An Old Photograph Found in a Bank Vault Helps Solve an Eight-Year Mystery

[@jimh598]

Does anybody else say "wait what was that thing?" while watching Tom's videos?

[@dannmccord1923]

Yes I do

[@aicirtkciub9167]

All the time 😅

[@kennethstickney8819]

Like that piece of flatware?

[@user-mf6wg9wo3y]

Yes, it is frustrating I want to see the broken pieces not just the bottles.!

[@GodzHarleyGirlStudio]

ALWAYS!😂

[@KrissyD-xx4gz]

All the videos I have watched, I have never heard or seen a cameraman. Shout out to them for the good work.

[@samsager1]

Good work Mr Camera guy!!

[@alanatolstad4824]

@@samsager1 Ah heck, you know who it is, don't you?!

[@lyndamac1058]

@@alanatolstad4824 who?

[@samsager1]

@@alanatolstad4824 of course I was there

[@karentomes4846]

I swear I see something that he missed. I doubt it though .

[@wwjoesr]

Awesome dig. And that was some hard packed dirt!

[@AnneWilliams-u5s]

I love to have a cup of coffee when its quiet and the day is done, and watch your latest video. That coffee would be so much better in that sweet little cup, Tom....😅😅😅❤❤❤

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

There is definitely something relaxing about watching people work haha. Thanks for watching!

[@TracyCombs-c7e]

Love the bottles with glass stoppers and the blues of the bromo seltzer bottles. Learn more and more watching u. I'm usually trying to guess as u bring it up and sometimes as it's in the ground. Good Teacher 👍 ❤ Tom

[@ChrisN1973]

I've been waiting all day for this! Cheers, Tom!

[@markturton7763]

Very knowledgeable on what Tom finds and a pleasure to watch someone enjoying a hobby. Great content as usual, so keep em coming.

[@tammyaskjem9871]

Great vid Tom! I loved the coffee cup! Thanks for bringing us on the dig with you!

[@ToddTheJoker]

Thanks Tom and Crew! Wish these digs were longer...really enjoy em! Take care and I look forward to the next!

[@DiggingTimesPast]

Thanks Tom. I have a feeling you’re just getting started in that area. Looking forward to seeing what else you find.

[@terrencebuller7676]

Great program Tom. Thank you for sharing. Wish you and your crew the best. Stay safe 👍

[@samcrane9817]

Tom please consider doing a video on your wonderful finds and rare items in your area. It would be interesting to hear what you found out about items we saw you dig up but at the time you did not have all the information about the item. thanks keep the videos coming!

[@tarrasams7423]

Hello 👋🏾 from New York, You found some amazing finds. My favorite find was the coffee cup. Thank you for bringing me along with you. I can't wait to see where you go and what you find next 😊

[@karenwright9123]

Great diggings. Good to see some dry ones. Take care till next time

[@deloradeabel8487]

Great job Tom,nice to see a hole with most all the bottles are intact!

[@rikspector]

Tom, Would it be possible for you to make an episode showing how you prepare the finds for sale and maybe showing your all time best ones, if you still have them? Do you have a showcase of items? Cheers, Rik Spector

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’d be on board with that at some point but haven’t had much free time lately as I’ve been traveling a lot. I’ve sold most of my finds to fund a few books I’ve been working on and a collection that includes an example of the earliest soda bottle from each state (or territory). I have less than ten bottles in my permanent collection.

[@rikspector]

@@TomAskjem.LostHorizons Thanks for getting back to me, I's good to know your sharing your knowledge with us👍 Much success, Rik Spector

[@jont8707]

A new Tom video lets gooooo 👍🏻

[@lauriecornell6169]

Amazing haul as usual! Thanks for all you do.

[@judylukehart6854]

I really enjoy the clinking noise made by his trowel hitting pieces of glass.

[@larisarogers2649]

I’m enjoying videos while it’s still warm outside, I know it’s getting cooler where you are at.

[@jilltoney3613]

Really enjoyed your video Tom. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@AndrexT]

Great job on Quarter Hoarder, Quarter After Livestream this evening, nearly 3 hours just flew by. The spikey glass cup may be a Shaving Mug, hard to drink from it.

