May 14th I got a phone call from Julia and she asked for my help to recover her Russia Gold wedding band. I arranged to search the next day.
After meeting with Julia and understanding that this ring had travelled three continents to get to her and now it was lost after only three weeks, I had to put my best effort into recovering it for her.
Well I am glad to say after less then ten minutes Julia is wearing her ring once again.
On Sunday afternoon we got a call from a gentleman who had lost his wedding ring. He had been working all day in his yard digging a trench to relieve some standing water. After completing the several hour project he realized his wedding ring was gone. He and his family search for 2 hours and had no luck. He found “The Ring Finders” website and gave us a call. We spent about 20 minutes covering the area which was crazy with signals due to a power line running under his backyard. I decided to re-check the trench with full descrimination, looking only for gold. I got a hit near the end of the 15ft trench about 6 inches down. As I bent down and used my pinpointer through the mud and water in the trench I saw a glint of GOLD in the hole. The wedding ring was stuck in the wall of the trench about 4-6 inches down. I turn and ask the homeowner, I said, “I have a questions for you” “would you like to have this back and I handed him his ring“.
He and his wife were so excited they could not believe we found it… they kept saying “you guys are good, you guys are so good“. The wife came out and gave us hug… it was another successful hunt for the “Dallas Ring Finders”.
Don & Ellen
I can help to find lost items with my metal detector. Please contact me through The Ring Finders.
If you are reading this, then your solution is at hand.
Most people, after losing something very precious, valuable or important to them, will Google the two title phrases. Then some think about renting a metal detector and trying to find it themselves. While that is an option, it is not the best or most efficient one. Let me explain with a little story.
34 years ago, when I bought my first metal detector, I planned to find treasure and get rich. So out to my backyard I went and swung that detector from morning until bed. After 2 days of searching every square inch, and digging every beep, I’d found hundreds of metal bits, and $1.32.
Later in the summer, a family friend was over for dinner and, excited to see my detector in action, threw his chunky college ring into the grass. I attacked the area, proud to show off its capabilities. After 2 hrs of me searching, he took pity on me, walked over and picked his ring out of the very area I’d been repeatedly searching over.
34 yrs later, I’ve upgraded and know my equipment, and how to search properly…and I rarely miss the rings/targets anymore. I have many stories of happy people who are looking, once again, at the very item they thought was lost forever. All because they called or contacted me and let me do what I do best.
Let me help you be reunited with your lost item.
Thanks, Steve
We received a call from Christine about 3pm on Sunday afternoon. She got our name and number from a friend she had told that she had lost her wedding set of 3 rings.
Christine lives on about a acre of land, she had gone out to the back of the property to help her husband bag up some leaves that he had been raking together. They worked together for about a hour and finished up and carried the bags of leaves up to the garage about a half acre away. That was when she realized that her Wedding Set (3 rings) was missing. In a panic, she and her husband looked all over the yard, they dumped the leaf bags out but did not see anything. They spent several hours looking with no luck. Later in the day while talking with her friend, she told her about the lost rings. Her friend said, wait a minute I heard about this website of people who find rings. She Googled and found “The Ring Finders” website and called Christine back and gave her our number.
It was about 3pm when Christine called and she lived 41 miles from us. I told her we would be there in about and hour & a half. We needed to hurry as I was concerned it would get dark and it was already quite cold, and the darkness would only make it colder. We arrived and got our 2 Garrett AT Pros and Pinpointers out then Christine walked us to the back of the acre of property. She showed us all the places she walked and was helping her husband with the leaves. Ellen and I chatted about what area we would grid off visually and began to detect. Within 10 minutes I hear Ellen say “Here’s One”, I joined her as we looked through about 4-6 inches of leaves in a pile but nothing else rang up on the detectors. I told Ellen to keep looking and I ask Christine to show me the bags of leaves, my thinking was that if one ring was in the pile of leaves that they had been bagging then it was likely the other rings would be in the bags of leaves near the garage. I began to scan the full plastic bags of leaves with my detector and got 3 very light hits. I kept scanning but nothing else hit so I backed up to the bag with something metal inside. I tore a small hole in the bag and began to stick my Pinpointer into the bag. As I got a signal, I used my hand to begin pulling out whatever the metal was. 1st hit was piece of wire, the second was a metal screw and the 3rd hit I could not see it. Finally I saw a glint of Gold in the bag. I began to smile but had to fight the leaves to find it, and finally the smallest of the 3 rings rings was found. Christine was standing right beside me and could not believe I found it. Now the only ring missing was the most expensive, the diamond solitaire with several small diamonds around the band. After determining that nothing else was in the 4-5 bags of leaves, I walked back to the rear of the property and told Ellen that I had found one but that one was still missing. She had been working out visual grid and I went back and started back over the grid working the opposite direction. I made several passes checking every 2inch or less hit that I got regardless of the type of signal. Then I got a shaky 44-46 hit that was very weak, as I was checking everything I almost kept going but thank goodness I did not. I reached down and moved the leaves and grass and there it was, the diamond solitaire twinkled at me. I reached down and picked it up and ask Christine, “Would this make you Happy!” She and her husband were so excited and grateful. It is so much fun to see the reaction of our customers when we are successful.
