Info on these vintage detectors please?

[SoCalLisa]

I have the oppertunity to buy these detectors in a package deal from a friend of my fathers, who inhereted them from his brother. He has no idea what they are worth, and has left it to me to pay him what I think they are worth. I am new to detecting and have no idea what a fair, but reasonable offer would be. I have not yet seen them in person, but my father took this pic and sent it to me. I would like to keep maybe 1 or 2 of them, and sell the rest on the forum. Any help you folks can give me on the value of the package deal would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Lisa

<img src="http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv304/terrymhn/clocks008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

 

[dave5710]

I'm no expect on old detectors. I don't see where there would be alot of demand for machines like those and remember that you can only sell one every three months on the forum. If you have two that you really want, watch like machines sell on ebay and offer that amount to your father's friend. Then you can sell off the others and make back some of your investment. Alot of the older machines are quite heavy.

There are folks here who will help you identify these machines and then you can contact the Manufacturers for owners manuals.

 

[Dan-o]

They all look pretty old. Personally, if you are wanting to get into detecting, your better off getting a modern detector that is lighter weight and easier to use. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people here that can help you with determining a good first buy detector for you. Let them know what kind of detecting you plan on doing, where you will be detecting, and how much you would like to spend. You will no doubt get several recommendations, but I think you will be happier with a new detector or a used new detector.

Dan

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Dano is right, that if you are thinking of getting them for actual usage (or turning them around to sell to someone who is thinking likewise), then save your money. Detectors of 25+ years ago are very "dated", as far as ability and competiveness. I mean, it's like computers or cell-phones: even the "toys" of today are better than the top-of-the-line of yesteryear. So for purposes of actual usage, most persons will grab for something still made, which are a dime-a-dozen on ebay. But with that said, of course you know how Ebay goes: once in awhile someone bids up the wierdest things (maybe because they just don't know their options, or the items limitations, etc...)

But as far nostalgia goes (collectibility sakes), the ones you put in your pix just aren't old enough to qualify in that department either. They are late 1960s (the Whites 66TR for instance) to the late 1970s (the other Whites and the Fisher). During that decade of the late 1960s to the late 1970s, an aweful lot of machines were sold. There is no shortage whatsover of machines of that era on the used market. And worse yet, there is scarcely a niche of vintage detector collectors, even when a genuinely VINTAGE machine (late 1950s, for instance, or WWII mine detector, etc....) comes on the market. It's sad, I know, but it's just a matter of supply and demand.

The Compass looks like a 94b with a large coil. That one might fetch $50 for someone looking to use if for ghost-town hunting. They had the unique ability to see through (not simply discriminate out) small iron. The more desirable bigger sister to that was the 77b. But in any case, the larger coils for either of those are not often seen. That one might find a niche buyer on that count alone.

 

[Elton]

Look at a new low priced detector on the front page of the forum ..IE: Ace 250 Fisher F2, or F5..whites Prizms.

You are just buying frustrations if you buy the machines posted in pic.. Almost no Value !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[UK Brian]

I pick up detectors for collectors of older machines when I pass through the States but the demand is for "classic" machines ie the top machines of their time or ones that still have something to offer that modern machines don't. A detector doesn't have to be working in some cases if there's a part such as a coil that can no longer be obtained from any other source.

With the machines you have been offered the problem is that the top one appears to be a BFO and BFO's do not have anything to offer nowdays. Even when new performance was poor except for a couple of Garrett models which yours are not.
Second one down I don't recognise so it didn't make any impression when it came out.
Third down looks like a Compass Judge which was way heavy and didn't offer the iron see-through of the 77b and 77 Auto
Next looks like an old Whites BFO.
The hip mount Whites that comes next looks like a Series 2 . Not a bad machine and could still be used today if in working order. The large 15" coil top right will fit this and some later Whites models so could be sold on though its not really a good coil as it didn't really cut it as a hoard hunter and yet lacked sensitivity to small coins.
The bottom shaft/coil seems to be from the Fisher 1260. No control box in the picture. You might find someone in need of a replacement coil but there's not many still in use.