[@Digger-rn9yh]

Another awesome video!!!!!!!

[@fiorenzaattanasio4796]

Fantastic. Thank you ❤

[@heavenbound1026]

Love your videos, thank you😃 the new type used at top of screen is harder to read than before.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

Good to know!

[@DebraJean196]

@@TomAskjem.LostHorizonsjust for the record, I agree it’s harder to read, but I always pause the video to read them anyway so it really doesn’t matter lol

[@dannmccord1923]

Always waiting for your videos Tom i just love then so. Wanting to help you dig. Found some awesome bottles. The coffee cup was beautiful. ❤❤❤❤

[@aicirtkciub9167]

You should keep the glass stoppers out of the broken bottles. People like that kind of thing and would buy them as a curiosity. I know I like them 😊

[@chadburud5681]

Tom. I'd love to hear you do a history lesson on how old glass bottles were made and an explanation of how they evolved the different tops. I think it would help me understand the wealth of knowledge you have and your finds better. Think about it.

[@jerrysadventures8952]

Awesome dig tom enjoy your video

[@TheGreatest1974]

Thanks Tom!👍🇬🇧

[@samsager1]

Great digs!! Was a pleasure to dig with you that day!!

[@sherimiller5857]

Shout out to the crew!

[@sandralovegrove2805]

Different finds cool 👍what a history guru

[@bobkirk942]

Badassery as always Tom!!!! Ya the man !!!!

[@jeanvanegdom5342]

Found your new channel. Loved your dig at Omeme. That tea cup was beautiful! But boy was there a lot of makido flasks, lol.

[@JeanStAubin-nl9uo]

That large blue bromo bottle is very nice! Did you get a new camera or phone? The picture has been extremely clear and vibrant as of late. Thanks Tom!

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I film with a Sony FX3 cinema camera. Have been using one of those for a couple years now. The lighting plays a major part in video quality. Some videos definitely film better than others

[@michaelbressette2599]

I havent seen a Bromo-Seltzer bottle since I was a kid 55 years ago, I remember the ones with a screw cap on it I may vaguely remember a cork too same blue bottle but it had a paper label. I also remember trying it as a small child & wasn't impressed I believe I remember a Bicarbonate of soda taste. lol

[@bw8349]

Addicted to these videos.

[@jeanvanegdom5342]

How is found your other/new channel, I was researching where the Illinois bottle works was in Alton, Illinois. My sister lives in Alton, n wanted to see if it was still in operation. Would like to visit when next I visit her. That's how I lucked onto your channel...just following links in the info. So glad to find out you are still digging. I learn so much history from you.

[@MarciaShackelford-st5bt]

Another great video! Hope you forund what you're looking for in Montana! Keep on digging and grow your hair as long as you want!

[@twindiggersminnesotapamandpat]

Tom another amazing digs, there must be more there for you to find. How long does it take using your probe to find the privies? Loved all of your finds. The tea cup was awesome. 😀👍👏

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

Sometimes I’ll walk out and find them on the first probe. Other times I’ll probe for days and not find them. On average I’d say they’re found in the first few hours.

[@alanatolstad4824]

Think of all those ND winters that were tolerated by a shot of whiskey!---For anyone familiar with the 1968 movie Finnian's Rainbow with Petula Clark & Fred Astaire, there was a memorable scene with Al Freeman Jr & Keenan Wynn, hollering for his Bromo (funny, tragic at the same time). Whenever I see a blue bottle of Bromo Seltzer come out of the ground, I think of that one scene.---Tom, sharp corners on that ink bottle...as in molded sharp, or cut skin sharp?---I'm pretty sure, by the way the bottles are so packed together, the bar staff would likely have kept all the empties in a crate for hauling out to the pit when the crate was full, or at closing time. ---Thought sure you'd clean up that coffee cup for the reveal.

[@barneyrubble4536]

Hi, new subscriber from England. I really enjoyed watching your video. Do a little bottle digging near where I live in Cheshire, England. Good luck and take care.

