to be extremely light, with an S shaped configuration, and I want to have the following features... Sound famliar? It should....pretty much what I and a lot of others grew up on back in the early days. Maybe they could call it the “Retro Special” or "Back to Basics" model...... |
Was checking out Don's Metal Detecting Forum the other day, and saw a photo of his latest find....an 1812 Large
Cent. While I am not a expert at grading coins I would put it in the Fine to Very Fine category. Nice find for sure.....congratulations Don.
Don's Metal Detector Forum belongs to Don Vickers, member/webmaster of the Mid-Western Artifact Society , and Southwest Chapter Officer for the FMDAC.
Had a weekend of pretty good rain, and hoping that makes a couple of recently productive sites even more so. Need to find something really old....just to match my current physical status. Will keep you posted, and hope you all will do the same. Love hearing about your finds and adventures.
Was getting a little down and a little depressed, but then got the lastest Treasure Hunter's Express in the mail, and got pumped up again. Hard to explain, but this newsletter (from Paul Tainter) gets the juices flowing and more importantly, takes me back to my roots with regards to diligent and fastidious research.
Not sure if it was the era, or the mindset back then, but Paul knew, and still knows what it takes to be successful. You can turn all the knobs you want, but sometimes all it takes is turning a page, and you will find what you are after... Thanks for reminding me of that Paul....
If you might be interested email Paul at tretrove@yahoo.com, and tell him I sent you. Tell him I said to send you a sample copy (hope that doesn't get me in trouble...?).
Had some feedback about Joe Cook's email posting a few days ago, and it was positive. Those that responded did indeed think it's time to take a stand, start anew and become one again. I really hope that happens. Thanks Joe for putting it out there. It needed to be said....
Kevin Hoagland, good friend and Minelab rep, shared this story on Facebook and I asked his permission to share it here. Rather than copy, I will simply direct you to Kevin's blog (a good one) and urge you to read about His Greatest Find. A great story, and a great piece of writing....thanks Kevin.
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On June 1st of this year I will turn 70 (and yes those damn decade numbers hurt). I started using a metal detector back in the late 70's, and the simple act of looking for old coins consumed me. That is hard to explain to the majority of people who pretty much associate the pastime with the "old guy at the beach", but what they don't know, helps us in that they probably won't be joining our ranks, limiting the competition to the few good areas left. When I began detecting I spent every free moment in the field searching, and when the weather turned bad I lived in libraries, reading and taking notes. I spent countless hours driving the rural roads of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, looking for old schools, old homesites and picnic groves. I spent time talking with senior citizens, picking their brains about their activities when they were growing up. I sent for every metal detector catalog out there (and there were many back then), subscribed to all the TH'ing magazines, and if someone came out with a treasure hunting book, I had to have it.... Such was my life at that time. Today? I still love to detect, although I really miss the Northeast with regards to the older finds. I no longer need to have every book that comes out, and I no longer need to be aware of all the technological advances. They both outpace my ability to keep up and comprehend. I see so many others going through the early stages of their involvement, and I can relate to it, having been there and done it myself. I often wonder however when they too will get over the fascination with frequencies, filters, menu's, graphics, dual voltage, multi-period sensing, electronic timing alignment, and start looking for places to use all these features....
As one gets older one starts looking to simplify their life, and as much as I hate to say it, I am already there. Arthritis runs in my family, and I have become a victim. Bending over to dig a target is not as easy as it once used to be, and I need to be very selective where I go detecting. The new school down the road is no longer an option, nor are the parks here in town, all created after 1980. So, life is now reversing itself. I am back to spending time in the libraries, online "Googling" all the communities around me, and yes, I am once again driving the back roads. Not as much fun as actually swinging the coil, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much..... |
Bubba just sent me his Malamute Saloon update, and it's a good one as usual. Great tip about using the Ace in wet sand, observations on detecting in the UK and of course his usual off beat humor. John has been contributing to my website now for over a year, and I cannot thank him enough. He does all this without any pay (although I know he is keeping a list, equivalent to pints per submission), and I am most appreciative.....
His latest comments can be found here, but do yourself a favor and read on in the Malamute Saloon. He has a lot to say, and while I hate to say it, not all of it is BS. Some great stuff.....
I had no sooner posted the photo of my recent two hour search, and Richard Ray had to let me know that I was not alone. Richard's grandson, Jose Joaquin Mosquera, 18 years old, went out the same day with an old Tesoro Richard had won a few years ago, and came home with the following in less than two hours...........
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For those of you not familiar with Richard Ray, be sure to read about him in my February 1st and 10th comments here in the "Latest News" area. Still waiting for Richard to write that book, or put up a site.....should be terrific reading.
This morning I received the following email from Joe Cook, good friend, treasure hunter, and former president of the FMDAC. I thought it was worthy of sharing here, and he kindly gave me permission to do so....
