A few rare vintage detectors

[Old California]

Got out today for several hours using various TR and BFO detectors, Some are extremely rare and a few are prototype models the remainder are various types. Several are modified, and are from the eighties and early nineties not really vintage but considered outdated by most.

Garrett made an extremely small BFO, Have five of them and all work well. The Spartan-175, The Workhorse, couple of Tracer's and a Prototype. Also, In the same picture upper left are two extremely rare green lunch box type Compass Klondike 64-BFO & 41-BFO models. These are super rare, Believe only about 11-13 were made before Compass switched from BFO to TR. The two shown in the picture may be the only ones you'll ever see, Copy and save this picture you may never see another Compass Klondike BFO.... Many thanks to Allan Cannon and Phil for making this possible with Phil's help acquired these super rare Compass Klondike BFO's from his good friend Allan Cannon who worked with Compass.

Also, Two super rare Roach Detectors and trust me you may never ever ever ever see another one so save this picture as well. One of these two rare Roach detectors will soon be going to another Vintage metal detector collector, I know these are so rare might as well share one with the other vintage collector who will appreciate them as much as I do...The Roach detector may have been the first detector to have target ID both visual and audio, If not the first second for sure. These are mid seventy models believe 1974-75, Square coil too with two smaller coils inside the larger square coil and both Roach detectors do operate like they should.

Tossed in one older Fisher Explorer II TR model, This was the Fisher cream of the crop of their TR back then the new coil design was more forgiven much smoother stability. But, Lost some sensitivity to tiniest finds not much though and it also lost some TR iron masking abilities.

Another great TR back then was a Compass Cue TR-1000 Automatic, Boy does it hum don't let the cheap blue plastic fool you this hotrod screams like it's big brother Compass Automatics. Only draw back is the Blue plastic design is not as strong as the Green lunch Box design Compass is famous for as the blue plastic design has some flex on the handle not much but it's there....And of course the modified Compass 94B Automatic circuit board crunched inside a Compass Hustler housing, Packed with lot's of TR power inside a tiny control box.

Another screamer and it does scream it lungs out that be the Whites Ghost Towner TR, Another one of the many models I picked up from Allan Cannon. To be honest, I feel this Whites Ghost Towner TR may out perform the Compass 77B this screamer punches down deep.

The Modified detectors well these are a handful from my favorites, All of them have an edge over the others one way or another. The modified CZ-3D has one of the rare CZ-DD coils, Believe only four or five were made this one being DD coil No. 2, Guess that would made this particular CZ-3D a rare model especially with the modification having the meter assembly on the handgrip with the control board underneath the arm-rest....The GoldTrax is cool, This model was way ahead of it's time when George Payne introduced different modules for the Baron series and the modification helps it swing like a feather....Couple of Compass models, AU2000 and GoldScanner Pro both modified. By the way, Dug my first gold coin with the Compass GoldScanner Pro before we had the T2 or MXT or GoldTrax the Compass GoldScanner Pro was the way to go and still to this day can hold it's own with most terrain.....

And last, Another George Payne model the Teknetics S/T. Deep demon for sure with the larger coil but now it's tamed down a bit with the Fisher DD coil, Great for gold jewelry using the tones feature and super quick recovery speed.

Maybe next month, Will gather up another few armfuls of different vintage detectors and hit the local sites again and share those as well.

Thanks for looking,
Paul (Ca)

 

[garys relics]

Very nice collections, thanks for sharing those early detectors. I remember some of the Compass from the early 1980's and thought they had a good product. Not ever sure how they went under. People still talk about them! I have two Nautilus machines and Whites 5900 and can find as much if I had a new machine. I like the old, thanks for sharing.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Paul, thanx for taking the time to post, and put up the pix. Great post !

A few comments:

- I had heard that Compass had originally (1969? 1970?) dabbled in BFO. But I never knew it was with THAT few productions made. I never knew anything about that period of their original startup. The only thing that ever appeared in their earliest appearances in the metal detecting mag. advertisements, was their all-metal TRs. Eg. 77b, 94b, etc.... I don't recall ever seeing an ad for a BFO from them. And I didn't know that they actually looked like their later TR's would come to look. Great story. And yes: you have rare beasts. I've never seen or heard of one in existence. And now, if your #'s are correct (on #'s produced) , then you have some rare detectors indeed ! If the hobby of vintage detector collecting would EVER take off, you'd be rich Afterall, those with the original Apple computers can now sell them for a mint to computer collectors, so why oh why can't we vintage md'r collectors command top dollar for ours? haha

As for the ghost-towner TR, I would be skeptical that it was competitive with the Compass 77b. If it's anything like the 66TR anyhow. Because the 66TR wasn't as desirable as the 77b. For some reason the 77b (and 94b auto, etc...) were just smoother, deeper, better sounding, etc....

