What is the oldest metal detector in use?

[maipenrai]

Just wondering what is the oldest metal detector that you are using. We all like to up grade, but there must be some old detectors still kicking around. Maybe they were called Mine Detectors and used by the army, but later bought for civilian use. Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to see some of the old detectors, and the story about them.

 

[gollum]

My eyes. They're 51 years old! HAHAHA

Mike

 

[ivan salis]

being it was invented back long ago --bell tried to use one to find the bullet shot into garfeild ---but the bedsprings cause too much "problems"

 

[lookindown]

being it was invented back long ago --bell tried to use one to find the bullet shot into garfeild ---but the bedsprings cause too much "problems"

He should of built it with a sniper coil.

 

[rwd mo]

Just wondering what is the oldest metal detector that you are using. We all like to up grade, but there must be some old detectors still kicking around. Maybe they were called Mine Detectors and used by the army, but later bought for civilian use. Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to see some of the old detectors, and the story about them.

Had a 66T Whites Goldmaster I believe it is bought it in1970 was used for 20$ updated it when I found out it didn't discriminate. rwd mo

 

[DonDigger]

Mid 60's Garrett Playmate BFO. No, it doesn't discriminate, but it still works like new. I bring it out every once in a while just to remind me of where we came from.

 

[roadrunner]

Garrett Groundhog.
Just bought the hip mount setup for it last month also.

 

[Tnmountains]

I still have an old Tesoro Conquistador with the freq shift I use on occasion. I wish I had kept some of my older machines now.

 

[madforclad]

I still have a Radio Shack machine purchased in 1977. No sound at all, analog, basically you watch the needle and when it blanks out you dig. Found a lot with that over the years and now my 11 year old daughter uses it.

 

[RobRieman]

I still have a Radio Shack machine purchased in 1977. No sound at all, analog, basically you watch the needle and when it blanks out you dig. Found a lot with that over the years and now my 11 year old daughter uses it.

Lol. The people that say you don't need a display would have a hell of a time with that one!

 

[madforclad]

Lol. The people that say you don't need a display would have a hell of a time with that one!

Yep..but that was back when nobody had metal detectors and you could hunt a beach or park and be the only one there. Nowadays everybody and their dog has a detector and virgin sites are becoming harder to find.

 

[RobRieman]

Yep..but that was back when nobody had metal detectors and you could hunt a beach or park and be the only one there. Nowadays everybody and their dog has a detector and virgin sites are becoming harder to find.

Yeah I remember those days. Finding Mercs was like pulling clad from the school yards today. And no one ever complained about you doing it either.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Yeah I remember those days. Finding Mercs was like pulling clad from the school yards today. And no one ever complained about you doing it either.

The thrill of being the first one to ever hunt a country picnic site, or virgin stage stop, is a thrill that ... unfortunately .... people getting into the hobby today are going to have a hard time replicating. Unless they get to a part of the country where people haven't been doing their research, or haven't had the b*lls to get into sites, etc.... Then there may be some virgin stage stops or something.

I recall back in the late '80s researching and finding a virgin country picnic site that ceased being used in the early 1920s. Imagine the adrenelin of every "penny/dime" signal being a barber, or early merc, etc... No tabs, no foil, no nails, no zinc, just one old coin after another, like stealing candy from a baby. Pity the poor fellows now, 25+ yrs. later, who dig out the same exact history books we found and studied. They rush out to the spots and ...... nothing but sterile ground now . Ouch

 

[southfork]

I have a minelab SD2100 olive drab colored paid 40 bucks for it at a yard sale and it came with two coils . Still a great machine and has helped to find some nice Gold . And found major Gold for the previous owner Adrian Wood ? an old whites dealer here in the motherload .

 

[goldnugget]

I still use my Fisher 1260 ,when I go to Detecting Events, It has a Quick Response

 

[masterjedi]

Super cool old school detector

 

[MickeyMaguire]

My oldest is a radio shack/bounty hunter 2000. It was my first detector and it's what got me in to the hobby. Found it for $5 at a yard sale and I found my first large cent and first silver with it. Now it has wires taped up inside and out and has a home fixed broken shaft but still works the same and I let friends use it if they ever want to come out with hunting with me. It's not to good to look at but can still find the goods!

I never thought about checking yard sales and garage sales. I always glance when I ride by on a bike or in a car... just in case there is some old guitar or amp, but, I never thought about metal detectors.