i wish someone would start a national metal detector museum.

[GRAY GHOST]

hi all, i wish someone would start a national metal detectorist' museum, or at least an online museum of finds. it would be a great reference, and i would part with some of my collection to help educate others if it was a physical building. and it's a good opportunity to show off your finds as well, with credit given the finder. aside from the value of the relics and coins i've found over the years [which prolly ain't much] noone in my family shares my interest and love of metal detecting. ...so... what is a fella to do? i sometimes think of donating to the museum of the confederacy here in richmond, va. but i strongly doubt they would display such a collection. i think we've all done our part to help preserve history for the future generations.... so now what? your ideas and interest are appreciated. hh,

 

[echostar61]

Hi Ghost, I know what you mean, no one in my family or circle of friends share my love of history or detecting. My collection will be lost as will my vast genealogy . My son's question is always the same "whats it worth" and I talked my Dad into getting a new detector ,all I hear are complaints about digging trash ! You have a Great Idea, I would donate rather than seeing my collections and family heirlooms sold off .

Terri

 

[dobbie]

i agree is a an awesome idea. although i do not have much at all yet. my daughter called me a dork yesterday saying all i do is pick up other peoples metal trash, take a pic of it and put it online where other people show off their metal. it struck me as funny. i guess it was the way she said it. I would have no idea how to run a museum but i will contribute...

 

[Magicman]

I cannot recall where I saw this, they have done this for bugs and currently there are something like 1.3 million types. (starting point to research)

Grayghost wasn't there a video where in England detecting clubs bring there finds and someone I think from the government is there to catalog the finds and provides a database of information?

(now I just need to sit down and figure out the logistics, cost, and time. Additionally a way to make a couple dollars for my time instead of working for someone else)

 

[XLT-user]

We can't detect many places now.................That would just limit it even more, and No where would you be detecting for yourself, just so you could turn it over...No thanks..Not for me.....In England the Gov gets first crack at everything you find.. Remember our great Antiquities law........They are trying to put us all out of the hobby now.....Careful what you wish for !!

 

[Magicman]

I didn't want the government doing the cataloging, I was using that as a reference. Just thinking about the cost associated with it and then verifying finds. But most importantly, how would you set it up and as you mention the Antiquities law XLT-user, to protect MD users.

 

[GRAY GHOST]

hi everybody, i surely don't want uncle sam involved. he's too involved in my life now as it is. i feel the same way you do about that. a physical building seems out of the question. just an online museum would be great. maybe we could talk our gracious sponsors into it... i don't know if they would go for it or not. but...it would be cool! an online finds museum. nobody else i can think of has one. but, there is strength in numbers. hh,

 

[dobbie]

IM GAME>.. i would be happy to post what little i got....for the hobby...

 

[XLT-user]

such a place, or could be talked into it..Not sure exactly, but I do know they are always trying to protect we detectorists against the laws set forth by the Antiquities law, and the archaeologists use against us on a lot of sites we could detect if the gov didn't rule it.Maybe someone belongs to that fine organisation ( We all should)... I just know many, many, places are off limits due to government regulation. I can't see any program the Government would be involved in that could, or would, prove out good for us in the end.. It would be so regulated..you just might have to call and get permission to hunt anywhere....And I am not being paranoid either.(.I'm not.).but, regulations are what the Federation of Metal detectorist fights daily on our behalf.. Why make things worse by inviting tThe Government to regulate what we find, where we can find it, and then decide if we can keep it, or must turn it over..Even if they paid for it..and they do in England..it takes a long time, and they make the decision totally about whats yours and whats theirs..DO we want that..I do not. But hey I am only one...And maybe wrong on my views...Again be careful what you wish for...I think their willing to oblige you faster than you think.. So in conclusion, why not contact the federation club and ask if they have, or would be willing to run a museum. I would donate if it were the right place, and right people running it.

 

[coinnut]

Tough One! I don't want any big entity involved. You can bet no matter what agreement was made, after you are gone they will do what they want with it. But I agree, my family wants nothing to do with it. The only answers I can think of off hand are: 1. When you are older, secretly start to talk with lots of young people in a detecting club. Screen out a nice, dedicated one, kinda like yourself when you were young. Find someone with a passion for the artifacts first and value second. Give it to them to "protect and pass it on" for history's sake. This would be a way of picking someone that would appreciate it. Better than the trash can, where most family members would throw it. 2. Find someone (celebrity, athlete, etc..) who has a passion for history and try and persuade them to start a museum which dedicates itself to the hobby. Motto is to never sell anything. One of these may work. I too have lots to offer, but I'm not about to give them to some government project that will just disappear into someone's private collection. Documentation of donors and accountability and safety would be paramount. Collection would have to be available on line and in person, so nothing is "lost". Just my two cents.

 

[XLT-user]

You know fine Sir..that sounds like a good idea...........Unless you want to send me all your "GOOD" finds and I can keep em for you !
And I promise, I would take very good care of them..LOL... Just joking read my above post for my real feelings about the national federation of metal detectorist.
I think they still exist...But the online forum could be a good idea.. It could be called( Finds Best) ..and only valuable objects or certain era finds would be eligible for submission.
Then we could all vote for admission, or vote not worthy. Then if you decided to trade it, or sell it, other members would have first options for buying it...Just a thought.............

 

[GRAY GHOST]

n/t