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Hello Dick, First, congratulations to Fay on her photo exhibit. She has always been an exceptional photographer, and I am happy to see she is getting her chance to show off her works! Also, I was glad to see you have been out "beeping" on occasion, and from the looks of your finds, you haven't lost your touch. You know Dick, since I have started communicating with you, and the many people that I have met from years past, I have noticed, with some regret, a few things that are bothering me..... As you know, due to my health and other personal reasons, I have been away from our pastime for a long while. What I would like to know is....what the hell happened? We, in the metal detecting community, seem to have slipped backwards. The first thing I noticed is that the FMDAC has shrunk! We had over 200 clubs at one time, and I just did a quick count on their website and now see less that 50 clubs remaining. Did that many clubs disband, or did they just drop out of the Federation and if so, why? I also noticed that the club I used to belong to is no longer a member, and I fully intend to make a meeting to find out why! I am not saying anything bad about the FMDAC. I have always believed that is is the only hope our hobby has of long term survival, BUT they seem to have become nothing more than the host of a big treasure hunt once a year. I know saying this will upset a lot of people, but that's the way I feel. To the officers of the Federation I say, keep up the good work you are doing, but perhaps you need to take a hard look at where you are at, and what you can do to better the organization. A prime example of what can be done, but has not or at least to my knowledge has not, is this. Here in the Northeast on the news for the past several months is the story of a serial killer. So far ten bodies have been found along strip of land on Long Island. The police have been searching, some of them with metal detectors, for clues. It seems they are looking for the remains of a victim who had a metal plate in her jaw. Why hasn't the Federation gotten involved? They could supply the police with members who know how to use their detectors, and perhaps make a difference. What a great opportunity to gain some positive press, and it is slipping away. Whatever happened to "search teams" to help law enforcement agencies find evidence? Search teams that search prison exercise yards for contraband? Programs like "Donate a Day" to raise money for charities? To Halloween candy checks and similiar programs that helped give our pastime a good name, and helped our communities in the process? Did we do such a good job back then that these types of things are no longer needed? And then I watch some of the many videos that are on the internet about detecting, and I shiver at the holes some people make while recovering targets! No wonder parks and areas are being closed. It is bad enough that people don't know how to use a probe or how to dig a hinged plug, but then they go and plaster their bad habits all over the internet! And after we worked so hard to get rid of the word "treasure hunter" and replace it with "hobbyist" or "detectorist" (so as to not be associated with the idiots who destroy Indian burial grounds for the sake of an artifact or two), everywhere I look I see the term "treasure hunter" being used. Dick, it makes me feel like the hard work that you started, and a lot of us worked hard at continuing has all gone down the drain.... Yes, I am getting old, and the cancer has made me a grouchy old fart, but I know in my heart that we were right in our efforts. I hate to say it but if things don't change we will only be able to tell our grandchildren stories about our pastime. And for anyone who says, "well instead of talking about it, why don't you do something about it?" I answer I DID! So did you Dick,and you probably more than any one person has in the history of the pastime to help protect and preserve it. Now it's time for a new someone to step up and shake things up once again. For me it doesn't really matter. I can only read about it, but after working so hard for all those years, I feel like nothing was learned. Someone please prove me wrong! Okay, I'll stop bitching now, but please tell me in your "professional" opinion, and yes, you are one of the true professionals in this area, am I wrong? Has our pastime gone backwards or am I missing something? Keep up the great work with the website....I enjoy it immensely! The old fart in the Northeast, Joe |
Much of what Joe had to say here is a reflection of his dedication to the pastime, his years of experience in the field, and in my opinion his concerns mirror many of mine. Folks, we need to do more than hold hunts, and share finds and videos. We need to be out there, upfront, sharing our expertise when and were it can be used, and we need to give our time to the local community. We also need an organization that speaks for all of us. One that is overwhelmingly supported by all detectorists, and one that is respected throughout the country and the world. There was a time when that organization existed...... Will it ever happen again?
Ron Guinazzo, past president of the MIDWEST HISTORICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY, has almost become a full time Brit in the number of trips he takes to the UK., and best of all he does a great job of documenting them via video. If you want to get the urge to travel just type in "Chicago Ron" in YouTube. Here are a couple videos to whet your appetite. Thanks Ron for sharing your trips...
Took the MXT out for about two hours Sunday, and had a fairly productive day. Found 1905 Barber dime, 1941D Merc, 1880, 1888, 1882 IH's and couple of wheaties. The older coins were recovered in an area about two feet by two feet. Suspect they might have been a spill. They were near a wire fence, and I had to push the fence outward so that I didn't get false readings. I found these coins at an old homesite I detected month or so ago, and what amazes me is that the soil there is totally different (as in good) than the soil all over this part of Texas. Only three miles from my home, and very loamy and easy to dig.
Just about 80 miles east of here they are experiencing terrible wildfires, and with the temperatures rising along with the wind, a lot of people are getting nervous. Many have already lost their homes, and it seems that the flames are changing directions every hour, as well as sending sparks across lakes to start anew in another area. Beginning to look like a bad summer season here in North Texas. Temps tomorrow predicted to be in the mid 90's here, and close to 100 near the fire site.
Fay had her first photo exhibit this month at the Mesquite Art Center, Mesquite, Texas. The artist reception was this past Saturday, with friends, family and local residents attending. Thanks to all of you here in the Dallas area who came and celebrated with us. Her show runs until the 28th of the month if any of you are still interested. She's a terrrific photographer, and I am very proud of her. Her website is www.TheInquisitiveEye.com .
