A few rare vintage detectors

[Old California]

Hello Allan,

Good to see you're back from your trip, I hope with your trip to oz some yellow surfaced that be the place to go to find gold.

And I'll aways cherish the lot of detectors I picked up from you, think I have about 15 of your old friends mostly BFO models and two TR's.

Their is one question on a coil, its a thick Large weird Garrett coil heavy as an anchor appears to be VLF. I'll have to dig it out and share a photo, I'm curious to find out what it belonged to so I can get the proper vintage Garrett to work with it. I'll post a picture of the coil in a day or so.

Still use many of your vintage detectors, my two favorites are the rare Compass BFO models those are so rare and only a few were made.

Thanks Allan for allowing many of your vintage detectors into my collection, they are in good hands and will continue to be used out in the field.

Thanks again,
Paul

 

[tucando]

Howdy Paul
That boat anchor of a Garrett loop might of been a 12x24 co-axil loop for the 2 KHZ master hunters. Is it about 2 1/2 inches tall very similar like the 12x24 BFO loop only thicker and weights about few pounds heavier. If so then that's there first loop they made other from the 8 inch coaxial in 2 KHZ. They soon changed the frequency and went to the 5 KHZ range and then produced the 7 1/2,10 1/2 & 14 inch concentric loops..
Did well in OZ and found some nice Yellow.
Take care
AC

 

[Old California]

Thank you Allan and you're dead on that was the coil I was referring too, You have a great memory super retention down to the detail. Just dug this out a few minutes ago, Along with two of the many BFO models of yours you let me add to my collection.

I remember you mentioning the red coil for a special reason, Believe it was used in a sales add or magazine. Also, I've been meaning to ask about the blue camouflaged paint BFO model it has no model name. Was thinking maybe it was a prototype or a special model, And the red coil marked underneath with the number 288 works with this particular BFO. Other BFO coils have 455 on them and maybe one or two other have another number maybe not but for sure I do remember seeing 288 and 455.

Another neat BFO is the Tracer, You know it still works and since acquiring this Tracer from you it sparked my interest with this neat pocket size detector so I picked up four more very similar to yours but each a little different (coil size or other differences).

Every once in a while, Get tired of todays top end detectors and gather up several BFO and TR's many of them yours then hit the school yards and tot lots. Make it an all day event, Break for lunch somewhere between the hunt and hit the grass again.

Appreciate the information on the Larger coil Allan, Now the quest is on will try and locate a detector to work with this large coil. And Congrats with scoring yellow on your recent trip to oz, I've yet to find a gold nugget with a metal detector, Maybe next year have a friend who owns allot of land in gold country rich with relics. Problem is I always get locked to staying in the relic areas what I need is to venture into the tailings areas or up the dry creek areas were water has flowed down for centuries.

Thanks again Allan, If there's anything I can do or if you every need a piece of equipment please don't hesitate to ask.

All the best,
Paul (Ca)

 

[tucando]

Paul
How is everything for you? I just came across a fisher T320 explorer in a wooden box with manuals and 2 loops & Headphones. It has been in shed for many years and don't know if it works but hope to find out if they will sell it. I see it uses the everyready 226 9 volt (2) and any batteries around? I know the Chinese was making obsolete few years ago or do I have to make a jumper? This thing looks brand new but the foam inside the box has deteriorated and made a mess.
I know its a neat early 70's unit and seen some of you info on being the Cadillac dubbed by fisher. Any how hope all is well and thinking of selling my GPZ7000 so if you know anyone looking for a ZED, I will make a great deal for them.
Take care
Allan C.

 

[Old California]

Hello Allan,

All is well, Staying busy can't seen to get out for a serious hunt due to work and recently when my days off arrived it rained allot. But, Did manage to play a few rounds of golf. Started golfing again after a 18 year break, Hit a hole in one last month a first for me.

The Fisher T320 (Explorer II) you came across, Those are a rare find not too many of those surface. Have only seen about 4-5 surface on the internet, Have three in my collection and yes they do need two 9-volt batteries to power them. Had to modify mine to operate off regular 9-volt batteries, But they work and appear to last a long time with standard 9-volt batteries after the conversion. From the ligature, The transistorized circuitry TR type (balanced mutual induction bridge) operates on 87 kHz. And they actually operate very well and more forgiven much smoother stability. But, Lost some sensitivity to tiniest finds not much though and it also lost some TR iron masking abilities.

