Detectron, Sixties early seventies

[Old California]

Whenever time allows, Enjoy using an old detector even when it's a short hunt kind of brings back memories.

This late afternoon, was curious how much variance the Detectron models varied on depth and sensitivity to the smaller finds.

Using a tot lot for comparisons, Started off with the Gofer, 7-T and Gremlin these are the early seventies plastic models. Between the three, The yellow Gremlin had an edge on depth but all three fared the same on sensitivity. The green plastic Golfer model and red plastic 7-T model required less tuning operated smoother but lacked the yellow Gremlin's depth, Apparently the yellow Gremlin is hotter of the plastic models but requires more tuning as terrain changes.

The other three metal box units are the first 7-T models, each improving over the previous model. The 7-T with the green wooden coil gray metal box is the oldest, mid to late sixties in fact the control tuner is mounted on the top surface of the coil so changes made to adjust the tuner requires a user to constantly bend over makes changes from the coil itself. A back breaker for sure, can you imange constantly bending over to make an adjustment from the coil itself

The other 7-T model (Green control metal box green plastic coil) is a major improvement over the older green wooden coil type, Now with the tuner mounted on the control housing the tuner control is within fingers reach much more pleasent to hunt no need to bend over.

The thin red metal housing red coil model is a RayScope 7-T, later when the owner of Detectron started RayScope this thinner red box red coil model was named 7-T. As far as I know, Four different 7-T models were made.

Ran out of time to compare the older metal box units, but from past experience they do detect as deep as the yellow Gremlin only not as easy to swing.

In closing, if you haven't tried a vintage detector I truly feel everyone should have one its a great gadget to help one appreciate the hobby even more.

Paul (Ca)

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Hey paul, great post! thanx for posting. Good to hear from you. Did you ever get to try a metrotek? Those came out in about '63 or so, if I'm not mistaken. They were fully capable of finding targets down to coin-sized (verses some of the others of that era, which were only meant for larger - can-sized items and up). If you have a metrotec in your collection, what was the capabilities (depth on ... say... a penny sized target) with that? And did they reject nails (like in the fashion of some all-metal TR's did later on), or were users unable to differentiate iron?

 

[Critterhunter]

Great post. Some of the old Compus models are still highly sought after for their unique traits and ability to ID gold in certain ways from trash if I remember right. Think the audio is key or something on those. Anybody have a refresher on that?

 

[Old California]

Good to hear from you Tom,

Do have two of the Metrotech models, one works great the other haven't had time to pinpoint the problem.

Back in the sixties these were top guns for coin size objects, and they do reject small pieces of iron. Attached several pics, one with three square nails on top of a penny the Metrotech gets the zinc with ease both directions. Made sure ran the coil over the nails no problem, neat machine for it's time. Another pic is with the meter reading midway with the coil above the penny, well built machine for sure.

It will air test 5-6" inches on a penny, forgot how deep it'll get a coin in the ground but surely its between 3-4" inches.

Only it's awkward swinging the old TR, You know already forgot what the kHz is but whatever it is must be near 100 kHz if not that.

Talk to you soon,
Paul (Ca)

 

[Old California]

Thanks Critterhunter,

I have a neat Compass collection somewhere around 28-30 or so ranging from the first BFO and TR Models to the later Series models.

As far as audio, can't say for sure tell trash from gold but ID on the analog Series is lighting fast and dead on.

Most Compass detectors are great gold jewerly detectors, have found allot if gold jewerly with them in fact found my first gold coin with one.

Thanks again,
Paul (Ca)

 

[JB(MS)]

The Metrotech's were the detector of choice for relic hunters here from the mid 1960's until the mid to late 1970's, and a couple of guys used them until around 1990. In the mild ground here the 220 A would get a .58 minie at close to 6 inches deep and larger relics deeper. In addition to unbelievable numbers of other Civil War relics, Leon Johnson found dozens of belt plates with one, sometimes as many as 6 or 7 in one hunt. They were arm breakers, but they were the boss for relic hunting in north MS until vlf's with ground balance hit the market.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Critter , no , they couldn't tell gold apart from anything else (aluminum for instance). They were just good on low conductors in general. And they could see through small iron. That made them good ghost town machines.

 

[Critterhunter]

Tom, of course I know no detector can tell gold from junk. Been in this hobby enough years to know better than that. Just saying I remember hearing that certain Compus model(s) were raved about in the ability to tell a lot of obvious junk by the audio if I remember right. It was either that or they were great in iron. Can't remember exactly, other than that I know there are certain model(s) of the Compus that to this day seasoned hunters are willing to pay big bucks for because they have unique traits. What I'm wondering is what those traits were, as it's been a while since I heard about that. Must be good reason for some demanding top dollar and are still being used to this day by some avid hunters.

 

[Old California]

Thanks JB for sharing yours and others experiecences with the Metrotech 220A, An old time dealer friend from the late sixties in fact still a dealer said the same.

FisherScope came out with a similar model (T-30) in the late sixties, same canister type housing with handle. Only thing the handle is mounted further up the canister making it even harder to swing, those two inches further up threw off the balance.

However, the FisherScope T-30 gets about 1/2" inch more in depth. But, Metrotech had already proven to be the detector of choice for most hunters and hands down the 220A is build better.

Did a depth comparison this morning, buried three pennies in park soil one at 3" inches, 4" inches and 5" inches. Both the detectors detected the 3" and 4" pennies, the Metrotech barely responded on the 5" penny, the T-30 hit the 5" a bit stronger. Here on the West Coast we struggle to get the same depth one gets back east.

Overall, the Metrotech 220A is the better detector, better balanced, build like a Sherman tank.

Paul (Ca)

 

[Dang]

10-1-2017
Googled this old post researching my very first detector.
The Gremlin. I worked all summer sweeping sidewalks and mowing the yard to get it. Nice to see it got the edge.