Batterys for Joe Snow Detector

[silversmith]

Back in the early '70's, a local in central California manufactured metal detectors. They were called simply a "Joe Snow Metal Detector." A very simple TR with no frills. A couple of years ago I was invited over to a guys house to gather up some electronic parts and projects that were going in the dumpster. Mixed in with this stuff was a Joe Snow Metal Detector, missing both batteries. One battery is obviously a common 9 v. The other was bigger with a snap on each end. The unit contains about 5 or 6 transistors (no tubes). Quite a few were made, the serial number on mine is 222. Has anyone out there encountered this unit, and tell me what battery this is? The owner was an old Ham radio operater who got run over by a pick up while on a walk. Some one told me these units were copies of some early Whites detector. I have no idea if true. Thanks for reading this. Any help or ideas appreciated, Ron.

 

[scubadetector]

Nothing even comes up if you google it!! Do you have a picture of the detector or the connections?

 

[Rick(ND)]

For some reason a 67.5 volt battery sticks in my mind what some of the very first Whites used along with a 9 Volt that was bigger than the ones we have to day, The 9 Volt was about 2 1/2 Inches square while the 67.5 was around 8-10 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches tall. See how big the battery compartment is if it is like a Whites.
Like I say I am not 100% sure, but this seems to stick in my mind. Neither of these batteries are made anymore, or don't see them anyplace.

 

[homefires]

[size=medium]The odd ball battery your talking about may have been connectors for a battery tray! Don't chuck it! You should be able to figure out close as to what voltage it requires. Does it have a capacitor where the leads connect to the PCB? [/size]

 

[JayBeeZee]

I know this is a very old post, but I wanted to get some info on the web about this type of detector. I have just inherited one and here is what i do know.
The "Transistor Metal Finder" where made in Fresno California by Mr. Joe Snow. Mine has no Serial number but it does have a year of 1973. It takes two batteries and is maked by hand with a sharpie "9v 228" and the other side says "12v 246." I would assume that the 228 and 246 would be the size.

 

[mrwilburino]

There were a lot of people manufacturing detectors in the early '70's. They were much simpler back then and probably inexpensive to produce. Some of the really cheap ones actually came with transistor radios that were used as the receiving units. They would show up in magazines, catalogues and comic books for short periods of time, then fade away.

Odd that a 1973 machine would use a 12v battery. Seems that would be more common in a 1950's - early 1960's machine.

How about some pics of this rare detector, JayBeeZee?