How many remember the very first detector you started the hobby with and how long ago ??

[DFX-Gregg]

That’s my first detector too. It was a beast in all metal max

First gold ring too... still remember finding it!

 

[HanoverDigger]

We started out renting a detector...a Fisher. Got a discount towards our first purchase after a few rentals. The loop handle Nautilus LF.

 

[Nauti]

My ex & I, joined the MD Club in North County, St. Louis, MO. in JAN 1980 & Roy Volker the CEO started it, for he was the distributer of Sweet Home Oregan's, Whites Metal Detectors & sold us our first one--WHITES in 1981--then we argued over who would use it & another was purchased in 1982 & then other Whites until we divorced in 1988 & I bought my Whites XLT Spectrum in 1994 & used it until I had to quit because of Illnesses for both me & my brother, who had moved from FL to MO & then lived in my home until he went into Hospice Care & died in 2009! Loved the XLT--Found many coins & other stuffs with it, but I overdid detecting (got addicted) & my health paid for it! Went to DR, Yesterday, my vitals were working except needed more oxygen, which I didn't have with me, but she said I am still alive but not kicking as my knees are very painful when trying to get up & down from a sitting position! Anyway, I did get to enjoy my detecting hobby for many years using just WHITE'S DETECTORS! HH & have fun but don't wear your body out like I did! God Bless! Ma

Too right Ma,
I started out with a c scope cs2mx 34 years ago but i've owned a Whites mxt,two m6's and a beach hunter 300.Always had a lot of success with White's machines.The beach hunter 300 was the best beach machine i ever owned by far.
I think we all end up suffering to some degree with all that digging and bending,i know i do,but God willing i can go digging for a good few years yet.❤

 

[Blind Squirrel]

First detector? In 1963 or 1964, I saved my paper route $ and purchased a 2 box Fisher M Scope Explorer - I wanted TREASURE not single coins haha. For coin and relic hunting in 1985 I purchased a Fisher 1260-X. Since then I've had : White's Eagle 2, White's Eagle 2 SL89, White's XLT, White's DFX, Whites Vision, and Whites V3i. I currently own and use a Fisher 1280-X although my SCUBA days are over, a White's DFX and a White's V3i. Best of luck and...
Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

Compass Coin Hustler, mid 70s

Chris(SoCenWI)

 

[TerryEastTexas]

Jan. 2001 bought a Radio Shack 3000, Bounty Hunter Landstar. Ton's of fun.

 

[eman1000]

My first machine was a bounty hunter tracker my wife bought me for Christmas sometime around 2002 I think. I hardly ever used it and finally just pitched it after the coil gave out. When I got the fisher f2 I started getting real serious and hunted as often as I could get out. I’ve bought and sold probably 12 machines in the last 6 years. I like the machines more than the funds. My dad had a hip mounted fishers 551/2 in the early 80s and use to pull silver daily with that thing. I may pick one up sometime.

 

[Missouri -- Ma Betty]

the whites 6000 di back around 1980... see it with it's brothers on the table?

We had purchased & used this Whites' Detector--my ex gave it to our son after the divorce in 1988! Whites were too heavy until I bought & used the Hip Mount Whites's Spectrum XLT but was a Chest Mount for me, as I am a shorty! Sure, liked hunting with one not so heavy to swing! Ma

 

[Missouri -- Ma Betty]

Too right Ma,
I started out with a c scope cs2mx 34 years ago but i've owned a Whites mxt,two m6's and a beach hunter 300.Always had a lot of success with White's machines.The beach hunter 300 was the best beach machine i ever owned by far.
I think we all end up suffering to some degree with all that digging and bending,i know i do,but God willing i can go digging for a good few years yet.❤

Thank you & I sure hope & pray Nauti: that you will be able to go MD'ing for many more years--Time & aging seemed to pass too swiftly for me since I didn't start until in the '80's but actually I started in 1994 after the divorce & my very Ill bro passed away --with the HIP MOUNT--I was able to go detecting a lot--Addicted to what I might dig up next! Ma

 

[Wild Willy]

It was a multi-knobbed Whites top of the line detector in 1974. Seems there were Whites dealers everywhere back then. Bought it from Cooks Appliance Repairs in Albany, Ga. Wish I could remember the model.

 

[DFX-Gregg]

Thank you & I sure hope & pray Nauti: that you will be able to go MD'ing for many more years--Time & aging seemed to pass too swiftly for me since I didn't start until in the '80's but actually I started in 1994 after the divorce & my very Ill bro passed away --with the HIP MOUNT--I was able to go detecting a lot--Addicted to what I might dig up next! Ma

try this helps...$25
go to amazon search for this...no need to pay $150
Limbsaver Comfort-Tech Metal Detector Sling

 

[DFX-Gregg]

We had purchased & used this Whites' Detector--my ex gave it to our son after the divorce in 1988! Whites were too heavy until I bought & used the Hip Mount Whites's Spectrum XLT but was a Chest Mount for me, as I am a shorty! Sure, liked hunting with one not so heavy to swing! Ma

try this helps...$25
go to amazon search for this...no need to pay $150
Limbsaver Comfort-Tech Metal Detector Sling

 

[u2robert]

White's Coin Master in 1986

 

[Monte]

March 1965 ...1st Home/class-built ... BFO.

March 1969 ... 1st Factory-produced White's GhostTowner BFO w/red wooden search coil.

I used two other home-built BFO's before getting the GhostTowner BFO in-hand, and have had countless detectors since.

Monte

 

[TC-NM]

I purchased a metal detector kit from Radio Shack in the spring of 1974. Built it and worked fine. Only got an inch in depth. Then purchased a Jetco Mustang. Got a little bit more in depth but, on the flipside alot more trash.

I then purchased a White's 5000-D from a local dealer in Albuquerque. Loved all the knobs and red meter. A great TR disc. Detector! My friend and I were going into places that are considered now off-limits by the Gov't. He had a White's 6000-D. Before I purchased my Whites, I was tagging along with him at a local park and watched him recover a silver Franklin half at 8" plus!! I was hooked... and that's why I bought my 5000-D. Ahhhh, those were the day's. TC-NM

 

[Dan(NM)]

1988, Garrett Ground Hog TR/VLF

 

[Spider-F5]

My first detector was a Compadre about ten years ago. I practiced in my yard and around my property for about a year before venturing out to the rest of the world. Afterwards I got myself an F5 and recently a Teknetics 4000 as a back up and for guest hunters. Ive kept the Compadre for new beginners as a teaching aid, and have them learn to detect from an audio stand point.

F5

 

[Monkeys Uncle]

Bounty Hunter - 2013. Kept a spreadsheet listing every coin, denomination, date, mint mark and weather condition. Yeah...gave that up after about 6 months. BH was followed by AT Pro, Etrac and now Vanquish. HH

 

[will357]

Jetco huntmaster 1972

 

[LTDigger]

1969 Relco BFO

Me too, not worth two dead flies but better things a coming.