Can anyone help me with information on a Bounty Hunter 1 detector ? Relative passed away & he had this detector that no one knew about. Takes 8 AA batteries & is gold colored. Looks very simple. Can anyone say how old this is or comment about its operation. One person I spoke with said that he thought some of the old, simple detectors, would go deeper than some newer ones ? I could not find out anything on this particular detector anywhere online or eleswhere - thanks alot -- Dan eyesk8@hotmail.com
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Question for Anyone Bounty Hunter 1 Detector
- Thread starter eyesk8
- Start date
Ed in SoDak
Member
Here's a text OCR-scanned version of the manual for the BH 1, 2 & 3. Not all will apply to you, but they are all quite similar. This is an old BFO beat-frequency-oscillator design. Do not expect much depth, but they can search for mineral as well as metal.
It's listed in a 1976 BH catalog that I scanned and put on my website: http://www.whiteriverprep.com/vintage/bh76cat/bh76cat.html
-Ed
-=-=-=-=-=-=
NOTE: The following manual was scanned with OCR software. Be aware that there may be a few misspellings or anomalies due to the inaccuracies of the software translation. Images are excluded due to the memory requirements; therefore, there will be references to illustrations that do not exist in this text only document.
Bounty Hunter I, II & III Operating Instructions
Introducing your new BOUNTY HUNTER.
Congratulations on purchasing one of the finest metal/mineral detectors available anywhere at any price! Your Bounty Hunter Instrument is a completely solid state precision accomplishment that will bring you many hours of treasure hunting enjoyment as well as possibly some very valuable ''finds."
Our instruments have been designed by Treasure Hunters for Treasure Hunters with every advance in the electronic field employed to insure maximum sensitivity dependability and success in the field.
With any detector operator skill and familiarity with the instrument will determine in large part the success of the hunt. We recommend that you read thoroughly the operating instructions and spend some time familiarizing yourself with the instrument. The time you spend will pay off handsomely later.
Loosen the knurled collar and adjust the shaft length until about a foot of the smaller shaft projects from the collar. Wrap the cable around the shaft making about six full loops as shown
--OPERATING DETAILS--
METAL/MINERAL
FINE TUNING CONTROL
METAL/MINERAL FINE TUNING CONTROL
ON/OFF VOLUME
EARPHONE JACK
ZERO ADJUST
For tuning for maximum sensitivity
ALL METAL CASE WITH BEAUTIFUL ANODIZED FINISH _
8 TO 1 VERNIER TUNING CONTROL FOR FINE ADJUSTMENTS
METER SENSlTlVlTY CONTROL Setting this control in the low position provides minimum meter deflection. The higher the control is set the higher the pointer will read with the same signal level enabling the unit to be used in noisy areas. Excellent for hard of hearing or the deaf.
BASIC OPERATION
1 METAL DETECTION WITH THE 6" STANDARD COIL
For meter operation, see page 5?
1 1 Hold detector in the search position with the coil about 1 inch above ground or floor
( , . Search Stance on page 71
1 2 Turn ON OFF/VOLUME control to ON, Rotate TUNING control until an audible tone is heard Adjust tone volume to comfortable level
1,3 Rotate TUNING control to point where all sound ceases This is --- the "NULL" position To one side of the "NULL" a METAL search tone will be generated; to the other side of the NULL, a MINERAL search tone will be produced
TUNING FOR MAXIMUM SENSITIVITY
BOUNTY HUNTER 11--ZERO ADJUST
Adjust metal/mineral control placing the white dot on the control knob so that it points at the black line between the words metal/mineral - Slowly rotate the zero adjust control to obtain a zero --- note i.e.. that point where there is no sound from the speaker but slight rotation of this control in either direction will cause a low to high beat note change from the speaker.
2 2 "BFO"--Rotate "TUNING" control toward "METAL" until an oscillating sound like an outboard motor or electric razor is heard.
BOUNTY HUNTER 11 only--The "NULL" width may vary with soil conditions, As a rule the "NULL" position is very narrow in the "BFO" tone position.
2 3 Place a nickel, ring, or something of comparable size on the ground or floor for a practice target Pass the search coil over the target in a side-to-side motion as shown below, keeping the coil as level as possible and about an inch from the floor or ground. You will notice the target signal is loudest at the center of the coil.