However, Guess for the average user back then this model would be more user friendly but even though it sports a wooden handle it's extremely off balanced. Fisher did a great job with this cool setup with the course and fine tune knob within fingers reach but missed the boat not adding an arm rest like they did with the earlier 1967 FisherScope M70. They hit a home run with the 1967 FisherScope M70 believe that may have been the first metal detector with an arm rest, Will enclose a picture of one of my T320 models. It too has two coils, I prefer the smaller coil and that's because it greatly helps my arm not wear out for an extended hunt....If you do pickup the T320, The battery conversion is simple if you need help please feel free to contact me.

What it really needs is some type of arm rest attached to the rear control box, Otherwise a fun detector to use but not as crisp and fast as an old Compass TR especially in an iron ridden site. This new Fisher TR model lost some masking abilities and that's because of the new advanced transistorized circuitry, And brace yourself it's an arm destroyer

Boy, I was looking at the new Minelab GPZ nugget PI earlier this year but sprung for a GPX 5000 instead, That was because of the iron discrimination I need for relic hunting. But if I come across someone needing one will pass them to you yours is still in like new condition, I would like to get into nugget hunting but think it's too late, I hear allot of positive information with the GPZ understand some users are going back to old pounded sites getting nuggets the GPX Pi's missed.

You take care Allan, And as always a pleasure seeing you share your experiences with us.

All the best,
Paul (Ca)

 

[John(H)]

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?

Vlad.....that Louisiana company that you refer to is Treasuretronics and they made the SST Pro Selectmatic. I believe that this was the very first detector to come out with the discrimination circuit! I was not aware that this BFO worked in the VLF range....but that really answers some questions that I have! I started with a Garrett Sidewinder BFO ans and still dabble with a Garrett Hunter BFO and a few other brands. Now saying that on most of these the depth range max is about 4 to 5 inches for coin type targets. This detector will get that same coin at about 10 inches! The SST Pro now is very RARE and very seldom come up for sale! Mine has a problem with the meter (for discrimination) but the audio sounds off loud and clear! Contacted a few owners and most have problems and do not work at all. Anyway when you mentioned the Louisiana company I knew that it was Treasuretronics.

 

[KentK]

It is nice to see some of those old detectors. I actually still have an old Compass detector like the one in the picture.
Sadly, I do not use it.

 

[tucando]

G'day Paul . Those garrett BFO loops is 455KHZ , this is when Garrett made about 12 units in this frequency. D-Tex bfo's was using that frequency and Garrett was at 288 KHZ. I remember Roy Legal was testing them and the found it don't quite have the same depth as a 288khz in mineralized ground.
455 kHz was alot more sensitive to silver foil and gold but it did not justify Garrett to change. Garrett 288 was the best frequency of the lot. Those few 455 where converted back to 288khz and you may have the last remaining one out of the 12 still at 455KHZ. When i purchased this 455 , I went to my credit union just to buy it when I was working at Garrett.
The detector you are asking about in Louisiana was called the simplex. Not sure if they ever made any, but they advised it back in the early 80's and never ever seen one.
Hang on to that 455 as you have the 3X8 and single 12" and I am sure you never find another one out there, kind like a Klondikes.!!!!
Best hunting to you.
AC

 

[Old California]

Thsnks Allan for the 455 kHz information, I didn't know Garrett only made the 12 models having 455 kHz, incredible so my 455 model may be the only one left. Plus, I bet going to the credit union to borrow money to pay for the old BFO was a serious expense back then, the risk you guys took but it all paid off with all the silver to be found.

The Compass Klondikes are so rare, now knowing the Garrett 455khz BFO is rare too is terrific. Thanks so much to allowing these rare detectors into my collection, and amazingly they still work!

Thanks Allan!
Paul

 

[Old California]

Thanks Kent,

If you ever want to let your Compass go please keep me posted.

Amazing, these old detectors still are fun to use and in some cases can out perform today's best detectors for certain situations.

Take care!
Paul

 

[rwsnc]

Hello.... I just happened to stumble across this post. I have a Compass Magnum and a Relic Magnum 7 that I just had refurbished by Keith Wills in Texas. Now that I have them back and working, I decided that they're a little to heavy for me to use on a regular basis. I'll just stick to my Minelab.

Let me know if you're interested in either or both of these. Pictures on request.

 

[Old California]

Sent pm

 

[rwsnc]

Hello.... I just happened to stumble across this post. I have a Compass Magnum and a Relic Magnum 7 that I just had refurbished by Keith Wills in Texas. Now that I have them back and working, I decided that they're a little to heavy for me to use on a regular basis. I'll just stick to my Minelab.

Let me know if you're interested in either or both of these. Pictures on request.

Sorry... I meant Coin Magnum not Compass Magnum.