How many of you remember the Whites TV Commercial?

[PaulMBurgess]

So how many of you remember the Whites TV commercial that use to come on late at night on TV.? And you use to dream and drool about owning a top of the line best made detector.It goes on to say see what your missing in the exciting world of metal detecting..And did you ever get hooked and catch the fever like I did.And scraped up and saved enough money like I did and go out and got one.And you couldn't make up your mind what model you wanted..Then you finally go see a dealer saying this is the one I want.And then before you know it you don;t get the one you want but,go all out.Yeah I never did get that Quantum XT or something or another but got that Spectrum XLt boy o boy!.so guys how many were you just like me ?

 

[srf2112]

I remember an old MD'ing commercial when I was very young...must have been Whites. I got so excited because I was ALWAYS into digging up treasure that I pestered my parents to get me one for Christmas. Well, the very simple,low end ( I don't recall the brand or model ) beep and dig and my attention span weren't up to the task. I always remembered and swore that someday I would get a GOOD detector and 3 mo's ago the MXT and I crossed paths. I love a happy ending.
HH
Scott

 

[gregl01]

I always liked seeing them but wondered how mis-leading they were. I have never dug a civil war buckle or morgan dollars at woodchip playgrounds have you?????


Greg

 

[PaulMBurgess]

Hey srf2112 just like a fairy tale congrats on the MXT,don't you just love a good ending.

 

[Old Katz]

Those commercials were very misleading. People did and still do go to stores to by
metal detectors thinking they are going to find enormous treasure in their back yards
or in city parks. The grounds keepers here at some of our parks have caught some of
these people with big shovels and digging a signal that just won't
reveal itself. So now you get an idea why some parks are off limits to people
with metal detectors. Of course there are other reasons as well like leaving open holes.
Katz

 

[srf2112]

Misleading or not, the people that end up buying these great machines ,with unrealistic expectations, WILL keep supplying US with a fresh supply of barely-used detectors to try out at a huge discount.There's always a positive side. MHO
HH
Scott

 

[ncbeachbum]

i remember that commercial, my wife bought me my first whites machine . it was a 6000 di and i have found 3 buckles , all union . one of my favorite things to find were bullets . i hunt the beach here in nc .. i just got back . i found $1.33 cents in clad and a celtic tungsten ring . good hunt for a hour . happy hunting .

 

[Old Katz]

Yea, your right about them supplying us with cheap detectors, but as of late I haven't seen many
of them in the Pawn Shops. Used to see them there all the time.
Katz

 

[srf2112]

If things don't turn around soon, you might be seeing MINE at the pawn shop. On second thought...never !

 

[PaulMBurgess]

Yeah but there are a lot of people out there with fond memories of metal detecting and their first finds.And sure we aren't going to find a pot of gold.And never expected to.But those TV commercials brought me and a lot of other people to the fun and wonder of whats in the ground.And sure there are those who will give us a bad name,through not being ethical,in their actions.But I for one would never have discovered MDetecting if it wasn't for whites TV commercial,that is a thing of the past.Whether you see it as positive or negative it for me was about dreaming in getting one! and it is why I have and metal Detect today.

 

[montepollock]

/'''''II have always said the popularity of detecting along with the Lara Kroft,Indiana jones,national treasure image that outsiders see,as well the cheap easy availability of detectors and lack of common sense will destroy our hobby.
Had A 12 something year old Boy used to follow me around in park,Then I see him in park with Bounty hunter Detector and shovel..
Oh well 3 weeks later same boy crippled in 4 wheeler accident same thing Parents said well,... if You Really want one.Go out and have fun.
So Elders Take Responsibility; Teach respect for laws,For Property,for history,and discourage the "Get rich Quick"aspect of the hobby.
If You don,t detect because of a Love for history.. Stay Home.
I am Monte Pollock,34 years a metal detectorist/Amateur Archaeologist/Historian...
But NEVER a treasure Hunter
Happy(Responsible)Hunting,Mont

 

[Davy Jones Locker]

What is a availability of cheap detector? I paid 800.00+ for my first whites detector.And that same detector today used still commands half its selling price if not more.I scraped and saved for mine.Not all people can affordca top notch or mid price detector.Lets be real here people don't by a detector to get rich scheme come on.That falsehood went out ages ago.,And this history thing?I've taken a more interest in history due to metal detecting.Just because somebody doesn't like history is not a excuse to say he or she can't metal detect.as for that boy with the metal detector using a shovel, did you show him the correct way.? Or where did he pick up the idea of a shovel? If he use to follow you around hmmm? makes one think.Your a Archaeologist that says alot just away your thread sounded case closed

 

[ridgerunner]

