For those of you who have been following the posts, my intention is to get the word out that you can find items that people throw away and make money selling them to individuals or on eBay!
In the post OLD Hand Hewn Beams Rescued From Dumpster! I was blessed with a gift of some beams and a door that were given to me by the bull dozier operator who was tearing down a beautiful old house for his client.
I swapped the door with a friend for his restoration labor ($100.00) on a table that I have that needed it and the beams were being ear marked for my next house. While I tried to figure out where I was going to store them, they were neatly stacked in my front yard next to the road.
I've seen several people eyeing the beams as they go up and down the street. A couple in a black pickup made several passes. My phone rang two days ago and a friend said that one of his buddies was interested in buying the beams and asked me if I would consider selling them.
Sooooooo.....they came by, and offer was made and the beams were purchased for $250.00. TYG! (Thank You God!)
It's always nice when these little monetary gifts come along!
Never be afraid to ask someone who is throwing something away if you can have it. Ask and you shall receive seems to work well for me.
Yet again, what was considered trash by one is considered treasure by another. It's why I love being a TREASUREHOLIC, don't you?
I know a 16 year old who helped me load them that will be thrilled that she's in on the take and will get paid for something that she wasn't expecting any money for. Maybe next time she will come running and won't roll her eyes and make grumpy teenage noises when I ask her to help me pull something out of the dumpster.
Go find something to sell today and tell me about it! treasureholic@gmail.com
Happy Hunting!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Fort Moultrie Relic Hunt
Shortly after purchasing my new White's MXT metal detector, I went home to Charleston and decided to try my hand in the sand just to the right and down the beach from Fort Moultrie.
Fort Moultrie is the name of a series of forts on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, built to protect the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The first fort, built of palmetto logs, inspired the flag and motto (Palmetto State) of South Carolina.The fort was named Laurel Gehrisch and not yet complete when Admiral Sir Peter Parker and nine British warships attacked it on June 28, 1776, near the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.The soft palmetto logs did not crack under bombardment but rather absorbed the shot; there were even reports of cannon balls actually bouncing off of the walls of the structure. In any case, Charleston was saved from capture, and the fort was named for the commander in the battle, William Moultrie, and the locals, to this day celebrate 'Carolina Day' to commemorate the bravery of the defenders of the fort, the 2nd South Carolina Regiment.
Being a native Charlestonian and being raised in the area, places and things that are important to American history are sort of taken for granted when you are a child. Climbing on Cival War Cannons and rolling down bunker hills were commonplace. If you looked around, there were treasures to find on top of the ground. Thankfully, I still have many of them.
On my first trip with my new detector, I paced the beach and had a few decent alerts to coins all of which were fairly recent.
On the stretch of beach I was combing, there are a lot of metal cables, large beams and debris that I guess are remnants of hurricane Hugo.
As I headed past century old homes, I hit a target that was strong. Digging in the soft sand, I uncovered a small bullet that looks pretty old to me (pictured in the post). It has two rings and the top is flat. I don't know if that means it hit it's target or not. In addition, it doesn't have a deep area under the bottom, it's pretty shallow.
I've spent some time online trying to reference it. I'd love some help! If you have any information about this bullet, please let me know! email me treasureholic@gmail.com
Fort Moultrie is the name of a series of forts on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, built to protect the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The first fort, built of palmetto logs, inspired the flag and motto (Palmetto State) of South Carolina.The fort was named Laurel Gehrisch and not yet complete when Admiral Sir Peter Parker and nine British warships attacked it on June 28, 1776, near the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.The soft palmetto logs did not crack under bombardment but rather absorbed the shot; there were even reports of cannon balls actually bouncing off of the walls of the structure. In any case, Charleston was saved from capture, and the fort was named for the commander in the battle, William Moultrie, and the locals, to this day celebrate 'Carolina Day' to commemorate the bravery of the defenders of the fort, the 2nd South Carolina Regiment.
