So Hans, a metal detector contacted me using the contact information on the page.
He send me some pictures and his story, so here they are, story first, then pictures :)
Hello, Here are the pictures and the story.
I obtained permission to metal detect a farm that has been owned by the same family for almost 200 years here in Indiana. While scouting around I came across the original well that was used up until the 1950's. An interesting thing about it is that the two cement slabs that were put on top to keep anyone from falling into it actually have horse shoes in them. This was done while the cement was wet and serves as a handle or anchor so that they may be moved more easily. The next week I went to a hardware store and bought a retrieving magnet that can pull up to 250 lbs. (sorry we don't use the metric system here in the states. Not sure what that calculates to where you are from.) And some nylon parachord. I got to the well that next morning and managed to move the cement slabs a bit so that I could get my arms in. I then tied a battery charged light to one of the horse shoes and lowered it in so that I could see. I found an old plank of wood floating in there that was just out of my reach. I used my machete and stabbed it and pulled it out, it was so water logged that it was very soft. It ended up being about 7' long. Now I was ready to drop the magnet. I tied it on using a slip knot and sent it in. I have about 100' of parachord tied to it and it just kept going and going. when it finally hit bottom I pulled it back out to get an idea of how deep the water was. From the top of the well to the water is about 6'. From the water line to the bottom I'd say its about 30', so 36' is what I was dealing with. I jigged it around finally latched on to something. When I finally got it out I was excited by what it was. It's an old hoe. I showed it to the old man who is in his 70's and he said it's probably about 150 years old and said it looks like a lot of the other old farm implements that he still has. The head was made by a blacksmith who the family bought tools from and the shaft was the original. He showed me is collection and we compared it and it's a perfect match to that era. By the way, that was the only metal item in the well and the wooden shaft will end up coming off. It is dry rotting but that is ok because I will put the hoe head through electrolysis and preserve it. I hope you enjoyed this story and the pictures. I already have other locations to try this new hobby out on and I will share those stories too if you are interested.
Thanks and happy hunting!
-Hans
He send me some pictures and his story, so here they are, story first, then pictures :)
Hello, Here are the pictures and the story.
I obtained permission to metal detect a farm that has been owned by the same family for almost 200 years here in Indiana. While scouting around I came across the original well that was used up until the 1950's. An interesting thing about it is that the two cement slabs that were put on top to keep anyone from falling into it actually have horse shoes in them. This was done while the cement was wet and serves as a handle or anchor so that they may be moved more easily. The next week I went to a hardware store and bought a retrieving magnet that can pull up to 250 lbs. (sorry we don't use the metric system here in the states. Not sure what that calculates to where you are from.) And some nylon parachord. I got to the well that next morning and managed to move the cement slabs a bit so that I could get my arms in. I then tied a battery charged light to one of the horse shoes and lowered it in so that I could see. I found an old plank of wood floating in there that was just out of my reach. I used my machete and stabbed it and pulled it out, it was so water logged that it was very soft. It ended up being about 7' long. Now I was ready to drop the magnet. I tied it on using a slip knot and sent it in. I have about 100' of parachord tied to it and it just kept going and going. when it finally hit bottom I pulled it back out to get an idea of how deep the water was. From the top of the well to the water is about 6'. From the water line to the bottom I'd say its about 30', so 36' is what I was dealing with. I jigged it around finally latched on to something. When I finally got it out I was excited by what it was. It's an old hoe. I showed it to the old man who is in his 70's and he said it's probably about 150 years old and said it looks like a lot of the other old farm implements that he still has. The head was made by a blacksmith who the family bought tools from and the shaft was the original. He showed me is collection and we compared it and it's a perfect match to that era. By the way, that was the only metal item in the well and the wooden shaft will end up coming off. It is dry rotting but that is ok because I will put the hoe head through electrolysis and preserve it. I hope you enjoyed this story and the pictures. I already have other locations to try this new hobby out on and I will share those stories too if you are interested.
Thanks and happy hunting!
-Hans