Pre -1920 school

[John 'n' W.Va]

I have a set of 1920 topo's. This school was on it. It doesn't exist today and sat in what now is a field. I need to return when the grass is cut. It was up to my knees and after an hour I called it quits. I was also retrieving targets in poison ivy. Fortunately I rarely get it.
I have collected quite a few round iron rings this year. In side the ring is a hog ring I think? A 1921 cent and I think an iron thimble.

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I have been on the Internet for two hours looking up thimbles. I could only find two iron thimbles. Iron thimbles were used for leather work. I am not sure it is a thimble. It looks like one and is smaller then the thimble I found last month.

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Here is the 1921 cent and part of a button I found.

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This is a close up of a genuine HOT ROCK. They all hit on silver.

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[Uncle Willy]

Those hot rocks are a pain in the rump. I hit a few around here.

Bill

 

[DavHut]

Very cool John. I love those old maps and have a large collection of them for my area.

Id say that IS a thimble - if its a leather working thimble, all the better. Rings like that mean horses, livestock, and/or other tack items such as are found on wagon,s etc. Thats a good sign. Your perseverance may have paid off at last.

Do you know what a "grass masher" is? Go to the office supply store and get the heaviest duty, roll-chair carpet pad you can find - preferably Lexan. Dont skimp on the cost.
Next, drill two 3/8" holes along one long edge, 6-8" apart, and make a rope handle to carry it with.
To use it, lay it on the grass, step on it and mash down the weeds... now detect through the clear plastic rectangle you just laid down. When you hit a target, lift the masher by the handle and retrieve.
It's slow going, but it's thorough and will allow you to detect in those tall weeds. Sounds like you need to make one.

 

[awhitster]

That iron thimble is a great find. Nice relic. So that's what a "hot rock" looks like.

 

[DavHut]

Sometimes. Others look different, smoother and less like a "moon-rock".
They all have the same reaction to a detector however... BEEP!

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah they come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, and are a pain in the rump.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Or carry a weed eater or sickle. I know guys who have weed eated spots to detect where they suspected goodies might be.

Bill