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WINNER #1
My favorite international find for February 2013 is the John Mecke Clock and Watch Maker Plate, discovered by Grant H. from Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Grant and his detecting buddy returned to a productive property in Mount Holly, NJ. His Ace 350 was producing a solid hit in the quarter/dime range. After finding two nails in the same hole, Grant remembered to recheck the hole. Ding! He dug another 15-20 minutes and shares the discovery. "A little more digging and my Pro-Pointer finally started to signal. I was very careful digging all around the target, and then finally saw a piece of metal glaring back at me. I pulled it out with great relief, only tofind myself holding a rectangular, flat piece of metal. Then I flipped it over.The other side had a raised round area. I wiped some dirt away to see engraving. Woah! What is this?" Grant poured bottled water over the heavy piece which revealed backwards text surrounded by a decorative leaf pattern. It read, "John Mecke, Clock and Watch Maker & Jeweler, No 359 North 2nd St., Philad."
After two weeks of extensive research and assistance from helpful detecting forum members, he was able to identify the piece as a plate used to make watch papers, which are very rare. He reached out to the American Antiquarian Society, who wanted images of the piece in their national archives. Grant tells more. "A week or so after reaching out to them, I got a return call from the National Watch & Clock Museum in PA, who asked if I wouldn't mind donating the plate to the museum to be part of their jewelry store display. My first museum piece! I was very excited and happy to donate it."
Grant concludes, "So the Garrett Ace 350 and Pro-Pointer helped me to unearth a wonderful piece of history that is now both part of a national antiquarian archive and a museum collection. This has been a thrilling experience for me! I unearthed something cool; something historical. Even better, thanks to my discovery, John Mecke, a watch and clock maker from the 1800's, perhaps forgotten altogether, will now live on amongst his peers as a distinguished part of his craft's history.
Congratulations Grant! Historic find and a wonderful donation in kind. May your name be placed next to your discovery in the museum.
Grant H. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Grant and his detecting buddy returned to a productive property in Mount Holly, NJ. His Ace 350 was producing a solid hit in the quarter/dime range. After finding two nails in the same hole, Grant remembered to recheck the hole. Ding! He dug another 15-20 minutes and shares the discovery. "A little more digging and my Pro-Pointer finally started to signal. I was very careful digging all around the target, and then finally saw a piece of metal glaring back at me. I pulled it out with great relief, only tofind myself holding a rectangular, flat piece of metal. Then I flipped it over.The other side had a raised round area. I wiped some dirt away to see engraving. Woah! What is this?" Grant poured bottled water over the heavy piece which revealed backwards text surrounded by a decorative leaf pattern. It read, "John Mecke, Clock and Watch Maker & Jeweler, No 359 North 2nd St., Philad."
After two weeks of extensive research and assistance from helpful detecting forum members, he was able to identify the piece as a plate used to make watch papers, which are very rare. He reached out to the American Antiquarian Society, who wanted images of the piece in their national archives. Grant tells more. "A week or so after reaching out to them, I got a return call from the National Watch & Clock Museum in PA, who asked if I wouldn't mind donating the plate to the museum to be part of their jewelry store display. My first museum piece! I was very excited and happy to donate it."
Grant concludes, "So the Garrett Ace 350 and Pro-Pointer helped me to unearth a wonderful piece of history that is now both part of a national antiquarian archive and a museum collection. This has been a thrilling experience for me! I unearthed something cool; something historical. Even better, thanks to my discovery, John Mecke, a watch and clock maker from the 1800's, perhaps forgotten altogether, will now live on amongst his peers as a distinguished part of his craft's history.
Congratulations Grant! Historic find and a wonderful donation in kind. May your name be placed next to your discovery in the museum.
Grant H. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
