Sunday, May 2, 2010

"Need Some Diggers Inspiration"?




I have dug 31 holes since January 1st. At an average of 6 feet each, that is a total of 186 feet! That does not count the many yards of material moved at a large 1860s-1870s dump a few months ago. This time of year, I start to get a tad burnt out, and I tend to projects around the house that I have been putting off all Winter. After all those holes, there have been some nice bottles, and other items, but nothing "heavy" this year. I figure there is about 6 weeks left before the ground starts to get rock hard in my stomping grounds. I dig all over the West, and when I get the "call", I am on the road chasing that next early bottle for the shelf!


There are a few permissions that need to be dug, and hopefully I can dig a dozen more pits in the next few weeks. One must just keep at it, and never give up.


Here are two of my favorite flasks. They were both dug by tenacious (and fortunate) diggers. I wonder if they knew that the next hole would produce these beauties? This is what keeps me going...knocking on that door, getting rejected or not, moving wood piles, or junk cars, breaking concrete, and breathing Honta Virus laden dust...all for the chance of seeing something like this just laying there...wow, there is nothing like it!
Posted by at 4:24 PM
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10 comments:

  1. Just keep at it M.E.! As most diggers would attest, a few home run holes, or one grand slam hole can sometimes produce more than 50 average holes combined. It seems like every 31.75 holes produces a real "heavy!" You are right on the mark for a winning hole. Enough activity will eventually translate to productivity.

    I got into two small test holes today in SoCal. One was teens-20's junk with broken mason jars & milks, the other warrants a re-visit with a partner and a better half of a day to finish all the way. Nothing more than a broken green Fredericksburg quart beer. At this point, that would just about make my Spring
    diggin. It's a far way to fall from unearthing the Kane-O flask last Spring ;)

    You're going to score a good hole soon....keep believing & keep on flinging dirt!

    ~J.F. Cutter
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  2. I can't believe that "Digging PO-lice" haven't rounded you Oregon diggers up. HAR Scofflaws all.
    Keep up the good work, ME, A good'un is coming soon. I have also dug scores of pits this year, all to no discernable avail. Many hundreds of bottles, but nada for the record.
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  3. is this a photo of the Castle Flask that was dug a few months ago ??
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  4. The Castle flask was dug about 30 years ago in the Santa Cruz area. I think possibly that the recently dug Castle is the example in the upcoming American Bottle Auction. Not positive though.
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  5. I'd like to know where on earth anyone can dig to get a heavy in every 31.75 holes. Unless you consider a heavy something like an applied circle Cutter I believe a more accurate number would be 1 in every 131.75 holes.
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  6. The Castle flask that is going to be in the next auction came out of Monterey County over thirty years ago. The Castle flask that was dug a few months ago won't be hitting the auction block..........ever.

    As for digging heavies, does the 131.75 pits include TC and other BS pits or just early 80s or older holes ?? I can think of areas that produce heavies every 31 pits or less, but those areas 'open up' very seldom !!
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  7. The majority of the pits we typically dig are either OP or '90s-TC. Darned few "in betweeners" for some bloody reason. 8 70s-80s pits dug, so far, this year. Not even so much as an honorable mention, unless "slicker" fifths or Hostetter's count, which they do not. Neither do broken goodies. Gotta be mint to bring it. At least the sales box has filled with pharmacies, which ain't all bad. Some nice early ones and a few greens, too.
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  8. M.E., how many of those 31 pits have been mid 80s or older ?
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  9. My count shows 16 have been 80s or earlier. In the area I dig the most, the holes are most commonly pontiled or near, OR TC or later. It's a blast to break through 8 inches of concrete poured in the 30s over what is the earliest hole on a lot, and find it is filled with 20s gems. In my area almost every hole was repeatedly dipped, and re dipped. You will find one or two 70s bottles, on the walls or bottom corner, and the hole is filled with machine made or TC historic vessels. Finding a solid 70s 80s hole happens about 15% of the time. Got lots of pontiled stuff, which is fun, but many late used holes. Hey, when I find a cool and crude black, I get excited, where some of you toss them back! Area matters for sure...want a trophy buck, usually you go where others have been taken...gold? Should probably go where is has been found before...bottles? Same deal. I should probably move. M.E.
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  10. Are we diggin' the same area? Sure sounds like it.
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