Richard Browne, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 7 of 21

Wedding Band Lost/Found/Returned Pleasant Bay Orleans, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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(June 25th)
An enjoyable summer day at Pleasant Bay’s Jackknife Cove almost ended in a not so pleasant afternoon. Derek had put his wedding band safe with his glass’s case where it stayed for the hours of beach time. When it was time to leave for the afternoon Dalia took her one-year old’s sun tent down and shook the sand off. Unfortunately, the ring was shaken off with the sand and landed with a “tink” which was heard by all before it disappeared into the sand. As it happens 95% of the time all the searching would not retrieve the ring. It was time for sophisticated equipment to help in the search.

40 minutes after I received a call for the needed help I was standing on the beach with my detector in hand. I was shown where the tent had been. OK I started searching the immediate area of some 10X20 feet. Unbelievable but only two trash targets were found. I checked my equipment, covered the area again with the same results. OK I had to increase the area and added another 10 feet to the breadth of the search area and there it was. I actually saw the ring resting in the sand as I passed my detector’s coil over the ring. I guess Dalia had shaken the tent a bit harder than we thought. I scooped up the ring and let Dalia remove it from the scoop. Smiles, Hoorahs and Thanks with picture taking followed.

Dalia and Derek’s 3rd anniversary in July will not be spoiled by the absence of a wedding band. Congratulations!

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Drone Lost at Sea, Found and Returned, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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(June 16) After a trip to Martha’s Vineyard to find and return an earring, finding a drone, finding the owner of a wedding band that had been lost for a year it was time to work on returning the drone. The drone was in good condition less one missing propeller. I removed the battery and found a memory card. I cleaned off the contact and inserted the card into my computer. Bingo! Pictures and videos from 2019 to the day before I found drone. From the media I determined the owner’s car registration number and home state along with the resort he was staying at. With that information in hand, I went to the resort. First, I searched the parking lot as I remember seeing a red Subaru when I was making my previous return of a wedding band the day before. Dang, wrong registration plate, but I did see a Mercedes with a very similar plate number, and it was from Vermont.

The front desk was reluctant to give me any information and rightly so, I understand about privacy laws etc. So, I left them the information and my card. I also left some information on the windshield of the Mercedes before leaving to search for a lost hearing aid, which I did not find. I will go back and re-search the area with a different detector in hope for a better outcome. While I was on the search, the owner of the drone, Hank, called and we set up a time to meet and make the return.

Hank had been flying his drone at dusk when it took its AI a bit too far, banking hard left and downward, fast. This was the second time for the wayward drone to do something unexpected. This time its undesirable landing area was salt water. Hank tried to retrieve the drone but lost sight of it and could not find it nor did he find it the next day. That might have been because I had already found it.

The outcome was the best that could have happened, if nothing else Hank has the media memories from flights of the drone over the past 3 years. Is it time to back-up your memories? Something Hank and I will think of doing during this coming winter.

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Wedding band lost twice, found twice. Yarmouth, Massachusetts

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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(June 14) The Vacationing wedding band has found its way back to its owner for the second time. Twelve years ago, Jim felt his wedding band slip from his finger into the depths of a Maine lake. Then a year later Jim was snorkeling in the area where the loss occurred and to his luck the sun was shining just right and reveled a sparkle from his ring that was just sitting on top of rock some 6 feet below the surface. Jim did a shallow dive and retrieved the ring and replaced it on his finger.

All was well until last year while vacationing on Cape Cod. With the excitement of a quick dip in Nantucket Sound Jim forgot to leave his ring on shore, safe with his wife, until his return. You guessed it…the ring once again took a vacation from Jim’s finger. Eleven months later I was enjoying a late spring afternoon of detecting when I happened upon the ring in waist deep water. With only a name and date I had little hope of finding its owner. Six weeks later I was in the same area detecting with little success of finding even a single coin when a strong signal was heard. The target turned out to be a Parrot drone. As I put the drone in my pouch, I was approached by Jim who had the usual question…Find anything? I showed him the drone and then he told me of losing his wedding band last year. His description said it was engraved with his wife’s name Karen. That rang a bell and I told him I just might have the ring at home and I would search my finds and call him back that night.

I was running a bit late for dinner…it was ready just as I walked into my home. I ate dinner, had a cup of coffee and nodded off to sleep. I woke with a startle; I had not looked for the ring or called Jim. Three minutes later I had the ring in my hand and dialed Jim. Unbelievable, the way things happen at times. Jim and I set a time to meet and for me to return his wedding band. The meeting turned into a luncheon with a great conversation on detecting and life experiences.

This was about the end of the story with smiles and happiness all around. Our last thoughts were about the drone not knowing that I would find the owner and return it the next day.

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Earring Lost, Found, and Returned on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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(June 12) Spring had sprung and summer was nearing. A wonderful time of the year that requires a bit of physical labor in making the yard look picture perfect. While working among the mint plants and amental bushes Anne’s earring became loose. Not wanting it to fall out of her ear Anne removed the earring, put it safely into a pocket and continued her gardening. Enjoying this time of the year and now looking over her accomplishment she finished by tidying up the area before going into her home to replace the earring. Much to her surprise the erring was no longer where she put it for safekeeping.