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The event described here happens every day. We know of them, and many of us have been part of them. Too bad they don't get the publicity they deserve.... Check it out here
Couple of people emailed me about John Miller, and said I was unkind in my comments. Well, let me tell you, I know John, and they don't call him "Bud Lite" without a reason. You look at this photo and tell me what you think?
I also heard from another friend in the area that John has been banned from a few of the charter boats in his neck of the woods.....evidently he starts chumming before they leave the dock! What a guy!!
Got out for a little detecting on Sunday, and wish I could share a photo, but 75 cents in clad is not all that photogenic....maybe next time.
Robbie Morin was out again with his Garrett AT Pro, and sent more info on it's performance, as well as a couple of photos of finds... You can find his latest notes under Reviews, or you can simply click here . Be on the lookout as well the end of this month when Robbie's first article appears in Western & Eastern Treasures magazine (June issue).
One of the best things about my website is that it has put me back in touch with a lot of old friends, and it's been fun catching up on many missed years. We age, but we stay the same, in that we can instantly reconnect in the same ole manner. One example is my old friend John Miller. I met John a zillion years ago when I was in the process of getting the FMDAC up and running. We would often meetup at hunts, share a drink or two, and insult each other as best we could do back then. It was a Yankee thing I guess.......
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We became even closer when I joined Garrett as director of marketing, in that John was one of our distributors in New York (MGG Enterprises). Where John went, so did his wife Ruth, a lovely lady who would never accept my offer to go out on a date. Can you imagine, right there in front of John she would simply say no? To make a long story short John, Ruth, Fay and I became good friends, and have stayed in touch over the years.
John and Ruth have recently retired to Florida, and keep sending photos of their home, fishing trips and drunken parties, all aimed at getting us to join them. I kid John that it's just a place for the real old farts, but deep down I envy the SOB.
And for the record we still insult each other.....
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Speaking of old friends, it's really good to be in touch with Joe Cook again, and thanks to those of you who have also contacted him. Know he appreciates it. I's a shame that time and distance should get in the way of old ties, but somehow it just does. If you want to contact Joe his email address is joe.ignitor@gmail.com.
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Added another of John Lynn's (the Norfolk Wolf') reviews (Garrett Ace), and thank Regton, Ltd. for sharing. Still hoping a few of you will send me your reviews, thoughts, opinions, etc. regarding the detector you are using. Why you bought it, how it's working out for you, and if it's causing problems, share that as well. Just be kind in your criticism. John's review of the Garrett Ace can be found by clicking on the Product Reviews link, and scrolling to the bottom....
Warm weather is here, and the batteries are charging....hoping to get out tomorrow. Want to return to a site I hunted a month or so ago, and see what other goodies it might be hiding. Actually I hate to use the term "warm" because it's expected to be near 90 tomorrow, and warm really arrives in about two or three weeks when we start hitting the high 90's and 100's. If it's a typical Texas summer we will be wilting very shortly. Likewise if we don't get some rain real soon we will be dealing with rock hard soil.
Got an email from my friend Rick Gremler, telling me about the new MidState Metal Detector Club website, and it's a dandy. I routinely check out their website, and now it's even better. Congratulations Rick....great job. Do yourself a favor and stop in at the MidState's Website.
You've heard me sing the praises of my friend Nigel Ingram in Birmingham, Englad, but I found a video that I had somehow overlooked, and wanted to post it here. I have known Nigel and his dad Derek for sometime, and have always been impressed with how they started and grew Regton, Ltd., undoubtedly the best detector shop/distributor in the UK. This video reflects the many years, and a few of the photos from Atlantic City and the Newbury Rallies bring back memories of good times......
If you are ever in the UK be sure to stop in at Nigel's shop. Great place to spend time and learn from the most knowledgeable people in the business. If you are interested in learning more check out Regton, Ltd..
My good friend Robbie Morin, from Houston, just recently picked up another detector, a Fisher F5, and once again sent along his first impressions. If you are interested in learning more about this model, be sure to see his review here.
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Knowing Robbie he will continue to share his thoughts on the F5, and with his permission I will share them here.....
Always amazed that so many detectorists today have the ability to not only detect, but take photos and videos as well. As I said before all I needed (and still need) is a detector, an apron, and a recovery tool..........
Having said that, I especially enjoy the videos. I frequently offer up Brian Mayer's (Jersey Shore Beach and Surf Hunters) videos for all you SOB's (sold on the beach), and there are literally hundreds more out there for viewing (thank you YouTube). Just the other day I found a few from France that I really enjoyed, and wanted to share them here. Not familiar with Eric Fouilleman, but his site and videos are well done. Here are a few....
If you wonder why I miss the East coast so much, check our the latest newsletter from the South Jersey Metal Detecting Club, and note the finds under "Cliff's Notes".....
John Howland emailed in his 34th contribution to the Malamute Saloon, and hope you will take a few minutes to read it. Quite a few UK treasures hunters have now started tuning in to John's rants here on this website, and the Archaeological community there is taking notice as well. John also offers a tip on keeping your Sea Hunter out of the repair shop. It's all good stuff, and you can find it in the Malamute Saloon or you can simply click here.
