New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Went out to a "historic" park in Blenheim last night and got frustrated again not finding targets even though my Quattro said there was something there. Ordered my pin pointer today so hopefully my holes will be smaller and I won't be spending ages looking for phantoms.

Anyway, I ended up quite happy as I found an old padlock, no key but never mind. That's the second nice looking old padlock I've found in Blenheim and I am keen to find others.
I've given it a bit of a clean up but more to do yet. The shape says Victorian. Bet you think I am pretty clever but I think the cover over the key hole gives it away as there is a crown and VR impressed on it. Has a maker as well, looked like J. Moreton & Coy and either Southampton or Northampton, The first letters are shortened so need a bit more cleaning and more magnification I think to get it clear. There is a Morton Locksmiths in the UK that has been going for over 140 years.

Anyway, photos attached

Those 'phantom' hits are tough to decifer. If i dig down sometomes about a half foot/ foot and the signal is still the same i abandon the dig. I have previously found them to be alloy cans or tin cans.
I have also found that the target is in the walls of the hole and not further down in the dig where i thought. Thats why i dig with a small shovel to make a wider hole.

Shane

Edited by user Saturday, 14 January 2012 10:41:44 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I had a wee tool that I made as a probe but it is probably still at a site I visited. I had a length of brass wire about 2-3 mm diameter and 15 cm long with one end glued into a golf ball. Used to be pretty handy at poking in the ground even when the ground was hard. Just have to make a new one, kids keep finding golf balls at the rugby grounds.

The padlock is cleaning up nicely. I found out that lots of manufacturers put the reigning monarchs symbol on their wares in the hope that buyers would think that they had the royal stamp of approval.

Chased a phantom signal again yesterday. Was a positive silver signal, dig dig, and then it disapears completely off the radar. I strike these on a semi regular basis and i have no explanation as to why. My guess is that they are very tiny bits of metal that were probably sitting on the surface.

Shane

I got back out to my park last night, this time armed with the pin pointer. Only trouble was I couldn't remember which tree had the signal I couldn't find. But I did manage to find lots of targets and I must admit, the pin pointer helped me find them a lot faster. I did dig up lots of rubbish but that just means that I won't have to worry bout then later. The park is listed on the Marlborough District Council as a "historic park" and after the old watch find coupled with the Victorian era padlock, I think it is going to deliver up a few more goodies.

I did dig up the requisite 1 and 2 cent pieces and a couple of the older 20 cent coins and they were all at less than 4 inches down (that's 10cm for you young bucks). I got plenty of indications at what I think could be up to 12 inches deep and I'll have a go at those next time I go back.

Pin pointers have been around for a long time and I must admit that I was never fussed with them. My one cost me $68 delivered and I am now a firm believer. I am also finally getting to understand my Quattro a lot better. I no longer want to see how much bark I can take off a tree with it.

Only let down of the night? Three young ladies came down and had a swing in the playground area. "Look that man's got a detector" That was alright. A bit later
"Hey! Poor man! Looking for money?" I think that as I was wearing headphones they thought I may not have heard them.

I was dying to tell them that I had buried a body around there somewhere but couldn't find it, but.. all I said was "Yes". They did leave shortly after though.

LOL good one Max :-)

Someone a couple of days ago asked me if I was soil testing.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Had some young ladies at the beach throwing coins for me to find the other day ... it is a tough life that of the detectorist ;)

Went for a detect at a different park since it was close to home, Remind me to wear trou and not shorts when there is only bark to kneel on. Bloooody hell that stuff's uncomfortable.
Tonight, wore some jeans, dragged a couple of 5 cents pieces out of the plastic matting under the swings. Gaps too small for larger coins but the pin pointer worked well again. Nothing under the jungle gym but found some older decimal coins by one of the trees, (50, 10 and 5 cent) and lots of junk.

Have you looked at Corsair Bay yet? On the grassy patch above the beach and just under the hill, there used to be a little shop butted against the hill, that was one patch I didn't check with my old Sovereign, the beach itself kept on producing. To the left used to be shelter. I found quite a few silvers on the beach, both rings and coins. Never found gold though all the times i went to it.