A search was on. Unfortunately, all the effort went unrewarded. Anne reached out for help and obtained my phone number. It was now her lucky day. I had nothing scheduled for Sunday. The weather was fine and there were open seats on the Haynnis to Oak Bluffs ferry. I made all the arrangements and on Sunday I met Anne at the docks. It was a short trip to her home. We passed many eye-popping sites of colorful Gingerbread Homes, gardens, and quaint stores.

At Anne’s home I assembled my detector, tuned it in and notched out all signals except for the one that was emitted when triggered by the matching earring. The search began, of course it was in the area of the mint plants. Why? Well, the first sniff of the mint brought back memories of the fresh mint sauce my grandmother would make from the fresh mint I had picked for her. This would have been enough gratification for my day’s effort. That was not to last long as there was a more important task at hand. I moved to the area of the shed a few swings of the detector and the ring of gold was in my ears. But I did not see the object causing the detector to react. I turned on my small handheld pin-pointer to search the grass area. It did its job and now I saw the earring, took a picture, retrieved it, and returned to to a now smiling Anne.

Neither my wife nor I had ever been to Martha’s Vineyard. She had made the trip with me to keep me company and visit an area we had planned to visit. Anne was gracious and offered a tour of the island and a stop at Martha’s Vineyard Museum, the Camp area and ending up at the Backdoor Donuts. I just had to bring home some of the area’s BEST Apple Fritter. A sweet and perfect ending to a return that could not have been better.

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Diamond Earring and Wrap, Lost, Found and Returned – Bourne, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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October 22, 2021
Unfortunately it is that time of year again, one requiring the relocation of fallen leaves. Christine’s task for the beautiful day was to move the fallen leaves from the lawn and into the woods, Over the summer one tree branch grew over the path to the composting pile. Christine’s diamond earring snagged on the new branch and was dislodged from her ear. All her and her super sleuth son’s searching did not located the earring.

Help from the internet search brought up Leighton’s and my names in her local area. Leighton was in Connecticut so I headed out on a solo search with my small 4 inch coil and hand held pin-pointer. I used Christine’s matching earring to notch select only a response that the earring’s presence under the detector’s coil would produce. My first target was a piece of solder, the second a piece of tinfoil and the third was the two piece earring still together.

Pictures taken and stories exchanged completed the return as the earring was replaced in its normal resting place. On my way home I could not get my mind off the branch. I have to believe Christine will cut it back so does not overhang the path which I am sure will be used several more times this fall.\

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College Ring Lost 2 years ago, was Found and Returned – Dennis, MA

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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October 15, 2021
This return was one that I had not been called to help find. It was what detectorists call a “Natural Find”. I found the Bentley College ring in the shallow waters of a Cape Cod beach.

The ring had what I and others thought to be two dates 85 and 99, and owner’s entire name inscribed on it. Searching the internet I located a Facebook page listing several possible relatives and friends name and one address for Rhonda. These were starting points which none of the messages I sent to listed Facebook names prompted a reply. In desperation I went to the address that had no sign of life. However a neighbor, Jeff, was home and said he would put a picture of the ring I found and owner’s name in the area newsletter.

At home I E-mail the information to Jeff and with in two hours I had Rhonda’s E-mail address. In another hour or so an E-mail from Rhonda with her phone number was in my In Box. I called Rhonda and we arranged for the return to take place the next day. I was also told the story of how the ring was lost and the meaning of the two dates. The first year, 85, is not a year but the letters BS which stands for Bachelor of Science. Unfortunately Rhonda’s work trumped the ring’s return as she had to “go off Cape” before we could meet. Fortunately, Fran her husband, would stand-in and the return was made.

Some Natural Finds are impossible to return. Some returns are easier to complete and some have a learning lesson to be had. In this return I learned several tips and tricks in locating a person on social media. In this return a personal contact, Jeff, was the main factor in reuniting Rhonda with her ring.

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West Yarmouth, Cape Cod, MA Lost Wedding Band Found and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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September 5, 2021

The last of the beach cleanups were in progress and all went well. The docks were in, the boats as well. It was now time for a relaxing cool off in the lake. As it usually happened when one has weight changes their ring does not resize to echo the body’s change. Then it happens, the ring slips off and disappears underwater and down into the sand, not to be seen without help.

The three, Jim, Joe, and Jeff all knew they would need help in finding Jim’s wedding band. Several calls to friends for a detector that would not self-destruct when used underwater did not produce such a detector. A call to the local Metal Detector Dealer (Eleanor at J&E Enterprise) gave the threesome a lead. They should make a local call to Rick Browne – one of TheRingFinders and Jeff did. I answered the call and set a noon meeting time for the next day as it was almost dark. All was set yet, the night would have some anxious moments.

Leighton and I showed up a bit early as our earlier Ring Return only took a few minutes to complete.
A quick overview of the area were the loss occurred and we were into the water to search for the ring. A few coin and a bullet gave us hope. After about a minute and a half I had a very good sounding signal and yes a very large circular piece of gold was in the bottom of my scoop. I walked it in and let Jim remove his ring, untouched since it has slipped from his finger. Ring Return number two for the morning had been accomplished.