Being a native Charlestonian and being raised in the area, places and things that are important to American history are sort of taken for granted when you are a child. Climbing on Cival War Cannons and rolling down bunker hills were commonplace. If you looked around, there were treasures to find on top of the ground. Thankfully, I still have many of them.
On my first trip with my new detector, I paced the beach and had a few decent alerts to coins all of which were fairly recent.
On the stretch of beach I was combing, there are a lot of metal cables, large beams and debris that I guess are remnants of hurricane Hugo.
As I headed past century old homes, I hit a target that was strong. Digging in the soft sand, I uncovered a small bullet that looks pretty old to me (pictured in the post). It has two rings and the top is flat. I don't know if that means it hit it's target or not. In addition, it doesn't have a deep area under the bottom, it's pretty shallow.
I've spent some time online trying to reference it. I'd love some help! If you have any information about this bullet, please let me know! email me treasureholic@gmail.com
Friday, April 20, 2007
Let's Make A Deal!
When I was a child I loved watching Let's Make a Deal which was a very popular television game show airing in the United States. The original and most widely known version ran from 1963 to 1977.The premise of the show is pretty simple. Host Monty Hall picked wacky dressed up people from the audience and offered them various choices which would either end up winners or duds. For example, contestants were offered a choice between $750 or a what could be behind Door #1, 2 or 3. Contestants were stuck asking themselves "Should I take the money now or choose Door #1 and end up with a shiny new car or a box of dog biscuits?"
You can check out more about the show on the The OFFICIAL Let's Make A Deal website!
I'm always looking for stuff that I want or can sell on eBay or to someone else. In an earlier post OLD Hand Hewn Beams Rescued From Dumpster! I talk about beams and a door that I rescued from a beautiful old house that was being torn down in our community. Remember...it was stuff that someone was throwing away that they were kind enough to give to me for FREE.
I was planning on using those old beams in my next house until I talked with Ken Wheeler. 5wheeler@tds.net
Ken is a master craftsman who designs and hand-crafts the most incredible furniture that I have ever seen. I can't say enough about Ken and his ability. Check back in the near future for a post highlighting Ken's furniture.
He told me in general conversation that he is making beds now. Out of old beams. With old bead board. And stained glass inserts in the headboards that have a light behind them. Hummmmm...
Guess what audience? It's time for Ken and Dana to play Let's Make A Deal!
As a Treasureholic, it's all about the thrill. Finding, selling and trading and not necessarily in any particular order. Sometimes you don't have to exchange cash and trading/bartering is just as good or better!
I have beams, Ken needs beams. He does restoration work. I have an old desk that needs to be restored.
We met, and I offered him the beams. After much pacing and head scratching, Ken chose door #1.
He headed back up the mountain with the old door from the Tryon house in the back of his pickup and said he would easily trade it to another Treasureholic, who owns a salvage business, for $100.00 worth of old barn siding. That siding will be turned into unique, rustic birdhouses and furniture that will find homes in beautiful log cabins here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
He told me he was going to charge me about $100.00 for the restoration work on my desk and door #1 would be a fair trade and cover the cost.
I don't recall ever watching Let's Make A Deal and seeing two people pick the same door and end up with a wonderful prize. Do you?
As a Treasureholic, it's all about the thrill. Finding, selling and trading and not necessarily in any particular order. Sometimes you don't have to exchange cash and trading/bartering is just as good or better!
I have beams, Ken needs beams. He does restoration work. I have an old desk that needs to be restored.
We met, and I offered him the beams. After much pacing and head scratching, Ken chose door #1.
He headed back up the mountain with the old door from the Tryon house in the back of his pickup and said he would easily trade it to another Treasureholic, who owns a salvage business, for $100.00 worth of old barn siding. That siding will be turned into unique, rustic birdhouses and furniture that will find homes in beautiful log cabins here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
He told me he was going to charge me about $100.00 for the restoration work on my desk and door #1 would be a fair trade and cover the cost.
I don't recall ever watching Let's Make A Deal and seeing two people pick the same door and end up with a wonderful prize. Do you?
