Yeah Terry, i think you have been around detectors maybe as long as I and some others here. I think popularity of the game has heavily influenced the influx of foreign made machines with better technology. When I got my Garrett BF0 in 1970 there were basically two choices, White's or Garrett. Garrett had just tamed the BFO with his patented "0 drift" technology and I was introduced to detecting at civil war collector meets in VA so I got what they liked-Garrett BFO as the best all around machine. You may remember when Metrotec came out and blew relic hunting into high gear, and Nautilus suddeny made the best salt machine. Those two companies didn't last long yet they made great machines, I think the market was flooded with not as many hunters and they couldn't sell enough over time. If another American company today came out with a modern game changer like Metrotec and Nautilus did they would sell like crazy because there are sooo many hunters. Instead, Minelab, and Deus have blown American innovation out of the water. Minelab was around down under as serious gold seeker but it took a while to catch on here, now they rule the world. Remember before the American car companies got bailed out by we taxpayers (who never received any compensation)? The foreign cars were safer, lasted longer, and often got better gas mileage. After the bail out what happened?American car companies began making safer longer lasting cars with good fuel economy. It is sad that we lost Whites and Tesoro, but I'm hoping the American companies rally like the auto industry did and get some better designers or spend more on R&D and bring us the best machines but made right here. As far as crocs go my buddy in AZ wears 'em around his house and yard, not for me but they like 'em in the warmer climates. Th TP? maybe he had a runny nose? Calabash, loved the rant!!