Truly amazed at how many email congratulations I received concerning my finds on April 1. I had long considered most of my treasure hunting friends smart people, and saavy when it comes to differentiating BS from fact. I now know different.....
Apparently no one cared enough to check out my gold find, a 1933 Gold Double Eagle.....
"The 1933 double eagle (United States 20-dollar gold coin) currently holds the record for the second highest price paid at auction for a single U.S. coin when it was purchased for US$7.59 million. 445,500 specimens of this Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle were minted in 1933, the last year of production for the Double Eagle, but no specimens ever officially circulated and nearly all were melted down, due to the discontinuance of the domestic gold standard in 1933."
So to find a coin like this ALONG with the 1916D Merc in XF condition would have to be considered a major miracle. On the flip side perhaps many of you did see through this, and were spreading the word that ole Dick Stout is was a BS artist of the highest order (shut up John Howland!!). In any case I had fun sharing this all with you on the first day of April (as in April Fools Day).
Heard from a few of you regarding Joe Cook, his battle with cancer, and appreciate you taking the time to drop him a line. Over the past week Joe has reminded me of some very funny moments from back the 80's, and as I said before, a few of which will remain censored for life. Joe is working on an article about his involvement with the pastime, especially his adventures with his sidekick Bruce Hazleman.....should be a good one .
Went out today for the first time in a long time, and finally found my first gold coin, a 1933 Gold Double Eagle. After getting over the excitement I dug up a 1916D Mercury in extra fine condition. What can I say? A day I will never, ever forget. Will try to get photos up in a day or two......
Once again Brian Mayer offered up a great YouTube video from Europe, and in the process commented that it was too bad we didn't have coin denominations like this. Having hunted in Europe I must agree. The euro coin is widely used there.
Heard from a friend back East that Joe Cook, and old friend and former president of the FMDAC, was battling cancer. I emailed Joe, and he informed me that he has been dealing with this disease for a little over four years, and it's not easy for him to detect anymore. As a result he is in the process of putting together a diary of sorts about his detecting experiences, especially those with his partner in crime, Bruce Hazleman. If any of you know Joe be sure to email him at joe.ignitor@gmail.com. I know he will be happy to hear from you.
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Was surprised to get an email from Jim Rocha, an old friend and long time treasure hunter. Jim is one of the few "been there and done it" hunters I've encountered over the years, and is well versed in every aspect of the business. His credentials are long and impressive, but most of all he is a down to earth guy who loves what he does, follows his dreams, and is always willing to share his expertise.
Jim has a couple of websites that I think you will enjoy. One is Bedrock Dreams , devoted to prospecting, and the other Treasure Trove Dreams . I have found lots of very useful information on both sites, and hope you will take the time to check them out. You won't be sorry..... You can also take advantage of Jim's knowledge by looking him up on FaceBook. Tell him the bald guy from Texas sent you. You can also tell him I haven't forgotten that twenty he owes me. |
White's Electronics just came out with their Spring Specials, and if you are thinking about a new detector they are well worth your consideration. You can request their Spring Special booklet, or download it here .
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As I approach the ripe old age of 70, I find myself looking back at the things I’ve done over the years, and wondering what I could have done differently. There's no doubt treasure hunting is the one vehicle that changed my life big time, landed me where I am today, and enabled me to travel all over the United States, Europe, Mexico and Canada. When I first started detecting way back when, all I wanted to do was find old coins. I bought a metal detector and found them. Today? I still want to find old coins, and I am finding them, just not with the frequency and quantity that I would like. Today there are fewer manufacturers, but we have smarter detectors and a lot more tools to use in the field. Most important we have the ability to go deeper, and to discriminate better. Given this it would seem that's all you need to be a very productive detectorist.
Well I must say I am not all that productive any more, and part of my problem lies in the fact that I am older, more sedentary (okay, I am a lazy ass) and I have not devoted enough time researching and finding older sites. It’s been my mantra for many years, and I need to start listening to my own advice. When I started detecting a zillion years ago I was able to find a few nice coins because I didn’t have a lot of competition, and because I spent my time in the most obvious places. Parks, schools, ballfields, picnic groves and the beaches of New Jersey. A piece of cake..... Today that is not the case. I now have a lot of competition, I have aged, the obvious areas are not virgin any more, and I am as stymied as you are with where to go next. It’s the biggest reason (or excuse) I have to sit on my butt and do nothing, even though I know that there are greener pastures.
It’s March of 2011 and I have made a resolution to research more, detect more and to find more. I know it won’t be easy, but I really miss the thrill of being the first one to detect an old site, and that alone ought be the inspiration I need. Now if I can just find something to ease the old joint pains.... |
Missed the Texas Council Convention but from what I've heard it was a good one. Will do my best to attend next years event......
Having difficulty with putting up the photos from the Ganz article, but hopefully will have it figured out soon and have it posted.
Found this site thanks to a detector friend on Facebook, and thought I would pass it along. Check out the movie Detector Man .