What's your best trade? Email me: treasureholic@gmail.com
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Diggin' For Diamonds!
Do you love diamonds? Would you like to find some? With a little hard work and some luck, you can find some in Arkansas!
One of my very favorite treasure hunting places is The Crater of Diamonds State Park. The Park is the only diamond producing site in the world that is open to the public.
Park visitors pay a nominal fee to prospect in the park's diamond search area, a 37-acre plowed field that is located smack on top of the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic pipe. 95 million years ago, the pipe brought diamonds and semi-precious stones up to the surface and you can still find them there today!
Diamonds of all colors of the rainbow can be found at Crater of Diamonds, but the three most common colors unearthed by park visitors are white, brown and yellow.
The Arkansas Diamond Mine is also a rock hound's delight since, along with diamonds, over 40 types of rocks and minerals can found there. These rocks and minerals include lamproite, amethyst, banded agate, jasper, peridot, garnet, quartz, calcite, barite and hematite.
In 1906, John Huddleston, the local farmer who owned the property at that time, found the first diamonds on what is now the Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, and the news of his find started a diamond mining rush.
According to the history of the Crater of Diamonds State Park, after a series of ill-fated mining ventures followed by tourist attractions, the site became an Arkansas state park in 1972.
On my recent visit, I spent two and a half days searching for diamonds. I was told by the staff that the best way to find diamonds was to surface search. Basically, you walk around with your rake, shovel, hand claw or stick and look for a very bright, shiny, glint or reflection that's catching the sunlight.
I searched like a wild woman and didn't come up with pay dirt on that trip, but I'm headed back soon! If you've been there, I'd like to hear about your trip! Please email me with the details! treasureholic@gmail.com
WATCH the Today Show Video (Link below - it's GREAT!) that highlights a recent significant find that an Oklahoma State Trooper made at the park and you'll have diamond fever just like I do!
Happy Hunting!
http://www.arkansas.com/special-announcements/second_diamond.asp
4.21-carat, Canary Yellow Diamond Found at Arkansas's Crater of Diamonds State Park by First Time Visitor From Oklahoma - Today Show Video
One of my very favorite treasure hunting places is The Crater of Diamonds State Park. The Park is the only diamond producing site in the world that is open to the public.
Park visitors pay a nominal fee to prospect in the park's diamond search area, a 37-acre plowed field that is located smack on top of the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic pipe. 95 million years ago, the pipe brought diamonds and semi-precious stones up to the surface and you can still find them there today!
Diamonds of all colors of the rainbow can be found at Crater of Diamonds, but the three most common colors unearthed by park visitors are white, brown and yellow.
The Arkansas Diamond Mine is also a rock hound's delight since, along with diamonds, over 40 types of rocks and minerals can found there. These rocks and minerals include lamproite, amethyst, banded agate, jasper, peridot, garnet, quartz, calcite, barite and hematite.
In 1906, John Huddleston, the local farmer who owned the property at that time, found the first diamonds on what is now the Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, and the news of his find started a diamond mining rush.
According to the history of the Crater of Diamonds State Park, after a series of ill-fated mining ventures followed by tourist attractions, the site became an Arkansas state park in 1972.
On my recent visit, I spent two and a half days searching for diamonds. I was told by the staff that the best way to find diamonds was to surface search. Basically, you walk around with your rake, shovel, hand claw or stick and look for a very bright, shiny, glint or reflection that's catching the sunlight.
I searched like a wild woman and didn't come up with pay dirt on that trip, but I'm headed back soon! If you've been there, I'd like to hear about your trip! Please email me with the details! treasureholic@gmail.com
WATCH the Today Show Video (Link below - it's GREAT!) that highlights a recent significant find that an Oklahoma State Trooper made at the park and you'll have diamond fever just like I do!
Happy Hunting!
http://www.arkansas.com/special-announcements/second_diamond.asp
4.21-carat, Canary Yellow Diamond Found at Arkansas's Crater of Diamonds State Park by First Time Visitor From Oklahoma - Today Show Video
Friday, April 13, 2007
OLD Hand Hewn Beams Rescued From Dumpster!