[@Phaota]

It will always amaze me to see liquor bottles with their glass stoppers still in place. Those were some oddly consciousness folks since you would think they didn't care where the stopper dropped after getting drunk. Nope, they put it back in and then gave it to the pit. Same for putting corks back as well. As with any dig, these definitely yielded some interesting finds, though again, the ending gallery wasn't long enough.

[@alanatolstad4824]

I agree with you about the final reveal being skimpy!

[@653j521]

Conscientious?

[@Phaota]

@@653j521 Yes, as in putting in the bottle instead of just dropping it somewhere to get lost or stepped on. Most probably did not give a crap, but obviously some oddly did. In the case of history diggers like Tom, finding a complete bottle with stopper is way better than those without IMO. They can definitely go for more when selling.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

The finds are often split up differently each time. Sometimes I’ll only be able to keep a few pieces and the rest goes to the property owner.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I usually show the pieces that I end up with. Often I’ll only be able to keep a few. I’ve tried bringing camera equipment with to photograph the finds at the end of the day but it takes up a lot of space and we usually run out of time anyway. It’s usually dark by the time we finish and everyone is ready to go home. These dig sites are sometimes hours from home so I usually get what I can and be on my way.

[@patty4091]

Very nice finds! Very dry soil! See you next time!

[@luanncolistro879]

My arms hurt just watching this dog so hard packed !!

[@amyjowilliams6089]

Tom, nice introduction! In the future is there a possibility of showing the pictures of these lost towns. We have one of these near our farm in Ohio.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get to that point. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had much time to ad anything beyond what’s already being shown.

[@amyjowilliams6089]

I fully understand! I am enjoying your channel and your knowledge of bottle artifacts is phenomenal!

[@mariville]

As much as I enjoy Tom's videos, it would be great if he did a video just answering some of the questions asked.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

Hoping to have some free time this winter to work on videos like that. I’ve been on the road so much that I haven’t had much free time to put a quality q&a video together. This past summer/fall has been absolute chaos.

[@mariville]

@@TomAskjem.LostHorizons Thanks, I appreciate your response.

[@aprilanywhere3879]

​@@TomAskjem.LostHorizonsThat would be Great! Just give us a heads up before, so we subscribers will get notified to plan. Love this channel ❣️

[@daviddarrall9384]

Loved the large Bromo! 😊 UK

[@dragonxfilms]

Flasks are my favorite! Especially the maganese ones!

[@martinco712]

nice thanks for the video

[@oilerfreak]

LOL Tom it looks like you just got mugged in that intro!!!

[@dirtclodmetaldetecting]

Nice digs!

[@chasetonga]

11:10 I’m from Milwaukee and I just went down a rabbit hole of articles looking for the Franzen bottling location and got into some articles of how these glassworks companies employed children aged 13 and under for $3/week. It was hot grueling work.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I appreciate the info. I think they even had children working in mines back in those times. I’ll add that note to my research!

[@tallyhorizzla3330]

So when they walk into the saloon and ask for a whiskey,leave the bottle,it was probably one of those Mikado style liquor flasks rather than the full size bottle we so often see in the movies?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

It was likely a combination. It’s possible the flasks were sold as off-sale too.

[@tallyhorizzla3330]

@@TomAskjem.LostHorizons thanks for replying. Yes l suppose those flasks would fit quite nicely in a coat pocket without square edges making it obvious what you have.

[@bethcorey6022]

Ivy tea cup is sooo pretty

[@sdcoinshooter]

I have never been to North Dakota in my life… but after watching these videos I have an insatiable urge to visit

[@alanatolstad4824]

Happy to hear that! I was born there, still have familial property there! I live in California, so don't get back as much as I'd like.

[@653j521]

@@alanatolstad4824 Tell your family to invite Tom to dig.

[@alanatolstad4824]

@@653j521 We just filled in the last privy about 4 years ago. I once asked Tom about how long it takes before digging in outhouse pits & he suggested about 30 years or so! However, the Farmstead has been habitated since 1888, so there has to be at least one other pit in the home woods that is old enough to hunt. But, the home woods are full of mosquitos & maybe more than too many ticks. Tom only hunts in areas of development. I've never seen him dig a homesite.