Was just thinking.... When I started detecting back in the late 70's all I needed was a detector, a screwdriver and a carpenter's apron. Today? A detector, headphones, three coils, pinpointer, heavy duty trowel, housing cover, detector bag gloves, knee pads and last but not least, a video camera. Wow!
Few days ago John Howland sent me a brief update for the Malamute Saloon, and I apologize for just getting it posted. It has been a hectic week, and yours truly is really looking forward to a couple of routine days. In any case be sure to check out John's lasted drivel here. Whenever I read his rants I feel sooooo bad for his wife Margaret.
Haven't forgotten about the article update on Jay and Karen Ganz....will be working on it this weekend, and hope to have it up by Monday.....
Just got back from New Jersey and want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. My Mom was 93 years old, and while we were expecting her passing, the phone call still hurts. She was from a large Italian family, and she was indeed a great Mamma...
The following is something my wife Fay wrote on her Pbase site, and I want to share it here. Think about those in your life who maybe you haven't talked to lately, or that you've been too busy to go see.... Tomorrow may be too late.
This spoon was darkened with tarnish when I received it. Though silverplate and not sterling, it holds the value of sterling in my mind. This simple sugar spoon belonged to my mother-in-law..... As I removed the tarnish, I thought of all the people who had held this spoon in their hands through the years. Many years of use... always beautiful and delicate. I can never remember entering her home and not being fed. There were always homemade cookies (she made a large batch of chocolate chip cookies EVERY week), pies, cakes and puddings. On Sundays you could count on a big pot of meatballs simmering in sauce.... She would brew a pot of coffee or a cup of tea and we would sit at the table and talk and partake of the goodies. This is how she showed her love to her family. It was a part of who she was... And we would use this spoon to sweeten our coffee or tea. If that spoon could talk, it would tell stories of life: the good times and the bad... accomplishments and disappointments... birth and death... laughter and tears. And today, as we pass the sugar and sweeten our coffee... we remember.....We remember my father-in-law's stories... he is no longer with us. And we will remember Jennie... she just died at the age of 93. Life will go on but it will never be the same. Sharing food at the table with those you love, to my mind, is the epitome of love and that is why I include this remembrance here. Take the time to appreciate the simple things in life... like Jennie's sugar spoon, and the beautiful memories of a special time in our lives. |
Have some things to share but my Mom passed away yesterday, and I will be back east for a few days. Hope you will check later next week.....
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Because of Robbie Morin's review of the AT Pro I've added a "Product Review" link to the site in hopes that others will share their thoughts as well. No matter your brand or model of detector, your experiences can be important to others who might be considering a new detector. If you are so inclined to contribute, please keep your reviews civil (it's not necessary to "bash" a particular model or company). You can also offer your thoughts and views on coils, pinpointers, headphones and books..... If, within a month or two I don't receive further reviews I will remove the link.
Robbie added more to his review of the AT Pro, and also sent along additional photos.... read about his latest outings here in Product Reviews
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Had a couple of people email me to say they were disappointed in my recent comments about all the new technology coming out, and I want to take this opportunity to clarify my remarks..... First, I am not against technology, and do appreciate all the advancements that have been made since my entrance into the pastime some 35 years ago. They were and continue to be responsible for increasing my chances at better finds (one only has to go back to the BFO era to know things are a hundred times better today). I also understand that technology and our detectors will continue to evolve, and suspect one day we will never have to dig anything but the item we are searching for, be it a coin, gold nugget or relic. My comments were meant to reflect the many years I've put into this pastime, the competition that's out there today, and most certainly my age. I know there are many of you who get out every day for long periods, and do not have problems, but for me it's difficult. Arthritis has had a big effect on my time in the field, and bending down to recover a target has become a much slower process. Today I use the White's V3 and MXT. I use them alternately for certain areas, and each has it's own personality. I am from the old school, and love switches and knobs, as opposed to touch pads, and also love the MXT for it's shorter, staccato responses to targets. I use the V3 because I love the wealth of information it offers, especially the three frequency readouts. Given that I am primarily a coin hunter I watch for the green....the 2.5 kHz readouts, and have found them to be very accurate and indicative of a coin most of the time. I also love the hell out of the wireless headhphones! Having said all this, I primarily opt for the preset programs, and almost always use the coin/jewelry settings. I do not get into a lot of the other features when I hunt because I do not want to waste my time tinkering. Biggest adjustments I might make? Ground Balance, Sensitivity, SAT speed and coil changeouts (I have lower stems attached to all three of my searchcoils in order to change them out quickly). I could spend my spare time in the backyard tinkering with all the many features of my detector, or I could spend it reading about local history, researching, talking to the old-timers, in the area, studying maps, driving the back roads and asking everyone I come into contact with if they know of a good place I might hunt. I prefer the latter. I will always be interested in the next new detector on the market, and what it might offer, and I will always want to hear from my friends about what they are using and why. What I am not interested in today is experimenting hours on end. I don't have the time for it. I will however always be on the lookout for that very lightweight, turn on and go, deepseeking detector, with damn good discrimination! Not sure I explained myself any better then last time, but I hope so. To those of you who love to delve into the various settings, adjustments, readouts, programs, frequencies, tones and graphs, go for it. I did it for years......right now I need to take a nap! |
Was perusing YouTube the other night and came across a number of videos by "The Bottle Diggers of Hawaii". Evidently it'a popular show, but not one I was not familiar with. If you are into digging bottles do yourself a favor and check out all their videos on YouTube. Watched most of them and enjoyed them a great deal. Here's a couple to get you going....