EEEEEEEEKKKKKKK! It's the chalkboard sound.It's that feeling you get when you miss out on something good that you had the chance to get, but didn't.
That's what happened when I spied the Dozier on the old Tryon house site Keep Your Eye On The Prize and worse, saw the huge yellow dumpster full of crunched up house, antique doors, hand-hewn pegged, square log beams and things that I wished I could have salvaged.
When I realized what was going on, I whipped the Denali around, pulled up the road and trotted over to the Dozier in my business suit and high heels.
The man running the machine cut it off and we had a really nice Southern "get to know you" chat. He sat in the cab and I stood in heels in the fresh dirt.
He was as nice as punch and we knew a lot of the same people. In the end, I was given permission to pull out what I wanted because nothing was going to be saved.
I headed home to change and returned late in the day when all was quiet and started pulling out and picking up what I could.
With the help of my 16 year old, (Someone should have stopped and told us that we were crazy to think that a 46 year old woman and a 16 year old girl could handle those solid, HEAVY 18 foot beams.) we ended up with a groaning pickup load full of old hand-hewn square log beams, 1 old beautiful walnut door complete with beautiful brass hardware, some scrapes, a couple of broken fingernails and 1 possible hernia.
I was thrilled and appreciative of the gift and the kindness of the Dozier operator but sad knowing that there was so much more that I would have loved to have.
Have you ever missed out on something really good? Let us know! treasureholic@gmail.com
Readers ID The Shell Casing As WWI NOT II
NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!
Thank goodness there are people out there who know something about war stuff! Special thanks go out to two members of my metal detecting club who sent me emails with GREAT information about the bomb shell casing that I found and have a pictured in an earlier post WWII Bomb Shell Casing Found! . Here are a couple of their comments:
...I think your shell is older than you think. I might be wrong but I think it could be WW1 instead of WWII. If troops came from Wadsworth it was WW1 or Camp Croft it would be WWII...
...That should be a WWI shell that you found. That area was an artillery practice site for Camp Wadsworth which was a WWI training camp...
Two id's! It's WWI not II. GREAT! If you have more info, please let me know! treasureholic@gmail.com
Happy Hunting!
Thank goodness there are people out there who know something about war stuff! Special thanks go out to two members of my metal detecting club who sent me emails with GREAT information about the bomb shell casing that I found and have a pictured in an earlier post WWII Bomb Shell Casing Found! . Here are a couple of their comments:
...I think your shell is older than you think. I might be wrong but I think it could be WW1 instead of WWII. If troops came from Wadsworth it was WW1 or Camp Croft it would be WWII...
...That should be a WWI shell that you found. That area was an artillery practice site for Camp Wadsworth which was a WWI training camp...
Two id's! It's WWI not II. GREAT! If you have more info, please let me know! treasureholic@gmail.com
Happy Hunting!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Keep Your Eye On The Prize
I've had my eye on this old house in Tryon, NC for some time. Two years ago, I stopped and walked through it when the family put a for sale sign on the property. I'm guessing that it was well over a hundred years old due to it's construction and state of disrepair.
In her day, she was beautiful, stately and was the epitome of charm and character. Her bones were graceful, strong and solid. Over the years, there have been additions and modifications.
On the outside, she was framed with lap board siding. If you looked closely, you could see the old saw marks left behind when the boards were hand cut in the mill.
There were many things about that house that I appreciated.
The main part of the house was an old log structure that had been covered up so that the logs were not visible. When she was built, people used what they had at hand. As time moved on, it wasn't fashionable for town's people to live in common log homes. Fancy homes that looked more refined were the rage and many of the older structures that were made of log ended up with face lifts.
The interior doors were solid, matched and were made of large planks of dark walnut. They were held on to the frames with beautiful ornate brass hinges. Ornamental brass plates that matched the hinges surrounded porcelain brown door knobs.
