Metal Detecting History

[newgoldfinder]

Metal Detectors have come a long way from the past. The History of Metal Detectors

 

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[Terry Soloman]

 

[Tom_in_CA]

There is an oft-quoted line about Fisher being the first, or the "first modern", and so forth. And even their own ads say something like "oldest" or "first in metal detectors" or something like that. But I believe it's just that he was the first to apply for a PATENT on it. Not that there wasn't necessarily primitive attempts before Fishers foray into it. Even in Fishers own museum of vintage detectors, they have some crude earlier attempts by other makers on display.

 

[Silver Simon]

I remember finding my grandfather's ancient metal detector in the closet, thinking how silly it was to hunt around for pocket change. And now here I am, with the claws of this interesting hobby deep within my skin.

 

[newgoldfinder]

Oh my. Now im really glad to have been born in the modern detector era. It would kill me to hall one of those large metal detectors around. LOL

 

[gunsil]

Actually this baby isn't all that heavy, and it is well balanced and it was easier to swing for hours than my Safari. Of course I was a lot younger then (1970) when I first got it. It was one of the best machines available and cost me a week's pay back then just like my Safari cost me a week's pay a couple of years ago. There were two basic choices, BFO or TR, the latter being the forerunner of our modern VLFs. This old Garrett was used when nobody around here knew what a metal detector was, and it was easy to get permission for private properties and very few places were off limits and all sites were virgin. I found more good stuff with it in a few years than I have with all the modern machines I have in a few years.

 

[newgoldfinder]

Looks complicated to use. Lol.

 

[cudamark]

On the contrary, they were pretty simple. I'll take the modern, complicated ones any day! They just work so much better!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

On the contrary, they were pretty simple. I'll take the modern, complicated ones any day! They just work so much better!

You're right: those old machines (despite their many buttons) were a breeze to use ! But alas, no discrimination (except small iron was "tell-tale"), no depth, and no ability in minerals. Still though, that was fun hunting. No one had any advantage over the next guy, it seemed.

 

[Shunkaha]

Oh my. Now im really glad to have been born in the modern detector era. It would kill me to hall one of those large metal detectors around. LOL

People were much tougher back in those days.

 

[mrwilburino]

People were much tougher back in those days.

They were easier on the shoulders than modern detectors, tougher on the forearms though. A lot of work to swing in taller grass.

 

[Dave Rishar]

My grandfather had a machine like that back in the early eighties. I was a child and didn't really understand what was going on, nor did I see the appeal of it when I tagged along. But I think back to how he was killing it and I feel a bit of envy. I'd happily hunt in all-metal if it meant finds like his. Every site was virgin and there were no other detectorists around for a while. He eventually became a dealer (I think for White's) and founded the club in that town which still exists today. But even then, I think about how few their numbers were and how many places there were to hunt even on public land, and I realize how uncompetitive it was back then compared with today.

It makes me wonder who had it better - the old-timers with the beep-and-dig machines, or us newcomers with the more polished detectors. I dig far fewer holes than he did, but I also have a far smaller finds pouch. I think that I'd rather have it like he did. I'd happily dig holes all day if I had more to show for it than a few bucks in clad and a couple of bottlecaps.