 

[au79]

I really like the looks of those early shafts. The minute I saw them I said, "those look great! why don't they still make them?". So much reduced stress with the handle over the box like that, reducing joint and muscle use.

Instead of having a bent elbow/wrist, my arm could be straight down, using just my forearm and wrist to swing the coil. What a difference that would make for the end of day experience.

Well, someone needs to start the manufacture of these shafts -

 

[Old California]

Thanks Gary,

Compass did put out a great product, It wasn't until later when I started using them and even then switched over to Whites in the mid eighties. Then, back and forth Compass, Fisher, Whites a few others then it exalted from there never ending madness of trying different types.

You did well I should say extremely well not getting caught up with buying the next generation machine, Instead you hung onto the two Nautilus and Whites 5900, By the way those are great machines still have a couple of Nautilus myself and just acquired a 5900 should have it next weekend. It wasn't until later realized the 5900 was better suited for my hunting needs over the 6000, Took me years to figure that one out so I recently purchased another 5900 for a great deal. Gave my last 5900 to a local friend. The person who sold me the 5900 recently modified the unit onto a neat tee handle, Well balanced and looks pretty neat, Couldn't pass it up he gave me a super deal looking forward to using it.

Thanks again Gary,
Paul (Ca)

 

[Old California]

Thanks Tom,

Yeah, Compass first started with the BFO and from what Allan Cannon told me these two he acquired from Compass are extremely rare with only a few made. They were in new condition when I first got them from Allan, Still in the original boxes with owners manual and the upper end BFO model came with the extra larger coil.

Allan Cannon also worked with Garrett, Acquired may Garrett BFO models from Allan one of the models was a proto-type. Even acquired many BFO/TR coils from Allan one particular BFO coil was pained red and used in a treasure magazine, A couple of BFO coils are experimental coils from Garrett so those are rare too and these only operate with the proto-type BFO.

The Ghost Towner TR Allan tossed in the box was not working, But it was complete and really liked the long handle setup it sports and is so well balanced. So I ripped out the old TR guts from the Ghost Towner control box and installed a newer Whites TR version more advanced than the 66TR which is my reasoning it appears to be better than Compass 77B, Should have mentioned this above the Whites Ghost Towner TR is modified with a beefier faster deeper Whites TR.....What I will do in the near future, Take both out the Whites Ghost Towner TR and Compass 77B for a test compassion. Have a strong feeling the Ghost Towner will edge ahead, If not it'll be close between the two.

Thanks again Tom,
Paul

 

[Old California]

Thanks au79,

With the older large lunch box type control boxes with the handle curved over, When first starting out using them they appear to be well balanced, And they actually feel great but after a while they can wear down a users arm and wrist. Trust me every time I take them out for a hunt feels great no wrist/arm stress but after a while boy my arm and wrist are ready to fall off, Starts off great but this curved handle setup will eventually wear down the user

Later versions had an arm rest mounted to the end of the curved handle, Took the stress away from the arm and did help a little but with the wrist curved so much that is were most of the stress did the user in.

Thanks again au79,
Paul (Ca)

 

[HaroldILL.]

Paul you have some awesome detectors for sure! I love some of the oldies myself as have a Whites XL-PRO with the rare Tone I.D. Mod. kit installed. It is just a plain fun detector to use. I also just picked up a Nautilus IIBa NOS. This is my third IBa and my fifth Nautilus as the Tones are just too addicting to my ears! I also have a Tom Tuned Super Hot CZ-3D. And last,But not least a Ireland made Etrac to stay a little modern. These are the only 4 I need at least for now? LOL!

 

[Old California]

Thanks Harold,

You've got a nice collection of detectors too, The Whites XL-Pro you have is great and yours has the tone mod even better. I once had the older version 6000 Di Pro SL with the tone mod by Bill, Always wanted the XL-Pro never got around to getting one. Nautilus IIBa are great machines, Don't sell this one eventually these will be so hard to find, Glad to hear you have one of the Hotter CZ-3D models calibrated by Tom, Still have mine and use it regularly. As for the CZ-3D, It's a love and hate relationship enjoy the depth for deep coins and tones for gold jewelry hunting but hate the slow processing recovery speed for iron laced sites, Funny didn't noticed it was this slow back then but with todays faster processing machines guess we see the advantages of these newer models.

