D-tex money king metal detector?

[Chevyfan2k9]

Has anyone use one of these or heard of them? Why I am asking I can get one for $40 it's a 15khz machine and works great


Jack

Here's a pic of one

 

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[mineralized_miner]

I've never heard of them but after a tad of research, It is rare, so even if it isn't a great detector, you can probably make a profit reselling it.
If I would you, I'd seize the opportunity, as it is not often something such as this turns up for sale.

Maybe it'll go deep, but assuming it didn't even make it to production, maybe something was wrong with them, so I wouldn't buy it assuming it'll be a great detector. Maybe just a cool showcase piece or a loaner.

Good luck, and I hope it turns out well for you!

 

[Old Bookaroo]

D-Tex was owned and operated by Bill Mahan - probably the most successful treasure hunter to become a metal detector manufacturer. These were, I believe, beat frequency machines. D-Tex was one of the pioneer MD companies.

They had a spotty reputation - some people loved them and some people couldn't stand them.

I found references to several D-Tex MD's but not this one - so I'm guessing it was made in the late 1960's.

Good luck to all,

~ The Old Bookaroo

 

[Chevyfan2k9]

D-Tex was owned and operated by Bill Mahan - probably the most successful treasure hunter to become a metal detector manufacturer. These were, I believe, beat frequency machines. D-Tex was one of the pioneer MD companies.

They had a spotty reputation - some people loved them and some people couldn't stand them.

I found references to several D-Tex MD's but not this one - so I'm guessing it was made in the late 1960's.

Good luck to all,

~ The Old Bookaroo

I don't think it was made in the 60's being its a tr/vlf machine maybe late 70's early 80's it reminds me of a garrett ground hog

 

[Chevyfan2k9]

I've never heard of them but after a tad of research, It is rare, so even if it isn't a great detector, you can probably make a profit reselling it.
If I would you, I'd seize the opportunity, as it is not often something such as this turns up for sale.

Maybe it'll go deep, but assuming it didn't even make it to production, maybe something was wrong with them, so I wouldn't buy it assuming it'll be a great detector. Maybe just a cool showcase piece or a loaner.

Good luck, and I hope it turns out well for you!

That's what I was thinking it being rare but it does remind me of a garrett ground hog detector

 

[Old Bookaroo]

Chevyfan2k9:

Thank you for the correction. Looks like I was mistaken! Frankly, it was a guess because I didn't think D-Tex was in business during the late 1970's.

2.0: Here's some additional information - isn't that a photo of your detector?

http://www.treasurelinx.com/d-tex.html

From that website (everything really is on the Internets, isn't it!):

http://ubuntuone.com/p/bTv/

Good luck to all,

~ The Old Bookaroo

 

[Adrian SS]

The De Tex Money King works fine in the GB All Metal mode, plenty of depth.
The TR disc mode is typical of tr non GB mode in that it will not be good on mineralised ground.The coil needs to be held at a constant hight above the ground while sweeping/scanning. For 40 dollars it is a bargin for a collectable oldie in good working order.

 

[Old Bookaroo]

Agreed - a nice buy at $40. Vintage detectors seem to come in two conditions - almost "like new" (similar to exercise equipment, many that are purchased get used a time or two and then put away in the garage) and those that have had the heck beaten out of them in the field.

Good luck to all,

~ The Old Bookaroo

 

[gunsil]

My buddy went to a Garrett VLF/TR after his Garrett BFO with no discrimination. The VLF /TR machines were the first reliable discriminators, but a bit of a pain to use since you had to switch back and forth through the two modes to discriminate. I remember the DTex machines at the few dealers back in the late 60s-early 70s but my few hunting buddies and I went with the Garretts, and I never did see a DTex at a dealer after about 1976. The old BFOs failed over time as the capacitors deteriorated with age, I don't know how the components of the old VLF/TRs do with aging. Some of the Mahan marketed BFOs sold by his Exanimo company were made by Garrett. Mahan, Lagal, VonMuller, and Charles Garrett all worked together back then. I would have loved to have hunted with that crew!!