Many thanks, pictures, stories and a lot of history of the local private pond and resort area. The thrill, history, meeting new and now friends and helping others is the most wonderful part of our hobby. Leighton and I work well together, having the same ethics and desires to reunite a lost object with the owner. September 5th was another of those rewarding days we enjoy so much.

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Harwich Port, Cape Cod, MA Lost Engagement Ring Found and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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September 5, 2021

The end of summer was approaching as was the ending of another family tradition, a clambake on the fluffy sand that laid between the house and Nantucket Sound. The fun in the sand, the bake and meal were complete and the enjoyment of the waning sunlight were at hand. But panic set in when an ill fated hand movement let Rachel’s engagement ring slip from its resting place in front of the wedding band. The band stayed from Rachel’s hand and a search for the diamond was initiated. Raking the sand in a circle did not bring the ring into the twilight or beam of the flashlight.

It was time to request help from TheRingFinders. I unfortunately did not check my texts until about 3:30AM. At that time I sent a reply saying 9AM or 5PM would be a good time to meet and search, considering the tide and previous ring finding appointment that had been made the night before. 9AM came back to me as the time to shoot for. After contacting Leighton and urging him to meet me earlier than we had planned to so we could search for Rachel’s ring before meeting our noon contact. All was set and we were ready to start searching just before 9AM.

It was our fortune that the rake circle was still visible in the sand. Leighton went left and I stayed right of the shovel that was left to mark the previous night’s search. I had found a bottle cap and Leighton a piece of scrap aluminum. It was time to enlarge the search area. Leighton stayed seaward and I toward the soft sand. About four feet from the edge of the circle a familiar sound was in my ears and a ring that had brought forth the sound was in my scoop. It was time to let Rachel remove her ring and replace it on her finger where it belonged. Maybe three minutes elapsed since the start of the search to the ring return’s completion. Leighton and I just are so grateful for the precise markings made while a loss is fresh in the minds of those that have first hand information about the loss

As we always do, gather some information for the blog, photos, stories and passing of congratulations and Thank Yous. Then it was off to lost ring number two for the day. We all had big smiles for the TheRingFinders Book of Smiles.

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West Dennis Beach, MA – Gives Back Lost Silver Ring

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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August 27, 2021:
Andrea lost her Wave, Sand and Sea ring while walking the shoreline. For six years the ring had brought Andrea many calming and wondrous thoughts of Cape Cod and its beaches. The loss had happened in the presence of her sister who had lost an earring a few years ago but had forgotten who and how to contact for help. She did called a mutual friend who contacted me. I called and set up a meet to search for the lost ring.

Both women marked the area that the ring was lost at the previous day. Seaweed made it near impossible to swing a detector’s coil, but I managed only to finish the area with out finding the ring. I expanded the search area and within another five minutes I had found the ring.

All that was left to do in the fading sunlight was to snap a few pictures, get a bit of information for the blog, and exchange a few stories. It was a perfect ending to a very hot day on Cape Cod, another “Beautiful Place To Be”.

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Sandy Neck, Cape Cod, MA Lost Ring Found and Returned

  • from Cape Cod (Massachusetts, United States)
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August 26th:
Michael called me with an urgent request to help him find a very sentimental wedding ring. Years ago Michael knew what ring he wanted, a Claddagh ring made by Fallers in Galway, Ireland. He and his fiancée scoured the internet for the perfect ring. Not being able to find it by pictures alone, it was decided to purchase a Claddagh ring from the same maker as the one that President Kennedy had been given during a visit to Ireland. So the ring would not be purchased from a website or local jeweler. That would not do the marriage justice. Michael and his bride to be decided a trip to Fallers Jewellers had to be made to purchase the most perfect ring directly from the source.

For many years the ring had not left Michael’s finger until the waters of Cape Cod Bay snatched it from the finger as Michael enjoyed a cooling plunge on a hot summer day.

To improve the chances of finding Michael’s ring Leighton Harrington and I showed up on the beach just after sunrise on Michael’s birthday. The search started just where the ring had thought to have been lost. About an hour and half of searching did not bring the ring back to the surface. The search area from dry sand to knee deep water had to be expanded. I noticed Michael taking a birthday swim. The area he swam to motivated me to start searching in deeper water, up to my shoulders and east of the area we had been searching. I heard the tone of a gold ring, Two scoops and I saw gold. But all I could see was the ring’s shank among the pebbles in my scoop. A quick shake and I saw the heart between the two hands. The search was over, I had recovered the ring.

I had Michael remove the ring from my scoop. His heightened excitement had his hand shaking. Nothing else could have been a more meaningful “gift” for his 74th birthday. Nothing would do, but to call his wife and then his mother of a spry age of 97 to tell them of his good fortune in contacting TheRingFinders. To say the least, This return was one of the top highly emotional returns I have had the pleasure of making.

Pictures, stories, congratulations, and best wishes for a Very Happy Birthday followed. We left Michael knowing he was to enjoy and share his happiness with family in the heat and sunshine of a wonderful Cape Cod day.

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