2 4 As the search coil passes over the "target" the search tone alters to indicate the target location Figure 6 shows how the BFO search tone might appear if plotted on a graph. The search tone alters from a low buzz to a high squall
3, PINPOINTING THE TARGET WITH THE 6" COIL
31 When operating with the 6 inch coil, if a target is located generally with a side-to-side sweep, the exact location may be determined by also passing the coil in a forward and back sweep.
When using the 6 inch coil, try to maintain the 1 inch distance above ground when scanning to insure a steady basic search tone You will notice as you raise or lower the coil that the tone varies with the height above ground. This is the result of electronic "de-tuning" and will cause a target-type signal response
3 2 In actual field use the detector response will vary with size and/or depth of target If a faint response is received during normal search, the TUNING control must be rotated further from the NULL to increase the signal strength to overcome soil resistance to the coil force field
4 OPERATING THE MAG COIL WITH THE BOUNTY HUNTER 1, 11,111, AND BOUNTY HUNTER PROFESSIONAL
4 1 The magnum coil which is supplied with the Bounty Hunter Professional, and is optional accessory for the Bounty Hunters 1 11, 111, is designed to scan a larger area at greater depths for larger sized objects Because of the fact that the Magnum coil is larger it is a!so more susceptible to ground effects than the smaller coil
When using the Magnum coil you will notice an over-all sensi tivity covering the entire surface of the 10" loop When pin pointing for a target you will notice the loudest audible increase in pitch will be when your target is directly in the center of the 6" center coil (Fig
The overall penetration of the magnum coil will be noticeable on different size objects Tune the detector with the magnum coil attached, and compare open air test on a large --- the size of a 3 pound coffee can Now compare the same object to the standard 6" coil as illustrated in (Fig 81
5 MINERAL DETECTION
5 1 Preparation for MINERAL detection is identical to that for METAL except that TUNING control must be rotated to the MINERAL side to get the proper response
5 2 As mineral bodies vary in size and shape, there are no tone patterns to illustrate here, If you have some ore samples from your area, you may practice to see what kind of tone response to expect before beginning serious search
6 USING EARPHONES
6 1 Many experienced treasure hunters prefer to use earphones with the detectors There are many reasons for use of earphones they overcome distracting noise such as from traffic, jet plane, wind, ocean surf, etc., that may mask a target signal from a deeply buried coin or object If you cannot discern the signal from one of these possible valuable targets, you are not realizing the full Potential of your instrument. Your Bounty Hunter dealer can furnish you with a pair of quality earphones to increase your treasure hunting enjoyment and productivity
7 USING THE METER
7 1 USING THE METER TO MEASURE SIGNAL INTENSITY (Proximity to Target
For Bounty Hunter 11 111, and Bounty Hunter Professional
INSTRUMENT MUST BE TUNED FOR AUDIO SIGNAL BEFORE METER CAN OPERATE PROPERLY The meter responds to the audio signal; therefore, it will not operate properly without correct audio tuning
-- INTENSITY METER BATTERY CHECK 111 AND PRO If needle reads between these marks or higher when the control is set to ''Batt Check " oscillator (detecting batteries are good
INTENSITY SCALE Records target signal intensity and duration to determine target depth and size
7 2 Adjust TUNING control to desirable search setting (See TUNING, section 21
7 3 Hold detector in search position (Figure 111 so coil is about 1 inch above ground
7 4 Turn METER ADJUST control clockwise until the needle moves slightly to the right away from the "0" (zero~ setting The needle is now set for normal response and will indicate proximity to the target In this position, needle will deflect all the way to the right as a near-surface target is passed over with the coil With a bit of practice you will be able to determine the depth, size and even the shape of some targets using your meter properly
7 5 "Weak" Meter Signal
If a deeper or smaller target is passed over, the meter will respond less If a weak target signal is acquired, rotate the METER ADJUST control to make the meter more responsive This will help you "pinpoint" the target If this does not produce an improved reading, retune the detector
7 6 "Too Strong" Meter Signal
Sometimes a large or shallow target will cause the meter to overreact or "peg" against the high mark Readjust meter with the METER ADJUST control until normal needle motion is achieved over the target
7 8 With the detector controls set for normal search ~Normal, the detector will detect all metals, ferrous or non ferrous
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR METAL DETECTOR WITH PROVEN SEARCH TECHNIQUES
STANCE Stand with your arm extended slightly in front of your body Don't bend or stoop but stand in an upright position that is comfortable By holding the detector out slightly from your body you are in a position to observe the slightest difference in response
Adjust the telescoping coil rod out (or in~ until the search head is about 1" above the ground Adjust the search head so it is parallel to the ground