And the sink. It was made of big slabs of grey-black slate and it had two basins. It was large, very heavy, deep and rectangular. I loved it.
I once thought about purchasing the home and ended up buying another "project" that was a little further out.
The first sign I saw in the yard was taken down long ago and the family ended up doing some work on the house. They recently put the house back up for sale and it quickly sold along with the old gas station/garage in front of it.
A week after the SOLD sign was erected, a thought came to mind that I should find out who bought it, call them up and see what they were going to do with the structure.
Due to it's condition, I was expecting it to be torn down and if it was, I was hoping I could speak with the owner and ask if I could have the doors, the sink and the log beams.
TOO LATE!
When I drove by the following afternoon, a big orange bull dozier was in the yard and half of the house was already in a dumpster! I felt sick.
Has this ever happened to you? Did you have your eye on something that you could see value in and you didn't have time or make time to save what could be saved or treasured by someone else? treasureholic@gmail.com
In her day, she was beautiful, stately and was the epitome of charm and character. Her bones were graceful, strong and solid. Over the years, there have been additions and modifications.
On the outside, she was framed with lap board siding. If you looked closely, you could see the old saw marks left behind when the boards were hand cut in the mill.
There were many things about that house that I appreciated.
The main part of the house was an old log structure that had been covered up so that the logs were not visible. When she was built, people used what they had at hand. As time moved on, it wasn't fashionable for town's people to live in common log homes. Fancy homes that looked more refined were the rage and many of the older structures that were made of log ended up with face lifts.
The interior doors were solid, matched and were made of large planks of dark walnut. They were held on to the frames with beautiful ornate brass hinges. Ornamental brass plates that matched the hinges surrounded porcelain brown door knobs.
And the sink. It was made of big slabs of grey-black slate and it had two basins. It was large, very heavy, deep and rectangular. I loved it.
I once thought about purchasing the home and ended up buying another "project" that was a little further out.
The first sign I saw in the yard was taken down long ago and the family ended up doing some work on the house. They recently put the house back up for sale and it quickly sold along with the old gas station/garage in front of it.
A week after the SOLD sign was erected, a thought came to mind that I should find out who bought it, call them up and see what they were going to do with the structure.
Due to it's condition, I was expecting it to be torn down and if it was, I was hoping I could speak with the owner and ask if I could have the doors, the sink and the log beams.
TOO LATE!
When I drove by the following afternoon, a big orange bull dozier was in the yard and half of the house was already in a dumpster! I felt sick.
Has this ever happened to you? Did you have your eye on something that you could see value in and you didn't have time or make time to save what could be saved or treasured by someone else? treasureholic@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Treasure Hunting Gene
In my last post, I mentioned that I felt sure that Treasureholics share a Treasure-Hunting gene.
I know it has to be that way because my Mother, has "it" bad. She's passed it down to me, and there is no doubt that it has to be a dominant gene!
When I look around, there are thousands of others just like me and perhaps you are one of them. Believe me, we have plenty of company--at garage sales, auctions, flea markets, metal detecting meetings, find your own gem and gold mines, pawn shops, swap meets, estate sales, trash piles, dumps, and antique malls.
We are all fighting for the same parking place at 6:00 am in front of the most promising garage sale driveway hoping to be the first one to snag the best items. We're looking for something that the owner has priced for 50 cents that will sell for a hefty profit on eBay or to an individual.
Some of us didn't even wait until the day of the sale and knocked on the door the night before asking if we could scan the items and be the first one to preview the treasure.
As I'm snagging neat stuff, I'm going to write about it and tell you what I've done with it after I've hauled it home. If I've sold it, I'll let you in on the sales price and tell you what the person who's bought it is going to do with it.
I'll bet you can glean something out of it that you can take to the bank and email me treasureholic@gmail.com to tell me about your find.
Happy Hunting!
I know it has to be that way because my Mother, has "it" bad. She's passed it down to me, and there is no doubt that it has to be a dominant gene!
