Bill Hays US Vintage Two Box Detector

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

Hello to everyone at TreasureNet. I have joined this site to try and find some information on a US vintage metal detector. Some while back I happened on a "Bereavement" Garage sale. The detector was boxed up and looking in neglected condition and was'nt attracting much interest, and I very nearly passed it over.
I have done some research on the Designer/ Manafacturer Bill Hays of Hays Electronics Los Angeles/Hemet/ Prescot Valley Arizona, but I wont post all of this until that I am sure my research is correct.
The lovely Detector is a Hays 2-B Mega Explorer Model DS7 a two box detector.
The machine was very well made with quality parts and wiring and with the great help of an electronic engineer it is working again.
Currently I am using the fisher Gemini 3 manual to try and operate it, However it would be great if someone could point me in the direction of a manual specific to this model, so that I could operate it correctly the way that Bill Hays intended it to be.
I have tried to contact the company but I believe that they went out of business in 2002 and that Mr Hays sadly passed away in 2017.
Hope that someone on here remembers Bill Hays and can guide me towards the correct manual for this lovely and still good vintage machine.
thanks from Derbyshire Detectorist

 

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[SD51]

Welcome to T Net! It looks like KellyCo sold these years ago. They might be able to help. Here's a link...

Metal Detectors for Hobby, Security & Commercial from Kellyco

Kellyco Metal Detectors has the perfect metal detector for you- whether you are a beginner or experienced. From Security to Hobby- Begin your search today!

kellycodetectors.com

2B Mega-Explorer Reviews, Price and Specifications

2B Mega-Explorer Metal Detector Reviews from Real Users; See Item's Price, Specifications, Features, Image

www.metaldetectingworld.com

 

[teleprospector]

The setups between the detectors are similar. If you post pictures of the transmitter and receiver, I can walk you thru the Hays controls.
Jon

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

Welcome to T Net! It looks like KellyCo sold these years ago. They might be able to help. Here's a link...

Metal Detectors for Hobby, Security & Commercial from Kellyco

Kellyco Metal Detectors has the perfect metal detector for you- whether you are a beginner or experienced. From Security to Hobby- Begin your search today!

kellycodetectors.com

2B Mega-Explorer Reviews, Price and Specifications

2B Mega-Explorer Metal Detector Reviews from Real Users; See Item's Price, Specifications, Features, Image

www.metaldetectingworld.com

Thank you very much for this information. I shall follow this up

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

The setups between the detectors are similar. If you post pictures of the transmitter and receiver, I can walk you thru the Hays controls.
Jon

Jon thank you very much. I shall do this tomorrow for you. Regards Derbyshire Detectorist

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Kellyco was sold after the death of founder Stu Auerbach, they would not be able to help, none of the old manuals were saved and no one there now that would have the knowledge or expertise.

 

[Carl-NC]

Although Bill Hays manufactured his Mark 1 and Mark 2 models himself, he probably had the 2B Mega Explorer contract manufactured. Most likely it's a version of the original Fisher Gemini (before Gemini 3 and Gemini 2) or maybe even the Fisher Explorer just before that. Although it could have been made by Detectron, which had a 2-box (505) that was a close copy of the Gemini. In any case, use is pretty much the same as the Gemini 3.

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

The setups between the detectors are similar. If you post pictures of the transmitter and receiver, I can walk you thru the Hays controls.
Jon

thank you very much for being so helpful. shall post pictures tomorrow. Derbyshire Detectorist

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

Kellyco was sold after the death of founder Stu Auerbach, they would not be able to help, none of the old manuals were saved and no one there that would have the knowledge or expertise.

wow sorry to hear that. Such a pity that so much information was lost

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

Although Bill Hays manufactured his Mark 1 and Mark 2 models himself, he probably had the 2B Mega Explorer contract manufactured. Most likely it's a version of the original Fisher Gemini (before Gemini 3 and Gemini 2) or maybe even the Fisher Explorer just before that. Although it could have been made by Detectron, which had a 2-box (505) that was a close copy of the Gemini. In any case, use is pretty much the same as the Gemini 3.

Thank you very much for this information. Planning to post some pictures tomorrow, which hopefully will help

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

here are some pictures of the Hays Metal Detector.
Hope this helps to identify the machine and locate an operators manual. It is a well made machine with quality parts. thanks Derbyshire Detetorist

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

The setups between the detectors are similar. If you post pictures of the transmitter and receiver, I can walk you thru the Hays controls.
Jon

thank you very much, some pictures have been posted , which i hope are helpful

 

[DizzyDigger]

What a cool looking detector....