SWEEP
With the detector in search position swing the search coil gently side to side Slightly overlap each sweep as you move forward (or backward Make sure the search coil stays approximately the same height above the ground and don't allow it to lift on the outside edges of the sweep This will cause false readings Keep each sweep slow, about three seconds, from one edge to the other
GRID To make sure you search an area thoroughly without gaps you may wish to lay out the search in a grid pattern Stake out two parallel strings the width of your sweep (about three feet wide) and sweep this area thoroughly. Next move one string over and make a new search area, and so on until the entire area has been covered You may also grid an area mentally using trees, rocks, buildings, etc. as points of reference
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
Access to the battery packs is gained by pulling out on the nylon snaplok fastener on the battery cover on the rear of the unit and removing the cover,
Your detector is equipped with one battery pack This pack is the 12 volt supply for the audio circuitry and holds 8 size AA penlight batteries These batteries are easily removed and replaced in the packs by pressing the battery against the spring on the negative end and pulling out or pushing in at the positive end of the battery Be sure to observe battery polarity when replacing batteries The holder is marked on the inside or to show proper battery orientation
The battery lead connectors snap to the battery pack terminals as shown at the right, Do not reverse these connectors or the detector will not operate properly
Any size AA penlight battery will suffice for replacement but longer life can be expected using Heavy Duty or Alkaline cells
When replacing the battery cover, insert the cover tabs in the slots, close the cover inserting the snap-lok fastener through the round hole and press the fastener until it snaps into the locked position
CAUTION When the detector is not in use, it is good practice to remove the battery packs from the unit as weak batteries will sometimes vent and leak Damage from battery leakage is corrosive and is NOT covered by the warranty, Play it safe!
It's listed in a 1976 BH catalog that I scanned and put on my website: http://www.whiteriverprep.com/vintage/bh76cat/bh76cat.html
-Ed
-=-=-=-=-=-=
NOTE: The following manual was scanned with OCR software. Be aware that there may be a few misspellings or anomalies due to the inaccuracies of the software translation. Images are excluded due to the memory requirements; therefore, there will be references to illustrations that do not exist in this text only document.
Bounty Hunter I, II & III Operating Instructions
Introducing your new BOUNTY HUNTER.
Congratulations on purchasing one of the finest metal/mineral detectors available anywhere at any price! Your Bounty Hunter Instrument is a completely solid state precision accomplishment that will bring you many hours of treasure hunting enjoyment as well as possibly some very valuable ''finds."
Our instruments have been designed by Treasure Hunters for Treasure Hunters with every advance in the electronic field employed to insure maximum sensitivity dependability and success in the field.
With any detector operator skill and familiarity with the instrument will determine in large part the success of the hunt. We recommend that you read thoroughly the operating instructions and spend some time familiarizing yourself with the instrument. The time you spend will pay off handsomely later.
Loosen the knurled collar and adjust the shaft length until about a foot of the smaller shaft projects from the collar. Wrap the cable around the shaft making about six full loops as shown
--OPERATING DETAILS--
METAL/MINERAL
FINE TUNING CONTROL
METAL/MINERAL FINE TUNING CONTROL
ON/OFF VOLUME
EARPHONE JACK
ZERO ADJUST
For tuning for maximum sensitivity
ALL METAL CASE WITH BEAUTIFUL ANODIZED FINISH _
8 TO 1 VERNIER TUNING CONTROL FOR FINE ADJUSTMENTS
METER SENSlTlVlTY CONTROL Setting this control in the low position provides minimum meter deflection. The higher the control is set the higher the pointer will read with the same signal level enabling the unit to be used in noisy areas. Excellent for hard of hearing or the deaf.
BASIC OPERATION
1 METAL DETECTION WITH THE 6" STANDARD COIL
For meter operation, see page 5?
1 1 Hold detector in the search position with the coil about 1 inch above ground or floor
( , . Search Stance on page 71
1 2 Turn ON OFF/VOLUME control to ON, Rotate TUNING control until an audible tone is heard Adjust tone volume to comfortable level
1,3 Rotate TUNING control to point where all sound ceases This is --- the "NULL" position To one side of the "NULL" a METAL search tone will be generated; to the other side of the NULL, a MINERAL search tone will be produced
TUNING FOR MAXIMUM SENSITIVITY
BOUNTY HUNTER 11--ZERO ADJUST
Adjust metal/mineral control placing the white dot on the control knob so that it points at the black line between the words metal/mineral - Slowly rotate the zero adjust control to obtain a zero --- note i.e.. that point where there is no sound from the speaker but slight rotation of this control in either direction will cause a low to high beat note change from the speaker.
