Modern Day Treasure Hunters

User Comments

1. 

   2/13/08

   TreasureHunting

   One of the great things about metal detecting is that the "bug" is the "getting out there and hunting." Finds can be of such a wide variety that, while the audience may not get as excited, there is usually something amongst the trash that they themselves can treasure and relate to. So perhaps it is an advantage to be less of a collector of objects and more a 'metal detector athelete'? Good post! Thanks for a great topic!
   ~ Liz ~

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   1. 

      2/14/08

      Kobus1

      The same counts for me, Liz. Only me and my BF don't go metaldetecting, we just pick trash. Any trash. Whatever we find is good, it's the excitement of finding it and bringing home the trophy. And as you can read in my blog, that goes from plants to furniture.
      
      Thanks for setting up this group. I already feel at home!
2. 

   2/15/08

   ThriftShopRomantic

   I collect a number of things-- mostly various types of items from around 1900: portrait plates, postcards, art nouveau spelter.
   
   How much is enough? Well, I think when you no longer have reasonable room for it anymore, and when you're unwilling to downgrade another item for a newer addition to the collection.
   
   It's "too much" if it affects your quality of living, whether in the sense of space, or in the sense you're spending more money or time on your obsession, and other facets of your life are being sacrificed.

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3. 

   2/15/08

   TreasureHunting

   I'm glad you found a home here Kobus1! After reading ya'lls replies, I think it's pretty obvious that none of us consider collecting our little treasures a "bad" thing... but I agree with ThriftShopRomantic - It's important to know when to cut yourself off.
   
   Like I said earlier, metal detecting allows me to collect so many different things and I really love that. It also gives me an opportunity to discover interest in things I never knew about... I am really surprised at how much I love collecting coins, and the old glass bottles are really (surprisingly!) becoming more and more interesting as well. I guess what I'm saying is that I like not pigeon-holing myself, but rather collecting a little bit of everything. (Altho that does make for a messy house, lol!)
   
   Rob I can tell from your blog that you're into the glass bottles... what else do you collect?

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4. 

   2/15/08

   Roberrific

   adventures

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   1. 

      2/15/08

      Kobus1

      Sure! I like to think of my curb shopping excursions as adventures, especially when we have to bring big things home. But there's a story to each specific find and that's why I record them.
      
      PS: Rob I really enjoyed your post about sea glass. I haven't been on the Dutch beaches in years, but I don't think I've ever seen any glass on them. One Dutch tradition, although illegal is 'jutten', especially on the islands in the north of our country. That is picking up lost cargo from wrecked ships. Not so much now, but in the past people made a livelihood from it. Do you look for things washed ashore like that too when you comb the beaches or are you just interested in historic stuff?
5. 

   2/20/08

   Roberrific

   I'm not a beachcomber, I just play one on the internet.
   
   Dumpdiggers is the home of the history hunter.
   
   It is interesting to note that the mass of seaglass I featured in the post sold for a whopping $281 bucks!
   
   I will also reveal here that Toronto Ontario has a huge dump on its lakeshore right below the CN Tower - Sunnyside and cherry beach and Ashbridges bay are particularly rich in century old blue and aqua and green seaglass shards.

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6. 

   4/16/08

   robertlord

   I am in my 80's now and my wife says if it doesn't eat or move I collect it--actually I do limit to rusty early artifacts and useful tools,coins,guns,few cars-you know the every day stuff. some of it has found it way to e-bay cleaning out the garage- glad there are other's out there that know what it's like. I bought a house back in the 70's to update and sell-the owner had died, he collected junk to-in a pile of paint cans found thousands of dollars and more in a pile of stove pipe all together we found more cash than the house sold for- I haven't stashed money like that--we took two tractor trailers from that house full of old furniture,tools etc. things people had put on the curb and he picked up.
   
   I have joined the group hope to see what other have collected,
   bob

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   1. 

      4/17/08

      Kobus1

      Hey Bob,
      Welcome to the group. What an amazing story! If I don't watch out I'll end up like that man with a house stashed to the ceiling with curb finds (alas, no money, would like to find some), so I contacted someone who asked for 'stuff' for a project who's coming to take away a lot soon. I'll find new things.