So 3 rings, 1 in the leaf pile, 1 in a trash bag a 1/2 acre away and one in the grass 5-6 feet away from the 1st one.
Another successful hunt for “The Ring Finders”.
Don & Ellen Wilson – Dallas/Ft Worth
About two weekends ago, I received an email from a guy that has lost his wedding band. Over the weekend as he was raking and putting leave in trash bags. As he notice that his ring was missing. He has been looking for the ring since. Dumping the bags full of leaves and searching though them with his bare hands. After a few emails, a search date was set. I show up and started my search, after about a hour the ring was found in one the the many piles from dumping the bags. He was very happy to have the ring back.
Lost Man’s Wedding Ring in Columbus, OH. “FOUND”
Lost Man’s Wedding Ring in Columbus, OH. “FOUND”
Lost Man’s Wedding Ring in Columbus, OH. “FOUND”
The streak continues! A gentleman by the name of Brock emailed me several days ago about his lost wedding ring. Again, I can’t emphasize enough how important taking good notes, both physically and/or mentally, are important to the success of finding your lost item. Brock did an excellent job at this which in turn made the chances of success very likely. Brock not only had the details fresh in his mind of exactly what happened, but he physically marked the spot he was standing on his property when he believed the ring flew off. He did go out and buy a metal detector and gave it a shot himself, but quickly realized that having a metal detector is only half the battle. Knowing how to operate it to its fullest capabilities is a must. Once I arrived at his home, I was able to recover the ring in about 25 minutes. It was about 5 yards from the spot he marked, buried in a small pile of leaves. Here are a few pictures of the ring itself and a very happy Brock!
Remember, if you are unfortunate enough to lose a ring, piece of jewelry, keys and the like, attention to your surroundings is the most important factor. The other is to contact someone that not only has a metal detector, but the skill and experience to use it. Please be sure to check everyone’s blog in your area if you need help. Once you do that, the decision who to contact should be an easy one based on success.
We got a email from a young man who on Saturday evening was having some innocent fun with friends and lost his Texas Aggie College Ring. I responded quickly to the email and called the man and we chatted about where the ring was lost, what kind of ring it was, and the address where the ring was lost. He told me that Saturday evening he had been playing football in the front yard of a friend’s home and his ring flew off and he could not find it in the thick grass.
We set a time for us come out, this was 3 days after he lost the ring. He was there to meet us. I ask him to show us where he was standing and how he threw the football. He looked at us and said well the truth is we were here “Toilet Papering” my friends home and then he pointed up! We looked up and the trees still had toilet paper waving around. I told him I thought it was great he could have that kind of fun, we had a nice laugh and began to search. It did not take long before Ellen hollered “Is This Your Ring!”, he jogged over to where she was and was so excited. Ellen is 2 for 2 on our last hunts! It is so great to be able to enjoy this hobby with my spouse of 39 years.
Another successful hunt for The Ring Finders!
Don & Ellen Wilson – The Dallas Ring Finders!
We got a email from an very nice young man who was in a little bit of a panic. He was playing volleyball with his team at the local “Bump & Drink Volleyball Club” and realized his wedding ring had come off sometime during the evening. This was about 8pm, he had spent the next 2 hours on his hands & knees with his friends going through the really deep sand on the court he had played on.
His wife is 8 months pregnant and he really dreaded going home without his wedding ring and then having to tell his wife about it.
He found “The Ring Finder” website and sent us a email. I responded immediately because I knew exactly what Volleyball Club he had been at, we had been called in before to find rings for other customers. I immediately call the club and spoke to the manager, most of the Volleyball clubs are very strict about not allowing detectorists on to their courts, but this manager remembered us and said we could come in the next day 30 minutes before they opened.
Ellen & I arrived at 3pm on a Friday and began our hunt. Understand this sand is awesome, but it is 12-20inches deep all over the 8 courts. We had to use our beach scoops as we detected. We knew what court he had played on and where he had wash off the sand at the end of the night, so we began our hunt.
We cover the court 3 times with no luck, I began covering the area I believed the customer would have walked to the wash off station”aka water hose! Understand that Ellen & I both use Garrett ATPro’s and Garrett Pinpointers, I was digging in the sand and Ellen walks over and says “what did he say his ring looked like”, as I looked up she had this sheepish grin on her face and on her finger was a Platinum Wedding Ring. I started to get up, and she said don’t stop looking this might not be his ring! We have had that happen more than once, we found a different ring than the one we were hired to find.
Well the customer was on his way, he was stuck in Friday afternoon Dallas 5pm traffic..YUK! When he arrived, we shook hands and I said “my wife has a question for you” she walked up and said “is this your ring”. He was awestruck, his mouth dropped open, he was so excited. He must have told us 3 times how much his wife was going to be happy…
This hobby is so much fun.
Another successful hunt for The Ring Finders!