2 2 "BFO"--Rotate "TUNING" control toward "METAL" until an oscillating sound like an outboard motor or electric razor is heard.
BOUNTY HUNTER 11 only--The "NULL" width may vary with soil conditions, As a rule the "NULL" position is very narrow in the "BFO" tone position.
2 3 Place a nickel, ring, or something of comparable size on the ground or floor for a practice target Pass the search coil over the target in a side-to-side motion as shown below, keeping the coil as level as possible and about an inch from the floor or ground. You will notice the target signal is loudest at the center of the coil.
2 4 As the search coil passes over the "target" the search tone alters to indicate the target location Figure 6 shows how the BFO search tone might appear if plotted on a graph. The search tone alters from a low buzz to a high squall
3, PINPOINTING THE TARGET WITH THE 6" COIL
31 When operating with the 6 inch coil, if a target is located generally with a side-to-side sweep, the exact location may be determined by also passing the coil in a forward and back sweep.
When using the 6 inch coil, try to maintain the 1 inch distance above ground when scanning to insure a steady basic search tone You will notice as you raise or lower the coil that the tone varies with the height above ground. This is the result of electronic "de-tuning" and will cause a target-type signal response
3 2 In actual field use the detector response will vary with size and/or depth of target If a faint response is received during normal search, the TUNING control must be rotated further from the NULL to increase the signal strength to overcome soil resistance to the coil force field
4 OPERATING THE MAG COIL WITH THE BOUNTY HUNTER 1, 11,111, AND BOUNTY HUNTER PROFESSIONAL
4 1 The magnum coil which is supplied with the Bounty Hunter Professional, and is optional accessory for the Bounty Hunters 1 11, 111, is designed to scan a larger area at greater depths for larger sized objects Because of the fact that the Magnum coil is larger it is a!so more susceptible to ground effects than the smaller coil
When using the Magnum coil you will notice an over-all sensi tivity covering the entire surface of the 10" loop When pin pointing for a target you will notice the loudest audible increase in pitch will be when your target is directly in the center of the 6" center coil (Fig
The overall penetration of the magnum coil will be noticeable on different size objects Tune the detector with the magnum coil attached, and compare open air test on a large --- the size of a 3 pound coffee can Now compare the same object to the standard 6" coil as illustrated in (Fig 81
5 MINERAL DETECTION
5 1 Preparation for MINERAL detection is identical to that for METAL except that TUNING control must be rotated to the MINERAL side to get the proper response
5 2 As mineral bodies vary in size and shape, there are no tone patterns to illustrate here, If you have some ore samples from your area, you may practice to see what kind of tone response to expect before beginning serious search
6 USING EARPHONES
6 1 Many experienced treasure hunters prefer to use earphones with the detectors There are many reasons for use of earphones they overcome distracting noise such as from traffic, jet plane, wind, ocean surf, etc., that may mask a target signal from a deeply buried coin or object If you cannot discern the signal from one of these possible valuable targets, you are not realizing the full Potential of your instrument. Your Bounty Hunter dealer can furnish you with a pair of quality earphones to increase your treasure hunting enjoyment and productivity
7 USING THE METER
7 1 USING THE METER TO MEASURE SIGNAL INTENSITY (Proximity to Target
For Bounty Hunter 11 111, and Bounty Hunter Professional
INSTRUMENT MUST BE TUNED FOR AUDIO SIGNAL BEFORE METER CAN OPERATE PROPERLY The meter responds to the audio signal; therefore, it will not operate properly without correct audio tuning
-- INTENSITY METER BATTERY CHECK 111 AND PRO If needle reads between these marks or higher when the control is set to ''Batt Check " oscillator (detecting batteries are good
INTENSITY SCALE Records target signal intensity and duration to determine target depth and size
7 2 Adjust TUNING control to desirable search setting (See TUNING, section 21
7 3 Hold detector in search position (Figure 111 so coil is about 1 inch above ground
7 4 Turn METER ADJUST control clockwise until the needle moves slightly to the right away from the "0" (zero~ setting The needle is now set for normal response and will indicate proximity to the target In this position, needle will deflect all the way to the right as a near-surface target is passed over with the coil With a bit of practice you will be able to determine the depth, size and even the shape of some targets using your meter properly
7 5 "Weak" Meter Signal
If a deeper or smaller target is passed over, the meter will respond less If a weak target signal is acquired, rotate the METER ADJUST control to make the meter more responsive This will help you "pinpoint" the target If this does not produce an improved reading, retune the detector