[@axelusul]

Tom, have you ever thought about making a series about your hobby or livelihood, also about historical detection you have to do. The history of glass in America and the techniques, chemistry and conditions required to manufacture bottles/glass. Just thought it would be interesting. I have Great Great Grandfather who worked at a busy Glass works in the Mid 19th Century in an English Port town called Sunderland, which was famous for building Ships, Glasswork and Mining plus having a famous football club Sunderland A.F.C.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’m in the process of writing a book on some of the earliest bottles used on the American frontier. May do a video at some point but haven’t had much free time lately

[@axelusul]

@@TomAskjem.LostHorizons Thanks for the reply Tom, defo be up to read that.

[@douglaskerr6813]

Question, I was wondering if you or your partner screen the spoils coming out of your digs for coins and small items dropped during folks trip to the little house out back ?

[@CatCmdr]

Good dig. 👍

[@SuperAbcdabcdabcdabc]

What do you do with all of the finds?

[@tahudack7785]

Another amazing dig. I have some questions for you Tom. What is the most amazing thing you have dug up? What is the strangest thing you have dug up? What is the 1 thing you really want to dig up?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

The cloth on Fort Pembina was definitely the most amazing. I’d like to dig up an unknown 1870s soda bottle from Deer Lodge, Montana.

[@nowhereman7398]

I bet the bricks in the pit were the reason the bottles were broken. Boys target practicing.

[@aicirtkciub9167]

How many ounces in those beer bottles? They seem bigger and more satisfying than ones offered today 😄

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’d guess they’re 16oz sized

[@Kltpzyxm17]

Howdy Tom! 👋🇺🇲

[@patrickkelly7838]

The most available liquors during the early part of the 1900's was whiskey ,rum, and rye, Brandy was imported and expensive.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I appreciate the info!

[@chasetonga]

8:29 I see a bottle cap on top of that brick.

[@spencergreenwaldt6783]

If you’re ever interested in digging a 1895 hotel sight in northern Illinois, please reach out. I really enjoy your videos.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I appreciate the invite. I haven’t dug Illinois but am not opposed to the idea!

[@spencergreenwaldt6783]

@ I can supply an abstract of the property that lists the hotel on this land. The building remains in use as apartments.

[@badlyniceness2315]

The rockstar of shoveling…awesome hardly begins to describe Tom..

[@lucdaigle2394]

I would tend to disagree about the saloon interpretation. A pile of similar hip flasks are take-aways. Someone living at that residence kept there drinking on the quiet side by dumping their empties in the outhouse. I'd expect a saloon pit would have heaps of broken shot glasses, spittoons, big whiskey bottles and jugs, plus a much greater variety of types of bottles. Plus a saloon would go through hundreds of bottles.

[@DebraJean196]

You don’t follow Tom much do you? Remember these are only the discards found in outhouse pits. It is in no way the only discards from the entire business. And that’s a ton of liquor flasks for such a small overall quantity of finds. Watch a few more videos.

[@bobkirk942]

That next 1860's privy you find !!!!

[@janerigg2892]

Can you explain the differences between the different kind of tops,? Tool top and machine tops.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

Tooled tops were formed from the glass in the mold. This process was generally out of production by 1916. Machine made tops started production in the early 1900s and, as the name suggests, were created fully by machine. That production style had more or less taken over by the WWI era.

[@jackijax505]

Amazing finds as always, however all the ads are annoying. But we get it. Hey, what’s the best thing you’ve found so far?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’ve noticed the videos with pop ups do a lot better than those without. It’s a lot of extra work but has been paying off.

[@martinco712]

Got my 5-foot probe yesterday.

[@rkbthrifts4687]

I live in Tennessee my house was built in 1899 want to dig my yard!!!

[@MadelineRose-ep7fj]

Have you given any thought to excavating the inside perimeter of a store?😊

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’ve found that those areas don’t produce much and when they do it’s usually newer, from when the building was removed.