 

[teleprospector]

thank you very much, some pictures have been posted , which i hope are helpful

The instructions are on the receiver, do what it says. No Metal objects should be near or on you...keys, bracelets , cell phone ect. These detectors don't work well near metal fences or buildings made of metal. I have a silver neck chain, I have not noticed and issue from this. On number 1 instruction make sure all 3 screws are fully tightened clockwise , the "A" screw, the other one that's opposite that and the 1 screw on the transmitter. Put settings on the receiver where the instructions say to. Start with low power, Pull the power switches on both boxes, receiver first then transmitter. Hold detector level and at arm's length. Next on the number 6 instruction turn "A " knob counterclockwise, once you get the sound of threshold to go silent then practice walking over a metal pie pan or something similar. The detector will sound off and nearly peak the needle on the meter when receiver is over pie pan and that's what detector will do in the field when you walk over a similar sized or larger metal object. I walk a grid pattern and keep the lanes about 3 feet apart I find that gets good coverage of the detector's electromagnetic field. These types of detectors need to be kept level over the ground and will chirp or sound off intermittently if they go off level or raising it higher/lower when walking with it. If it does, then turn "A" knob a bit further counterclockwise and/or reduce sensitivity a bit. This is my experience with my Fisher two box. hopefully someone else can offer other suggestions.
Jon

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

Although Bill Hays manufactured his Mark 1 and Mark 2 models himself, he probably had the 2B Mega Explorer contract manufactured. Most likely it's a version of the original Fisher Gemini (before Gemini 3 and Gemini 2) or maybe even the Fisher Explorer just before that. Although it could have been made by Detectron, which had a 2-box (505) that was a close copy of the Gemini. In any case, use is pretty much the same as the Gemini 3.

Carl thank you very much for this information. Yes i do believe that it is true that the machine is similar to the Gemini 3. A clue to the timing and place of manafacture is in the branding of the parts used theirin , which are not visible in the photos.
Some parts are labelled Hemet and others are labelled Prescot Valley. This suggests that it is a more recent machine probably made in Prescott somewhere between 1995 and 2002 , using the parts left over from the previous location. Maybe I'm wrong in this assumption. It is a very well made solid machine and it would be great to locate its manual. Perhaps it would be a good idea to locate all these other machine manual and see what works best with the Hays. Anyway thank you for your help

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

What a cool looking detector....

Dizzy thank you very much. let us hope that it works as good as it looks.

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

The instructions are on the receiver, do what it says. No Metal objects should be near or on you...keys, bracelets , cell phone ect. These detectors don't work well near metal fences or buildings made of metal. I have a silver neck chain, I have not noticed and issue from this. On number 1 instruction make sure all 3 screws are fully tightened clockwise , the "A" screw, the other one that's opposite that and the 1 screw on the transmitter. Put settings on the receiver where the instructions say to. Start with low power, Pull the power switches on both boxes, receiver first then transmitter. Hold detector level and at arm's length. Next on the number 6 instruction turn "A " knob counterclockwise, once you get the sound of threshold to go silent then practice walking over a metal pie pan or something similar. The detector will sound off and nearly peak the needle on the meter when receiver is over pie pan and that's what detector will do in the field when you walk over a similar sized or larger metal object. I walk a grid pattern and keep the lanes about 3 feet apart I find that gets good coverage of the detector's electromagnetic field. These types of detectors need to be kept level over the ground and will chirp or sound off intermittently if they go off level or raising it higher/lower when walking with it. If it does, then turn "A" knob a bit further counterclockwise and/or reduce sensitivity a bit. This is my experience with my Fisher two box. hopefully someone else can offer other suggestions.
Jon

Teleprospector. thank you very much for this detailed information. Looking forward to putting your instructions into use. Regards Derbyshire Detectorist

 

[Derbyshire Detectorist]

Teleprospector. thank you very much for this detailed information. Looking forward to putting your instructions into use. Regards Derbyshire Detectorist

Just wondering did anyone here know the late Bill Hays who made this detector in his factory at Prescot Valley. If anyone is writing a book or making an archive on the history of the hobby or the early pioneers as I believe that he was active as early as 1942 , I have done some research and would freely pass this information on, as it would be a pity for this potential history to be lost forever.

 

[spyguy]

Just wondering did anyone here know the late Bill Hays who made this detector in his factory at Prescot Valley. If anyone is writing a book or making an archive on the history of the hobby or the early pioneers as I believe that he was active as early as 1942 , I have done some research and would freely pass this information on, as it would be a pity for this potential history to be lost forever.

I bought one of these in ‘04 from Kellyco. It was my first ever metal detector and probably not the best choice for the “greenie” I was back then….. I had big plans of kayaking out to local sites to find caches which turned into some really fond “dry hole” memories!
I was having trouble tuning it initially so I actually called Bill Hays out in AZ. He was a super nice guy and extremely patient with me. It runs at a stunning 107 kHz frequency. This makes it extra sensitive and hard to tune. The Fisher Gemini runs at 82 kHz by comparison. I sold my Hays to a guy on here back in ‘10 and always regretted not keeping it if only for the sake of nostalgia….
Within the last several years I’ve picked up a couple of Hays Mark 1 metal detectors which are absolutely killer when it comes to sensitivity. Super easy to use and pinpoint with. My first time out with one I found something smaller than a BB near the surface and a power box about two feet down along with the usual coins, junk etc.
In my opinion Bill Hays (RIP) was an underrated genius of modern metal detectors. Probably not on the same level as Dr. Gerhard Fisher who pioneered this great hobby back in the 1930s with the first ever two box metal detector, but definitely a visionary.
You’ve got a a cool machine there DD. Do some research and get out there and make it pay off!
HH
-spyguy