Don & Ellen – Dallas/Ft Worth
Newark man searches for treasures
Baughman uses metal detecting to reunite people with lost jewelry
NEWARK — Jon Baughman could be considered a modern-day treasure hunter.
But he isn’t in it for fame or fortune. He’s most interested in reuniting people with lost jewelry that is important to them.
For several years, Baughman has spent his spare time using metal detectors and other gear to search for rings in Licking and Franklin counties.
“They are a person’s most precious item, especially when they are passed down from generation to generation,” he said.
“I enjoy giving peoples’ lost treasures back to them.”
A Utica resident, Baughman was inspired to learn about metal detecting from his wife’s grandfather, Ed Collins, and his father-in-law, Jim Jolliff.
Whenever the three men get together, they enjoy going out to parks with their metal detectors and seeing what they find. Baughman has also participated in several seeded hunts, where participants compete to see who can find the most items buried in the ground.
When he discovered the website, theringfinders.com, Baughman found a way to turn his interest into a business.
Theringfinders.com is a large database of metal detecting specialists so clients around the country can search for a ring finder in their area.
“The main thing is they are willing to help you out,” he said.
He joined the site in February 2012. Last year he got about 20 calls. So far this year he’s gotten six.
A calibration tech at Abbott Laboratories, Baughman keeps his gear in his truck so he can respond to a call as soon as possible. He travels with several metal detectors, including one that’s hand held, shovels, and scoops to search in sand and water.
Although he doesn’t search for lost jewelry in people’s homes, he’ll search any outdoor space, including beaches, parks, lakes and yards.
When customers call, Baughman tries to get as much information about the ring or piece of jewelry as possible. He needs to know where they lost it and how long it has been missing.
If it’s in a public place, such as a parking lot or a park, he has to move quickly. If it’s on private property, he has to get permission to search the area.
When he’s searching for a ring he uses his metal detectors, putting small flags into the ground behind him so he knows were he’s been.
If the jewelry is buried, he has to dig for it, using his hand held detector.
“I’m there to help them and search everywhere I can,” he said. “I keep talking to them and get some more details and some new (information) pops up.”
Baughman works on a reward basis but charges a $30 call out fee to every customer to cover his travel expenses. If he finds the ring, it’s up to the client to decide how much he gets as a reward, he said.
Some of his customers have thrown their rings after a fight with their fiance or spouse. Others have lost it swimming or had it fall out of their pocket.
One woman called him to help her find her husband’s wedding band, which fell off his finger when he was pulling leaves off a rake. She was thrilled when he was able to find it.
He also was able to help a man in Gahanna who lost his ring playing football with his sons and a woman in Mount Sterling who lost two rings in a barn.
Although he’s had many successful finds, there have also been times he couldn’t find the ring.
Some have sunk to the bottom of the lake and others have been picked up by someone else. But he never gives up the search until the customer tells him its over.
“At least they have closure,” he said. “When you have something that’s lost, you want to know if it’s there or not.”
While he’s hunting, Baughman often comes across lots of metal objects, from cans and pop tabs to horseshoes and bottle caps. He picks up what he finds and stores it in a bucket in his garage.
“I was in Scouting, and we leave it better than how you find it, so I always pick it up,” he said.
When it comes to ring hunting, it’s important to be patient and thorough, Baughman said.
“Practice is the biggest thing and knowing your equipment,” he said. “There is a lot of detective work.”
His favorite moment is being able to tell someone he’s found their ring.
Once he returned a class ring to a woman who hadn’t seen it in 29 years. She was so happy she cried.
“You always get that rush when you find one,” he said. “I always get a big smile on my face because I know I made them happy.”
740-328-8544
Twitter: @amsjeffries
October 07, 2013
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20131006/NEWS01/310060029/Newark-man-searches-for-treasures
About this series
“Aces of Trades” is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs — whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at advocate@newarkadvocate.com or 740-328-8821.
Looking for something?
For more info about Jon Baughman, call 740-334-7293 or go to theringfinders.com/Jon.Baughman/#us-oh-newark
Jon Baughman, an experienced metal detecting specialist and member of The Ring Finders Metal Detecting Service, demonstrates how he uses different metal detectors and equipment to find customers’ lost rings and other objects. / Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate
Jon Baughman, an experienced metal detecting specialist and member of The Ring Finders Metal Detecting Service, demonstrates how he uses different metal detectors and equipment to find customers’ lost rings and other objects. / Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate
Jon Baughman, an experienced metal detecting specialist and member of The Ring Finders Metal Detecting Service, demonstrates how he uses different metal detectors and equipment to find customers’ lost rings and other objects. / Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate
Jon Baughman often finds himself digging up trash instead of precious rings and notes the variety of objects he finds from old horseshoes and bent spoons to beverage can pull tabs. Baughman pockets all trash he finds and disposes of it later. / Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate
Jon Baughman, an experienced metal detecting specialist and member of The Ring Finders Metal Detecting Service, demonstrates how he uses different metal detectors and equipment to find customers’ lost rings and other objects. / Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate