I purchased a whites metal detector today with a wooden coil!

[pistol perfect]

I purcased this machine today form a guy who walked by my work. he told me about about 3 weeks ago and he came over to my work today and sold it to me for 30 bucks. its old and takes 2 batteries that are 9 volts. I believe its a whites coinmaster but I have never seen one this old! anyone ever seen one with a wooden coil

 

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[Cool Hand Fluke]

Wooden coils are not unusual for the very early machines. Wooden coils were standard issue on most of the early Fisher metal detectors in the 1930's through the 1950's.

 

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[kuger]

Was just talk about them on a Calif forum

 

[Mark S.]

It is a factory made coil that was standard on that detector. I cannot tell you the exact date as I do not know off hand when Whites switched to plastic coils but is 60's vintage. Have several older Whites with wood coils. Have a variety of sizes. One is large. It's either 18 or 24 in. I do not recall without looking at it. Does it have tubes?

It is not worth much as there are not many people who collect old detectors (like I do). And it is a common model. More of a converstaion piece. I have a later model of that one with a plastic coil. If you go on the Whites website you can download a manual for it. They have manuals for every detector they made. Even those they made under different names.

 

[shanegalang]

Wooden coils are not unusual for the very early machines. Wooden coils were standard issue on most of the early Fisher metal detectors in the 1930's through the 1950's.

Heck just the switch on it screams 50s to 60s. Dang thing looks like a 50 cal ammo box lol

 

[BC500]

You have a Coinmaster Precious, which I believe is a version of the Coinmaster II. I found mine at a garage sale a few months ago and had to have it out of curiosity. The owner was well into his 80s and said it worked great when he bought it around 1965. I've traced it to about 1968. Mine still works, although I don't know how well. I have no standard to go by. It uses two 9-volts, and one connection is not making consistent contact. Have to do some tinkering someday. I found one on eBay a few weeks ago, and I believe they wanted $100+ for it. Doubt if I will use it, but it makes a great converstaion piece mounted on my rec room wall.

 

[Argentium]

As old as it is , it looks to be in great shape ! That should only get better with time - there can't be too many of those still out there in that condition !!!

 

[Trooper733]

There is a metal detector shop in Oklahoma City (unsure if saying the name would constitute an advertisement and violate rules) that has a detector with a large wooden coil. I haven't seen it out of the display case but it appears as if the coil winding is affixed to the wood coil inside a groove.

 

[Jamesbondaka]

Obviously used for the rare wooden nickel----

Thats a good one!

These are not common but they are not too rare. Whites museum actually has several models exactly like this displayed in Sweet Home oregon. Molding plastic was difficult and costly back them so wood was the next best substitute.