Saturday, July 23, 2011

Backlight the Garrett AT Pro Metal Detector display?

In the morning and in the evening, it is sometimes hard to read the AT's display so after spending lots of time trying to back-light the AT Pro's LCD display to no avail, I gave up for now. Here is a simple and cheap way to do it that works great:


I got this clip-on book light at the local dollar store, they have a super bright LED and use three #357 batteries. It's fully adjustable and lasts a long time, just clip it on the arm strap, point it at the screen and you are all set.

How to take apart the AT Pro 15khz Microprocessor Controlled Metal Detector

Just 2 screws hold the AT Pro together.
I used a razor blade to cut around the screws. They are "Torx security" type but I used a very small blade screwdriver to break out the "bump" inside so that a standard Torx would work to unscrew it. This will definitely void your warranty so do this at your own risk or wait until your warranty is up!
It is amazing that there is not much inside. The whole CPU PCB is attached to the faceplate with 4 screws.
Looks like "Art" to me... just needs a picture frame!
PCB separated from the faceplate.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Home MadeTreasure Hunting Robot

A man in Wiltshire, UK has converted a toy truck into a remote controlled metal detector to help him find lost treasures in the countryside.

His invention was inspired by stories of techniques to find old land mines and a bad back that prevents him from sweeping the ground with a manual metal detector.

He has worked to perfect his device for 7 years and estimates that he has spent 2000 British pounds (US $3800).
It includes a metal detector and camera to send images back to the control unit.

The robot is not only easier to use but more effective than handheld devices.

He says he has found hundreds of old coins and relics. One of his finds, a Medieval Pilgrims badge, is now in a museum.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Old Philidelphia Map




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Northampton county, Pennsylvania: A band of Tory raiders buried a great deal of plunder in a cave overlooking the Delaware River, about 2 miles N of Easton. There have been no reports of any recovery of this cache.

Northampton county, Pennsylvania: During the Revolutionary War, Hessian soldiers dumped gold-filled cannons into the Delaware River somewhere in the area near Easton

Northumberland
Northumberland county, Pennsylvania: During the Civil War, a family of Southern sympathizers operated a sort-of “information center” from their farm near Shamokin. It is reported that they hid a large amount of money on the property that has never been recovered.
Pike
Pike county, Pennsylvania: 1. Legends say that the early Indians knew of a rich silver treasure or mine in a cave located at Shohola Glen. According to the legend, the cave could only be entered from some hidden cranny in the ravine, with a second entrance supposedly in Panther Glen, 1 mile away. It is said the early Indians of this region fought with silver-tipped arrows and silver bullets. A befriended chief took an early settler named Helm blindfolded to the mysterious cave where he reportedly saw piles of crudely mined silver on the floor. Helms spent the rest of his life in search of the treasure cave without success.

Pike county, Pennsylvania: 1. The chief of the Paupacken Indians concealed a large treasure of jewels, beads, gold and silver ornaments, rawhide bags of stone money and a large store of Indian artifacts to keep them from falling into the hands of their enemy, the New York warriors, who eventually drove them from the area. The cache was hidden somewhere in Wallenpaupack Valley near Hawley in the Pocono Mountains.

Pike county, Pennsylvania: 1. On the road from Dingman’s Ferry to Porters Lake SW of Edgemere is an area of some 3,400 acres of wilderness that contained a cluster of settlements built during the Civil War by draft evaders from both the North and the South. Hundreds of men hid out in the swampy river land to avoid military service at this location. It is said that money, jewelry and other valuables were cached in numerous places by these individuals throughout the colony, most of which are said to remain buried in this region.

Potter
Potter county, Pennsylvania: The early Indians often went into the woods and came out a few days later with almost pure silver ore in the area of Coudersport. The early white settlers believed the deposit was located in the area about 4 miles SE of Coudersport, but never found the location. In 1894, an Indian from the Cattaraugus Reservation was seen to walk into the woods near the town of Sweden Valley and within a few hours return from the direction of Ice Mountain with 5 pounds of rich silver ore.

Potter county, Pennsylvania: In the 1690’s, a party of Frenchmen led by Louis Frontenac had a number of powder kegs filled with gold coins loaded on rafts and en-route from New Orleans to the Royal Governor in Montreal. Because of Indian hostilities, the gold was buried in the area of Borie and a stone was marked with a cross pointing to the $350,000 treasure cache. The party continued on their trek to Canada and the kegs were never recovered. The French later searched for this hoard, but it was never found. For years, the Seneca Indians mentioned the marked rock in the Borie area, but knew nothing about any treasure cache associated with it and never tried to search for it. Several noted early historians have mentioned this marked rock in their writings.

Potter county, Pennsylvania: Prior to the Civil War, a gang of horse thieves had a hideout in Sandstone Hollow, the first small stream that drains into Pine Creek W of Galeton and another in Thunder Run. Stories of hidden caches made by this gang have circulated in the area for years.

Potter county, Pennsylvania: In the 1870’s, 2 boys explored a cave among the rocks in Sandstone Hollow. They claim that the tunnel or cavern extended from there to Thunder Run, more than ½ mile. On their way through this cave they said they saw many Indian weapons and tools made of flint and bone. There are stories that say jewels resembling real diamonds can be found in Johnson Brook near Galeton.

Potter county, Pennsylvania: A 69-mile-long stretch of road, once known as the Coudersport-Jersey Shore Turnpike is located near Sweden Valley on hwy. 44. The road was an important stagecoach and mail route during the 1800’s where numerous robberies and holdups took place. 1850’s highwaymen and robber Mark McCoy robbed a large number of travelers and settlers along the Turnpike Road and obtained a quantity of gold coins and jewelry. After killing his girlfriend, McCoy committed suicide and only $200 was found on his body. The balance of his accumulated loot, believed to be considerable, remains hidden somewhere in Stewartson Township