Jim Straight here

[Terry Soloman 947]

Good Morning Frank and all of you fine folks that read and post

on Bill's forum. I'm highly inpressed by the creativity of the

"yard sale" drywasher that Frank was kind enough to post on

this link for all of us to share. It is truly an example of

one of the many "hand crafted by loving hands" that are still

to be found. Beginning in the 1900's there was a lot of

handcrafted by desert placer miners; paricularily in Nevada

ad Arizona. Thomas "drywasher" Wilson was one of the better

known creator of early designs. He was one of the first to

be aware of the placer gold-silver "electum" gold that was to

be found at many of the small and high grade epithermal hard

rock mines that were being found in the Great Basin of Nevada

during the early 1900's such as the well known epithermal

ore deposits of "stronger strength" (to quote Dragline Miller)

at Tonopah Goldfield and Manhattan. However, there were also

hundreds of smaller epithermal "blowouts" (a crude term which

can mean most anything).

frank's "garage sale" example seems to be highly refinded with

attention to small details. Likely as Frank noted it was possibly

an example made by someone such as Otto Lynch. It being painted

green is my best clue.) Mr. Lynch was out activly using various

examples "home brew" examples during the 1950-1970's and was the

the author of "Fnding GOLD in the Desert - the art of drywashing"

which included drywasher plans. It may still be in print and is a

great read. The late Mr. Lynch was a crusty "old bird" and would

now be about 100 y/o. Author Sam Radding in his super excellent

book "Desert Gold DRYWASHING - a dry placer gold mining primer for

the desert miner" features Mr. lynch on the cover of his book.

Thanks for the trip down "memory lane."

I LOVE this forum! Wow, what a post and thread!

[frank c 969]

Your welcome Jim. Glad I stirred the electrons up in your head.

I once had that book of Mr.Otto Lynch's. Now I need to see if I still have it.

This ol drywasher will make a good winter project to restore in the workshop.

It will be worth the effort to me just to be able to run it and test the retention of gold and heavies.

Thank You Jim.

[jim straight 187]

Howdy All... Thanks for the return shouts. I'm glad to being both Otto's and Sam's

books to everyone doing some desert drywashing attention. Both have a track

record of actual hands on experience. They write from experience and knowledge.

Otto has a way to explain how-to's that are understandable. (However, I would

suggest to use oiless bearings.) Keep in mind Otto was running $35-ounce gold

and not too intersted at gold-dust. I do not remember if he used a dead air space

or even was aware of them. It is attention to small details that can make the

difference between success or failure and there are degrees of each.

It is recommended to "work" metallogenetic areas where gold can be found. Now

let me 'brag' a little... but my intention is to put you on a good track: I wrote an

article that was printed in the April 2004 ICMJ. "Researching Suitable Areas to

Detect for Free-Milling Gold." Hey, this has worked for me and I it could work

for you... More later... gotta go. My Best to ALL and My best wishes for success.

[jim straight 187]

Howdy All.... my last post was on December 13 in the early afternoon and I cut it short

with I "gotta go." Gloria my best-friend and mate peacefully passed away the morning

December 18th at home. I was with her at the end... She had stage 4- cancer and

survived it for 3 years; but it finally took its toll and came home to die December 4th,

but we still had two weeks of togetherness, a total of over 58 years.

Please... I'm good with it... I except it... We knew it was ending... Her services will

be on Sunday January 12th.

Gloria was well known as a "teachers" teacher thoughout northern California and

gave presentations throughout the east coast as she was a gifted specialist on reading....

Then after her "retirement" she continued on as a Trainer/School Support Consultant

for Reach for Reading based in Atlanta. Her legacy is that for over 30 years kids were

taught to love reading.

[homefire 2,581]

WoW! Sorry for the loss.

Yes, when it's time it's time some times.

Been there.

[Joe Z 25]

Jim,

Our Condolences.... Sorry to hear about your loss.

Joe

[Nugget Shooter 4,614]

Sorry Jim for your loss..... If I can help with anything let me know my friend.