I dont remember what made me buy my 1st detector, It was in the late 70s. I was the 1st to hunt most of the old churches, parks, beaches and fairgrounds in my area. Imagine being the 1st to hunt a popular city park that is 100 years old. Back then the commercial didnt lie, There wasnt any clad or zinc pennys,just years and years of lost silver coins and copper pennys "indian head pennys were common". At A beach you would find silver coins, jewelry, matchbox cars and PULL TABS, many many pull tabs,You dug it all. I remember one morning I was hunting an old church and found a nickle three cent piece, That afternoon I went to a different church and found an 1851 O silver three cent piece. I wish you all could go back in time and find out what it was like back then. Russ

 

[PaulMBurgess]

Nice Post Ridgerunner (Russ) I would love to go back when I got my first detector too

 

[montepollock]

'''''II have always said the popularity of detecting along with the Lara Kroft,Indiana jones,national treasure image that outsiders see,as well the cheap easy availability of detectors and lack of common sense will destroy our hobby.
Had A 12 something year old Boy used to follow me around in park,Then I see him in park with Bounty hunter Detector and shovel..
Oh well 3 weeks later same boy crippled in 4 wheeler accident same thing Parents said well,... if You Really want one.Go out and have fun.
So Elders Take Responsibility; Teach respect for laws,For Property,for history,and discourage the "Get rich Quick"aspect of the hobby.
If You don,t detect because of a Love for history.. Stay Home.
I am Monte Pollock,34 years a metal detectorist/Amateur Archaeologist/Historian...
But NEVER a treasure Hunter
Happy(Responsible)Hunting,Mont

I wasn,t meaning to rant,But I see it as a tragedy that Parents indulge Their Childrens desires without second thought,Buy JR a metal detector ,But beyond that.No Parent their to Share interest,or teach responsible recovery,etc.
And next week a 4 wheeler,no supervision..Have fun,JR
Yes I did try to Show him how to dig without damage,even had to discourage from searching sites off limits,But His attitude was "They don,t live there anymore,Mom doesn,t care,e,Your not My Dad"..
Iv,e had problems with Children seeing Me detect and following Me with Shovels,When I try to To discourage them Nearly had a riot..
"Who are You to Tell MY Kids,etc"
Was it MRS Reagan who said "it takes a village,Then,"Don,t talk to strangers",ETC
(^)(^&&.. it is safer to just ignore the Kids and find another place(as a detectorist)
But as a Parent..
last summer was watching 2 kids,3-5 years old playing on a balcony with scooter skateboard etc..while Mother walked around neighborhood with cellphone in ear,I mentioned the dangers and and had to contend with a 200Lb+ daddy tell Me mind My own business,Etc
unfortunately it 2 weeks later one of those 2 kids rode a little tykes trike off steps of 2 story balcony and received Severe Head injuries
My original comment should have been..
If You have an interest in metal detecting and History,Buy a detector.
But not Because You saw one at Walmart,Bass Pro,Cabela,s Etc..
Though Not nearly as dangerous as a Firearm,Or 4 wheeler neither one should be an "Impulse" purchase.
It has also been said that a lot of people wouldn,t drink if not for the easy availability of liquor,But to those of us interested in drinking would always find a liquor store,
after 46 years alive,and 32 years a detectorist I do say ;
If We are to protect our Kids,Share their lives,be there for them whenever buy want a new toy,but don,t over-indulge them.
And If We want to protect Our hobby,Gert away from The "Treasure Hunter" Image,and focus on Showing the Historical Aspect of Metal detecting,the uncovering and protection of an irreplaceable resource(our Past)
Happy(responsible)Hunting,Monte

 

[srf2112]

I'm proud to say that I believe I was BORN a treasure hunter. The active word being hunter. Finding is always a thrill but you have to live for and love the hunt. Most important is that you always remember and appreciate the fact that many treasures to be found have no tangible $ value. JMHO
HH
Scott

 

[montepollock]

Back to the original thread,I do not remember the Whites treasure Commercial,I was probably out swinging a detector,
If it was in 70s was using Whites,fisher,or bounty hunter,though was probably a dozen brands to choose from then.
.Gee I missed out on so much TV in the 70s,LOL
Happy Hunting,And memories,Mont

 

[ridgerunner]

A little more about that 100 year old park I hunted years ago. I lived right across the street from the park, I could grab my detector, walk across the street and start finding coins. lots of silver coins. The last coin I found in that park was a 1927 Standing Liberty Quarter found on the hill by the swimming pool where they sled ride in the winter. One fine day I grabbed my detector and went over to the park and there were between 15-20 guys "a club from Minerva Ohio" hunting,, Holes all over the place and few if any being refilled, The place looked like a battlefield. at the next city council meeting detectors were outlawed in the park. I have always filled holes I dug, "Plugs" It did not matter, All it takes is A few Aholes to ruin it for everyone. If you see someone acting like that remind them that when the place is closed to detecting it will be closed to them to. Russ