When I look around, there are thousands of others just like me and perhaps you are one of them. Believe me, we have plenty of company--at garage sales, auctions, flea markets, metal detecting meetings, find your own gem and gold mines, pawn shops, swap meets, estate sales, trash piles, dumps, and antique malls.
We are all fighting for the same parking place at 6:00 am in front of the most promising garage sale driveway hoping to be the first one to snag the best items. We're looking for something that the owner has priced for 50 cents that will sell for a hefty profit on eBay or to an individual.
Some of us didn't even wait until the day of the sale and knocked on the door the night before asking if we could scan the items and be the first one to preview the treasure.
As I'm snagging neat stuff, I'm going to write about it and tell you what I've done with it after I've hauled it home. If I've sold it, I'll let you in on the sales price and tell you what the person who's bought it is going to do with it.
I'll bet you can glean something out of it that you can take to the bank and email me treasureholic@gmail.com to tell me about your find.
Happy Hunting!
Hi. I'm Dana, And I'm A Treasureholic.
Picture this, I'm in a room filled with people who have come to the same meeting for the same purpose. We all share the same compulsion.
The room is filled with squeaky, cold, brown metal folding chairs and there are a only a few empty seats. I'm seated midway in the crowd and I feel compelled to talk. Sheepishly, I raise my hand and am asked by the Leader to come up to the front to tell my story. I start by saying 7 revealing words to the crowd.
"Hi. I'm Dana, and I'm a Treasureholic.
The room is filled with squeaky, cold, brown metal folding chairs and there are a only a few empty seats. I'm seated midway in the crowd and I feel compelled to talk. Sheepishly, I raise my hand and am asked by the Leader to come up to the front to tell my story. I start by saying 7 revealing words to the crowd.
"Hi. I'm Dana, and I'm a Treasureholic.
Most people have heard the phrase, "What's one man's trash is another man's treasure." It's that way for me. I have to think that somewhere, some highly educated geneticist in some lab has isolated a specific defect in the chain of human DNA that causes this obvious genetic profile (Maybe it's shaped like an old chair that needs re-caning).
If it would make you feel better to admit that you too are a Treasureholic, and you want or must share your treasure hunting addiction, please email me treasureholic@gmail.com and I'll post your comments here in the blog.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Additional Heel Plate Info: John's Response!
In my last update on the Heel Plate, I mentioned that there was a seller on eBay who has an online store called "The Soldier's Heel". http://stores.ebay.com/The-Soldiers-Heel
For those of you who don't know, you can contact any eBay seller without purchasing an item from them or placing a bid on an item. It's pretty simple and there are two ways that you can do it. You can click on their user id and that will take you to a page about them where you can find a contact link, or you can click on one of their posted listings and ask a question. There is a drop down box that will allow you to choose "Ask a general question about this item". I've found both contact methods to work quite well. Most people who sell on eBay are following their passion and they are more than happy to share information about the items that they list or answer questions about a hobby or eBay listing category.
I sent the eBay seller at The Soldier's Heel an email with this blog address so he could check out the photo/post and asked him if he had any information on the Heel Plate in the photo. He was very kind to respond! Here is a copy of the email that John sent to me - IT'S GREAT INFORMATION!!!
Hi Dana,
Yes, you did find a heelplate, I have one in my collection that is very similar to yours. I haven't found alot of information regarding these items online either, which seems surprising. But from the number I have seen with various designs I believe that these were mass produced in the 1850's-1860's and from the quality, I am inclined to think they might have been imported from Britain.
The purpose of the heelplate was to protect and extend the life of the shoe heel. Shoes were purchased items for the most part & therefore if the owner could make them last several years longer, it was worth the extra cost to have these on a pair of shoes.
You will find examples of dug heelplates in several Civil War relic books, and occasionally on ebay. They are not especially rare, and a lot of relic hunters have found them in military camps. These are not a military issue item, but alot of civilian market goods were used by soldiers & visitors to the army camps.
Thanks for contacting me, I hope that I have helped shed some light on your find.