[Au Seeker 3,153]

My condolences Jim, let us know if there's anything you need, a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, an arm to wrap around your shoulder!

http://www.nuggetsho...showtopic=23597

Skip

[Goldfinger 43]

Jim, Sorry for your loss. If there's anything I can do, let me know.

Steve

[pondmn 264]

Jim our thoughts and prayers are with you. Jery and Dianne

[Sledge 1]

Jim,

So sorry for your loss, are Condolences and prayers go out to you. I can only imagine the emptiness you are feeling at this time. We are here for you if you need anything.

John

[jim straight 187]

Howdy All.... Thanks for all of the nice comments regarding Gloria. It can be lonely, especially

if'n your as hard of hearing such as I am; the latest and expensive hearing aids help little. Gloria

understood this and... Nuf' said,...... "full steam ahead"... Gotta keep BUSY. so lets go prosp'tn;

I'm getting out and doing a little local coinhunting and getting more and more in my single blanket

publishing business... "tailgate" jim straight

[Nugget Shooter 4,614]

Jim please contact me I'd like to make a book order if you are ready OK? I am glad to see you still have your gusto...

[jim straight 187]

Howdy Bill... you have my eathlink email address?... just e-mail me what you wish...

[Nugget Shooter 4,614]

No I don't Jim for some reason.... Email me at bill@nuggetshooter.com and I will reply with my order and thanks my friend....Bill

[fredmason 1,135]

Jim; my condolences...

I hope we meet in person some fine day...

fred

[jim straight 187]

Howdy All... Thanks for condolences regarding Gloria. She lived life to the fullest.

She was my first love and best friend for over 58 years and with her passing it has

left a big hole in my life; but I must slog on...

Fred... actually I would be most honored meeting you... Seveal years ago you

posted on a forum about your Portola days using your Garrett DeepSeeker to

determine the higher levels of blacksand concentrations for some of your

dredger buddies... You hit the nail on the head; the mineral magnetite is a

common constituent of black sands which are often associated with both alluvial and

eluvial gold placers. In such a metallogenetic area the early prospectors learned

to "follow concentations of metalliferous magnetic black sands" which does work

to locate shallow "pay streaks."

Those out drywashing soon learned to follow the magnetic black sand" which could

lead to hit or miss concentrations of placer gold... Thus some cunning drywash

operators soon learrned to re-wash (re-cycle) old drywash piles due to slaking (the

crumbling of the first cycle of earthen clods and balls containing gold); the gold

now being free from the enclosing lumps and clods were caught in the riffle tray,

especially if there was a dead air space in the riffle tray. Thus, with the development

of VLF metal detectors, it became possible to "Follow the Drywashers, and detect the

header and riffle reject piles that could still contain placer that was rejected during

the first run...

[SGTFDA 56]

Jim sorry to hear of your loss. It's something you can never get over. Just keep in mind you have many friends who wish you well. Keep busy and remember she is still with you and would kick your butt if you let it drag you down. We need you so keep that in mind. Many of us are only a phone call away. I know you don't have my # so ill pm it to you call any time

[GlennM 93]

Jim, just got back around to reading through this thread.

I'm saddened to hear of your best friend passing on. It's an inevitable action we all will partake of at some point.

I always tell folks to keep the good memories and times that make you smile and laugh close and to relive them when you can. Those are what will see us through.

If I read right, her services were this past weekend and I'm sure that's still on your mind. As I'm certain is was an honest remembrance of the life you two built and enjoyed.

It's uplifting to see you're getting after it. Gotta stay active in both body and mind.

So what if you can't hear too good... just allows you to easily tune out the junk and drivel too many people say these days. You can just imagine them speaking with articulate eloquence and smile.

I, too, hope to meet you some day. Your kind words in our shared communications have been an inspiration. And your witty and well-learned information here on the forums are food for my brain. I always learn something new from you and several others here, and am sincerely thankful for that.

You possibly still have my email address, feel free to write any time (seeing as I feel horrible yelling at the phone so you cab hear me )

[jim straight 187]

Thanks for all of the kind replies... A new chapter for me... I will start one:

Hey everyone... Back in 1964 J. P. Hall published a 40 chapter publication Let's Go Gold Mining.

