It may look like a piece of junk brass, but could be a rare civil war ID tag. Everything has value to somebody. The association members even pool the scrap metal they find and sell it to scrap dealers every couple of months. The revenue helps pay for prizes for the winner of the best find of the month, and speakers at their monthly meetings. The cost of treasure-hunting equipment is no more expensive than the equipment required to play most sports.
Used equipment is also plentiful.
Association member Dan Bernzweig, who is a metal detector dealer based in Framingham, says treasure hunting is a relaxing distraction from stressful living. You put your headphones on and look at the ground and shut out the rest of the world. And with luck, you find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Mass. All rights reserved.