Lastly, let me wish a belated Happy Birthday to John Howland, who turned senile, Monday, March 14th. John, have a glass of red for me, and then have another one. You know, as if I am celebrating with you. Then wait at least a day or two before you start writing the next update for the Malamute Saloon.....
How old is John? Who the hell cares...old is old!
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Saw a FaceBook post by Neil Schwartz, friend and fellow New Jerseyan, about his recent find.....a 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime, and was overwhelmed with jealousy. The Flowing Hair Half Dime was only produced in 1794 and 1795....total mintage for both years, 86,416. According to Neil, "this is the find of a lifetime for me. I doubt I will be able to top this anytime soon, if ever, but I will be happy digging my usual buttons, Large Cents and colonial copper coins" (Oh, to be back East again......)
Please read Neil's account at Neil in West Jersey . Neils site is top notch, and filled with a lot of great information.
Came across a new book this week at work titled "Moby Duck", and it immediately brought to mind a book that Fay and I read five or six years ago.... "Flotsametrics and the Floating World", by Curtis Ebbesmeyer. Why do I mention this? Because if you are a beach hunter you will enjoy this book. Fascinating facts about how ocean currents work, and what you might expect to find washed ashore near you. You will particularly like the Nike sneaker story which was just recently written about here.
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Will be adding another bio article I did a couple of years ago for Western & Eastern Treasures about Jay and Karen Ganz (Lords of the Rings). Jay and Karen are beach hunters in the truest sense, and have been responsible for returning over 75 rings to their owners.
I called Jay about putting up the article up on my site, and after chatting he told me yet another neat story, and followed up with and email and photo. I think the story can best be summed up by simply sharing the following note Jay and Karen received.
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I was blessed to meet 2 angels on Siesta Key Beach.... After foolishly loosing my wedding ring while swimming at the beach all hope of seeing it again was lost. The surf was extremely strong on the tail of Hurricane Ike (so bad it almost knocked my wife's bathing suit ofil!!!) and I thought my ring was swept away forever. The next day we went back to the Beach in hopes of finding my ring. I had bought a snorkel and goggles and couldn't see anything because of the suspended sand in the water. My wife noticed several people with metal detectors "explorers" combing the sand and water. Some of the people we spoke to seemed interested in finding my ring but were not very focused or sincere. Being a person that never gives up no matter how difficult the challenge, I went to the beach every morning to talk to as many explorers as I could to see if anyone had found my ring. After 3 days I approached Karen Ganz who was waist deep deiecting metal in the water. She explained to me that her husband Jay and her had been doing this for 29 years and had retumed over 70 items to people who had lost them at the beach or in the snow.... She introduced me to her husband Jay and they both urged me not to give up, and told me several stories about finding lost items several years after they were reported missing. When I went home that moming I told my wife I had met one of the nicest couples I had ever met and what they had told me about not giving up. Every morning I would check in at the beach and the Ganz's would tell me not to give" up hope and believe.... After nine days had gone by, I received a phone catl from Jay and Karen saying they thought they had found my ring or one very similar to it. They described it to a "T" and said it was a size 15, one of the biggest rings they had ever found. It sounded like there was hope! The next morning my wife and I met them at the beach, and WOW they had found my ring! I was so happy. They explained how t they persistently and methodically searched the vicinity where my ring was lost. And using their vast knowledge of treasure hunting they came upon such a small item in a vast expanse of Gulf water.
I will never forget Karen and Jay Ganz as long as I live, and how they were able to make a hopeless situation into one of hope, determination and an outcome that could onlv be written in a fairy tale. Lynette and I would like to thank you for all you have done, and wish that more people in the world would be as genuine and honest as you both are. The world would be a better place with more people like Jay and Karen Ganz. THANK YOU AGAIN! ! PS: Let's set a date soon for dinner. Our family would like to meet the spectacular couple who can truly be called "Angel Treasure Hunters"......... |
Got an email from Richard Ray and he attached a couple of photos from way back when..... We were able to label a few of the individuals in the photos, but not all of them.... Hopefully someone seeing these will respond with correct names for those listed as (?). Apologize for the quality of the photos.....they were taken quite a few years ago, and have deteroriated over time. Richard thinks these were taken at one of the Treasure Expo's or at a Garrett meeting....the car needed for leaning belonged to Abe Lincoln.
Keep in mind that Richard and I are old farts (well, at least I am), and have a hard time remembering much of anything....
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Andy Sabisch has just come out with a new book, "The Ultimate Reference Guide/The Minelab Quattro & Safari Handbook"..... According to Andy it's an update of the original, and filled with lots of new information. You can find out more by visiting Andy Sabisch's Treasure Hunter's Trading Post..