(How many of you oldtimers remember... THE "BAWL" MILL (By jay Pee)... ? It is the story of a

young NY newspaperman named Joe Bacon... and it is truly an unusual story of Joe's mining

adventures over 30 years as described through the eyes of Mr. Hall.

Who was Mr. J. P. Hall you ask? Does anyone know? Just asking? I have a copy. As I best remember

it was originally sold for $10.00. If'n ya need too... go to a search engine. It is quite a book, both

entertaining and provocative too... Too bad it is lost in the sands of time???? jim straight

[Au Seeker 3,153]

Thanks for all of the kind replies... A new chapter for me... I will start one:

Hey everyone... Back in 1964 J. P. Hall published a 40 chapter publication Let's Go Gold Mining.

(How many of you oldtimers remember... THE "BAWL" MILL (By jay Pee)... ? It is the story of a

young NY newspaperman named Joe Bacon... and it is truly an unusual story of Joe's mining

adventures over 30 years as described through the eyes of Mr. Hall.

Who was Mr. J. P. Hall you ask? Does anyone know? Just asking? I have a copy. As I best remember

it was originally sold for $10.00. If'n ya need too... go to a search engine. It is quite a book, both

entertaining and provocative too... Too bad it is lost in the sands of time???? jim straight

Jim,

Not completely lost to the sands of time, there are a few used copies on Amazon, and here's a link to the book you mention that can be read online.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/12978613/Lets-Go-Gold-Mining-by-JP-Hall

Skip

[jim straight 187]

Au Seeker... Skip... I wonder how many out there happen to know what (still printed

magazine) that J.P. Hall was the first (and likely the most controversal) editor or owner of?

I'm very happy to have had the foresight to buy a copy of Let's Go Gold Mining. But at first

I was very disappointed as I thought it was more technically oriented regarding gold mining

methods...

However as I first looked through the 40 chapters I sorta changed my mind about the future

of mining. I was then a roll shop forman at Kaiser Steel in Fontana. Back at this time (1964)

even the steel industry thoughout the USA was in trouble... Kaiser Steel was slowly fading and

I wisely quit (in 1967) while I was still young enough to start a new career... Today, the once

busy Kaiser Steel that employed as many as about 8,000 is now gone... Been replaced by a

race track.

Okay... my question... What was the magazine that still in print that Mr. Hall was the first editor

and owner of? Skip, don't tell... But I wonder who will be the first to let us know?

[Goldfinger 43]

There's a monthly column in the ICMJ called "The Bawl Mill" too. Can't compare them since I've never seen the original one.

Steve

[Au Seeker 3,153]

Au Seeker... Skip... I wonder how many out there happen to know what (still printed

magazine) that J.P. Hall was the first (and likely the most controversal) editor or owner of?

I'm very happy to have had the foresight to buy a copy of Let's Go Gold Mining. But at first

I was very disappointed as I thought it was more technically oriented regarding gold mining

methods...

However as I first looked through the 40 chapters I sorta changed my mind about the future

of mining. I was then a roll shop forman at Kaiser Steel in Fontana. Back at this time (1964)

even the steel industry thoughout the USA was in trouble... Kaiser Steel was slowly fading and

I wisely quit (in 1967) while I was still young enough to start a new career... Today, the once

busy Kaiser Steel that employed as many as about 8,000 is now gone... Been replaced by a

race track.

Okay... my question... What was the magazine that still in print that Mr. Hall was the first editor

and owner of? Skip, don't tell... But I wonder who will be the first to let us know?

Jim,

I'll be honest I didn't know the answer to your quiz, but I do now, it wasn't very easy to find the answer until I use the correct approach, but I don't like to give until I find an answer!!!

[Mike Furness 1,513]

I don't know if I am being too obvious here but he was the editor of the 'California Mining Journal' within a year of it starting to be published by Mrs Willouby(please excuse the spelling) ... today of course ... that magazine is called the ICMJ or International California Mining Journal. now is know by my recent mag cover as 'ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal'

Am I being way too obvious?

Mike F