Tesoro product introduction history?

[akelley]

Does anyone have a log of Tesoro model introductions (Month/Year) that they would like to share?

Thanks
-Alex

 

[nad]

Alex.The only approximate introduction time I can give is the Vaquero, on this forum, about October of 2004..That date because I am going through each post on the machine....When done, I think,will be a lot of good information..Lee Franzen of North Dakota,in 1989 or so, had a Silver Saber? I was strictly a Fisher user since the early 60's, and didn't pay attention to Tesoro machines until August of this year..Started pushing a Silver UMax around 1 Sept, then bought Dave's Vaquero, which I think one, if not the best GP detector out there. Am sorry that I am of no help.. Cordially Nad

 

[morelic55]

If you look at this, read it all, it pretty well tells the story..............MO

http://www.tesoro.com/info/about/

 

[nad]

Looking back, it is a damn shame, I didn't listen to Lee Franzen in the'early late 80's early 90's/..I was Fisher, he was Tesoro..Asked him to try the 1265, he wanted me to use his detector Being the south ends of North facing horses, we never walked in the other's shoes.to check the fit..I could have racked up twenty years with a Tesoro by now Cordially NAD

 

[Monte]

n/t

 

[tab-nabit]

Nice info - wonder if Tesoro made any models that were a total failure - I don't know of any.

 

[tab-nabit]

After using some older machines for awhile, I finally broke down on a deal I couldn't pass up one year (80s) on a VLF with a meter. It was a Whites 6000 Di Pro. I swung it for years which kept me from trying other machines in production, then one day I made the move. Although I prefer audio only, that Whites did me well, and was a big step forward from a handful of older machines I was using prior. Don't have anymore of those older TR units, or BFOs.

 

[blowfly1967]

where does the vaquero fit in ,or is it called something else? blowfly

 

[Monte]

[size=medium]I was still a dealer when this was provided in a dealer newsletter release, but since 2004 I haven't dealt in new Tesoro's and I don't have any printed info. You could look back at the catalog dates or the MDI information and any article to narrow down when more recent models were released.

Of course, you could contact tesoro for that info.

Monte[/size]

 

[Monte]

[size=medium]I know I would like to see them produce a truly competitive Target ID model with GB that functions in both the All Metal/Pinpoint and Discriminate modes. They haven't done that and their TID models have not seen the sales or wide-spread acceptance of many other brands for that reason.

I think they have had some excellent models that I would like to see resurrected or improved upon, but generally, they have made detectors that worked OK for many. I am referring to those that made it to production. Sadly, some models just were not marketed well by dealers because most dealers (all brands) are small-scale, part-time dealers. It's just a side business or 'fun' business. The #1 model I wish Tesoro still produced is the Diablo

 

[Monte]

the names of the two Pillar models. They were the 1 Reale and 4 Reale, not 4 and 8. Essentially a Silver Sabre and an Eldorado in Pillar colors and package.

But it was apparent to many dealers who was making these two models for them due to the control features, the performance, and the mis-aligned rod system that, like most Tesoro's of that period, resulted in a canted search coil. I also think that it wasn't the lack of a name association with Tesoro that was their problem, but that they hooked up with a/the major discount dealer and didn't take the time to establish a solid dealer base.

It was at the same time that Gold Mountain Technologies also tried to get a foothold in the business and took the same fatal approach. Once they did that, it was virtually impossible to get dealers. As one who tired to distribute both 'brands' and traveled all but one western US state (Montana), calling on existing dealers, I am well aware of what the problem was. It certainly was not due to lack of performance. It was the fit-and-finish, combined with a suggested retail that was higher than a comparative Tesoro-labeled model, and the fact that average dealers didn't want to compete with the big guy ... and associated businesses.

Monte