If you are TH'er and live in the Southwest you should consider attending the Texas Treasure Show 2011, in Conroe, Texas. Sponsored by the Texas Council of Treasure Clubs, it's one of the largest of it's kind in the US, and well worth the trip. I've attended a few of these shows in the past, and you will not see a better display of treasure finds, as well as all the latest in treasure hunting equipment.
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Most of the major manufacturers will have their representatives there to answer all your questions, and it's a great time to get a closeup look at the detector you've been thinking about investing in. Likewise the show offers free seminars on a vast array of topics each day and a banquet on Saturday evening. This year's guest speaker is Carl Fismer. On Sunday the Council is putting on an early "Silver Extravaganza Hunt", followed by a free hunt for kids.
Good friend and contributor here, Dee Sperling sent along a neat video I had somehow missed, and want to share it here. It's from the 2010 Treasure Depot's Grand National Relic Shootout .............
Thanks Dee for sending this along....hope all you in the greater Northwest get out from under the snow soon.
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I continue to get emails asking my opinion of various metal detectors, and want you all to know that you are asking the wrong person. I have long since ceased to be on top of the latest technology in that I am quite happy with the detectors I now use, and too old to read the fine print in the promotional ads. No question the detectors of today out perform those of yesteryear, and they will only get better. One of the best ways to get opinions or recommendations is to visit the many forums offered by other TH'ing websites. I would list a few, but know that I would surely leave one out and offend someone. Robbie Morin was kind enough to share his views on the Garrett AT Pro, and I welcome any of you who wish to share your experiences with a particular model to do so. I try to keep things generic here, and ask that you do not bash a particular machine or manufacturer. There are Ford's and there are Chevy's, and a reason to drive both if you look hard enough..... Now having said all this, I do read much of what is offered on the forums, and wonder sometimes if we get too caught up in technical gobbledygook. Might your time and mine be better spent finding a place to take that detector, rather than trying to decipher what it does? If you were the first person to locate that old picnic site from the mid 1800's, would it matter what detector you were using? Maybe... but my guess is that you would be too busy digging neat things to care. When I first started detecting a zillion years ago I poured over the various treasure magazines, devouring not only the "how to" articles, but the manufacturers ads as well (and there were a helluva lot more of them back then). I constantly had this urge to buy a new detector, and studied each and every feature on each and every model available. It was an ongoing part of my obsession with the pastime, and a natural progression. I laugh now to think about that time period, given that back then the detectors were not all that complicated, especially compared to those of today. While I still notice the magazine ads today I am almost immediately lost in the technical explanations. Is it my age? Yes, that surely has something to do with it, but I think a lot of it has to do with my belief that scanning the coil in the right place is more important. I would much rather spend my time looking for that one area that no one else has discovered, or talking with the old timer who hangs around the garage down town. I know it's easier said then done, but it's my preferred method, and always has been. Read those ads, pariticpate in the many forums, and compare your detector with the one your friend is using, but don't get so caught up in all this that you are wasting precious time. That guy with the turn on and go machine just might be "whippin your butt" while you are doing it. Then again, what the hell do I know. I am still waiting for that house in the South of France..... |
Been a long time since I posted a recipe here, but I have one that I know you will like. Fay went ragin cajun, and prepared a typical "eat em if you got em" boil. Like most cajun dishes it's not fancy or difficult to put together.... just damn good. Thank you Fay!! If you can't prepare this one don't even talk to me! Here's the photo. You can find the recipe by clicking here.
New update in the Malamute Saloon, thanks to John Howland, author, treasure hunter, whino and lady's man (well that's what "he" claims. Those of us who know him just go along with it, and laugh our asses off in private). I actually feel fortunate in that most of what he contributes here is written while he is sober. At least I think that's the case. Anyway make sure you check the latest from the across the pond in the Malamute Saloon .
P.S. Be sure to give his "Chicken Espana a la Dave" a try. I did, and it was very good. Anything that takes an hour to simmer or cook allows time for more than one glass of red.
Robbie Morin, a frequent contributor here recently purchased a Garrett AT Pro, and emailed me to tell me how much he liked it, and also attached a photo of a Franklin Half Dollar he found with it. I asked if he'd mind sharing his opinions of the AT here on the website, and he offered the following....
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Took the AT Pro out to a park area that has lots of trees and is next to a school. The school was built about 1 1/2 years before the land next to it became a park area. The park was built in 1964. My assumption was the school kids played in the area at recess and after school activities.
Since it was first time out with the AT Pro, I used the STD mode, and wanting to test the tone roll audio on the bottle caps that are in almost every park I search, I notched out everything but the upper coins. I will have plenty of time to test out the other features of the detector.
On many detectors lots of bottle caps read as quarter signals----that is what I wanted to test first. I dug on every quarter signal, and on every quarter signal I rechecked it in the PRO mode, to see if the tone roll audio was correctly ID'ing bottlecaps from the quarters. Every time the PRO mode sounded its triple tone on a pass---low/high/low, it indeed was a bottlecap, and every time the PRO mode had just the high tone, it indeed was a quarter. I dug over 25 bottlecaps and 4 quarters. The Tone Roll Audio just by itself is worth a look because we all have been tricked by those quarter--bottle caps.