 

[Chevyfan2k9]

I went ahead and bought it, and only thing that's wrong with it is a piece is broken off on the part that covers the meter , I wonder if garrett has any covers since this is just like the garrett ground hog

 

[roaddust66]

I remember when they hit the detector shops. It was the late 70's. They were similar to the Garrett Ground Hog. That means they were a good VLF all metal machine with good depth. Not so good with the TR discriminate mode. I believe they are a collector item.

 

[gunsil]

I went ahead and bought it, and only thing that's wrong with it is a piece is broken off on the part that covers the meter , I wonder if garrett has any covers since this is just like the garrett ground hog

I hope you actually use it occasionally. Bet that old detector can find old coins!! I doubt Garrett has any, my buddy wanted them to repair his old Garrett VLF/TR two years ago and they told him at Garrett that they no longer stocked parts for that old of a machine, nor did they have anybody left in the service department who had any experience working on them. I'm sure these meters and covers were made from available parts at the time, perhaps you could find an electronics surplus house that had the same size meter cover on something else. There is also a guy who repairs old machines, you might be able to find him through members on the vintage detector forum and/or put a wanted ad here.

 

[Don11971]

I've use this detector for many years. I used to call it the clad king. I would find a Ton of clad with this machine very quickly.. The one drawback is it doesn't go very deep on silver dimes .. But you can find a lot of rings with it.. Good luck it is a fun machine to play with... Mine still in the garage lol

 

[Don11971]

I've use this detector for many years. I used to call it the clad king. I would find a Ton of clad with this machine very quickly.. The one drawback is it doesn't go very deep on silver dimes .. But you can find a lot of rings with it.. Good luck it is a fun machine to play with... Mine still in the garage lol

 

[lastleg]

Mahan's son, an unfriendly sort, continued the business after Bill died. The Money King was one of his
products. Bill was the genius who made the Coinshooter BFO. Mine still works and one I always have
for old lots. It sounds on non-ferrous 6-8'' targets. Ferrous nulls which save a heck of a lot of time.
Most of my large collection of coins, tokens, brass and copper were found with it. Wish I had two more
like it. When the VLF-TRs came out BFOs were forgotten except for those in the know

 

[lastleg]

Keith Willis bought out a bunch of left-over D-Tex machines after they closed. Trouble was some models
were packed with a stiff foam to protect the patent. He says it almost impossible to get spare parts out
of them. He's still in business if you can find his number in older magazines.

 

[LuckyLarry]

They were VLF TR's, very similar in operation (and circuitry) to the old Garrett Groundhog VLF TR's. They would air test at around 6-7" on a quarter, and 8-9" in all-metal, and were somewhat inferior to the old Compass VLF-TR's of the same ilk and age, especially for iron discrimination and separation between it and good targets. The one in this photo was out in right around 1978-1882. My old friend was a dealer back then and he had a new one for sale now and then. The Compasses outdid them, and so did the Garretts, so they fell off the market rather quickly, especially when the Red Baron phase-shift detector came out, and later the new Whites, both created by George Payne.

 

[Joe(TX)]

....Before D-Tex went under...they came out with the Money King (Motion) ...those are really NICE....most of these are Rare to find in working condition....in fact they came out with a whole series of Motion metal detectors which were made to look futuristic....

 

[dnewbury2]

I had a DTex Relic Search 200 years ago. It was my first good detector and I found my first Civil War relics with it.

 

[Joe(TX)]

I had a DTex Relic Search 200 years ago. It was my first good detector and I found my first Civil War relics with it.View attachment 1128596

That was a Great Detector....wish that I had one. That was a VLF/TR went very deep. Still good to use today. Only a bit heavier and one has to move more slowly than the newer detectors.