D-Tex Electronics

[pronghorn]

Found a D-Tex Electronics "Professional" metal detector in my deceased brothers possessions.
There is a 6 inch round, 12 inch round, and 12X24inch
loop coil with it.
Can anyone give me any advice or info on this brand?
Is it worth messing with ?

There are four knobs, two are not labeled
The labeled ones are Metal | Mineral
and Balance

One that isn't labeled turns it on and also turns almost another
360 degrees after it clicks on.

The second unlabeled knob rotates maybe 20 degrees and clicks in the
center of this movement.

If anyone can tell me what functions these unlabeled knobs perform,
and what the different coils would be best used for, or any help at
all, I would be grateful, thanks.

I haven't done much metal detecting, I own a cheap metal detector
made in China that I use to find iron on properties I clean up and
scrap out. Most of the time the grass is too high to see all the junk.
I just use it so I don't hit the iron with the sickle mower.
I would like to get into coin searching, mainly silver coins
on old abandoned farmsteads and school yards,
and country church yards that are no longer used.
Would this detector be any use for that purpose?
Thanks in advance.

[Shortstack]

The D-Tex detectors were popular in the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s. Bill Mahan supposedly designed them. Charles Garrett, of Garrett Electronics, knew Mahan very well and might be a source for a reprint of an owner's manual. The description of the knobs' labels sounds like it is a TR, but it could be a BFO, instead. If it "turns on" , play with it and test the knobs. The one that turns on and revolves almost 360 degrees sounds like the ON/OFF, Volume control. The Metal / Mineral knob determines if you'll detect ferrous or nonferrous material. It's like the old White's Coinmaster TR-4b with discriminator.

If the machine will turn on and tune up; use it. Those large coils will find deep targets. Since it looks pretty complete with several different sized coils, you just MIGHT be able to get a good price or trade-in allowance from Garretts if they would like your set for their museum.

I think it was Mahan who "appropriated" KVM's design of the Lil Monster detector and marketed it as his own design and built his company on it. KVM writes about this in either the THM #6 or #7.

[U.K. Brian]

Dan George was advertising to buy this model with the large red coil a couple of months back on the Metal detector classified forum.

[Ty]

Your detector is a BFO built by D-Tex and was still being sold in the
early 70's. The metal-mineral control, if tuned correctly to the mineral
side will detect iron (mostly) and toward the metal side will detect the
nonferrous targets. One of the knobs is probably the fine tuner for the
metal-mineral control. It should be tuned for a slow clicking (beat) in
either position of the metal-mineral control

The 1970 price with 2 coils was 252.45. As far as it's worth with the 3
coils today it would be what a collector of ancient detectors would pay.
According to my information, this model had a back lighted meter, and
weighed a hefty 5 pounds but operated on a single 9v battery.

Hope this provides you a little more information.

Ty

[pronghorn]

The D-Tex detectors were popular in the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s. Bill Mahan supposedly designed them. Charles Garrett, of Garrett Electronics, knew Mahan very well and might be a source for a reprint of an owner's manual. The description of the knobs' labels sounds like it is a TR, but it could be a BFO, instead. If it "turns on" , play with it and test the knobs. The one that turns on and revolves almost 360 degrees sounds like the ON/OFF, Volume control. The Metal / Mineral knob determines if you'll detect ferrous or nonferrous material. It's like the old White's Coinmaster TR-4b with discriminator.

If the machine will turn on and tune up; use it. Those large coils will find deep targets. Since it looks pretty complete with several different sized coils, you just MIGHT be able to get a good price or trade-in allowance from Garretts if they would like your set for their museum.

I think it was Mahan who "appropriated" KVM's design of the Lil Monster detector and marketed it as his own design and built his company on it. KVM writes about this in either the THM #6 or #7.

Being metal detector --deleted-- I don't understand some of the details you supply but
I really appreciate the response. Thank you shortstack!

Dan George was advertising to buy this model with the large red coil a couple of months back on the Metal detector classified forum.

I will try to find that thread, thank you Brian!

Your detector is a BFO built by D-Tex and was still being sold in the
early 70's. The metal-mineral control, if tuned correctly to the mineral
side will detect iron (mostly) and toward the metal side will detect the
nonferrous targets. One of the knobs is probably the fine tuner for the
metal-mineral control. It should be tuned for a slow clicking (beat) in
either position of the metal-mineral control

The 1970 price with 2 coils was 252.45. As far as it's worth with the 3
coils today it would be what a collector of ancient detectors would pay.
According to my information, this model had a back lighted meter, and
weighed a hefty 5 pounds but operated on a single 9v battery.

Hope this provides you a little more information.

Ty

You are correct it is operated on a single 9v battery and has a back lighted
meter, however, the meter light apparently ran off a single D cell by the looks
of the battery bracket inside but I have not put one in yet to try it.
The 9v battery is hanging off the wire inside and has a piece of
duct tape on it, lol.

The plug in on the end of the wire that plugs into the coil is bent at a
90 degree angle but I think I can fix it as it looks like a removeable
connection? The end unscrews, so hopefully that isn't serious.
I haven't had the time to do anything with this machine, deep into winter here,
20 below zero Tuesday night not counting the windchill,
and I just started a new job. Maybe come spring I can get the time to
play with it. Thank you Ty and everyone for your assistance.