County Line Business & Community Journal ~ MAY FIRST EDITION, 2010 v3.35• ■ Treasure
Hunters, Jerry Eckhart
Metal Detecting, It’s a Crazy Hobby
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Editor’s note: To see some of Jerry’s treasure finds, visit his Facebook profile. Just search Facebook for “Jerry Eckhart”
You may have seen them, walking around a park, haven’t found another ring of that quality. Some metal detector users like to get together in clubs. school ground or some old vacant lot. They are hard to miss because they usually have on a set of headphones, Here in Eastland County, we have such a club. It’s their eyes are on the ground and they are swinging a called the Southwestern Searchers and meets the second device that looks something like a weed eater out of Monday of each month. They meet at 7:00 pm at the the future. That machine is characterized by a boxlike Lela Latch Lloyd Museum at 116 W. 7th in Cisco. We attachment on the end the searcher is holding and a usually have a program about history or metal detecting, round or oval plate on the ground end. It is called a then swap stories about where we have hunted and what metal detector and the searcher is seeking lost coins, we have found. The museum has devoted one room to items found by metal detectorists throughout the state. relics of anything else that might have been lost. Those who follow this hobby are often called metal There are some truly interesting items, ranging from detectorists, treasure hunters, coin hunters or relic cannonballs to old pistols to Spanish artifacts. Anyone hunters. Their specific name often reflects whichever interested in the history of Eastland and surrounding particular aspect of the hobby they pursue. Perhaps counties are invited to visit. Metal detecting is not a new hobby. People have the most common name for them is either “treasure hunter or metal detectorist.” Some are so avid about been searching for lost items since time began. First, their hobby that they will search during the rainiest or they used witching wands, doodle bugs and all kinds snowiest of times and many have been known to even of crazy items they believed would work to lead them to treasure. Alexander dig through frozen ground for an elusive target. Another segment of this hobby are those who thrill to Graham Bell had developed the underwater search. This includes those who wade a type of metal detecting the surf or fresh water beaches and those who scuba instrument before Abraham dive for lost items. They use special waterproofed metal Lincoln was assassinated. It was used in an attempt detectors that sometimes will work to depths of 200’. Metal detecting is a growing hobby throughout the to locate the bullet after nation because it fulfills many dreams of many people. he was shot. When World There are those who dream of a connection with the War II came around, the past. Each artifact or old coin awakens the thoughts military developed a metal of those dreamers. Who lost this coin? Who fired detecting instrument called that bullet? What happened in this place? Many are a mine detector. After the the questions that arise with the surfacing of an old war, many of those mine item. When enough things are found, occasionally the detectors found their way into war surplus answers will come. and were Others like to find new modern coins in plenty. Their stores new coin finds finance their hobby. Some will find snapped up by eager enough to actually pay for the $200 to $800 that the treasure hunters. They average metal detector costs. One gold ring can actually weren’t too sensitive, pay for a metal detector by itself. The value increases if but did find metal. It wasn’t too long that ring happens to be set with diamonds. That is not as that when outrageous as it sounds, because treasure hunters often after enterprising find those rings. On occasion, a rare coin such as a five three all or ten dollar gold coin is found. At today’s prices those businessmen are a real treasure. Many sell their finds right away or decided to develop a metal detector that cash in their newer coins at the bank. I have been metal detecting for almost 50 years, and really worked. They over the years have found a number of nice items. I were Charles Garrett, have hunted for garnets in Greenland, gold in Arizona Carl Fisher, and and New Mexico as well as Civil War artifacts all over Kenneth White. They the nation. Once I found an 18 kt gold ring set with all formed their own a star sapphire. That was at a time when money was separate companies tight and gold was high. I removed the stone and sold and began to work on the ring for its gold content. I then promptly lost the the problem. Several sapphire. Had I known then what I know now, I would years passed until have sold the ring to a jeweler and gotten a much higher each developed a price. But, that’s in the past. I know better now, only I machine and received The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448
a patent for each of their separate designs. I think that Mr. Fisher had already begun work on a large one back in the 1930’s, but it would only find large objects. Metal detecting remained in its infancy for the next 15 years or so until electronic components developed to the point where they could be compacted enough to make it feasible to install into a package that could be hand carried. When that happened, the sport of metal detecting really took off. The smaller and more sophisticated the electronics became, the better were the metal detectors. Now, they have been developed to the point where the detector will tell you with a reasonable degree of accuracy what is beneath the earth before you dig it. When you see one of these fellows swinging their magic machine, stop and visit with them. Get them to show you how their metal detector works. Who knows, you might just want one for yourself. ~Jerry Eckhart
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