Yes indeed, We all need one type of Explorer currently have my first Explorer and an SE I may sell or trade in the future, You have the Etrac that is one step below the 3030 serious model you have there. Yup, I agree that's all you need Harold these four are all the detectors needed to cover most hunting.

Forgot to mention, I do have one Nautilus IIB and an older Nautilus given to me. The older model is in mint condition think I'll take her put for a day on my next days off, Was one of the earlier generation models before the IIB.

You take care Harold, And continue using your vintage detectors they still are a joy to use

Paul

 

[vlad]

I still have a Garrett BFO too-think my old D-Tex was deeper, though.

 

[vlad]

n/t

 

[Old California]

Hello Vlad,

Not sure when Allan was with Garrett, Hopefully someday will have the pleasure with speaking with Allan again as I do have a few questions to ask him.

Yeah,, D-Tex was an ok detector have several different models. Only draw back with the older BFO models the coil cables tend to break down and crumble with some of the models. Otherwise, Good BFO still take one out once in a while.

Hang on to your vintage detectors, If they still work arte a blast to use for a quick hunt at school yards and such.

Paul

 

[Old California]

Hello Vlad,

Got lucky and an internet friend came across one of the Proto-type CZ DD coils and through him obtained the CZ DD, Believe only four coils were made maybe five at most. Very rare CZ coil, Ties in perfectly with my modified CZ-3D being the coil is rare and my CZ-3D is one of a kind setup.

Enjoy the DD coverage, Lost some sensitivity but otherwise like it allot. ID's great no difference with ID so that's good, Depth wise fair not as deep as the 8" coil but pretty good for an elliptical coil. Use it for gold jewelry or coin shooting for clad, Was using it just the other week at an old park.

Here's a few pics, One of my favorite mods this was a nightmare to complete. Actually, Redid the mod a year or two later the first shaft snapped below the handle so fitted everything onto another shaft....Also, The meter one the lower housing is a dummy, Uses the meter, GB, etc above the handle now.

Take care,
Paul

 

[vlad]

as being made, but never has one listed for sale. He has them listed for the Troy Shadow too.
Any difference in i.d. of perpendicular nails when using audio disc?-better, or worse?

 

[Old California]

Wasn't aware NEL was making DD coils for Fisher CZ's? Wow that would be cool if they are available.

Target ID with mine is very good, Don't see any difference with hunting but haven't tired it in a site with iron. Guess that's because my CZ in iron didn't do so well with the stock coil so never went back with the DD coil, Good question. I'll see how it does in an area with iron and how well it does with nails using audio disc.

Maybe a game changer or maybe it'll retain the same poor iron separation? I'll let you know.



Good question,
Paul (Ca)

 

[vlad]

Back then I remember talking to Ed Moody my Compass distributor-he'd never seen one, and thought I was talking about a 2-box.
You remember the Louisiana company that made the BFO that worked in the VLF range?

 

[Old California]

Hello Vlad,

Don't remember the Louisiana company that made the BFO that worked in the VLF range, Allot of things I don't remember or never learned. Sounds interesting though, BFO to work in the VLF range sounds really interesting sounds like a neat setup.

With the Roach detector, If not the first but for sure second detector with target ID. I'll ID with a small analog meter and once set, the user determines were nickels, pennies, dimes and quarters fall truly an amazing detector back then. From what I was told by a silent partner that helped Mr Roach launch the business, Only about 300 were made that is how I acquired the first Roach detector. The second one I have will be going to Carl once I get a proper box to ship the odd shaped detector.

HH, Paul

 

[vlad]

Is it a hi freq TR?

 

[Old California]

Can't remember but I'll look up the information, a nice article was written on the Roach detector with spec's, pics and such believe in 1974 or early 75 in a treasure magazine.

Will dig out the magazine, post pics of the meter and how one can cherry pick out particular targets, hopefully in a few days got some free time off the next few days.

HH,
Paul

 

[tucando]

Howdy Paul

I am BACK from my trip in OZ and just seen some old friends that you have and sure glad that they are in a good home and applicate your collection. If I can help you any way I will try to answer any question you or any others may have. Keep up the collection as you have some really rare jewels...best in Hunting Allan Cannon