John
Here's what's really cool about this whole metal detecting treasure hunting thing...it's great fun, you meet and interact with very nice people and you find relics and items that are very interesting and are sometimes valuable!
Before I found the Heel Plate, I had no clue that these items even existed, knew nothing about them - when they were made or what they were used for. It's all fascinating to me and I can't wait to dig in the dirt again soon and find something new to investigate!
For those of you who don't know, you can contact any eBay seller without purchasing an item from them or placing a bid on an item. It's pretty simple and there are two ways that you can do it. You can click on their user id and that will take you to a page about them where you can find a contact link, or you can click on one of their posted listings and ask a question. There is a drop down box that will allow you to choose "Ask a general question about this item". I've found both contact methods to work quite well. Most people who sell on eBay are following their passion and they are more than happy to share information about the items that they list or answer questions about a hobby or eBay listing category.
I sent the eBay seller at The Soldier's Heel an email with this blog address so he could check out the photo/post and asked him if he had any information on the Heel Plate in the photo. He was very kind to respond! Here is a copy of the email that John sent to me - IT'S GREAT INFORMATION!!!
Hi Dana,
Yes, you did find a heelplate, I have one in my collection that is very similar to yours. I haven't found alot of information regarding these items online either, which seems surprising. But from the number I have seen with various designs I believe that these were mass produced in the 1850's-1860's and from the quality, I am inclined to think they might have been imported from Britain.
The purpose of the heelplate was to protect and extend the life of the shoe heel. Shoes were purchased items for the most part & therefore if the owner could make them last several years longer, it was worth the extra cost to have these on a pair of shoes.
You will find examples of dug heelplates in several Civil War relic books, and occasionally on ebay. They are not especially rare, and a lot of relic hunters have found them in military camps. These are not a military issue item, but alot of civilian market goods were used by soldiers & visitors to the army camps.
Thanks for contacting me, I hope that I have helped shed some light on your find.
John
Here's what's really cool about this whole metal detecting treasure hunting thing...it's great fun, you meet and interact with very nice people and you find relics and items that are very interesting and are sometimes valuable!
Before I found the Heel Plate, I had no clue that these items even existed, knew nothing about them - when they were made or what they were used for. It's all fascinating to me and I can't wait to dig in the dirt again soon and find something new to investigate!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
WWII Bomb Shell Casing Found!
It's 'Da Bomb here in South Carolina!
A neighbor of mine, who has some property right down the road, gave me permission to do a little metal detecting on his land.
During World War II, there was a training facility in the general area. Over the years, I have heard about the training facility, the shelling and have been told many interesting things about the military operation that was housed there.
A couple of years ago, a friend who grew up in this area, showed me very old pictures of US soldiers who were in bunkers going through military training on the site. I have asked for permission to post those pictures and it was granted so check back! I will be picking them up in a couple of days and will be posting them here on the blog.
From what I have been told by locals, there were several military sites where rounds were consistently fired at Hogback Mountain. (I took this picture two weeks ago when the Peach trees were glorious and in full bloom - BTW - SC is second in peach production AHEAD OF GEORGIA but behind CA!) At the time, the area was uninhabited and the mountain was a perfect backdrop for shelling.
If you ask the older folks about the operation, stories abound about live shells, bomb bullets and bits of shrapnel and brass littering the area. One of my pals told me that he would go over to the mountain with his Dad during the Depression, pick up the shells and sell the brass and metal to bring in additional income for the family. He told me that lots of folks did that during the weekends hoping to find something that they could sell when times were hard.
I started treasure hunting today in the "mule pasture". Dora, the mule followed me the entire time and watched me swing the "stick with the funny round end" back in forth over her fescue. With Dora's help, I found four bomb bullets. I'm sure there has to be an official name for these lead bullets. If you know what it is, I would welcome the information! In addition, if you have details about the military operation at Hogback Mountain in South Carolina, I would love to hear about it! Please email me!