The AT Pro does sound very good on targets. One high tone signal showed 10 inches deep. I dug up a piece of copper tubing that was over 8 inches deep, according to my diggers length, and the signal was loud and clear.
The headphones are very good and are solidly built. A little bit heavy for warm days, but they do block out quite a bit of outside noise and even with a slight hearing loss in my left ear, I had to turn the headphone volume, down because it was a bit too loud. The phones have a separate volume for each side and a mono/stereo switch also.
While searching, I got a signal that bounced from quarter to half to quarter. I dug and got a clad quarter, rechecking the hole --there was another quarter...A 1964 Washington. Both quarters were less than 4 inches deep.
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Then, while searching along a 3 foot long tree root that was just above the ground, I got a penny signal. Then another, and another. In that area alone I recovered a total of 26 wheat cents. Talk about pocket spills ! Though they were just a few inches deep, and most any detector would have found them, it was the AT Pro that did! While the AT Pro is lighter than the White's model I also use, the balance is not as even, as the coil side is a bit heavier. I spent 3 hours detecting and while it feels different than my Whites, it was easy to swing and I am starting to like it a lot....
I went back to the same park mentioned above....
As I am still in the learning process I kept the STD Mode on, and tried to recheck some signals using the PRO Mode. Still learning the VDI numbers I notched out everything 70 and below. I knew I could be missing some good items, but I also knew I could return and try again after I recover the higher VDI targets. While I had a better idea of the workings of the detector in the STD Mode, I did forget to recheck some quarter signals in the PRO Mode, and as a result dug a few bottlecaps. One cap was not the typical bottlecap and it did fool me as did another bottlecap that was a little larger in size. The Tone Roll Audio is a great feature. A lot of the parks I detect are loaded with bottlecaps, and it was nice NOT to have to dig them yet recover the coins close by.
The DD coil does an excellent job at separating close together targets. I still have a little trouble pinpointing , but I am getting better with each outing. When I was hunting a few of the signals did sound off the high tone, but after scanning a few more times they would show as iron. Suspect most detectors have this "wrap around" signal where a larger piece of iron will sometimes show as a "good". target. Most of the coins I found today were clad, and only a couple were over 6 inches deep. The area I searched was one I had searched before, using my Whites M6 and 6 X 10 DD coil. I had thought it was pretty clean of coins.
After leaving the park I came home and searched a small section of my yard. It's an area I have searched with every other detector I have owned over the years (would you believe 12?). The AT PRO indicated a penny at 4 inches, and when I dug it up--- it was a wheat cent !
I've been digging some clad at 6-8 inches deep with the AT Pro in areas littered with all kinds of trash ( bottle caps, pull-tabs, soda cans..etc., ) and the AT Pro was easily able to "see" thru it. My two White's detector's had been over the same areas and didn't fare as well, even when using smaller coils. The Pro's larger 8 1/2 x 11 DD coil worked very well in these locations. I am also impressed at how deep this detector goes......in between trash.
A small "peanut" charm read like a nickel/pulltab item, but I couldn't see any markings on it. It seemed as heavy or a little heavier than the plated ring I also dug today. It sounded off loud and clear, and was at least 6 inches deep in the woodchips (in the same area where I found a 10K gold ring last year). So far I have about 14 hours of experience with the AT Pro, and I am still learning the VDI readouts and audio responses. Couple times I forgot to recheck the Bell Tones( higher audio tones) using the Pro Mode, and a result have dug a few bottlecaps. But that was the result of my learning curve, and the only time I have dug them. The Tone Roll audio features has worked correctly every time.
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The second silver dime was dug between the sidewalk and baseball field along a line of trees. It was only 4 inches deep, but in an area that was layered with bottlecaps and trash items (once again amazed by the separation of good and bad). I had used my Whites M6 in this same park, with both a DD "shooter" coil, and the 6 X 10 DD coil. They didn't do as well as the larger DD coil of the AT Pro.
Silver Franklin Half was found on my 7th time out......
That's it for now. Will try to keep you all updated on my in-the-field experiences with the AT Pro.
Just received my latest Treasure Hunter's Express, and as usual it's filled with a lot of useful info and food for thought. It's a newsletter unlike any other there, and I highly recommend you check it out. It only comes out four times a year, but it's worth the wait. Those of you who remember this publication from the ole days know what I mean. Some topics in the recent edition...."Profitable Penny Picking", "Remember When", "Trails to Treasure", "Relic Hunting", "Healthy Living", "Letters to the Editor" and Book Reviews. For more information about this quarterly newsletter contact Paul Tainter at Tretrove@yahoo.com. Tell him Dick Stout sent you..
.You are probably already familiar with Clive in that he's a knowledgeable detectorist and a prolific writer. He's authored twelve books, all of them filled with useful, "in-the-field" experiences. Three of his most recent: "Shoreline Treasure Hunting with the Minelab Excalibur (Methods & Applications)", "The White's Surfmaster P.I. Dual Field (An Advanced Guide)" and "Shallow Water Metal Detecting (Lessons from the Pro's)". Be sure to check out the rest of Clive's books at Clive's Gold Page. Good stuff....
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