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Metal Detecting In New York City
The Sunday (March 29, 2009) edition of the (New York) DAILY NEWS carried an article favorable to our hobby [http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/03/29/2009-03-29_new_york_beaches_expect_to_see_more_trea.html]. Here's the text of the article which in the actual paper is titled: "MAPPING OUT THE HUNTING GROUNDS - TREASURE ISLAND! With econ in tatters, beachcombers buy metal detectors to pan city for lost gold" [For those of you who may not know, New York City is not one place, the "City" is composed of 5 boroughs: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island.]
The online version title is: "New York beaches expect to see more treasure hunters"
BY Matthew Lysiak
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, March 29th 2009, 4:00 AM
The big accessory at the beach this summer might not be sunglasses or a bucket and shovel - but a metal detector.
With the economy at low tide and gold near record highs, the city is likely to see a spike in treasure hunting this season, experts told the Daily News.
"Oh, New York City will be looking at one hell of a gold rush this season," said Bob Lundy, president of the Empire State Metal Detector Association.
"Treasure hunters will be combing the beaches looking for valuables like never before. Gold is skyrocketing in value, and with unemployment, people have a lot more idle time."
Ettory Nannetti of Metal Detector Distributors on Flatlands Ave. in Brooklyn has noticed an increase in demand. "Today, there is a lot more interest than one or two years ago," he said. "It's kind of crazy."
The most popular model is White's DFX Metal Detector, which has been a brisk seller despite a $1,200 price tag.
"This detector literally has the ability to predict what is under the ground," he said.
Michael Chaplan said sales of his 2005 book, "The Urban Treasure Hunter" - a guide to finding everything from spare change to the Lindbergh ransom money - are up 50%.
"New York City is very good for treasure hunting because it has all the different levels of American civilization this country has ever seen," he said.
Beaches are prime hunting grounds because people leave behind valuables they stashed under towels, and forget to take off watches before hitting the surf.
"My girlfriend has nice rings on every finger," Lundy said. "I'm wearing my second Rolex."
Parks are also full of buried treasure. Soldiers who fought the Battle of Long Island hid valuables in what is now Prospect Park and many never came back.
"Prospect Park is a great spot for war buffs," Chaplan said. "A friend of mine found dueling pistols, which are quite valuable."
The city Parks Department prohibits the use of metal detectors in parks without a permit - and permit holders have to agree to turn over any historical items or recently lost valuables they find.
"I advise all treasure hunters to keep their finds close to the vest," Chaplan said. "A lot of legal pitfalls can spring up if you talk too much."
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[Captions accompanying the illustration's numbers.]
Eight X-marks-the-spot locations in the city, according to treasure hunter Michael Chaplan:
1. Hunter Island in the Bronx: Some believe the Lindbergh baby ransom money is buried here. Others have found Indian artifacts along the shoreline. "The Indians made wampum there," Chaplan said.
2. Prospect Park in Brooklyn: Revolutionary War artifacts from the Battle of Lond Island have been found here.
3. Coney Island in Brooklyn: Great for turn-of-the-century coins. "For best results go after a storm when the bottom of the ocean gets turned," Chaplan advises.
4. King Park in Queens: "Recently a friend of mine found a 1938 Superman good luck charm," Chaplan says. "He auctioned it off on eBay for $9,500."
5. Orchard Beach in the Bronx: Bling central. "Orchard Beach is great for finding gold. People who go to that beach are very flashy."
6. Forest Park in Queens: One treasure hunter found a small cannon used by the Hessians, who camped there from 1770-76. "Look wherever you find a patch of green," Chaplan says.
7. The Greenbelt on Staten Island: "Hunters with a little bit of time can find all kinds of interesting Dutch artifacts and other relics," Chaplan says.
8. Old buildings in Manhattan: Probably practical only for homeowners. "I had a friend who once discovered $25,000 in gold notes under his bathtub," says Chaplan.