Bomb bullets are round lead pellets that are bigger than a musket ball. The large rounds that were fired toward the mountain were full of them. When the shells exploded, the bomb bullets would fly and disperse like shrapnel. There are many of them scattered about in the general area. The bullets are made out of lead.
Funny, it seems as if most people who have lived in these parts are familiar with bomb bullets and they still have the ones that they picked up years ago. What's funnier still are the uses that they have found for these lead bullets. Someone told me today that his son drills holes in them and still uses them as fishing sinkers.
As Dora and I checked out her field, my metal detector alerted to a rather large target. The target was long and relatively thin. I dug down about 12 inches and found a tubular object. I was hoping to find a shell casing. I opened the size of the hole and sure enough, it appeared to be a shell.
I was very careful to hand dig around it with my small spade until I determined that the mortar round was missing and it was empty. At that point, I finished digging it out and took my spade and cleaned out the inside of the shell casing. I was thrilled to find the casing, packed it up carefully, thanked Dora and headed for the gate!
Reader ID's the item in the last blog as a Heel Plate!
NEWS FLASH!!! NEWS FLASH!!!
My thanks go out to Chris Phillips who emailed me about the "What is it?" metal thing that is shown in the picture on the last blog entry and I think we have an ID!
Here are Chris's comments about the item:
"I would say you dug a heel plate. Leather shoes of the 19th and early 20th centuries often had these fastened to the bottom of the heel. At first I thought that the heart shape cutout was a woman's shoe but I have seen similar ones in military camps. Some are merely in the shape of a horse shoe. I had seen photos of dug heel plates over the years in detecting magazines and internet forums. Try "heel plate" in a google image search. The best and fastest way that I have got my "what is its" identified is through the Treasurenet.com forums. This site is truly impressive. It's probably the biggest metal detecting site on the net. I have had people from all over the USA and Europe help me identify my relic finds."
With Chris's help, I started searching online to see if I could find out more information. My first search target was eBay. I went out to eBay, plugged in "heel plate" into the "Buy" search category and found a seller who has a store called The Soldier's Heel.
Here's the link to this seller's eBay store - http://stores.ebay.com/The-Soldiers-Heel I sent him an email and asked him if he knows anything about the heel plate that I found. I haven't heard back yet, but when I do, I'll post his response for everyone to see!
I also Googled "heel plate" and didn't find a match for old antique designs or references.
If you have any information about the heart shaped design on this heel plate and it's date and significance, please let me know!
I'm trying to put a match to an old pre-civil war fort and it's location so your comments would be greatly appreciated! treasureholic@gmail.com
My thanks go out to Chris Phillips who emailed me about the "What is it?" metal thing that is shown in the picture on the last blog entry and I think we have an ID!
Here are Chris's comments about the item:
"I would say you dug a heel plate. Leather shoes of the 19th and early 20th centuries often had these fastened to the bottom of the heel. At first I thought that the heart shape cutout was a woman's shoe but I have seen similar ones in military camps. Some are merely in the shape of a horse shoe. I had seen photos of dug heel plates over the years in detecting magazines and internet forums. Try "heel plate" in a google image search. The best and fastest way that I have got my "what is its" identified is through the Treasurenet.com forums. This site is truly impressive. It's probably the biggest metal detecting site on the net. I have had people from all over the USA and Europe help me identify my relic finds."
With Chris's help, I started searching online to see if I could find out more information. My first search target was eBay. I went out to eBay, plugged in "heel plate" into the "Buy" search category and found a seller who has a store called The Soldier's Heel.
Here's the link to this seller's eBay store - http://stores.ebay.com/The-Soldiers-Heel I sent him an email and asked him if he knows anything about the heel plate that I found. I haven't heard back yet, but when I do, I'll post his response for everyone to see!
I also Googled "heel plate" and didn't find a match for old antique designs or references.
If you have any information about the heart shaped design on this heel plate and it's date and significance, please let me know!
I'm trying to put a match to an old pre-civil war fort and it's location so your comments would be greatly appreciated! treasureholic@gmail.com
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