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Thread: Mediocre Hunt Saved By A Cool B&O Baggage Tag

  1. #1

    Mediocre Hunt Saved By A Cool B&O Baggage Tag

    I went to visit my dad yesterday and he said, "Be sure to bring your metal detector" so I did. He didn't have a specific site in mind so we ended up trying our luck at a grassy strip between the main street and railroad tracks in his small hometown.

    There weren't many finds but I did find a couple of silver dimes. They were pitted and tarnished which is common for silver found next to the railroad tracks. Also got a 1925 Wheat Cent.

    The highlight of the day was a B&O.S.W.R.Y. baggage tag. It was about 8" deep and produced a screaming signal. It says, "PLEASE SEND THIS CHECK TO YOUR GEN'L BAGG. AGT. AT ONCE TO BE RETURNED TO GEN. PASSENGER AGENT". It is 2 1/8" x 2 3/4" and made of heavy brass. I'm not sure of its age but I think it's from the late 1890s or early 1900s. This was an extra special find because my dad worked for the B&O Railroad for 26 years. He was super thrilled with this relic!

    I cherish every moment that I get to spend with my dad. At age 84 he is as sharp as ever. He's the guy who got me into metal detecting 56 years ago!

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    Last edited by Tony Two-Cent; 03-08-2024 at 04:49 PM.
    Lifetime totals:
    10 Large Cents, 415 Indian Heads, 2 Two Cent Pieces, 1 Capped Bust Half Dime, 1 Seated Half Dime, 10 Shield Nickels, 68 V Nickels, 124 Buffalo Nickels, 31 War Nickels, 16 Seated Dimes, 131 Barber Dimes, 405 Mercury Dimes, 249 Rosies, 4 Seated Quarters, 18 Barber Quarters, 20 Standing Liberty Quarters, 89 Silver Washingtons, 1 Seated Half, 3 Barber Halves, 16 Walking Liberty Halves

    YouTube Channel: Tony Two-Cent https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz...RlHTBIU42bUORg

  2. #2
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Great to see your Dad , Tony and very nice to hear about the hunt ! congrats on the silver and baggage check
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

    Click here to view my finds album


  3. #3
    Love the tag Tony. What machines were you and your dad using 56 years ago?
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  4. #4
    Elite Member The Rebel's Avatar
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    Oct 2013
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    Southwest, CT
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    Those are great memories to make Tony with your Dad

    Love the RR Tag!
    Minelab Manticore / SPECTRA V3i, Pro-Pointer II. Lesche Digger.
    Oldest Copper: 1694 William & Mary Halfpenny. Oldest Silver: 1663 1-Reale
    Cob.

    My Album

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Lodge Scent View Post
    Love the tag Tony. What machines were you and your dad using 56 years ago?
    Garrett "The Hunter" and I still have it!

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    Lifetime totals:
    10 Large Cents, 415 Indian Heads, 2 Two Cent Pieces, 1 Capped Bust Half Dime, 1 Seated Half Dime, 10 Shield Nickels, 68 V Nickels, 124 Buffalo Nickels, 31 War Nickels, 16 Seated Dimes, 131 Barber Dimes, 405 Mercury Dimes, 249 Rosies, 4 Seated Quarters, 18 Barber Quarters, 20 Standing Liberty Quarters, 89 Silver Washingtons, 1 Seated Half, 3 Barber Halves, 16 Walking Liberty Halves

    YouTube Channel: Tony Two-Cent https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz...RlHTBIU42bUORg

  6. #6
    That is cool !
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  7. #7
    Elite Member Digger_O'Dell's Avatar
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    Jun 2015
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    near Milwaukee Wi.
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    That's certainly a museum piece! But, I really question how that old Garrett machine worked being mounted to an aluminum pole by those big metal angle brackets?
    Equipment:
    Minelab: CTX 3030, GPX 4800, X-Terra 705. Whites TDI SL.

    2024: Silver 1, Gold 0
    Best finds: 28 silver dime spill, 1800s Dutch customs seal.
    Oldest/best coins: Late 1700's Chinese Cash Coin, 1837 Upper Canada large cent, 1877 Seated Dime
    Oldest Relic find: 1800 Sailors Luck token
    You Tube: Rediscovering America
    Quote: Treasures are like potato chips, you can never have just one!

  8. #8
    Veteran Member BTV Digger's Avatar
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    Jan 2014
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    Northern Vermont
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    Such a nice story and tag, Tony! Way to go. Being the seasoned detectorist you are, if I were you, I would be tempted to take that old machine to some modern day group seeded dig and kick everyone's butt by finding the most stuff. I bet that thing can still find the goods if you know what you're listening for!

    John
    Vermont relic hunting, one swing at a time.
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2...OLib30A/videos

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