The Sunday (March 29, 2009) edition of the (New York) DAILY NEWS carried an article favorable to our hobby [http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/03/29/2009-03-29_new_york_beaches_expect_to_see_more_trea.html]. Here's the text of the article which in the actual paper is titled: "MAPPING OUT THE HUNTING GROUNDS - TREASURE ISLAND! With econ in tatters, beachcombers buy metal detectors to pan city for lost gold" [For those of you who may not know, New York City is not one place, the "City" is composed of 5 boroughs: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island.]
The online version title is: "New York beaches expect to see more treasure hunters"
BY Matthew Lysiak
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, March 29th 2009, 4:00 AM
The big accessory at the beach this summer might not be sunglasses or a bucket and shovel - but a metal detector.
With the economy at low tide and gold near record highs, the city is likely to see a spike in treasure hunting this season, experts told the Daily News.
"Oh, New York City will be looking at one hell of a gold rush this season," said Bob Lundy, president of the Empire State Metal Detector Association.
"Treasure hunters will be combing the beaches looking for valuables like never before. Gold is skyrocketing in value, and with unemployment, people have a lot more idle time."
Ettory Nannetti of Metal Detector Distributors on Flatlands Ave. in Brooklyn has noticed an increase in demand. "Today, there is a lot more interest than one or two years ago," he said. "It's kind of crazy."
The most popular model is White's DFX Metal Detector, which has been a brisk seller despite a $1,200 price tag.
"This detector literally has the ability to predict what is under the ground," he said.
Michael Chaplan said sales of his 2005 book, "The Urban Treasure Hunter" - a guide to finding everything from spare change to the Lindbergh ransom money - are up 50%.
"New York City is very good for treasure hunting because it has all the different levels of American civilization this country has ever seen," he said.
Beaches are prime hunting grounds because people leave behind valuables they stashed under towels, and forget to take off watches before hitting the surf.
"My girlfriend has nice rings on every finger," Lundy said. "I'm wearing my second Rolex."
Parks are also full of buried treasure. Soldiers who fought the Battle of Long Island hid valuables in what is now Prospect Park and many never came back.
"Prospect Park is a great spot for war buffs," Chaplan said. "A friend of mine found dueling pistols, which are quite valuable."
The city Parks Department prohibits the use of metal detectors in parks without a permit - and permit holders have to agree to turn over any historical items or recently lost valuables they find.
"I advise all treasure hunters to keep their finds close to the vest," Chaplan said. "A lot of legal pitfalls can spring up if you talk too much."
------------------------
[Captions accompanying the illustration's numbers.]
Eight X-marks-the-spot locations in the city, according to treasure hunter Michael Chaplan:
1. Hunter Island in the Bronx: Some believe the Lindbergh baby ransom money is buried here. Others have found Indian artifacts along the shoreline. "The Indians made wampum there," Chaplan said.
2. Prospect Park in Brooklyn: Revolutionary War artifacts from the Battle of Lond Island have been found here.
3. Coney Island in Brooklyn: Great for turn-of-the-century coins. "For best results go after a storm when the bottom of the ocean gets turned," Chaplan advises.
4. King Park in Queens: "Recently a friend of mine found a 1938 Superman good luck charm," Chaplan says. "He auctioned it off on eBay for $9,500."
5. Orchard Beach in the Bronx: Bling central. "Orchard Beach is great for finding gold. People who go to that beach are very flashy."
6. Forest Park in Queens: One treasure hunter found a small cannon used by the Hessians, who camped there from 1770-76. "Look wherever you find a patch of green," Chaplan says.
7. The Greenbelt on Staten Island: "Hunters with a little bit of time can find all kinds of interesting Dutch artifacts and other relics," Chaplan says.
8. Old buildings in Manhattan: Probably practical only for homeowners. "I had a friend who once discovered $25,000 in gold notes under his bathtub," says Chaplan.