[@ronwade5646]

Blowing dist off? Me too😅

[@pwitherspoon100]

Otis must of lived there and was hiding his whiskey bottles from his wife

[@carolmay5168]

Nothing like drinking in the privy😂

[@davidgraham8658]

That bottle from Warren pa is worth about 40 bucks It’s not too far from me

[@TracyCombs-c7e]

Hi Tom, I saw broken liquor flasks with glass stoppers in them. Do u try to keep those to repurpose on other bottles ?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

Generally not. The bottles I’m focused on didn’t have glass stoppers and the ones that did were somewhat generic pieces. I’ll make an exception if it’s in an unusual color.

[@TracyCombs-c7e]

Just curious ...I just love the bottle with glass stoppers. That's cool.

[@bwilliams463]

Why would a saloon stock liquor in pint flasks instead of 5ths or Quarts? Were they allowed to sell by the bottle, in those days?

[@653j521]

A working man wasn't going to carry a bottle around all day. Keep in mind, ND had state prohibition before federal prohibition. Cheating was apparently flagrant and constant.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

Saloons often filled those flasks with liquor they ordered in by the barrel and then offered it at the saloon. They would put their own labels on it. I’m guessing some mixed the liquors to get their own flavors etc. Note that ND was under prohibition from 1889 until the end of national prohibition in 1933. Before national prohibition in 1920, folks would evade the statewide liquor laws by having a cover charge into the saloon and then giving the liquor away so that no laws were being broken.

[@birdie5382]

Hey Tom, do you ever use a metal detector or sift through the dirt to look for coins or smaller items?

[@MarciaShackelford-st5bt]

No he doesn't. He said in an interview that after a day of digging he's too tired to metal detect.

[@sharynhay4872]

​@@MarciaShackelford-st5bt he needs to have a partner who can do the metal detecting. I have seen flatware that he just scrapes aside and I see that as missed opportunity.

[@jaygee999]

Tom does frost heave ever help with locating objects ?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’ll find pottery fragments in fields but I can’t say for sure if frost played a part in it

[@sadielevens1144]

❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@TheWonderwy]

👍💕👍

[@JoAnnAnderson-z2g]

Do you ever sale the bottles you find? I am looking for an ink bottle.

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I have but haven’t had the free time lately; I’m on the road a lot. Hopefully someday I’ll be able to get a site up and running.

[@Krawlergarage]

Do you ever use any of the dishes you find?

[@loisstump5990]

Did he see the spoon at about 15.02?

[@nataliehunt1125]

You missed a bottle

[@lesliemcgaughey8038]

Do you have a ebay store, where I could buy some pieces, especially with the glass stopper?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

No store. Hopefully this winter I’ll be able to get a site up and running.

[@davidnelsen5922]

How can I bid on some of these?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I haven’t had the time to start an online store. Have been on the road a lot and working on a couple book projects in my free time.

[@c.t.murray3632]

What do you do with all those bottles? Do you sell them to us.?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’d really like to start an online store but haven’t had any free time. I’ve been on the road digging a lot. Most of my free time is spent editing videos

[@storminight]

Does anyone wonder how many people were hiding drinking in the outhouse? 😅

[@roybal1975]

What's with the title that threw me way off?😕

[@withinmyheartspace3374]

Possibly should have been eighty.

[@leannkennedy6568]

Do you know if the 1905 beer bottles were single serving bottles?

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

I’d imagine so but this is coming from a guy who would down a 40oz just to start the night off haha

[@leannkennedy6568]

@TomAskjem. lol easy does it big fella.

[@nickt7658]

You f!@#$in rule all things tom! Thee master of your class. Nk.

[@donna.p]

After watching many videos I just realised what the outhouse was 🤮

[@andresesteves4499]

Omg 😳, bottles bottles bottles, what do you do with them? Do you find coins ? 🤔

[@TomAskjem.LostHorizons]

Some are kept, sold, given to the property owner and donated to museums. If no one is interested we throw them back. Every once in a while I’ll find a coin but it’s rare.

[@Laurie51097]

But no photograph in a bank vault? 🤔