I agree with the others that these are not really the way to start detecting and the value is very little. If they gave them to you you could offer each one on E-Bay or similar and you may well shift them for a few dollars. If the Fisher at the bottom has a control box and works its not a bad machine. Same applies to the Whites Series 2 but the best thing is to move them on and put any money you do make towards a newer machine.

 

[gmanlight]

I hope the one in the middle comes with a wheelbarrow so your arm does not falloff.
I would think any name brand mid priced detector today would equal or out perform them .
That does not mean older units cant work .My CZ 70 does fine but there is old then there's ancient

 

[Ron from Michigan]

The Fisher if complete would be your best choice.If you are buying these from an Estate sale cheap $50.00 or less go for it and list on Ebay you could make a couple of bucks as is without batteries.Performance wise these old TRs will air test ok,but in the field 2- 4 inches. A $151.00 Tesoro Campadra would be like a F15 vs a WW1 bi plane.You could use the old Goldmaster for a lunch box.Good Luck Ron

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Brian, you are right: upon closer look at the picture, that's a Judge, not a 94b. Old Judges are by no means rare, as far as collectibility/vintage goes. Compass made tons of them, so they're always turning up in flea markets, auctions, etc... Not rare at all. Nor competitive by today's standards, as TR discriminators are dinasours, when compared to even the toys of today.

However, the Judges (at least the first ones, not sure about later incarnations) did have the TR all metal, (not VLF all-metal), as well as the TR disc. mode (which, like all TR disc's, masked on iron, not "saw through" it). So essentially, the Judges were a TR/TR, not a VLF/TR. Therefore the all metal mode on the Judges would not pick up small iron (same as the 94b, 77b, etc.). But instead of having the tuner that the user could "dial in" to the ground like the 77b and 94b had, the Judge only had a push-button or toggle re-tune. It was supposed to be easier and improved. But it never caught on. Users preferred the earlier manual tune, as it gave much more user-control and ability to hug the ground, off-set as desired, etc... JMHO. Therefore as far as a machine used to see through small iron, the Judge could do it too, but not as nicely as the earlier 77b did.

 

[Eagle 1]

There Collectors out there who will buy them. And then there are those who needs parts. I just took a look at E-bay and Here is a Vintage 1970's Jatco Treasure Hawk Metal Detector B.F.O. take a look. I think you could make some money on those. Good luck.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180438298689&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT


Eagle 1

 

[Sven]

There Collectors out there who will buy them. And then there are those who needs parts. I just took a look at E-bay and Here is a Vintage 1970's Jatco Treasure Hawk Metal Detector B.F.O. take a look. I think you could make some money on those. Good luck.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180438298689&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT


Eagle 1

My second detector a Jetco, what a piece of junk just like my first Relco.
Thank goodness I found D-Tex, and ordered my third detector, a Tiny Tex BFO and started finding coins left and right.
Otherwise I would have never stayed with the hobby.

 

[TURNMASTER]

Save your money.

 

[slingshot]

There Collectors out there who will buy them. And then there are those who needs parts. I just took a look at E-bay and Here is a Vintage 1970's Jatco Treasure Hawk Metal Detector B.F.O. take a look. I think you could make some money on those. Good luck.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180438298689&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT


Eagle 1

My second detector a Jetco, what a piece of junk just like my first Relco.
Thank goodness I found D-Tex, and ordered my third detector, a Tiny Tex BFO and started finding coins left and right.
Otherwise I would have never stayed with the hobby.

The Tiny Tex was my first detector. I WISH I STILL had it.

 

[chuck ky]

tiny tex was my second. i still have it but i'm not sure it still works.

 

[Shambler]

What's the model on the one with the shoulder strap and straight pole?