1929 Detector

[rastinirv]

Came across this ad in a May 1929 issue of People's Popular Monthly magazine. I wonder how this was purported to work...

 

[vpnavy]

I wonder if it has anything to do with this book: Underground Treasures How and Where To Find Them - Published by The Model Publishing Co., Chicago , 1922 as opposed to an actual Metal Detector?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

vp-navy, interesting that you found a 1922 book by the same exact name. And you're right: the 1922 book probably has nothing to do with any electronic metal detecting devise (to my knowledge, none were out that early, in actual practical usage). The 1922 probably just deals with likely hiding spots, treasure leads (old legends, etc...) and so forth. In those days, they tried things like probing rods, for example. But no, not metal detectors that early on.

However rastinirv's picture does indeed seem to depict a fellow holding some sort of device, which is emitting a signal of some sort. Hmmm, interesting.

If anyone knows what that is, I'd love to know.

thanx for posting rastinirv!

 

[RobRieman]

I guess it's possible since Bell made a metal detector in 1881. Wasn't real portable or that small by any means though.

 

[Minrelica]

Very interesting..

Here's another
book with the same title and you can view the whole thing here... Use the arrow keys to turn the page.

Underground treasures: how and where to find them. a key for the ready determination of all the useful minerals within the United States

 

[woof!]

The gizmo the guy's holding is a dip compass, sometimes called a "Spanish dip needle" (not to be confused with dowsing apparatus of a similar name). Invented probably about 500 years ago and arguably the world's first geophysical prospecting apparatus.

--Dave J.

 

[bush13st_beav3r]

Very interesting indeed....I was actually curious on thr first modern detectors and when they first came out....and any detectors that were by mad scientists from way back when....this has just peaked my curiosity even more. Good post

-beav3r

 

[rastinirv]

Very interesting..

Here's another
book with the same title and you can view the whole thing here... Use the arrow keys to turn the page.

Underground treasures: how and where to find them. a key for the ready determination of all the useful minerals within the United States

Thanks for linking to that!

 

[Joe(TX)]

...Gerald Fisher....the founder of Fisher Electronics....was granted the first patent for a handheld detector...probably a two box back around 1932 or 33??...although Fisher got the first patent there were plans for detectors in the various Radio and Electronic Mags before 1932......I think I saw a detector in one of the Mags back around 1928 or 29??.......jt

 

[woof!]

I'm not sure where that mythology of Dr. Gerhard Fisher having the first patent, etc., etc., came from. However, he did patent some stuff back then, and for the patents themselves to be valid he was supposedly the first to have done what's covered in the actual patent claims.

The first patented VLF phase-sensitive induction balance for discriminating different kinds of coins dates clear back into the late 1800's. It was a benchtop unit for use by banks to determine real coins from counterfeit. The majority of hand-held metal detectors sold today more than 100 years later, still use this principle.

The advent of hand-held metal detectors for the consumer market is a much more recent phenomenon, beginning with the popularity of BFO's during the 1950's, then TR's during the 1960's, and then VLF's during the 1970's and since. Multifrequency metal detectors are technologically a variant of the VLF's.

Pulse induction likewise goes a long ways back, but didn't become a consumer market commodity until the 1970's, and played a very minor role until the 1990's.

The "Carl and George" book includes a chapter on the history of metal detection.

--Dave J.

 

[bush13st_beav3r]

Love a good history lesson, thanks for sharing!...u saved me some googling

-beav3r