7 6 "Too Strong" Meter Signal
Sometimes a large or shallow target will cause the meter to overreact or "peg" against the high mark Readjust meter with the METER ADJUST control until normal needle motion is achieved over the target
7 8 With the detector controls set for normal search ~Normal, the detector will detect all metals, ferrous or non ferrous
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR METAL DETECTOR WITH PROVEN SEARCH TECHNIQUES
STANCE Stand with your arm extended slightly in front of your body Don't bend or stoop but stand in an upright position that is comfortable By holding the detector out slightly from your body you are in a position to observe the slightest difference in response
Adjust the telescoping coil rod out (or in~ until the search head is about 1" above the ground Adjust the search head so it is parallel to the ground
SWEEP
With the detector in search position swing the search coil gently side to side Slightly overlap each sweep as you move forward (or backward Make sure the search coil stays approximately the same height above the ground and don't allow it to lift on the outside edges of the sweep This will cause false readings Keep each sweep slow, about three seconds, from one edge to the other
GRID To make sure you search an area thoroughly without gaps you may wish to lay out the search in a grid pattern Stake out two parallel strings the width of your sweep (about three feet wide) and sweep this area thoroughly. Next move one string over and make a new search area, and so on until the entire area has been covered You may also grid an area mentally using trees, rocks, buildings, etc. as points of reference
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
Access to the battery packs is gained by pulling out on the nylon snaplok fastener on the battery cover on the rear of the unit and removing the cover,
Your detector is equipped with one battery pack This pack is the 12 volt supply for the audio circuitry and holds 8 size AA penlight batteries These batteries are easily removed and replaced in the packs by pressing the battery against the spring on the negative end and pulling out or pushing in at the positive end of the battery Be sure to observe battery polarity when replacing batteries The holder is marked on the inside or to show proper battery orientation
The battery lead connectors snap to the battery pack terminals as shown at the right, Do not reverse these connectors or the detector will not operate properly
Any size AA penlight battery will suffice for replacement but longer life can be expected using Heavy Duty or Alkaline cells
When replacing the battery cover, insert the cover tabs in the slots, close the cover inserting the snap-lok fastener through the round hole and press the fastener until it snaps into the locked position
CAUTION When the detector is not in use, it is good practice to remove the battery packs from the unit as weak batteries will sometimes vent and leak Damage from battery leakage is corrosive and is NOT covered by the warranty, Play it safe!
Ed in SoDak
Member
Here's the scan of that catalog page showing the BH 1 and 2. Employing as it does, the "latest in aerospace electronics," how can you lose?? Actually, the use of the sensitive and low-noise FET transistor, as well as a real "IC" pretty much was a cutting edge technology in consumer products of that time. Still, it's just an updated version of an old, tried-and-true design. BFO detectors dated back to WWII mine detectors and before that experimentally. In 1976 BH was just beginning to make history with some of the circuitry in its newer VLF Discriminators.
-Ed
Actually, the use of the sensitive and low-noise FET transistor, as well as a real "IC" pretty much was a cutting edge technology in consumer products of that time. Still, it's just an updated version of an old, tried-and-true design. BFO detectors dated back to WWII mine detectors and before that experimentally. In 1976 BH was just beginning to make history with some of the circuitry in its newer VLF Discriminators. -Ed
drummerman
New member
This MT was from 1976!! Dang, I still had hair then! 
mwaynebennett
New member
Isn't that what Fred and Barny used in one episode when they went looking for Wilma's lost ring?
drummerman
New member
Geez. I remember that episode.
shawnrmartin
New member
The manual DID say it has a lifetime warranty.
My very first detector ever summer 1973 was a Bounty Hunter III, the gentleman who got me started detecting back then had a bounty hunter 1. mine was destroyed in a car accident in 1978. I found my first ever silver coins with it and first silver ring, It was followed by a whites beachcomber series, nice to see some of these old machines popping up every know and then
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dave-enc
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dave-enc