Wow, found what my original detector looked like new in 1978

[GrantWA]

I just had to post this link, no not trying to get you to buy anything. I bought one of these new in Monterey, CA in 1978 I think it was..used it for 10 years and still have it. Original price was over $300. 00 can't remember exactly. I think I still got the dents my wife put in me when I bought it..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67776&item=5761737544&rd=1

 

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[stoney56]

I remember those although not that particular model. Wrists and elbows were sore for couple days. I used the Fisher 550D and they wre not even close to be balanced. If you can find a nice ring for the 1/2, maybe she'll let you upgrade. HAHA HH

 

[lonewolfe]

I had that same model when I 1st started out! lol

Bought mine used from a guy around 1981.

I may just have to keep an eye on that auction and buy that to add to my collection!

I sold mine after maybe 3 months and didn't get back into detecting seriously until the mid 1980s again.

 

[minelabex1000]

Nice looking detector for being that old. Did you use it much?

I have a home brew BFO detector that was most likely made in the mid 50's. I haven't opened it up yet to see if it is tube or transistor.

But, it's something of a work-of-art. Whoever made it really knew his stuff.

I got a kick to buy a detector that was like one I had back years ago. I used it for about a week and resold it on ebay. I got that out of my system. Most old detectors just don't compare with todays powerhouse machines.

 

[lonewolfe]

I sold mine after 3 months- didn't use it very much.

Here's some stats I found on the detector and why the TR type detectors were phased out (for those who care to read)!

Why were the TR detectors phased out ?? Because they had a poor depth range
on small coin and jewelry sized objects. The reason they had poor depth was because
they were too sensitive! They were so sensitive that they picked up a signal or feedback from? iron minerals found in most soils.
? ? The only place in the U.S. where you can find soil that is free from iron minerals is Southwest Florida, here the beaches are pure white because the sand is pure limestone.

? ? The TR machines were also too sensitive to things like radio interference and electrical (60 cycle) interference. So, when you increase your coil size (which is also an antenna) you increase all these problems!

? ? ? ? If? indeed you do have the original ADS model,? this unit may have been built before another company, "Bounty Hunter" invented VLF "Discrimination."
? ? VLF detectors go deeper because they are able to hunt without the iron minerals presenting a problem. . . you could say they "reject," the problem caused by the ground mineral iron.? ? At first however, they didn't know how to make the new VLF detectors reject a second item at the same time.. namely the trash.

? ? Bounty Hunter was the first to make a breakthrough! They invented "Phase Delay"
(or VLF motion discrimination). This new technology was first marketed in a detector
called, the Bounty Hunter Red Baron. In order for this new detector to work,(ignore both the trash and the iron minerals) the coil had to be moving, and I mean really moving!
You had to whip the coil fast over the ground! The faster you went, the deeper it
detected and the discrimination worked better as well!
? ? The Red Baron was a killer on arms and shoulders! But it also had another problem,
it wasn't very good in high trash areas. The problem?? The detectors speed of recovery
was so slow. You see,? the new VLF discriminators sort of? 'shut down' when they
encounter a trash target which they are suppose to reject.
After this shut down, there is a 'pause' before the circuit resets itself for the next target. With the very fast speed of the coil, and the slow recovery speed,? well, in a trashy area the detector was off more than on! That is great on battery life. . . but poor on treasure recovery!
? ? The Garrett ADS II and ADS III were the first "SLOW MOTION" VLF DISCRIMINATORS and they were also the first, 'fast recovery' detectors. These machines were the "HOT" detectors for several years and still today they are competitive as far as depth goes.
? ? But they are too heavy, and the public prefers target ID today.
? ? If you have an original ADS and not the ADS II or III, sell it for as much as you
can get. . . and if nothing else buy the cheapest Whites, Garrett, Fisher.
? ? As concerning depth. . . .
? ? If you have the ADS II or III the twelve inch coil will give you two to three
inches more depth on coin sized objects over the 7 1/2 inch coil which was standard
with your machine. That is, if the area isn't real trashy. If the area is trashy, and
you have your detector instructed to reject the trash, the 7 1/2 inch coil will go deeper because the smaller coil has less chance of? going over multiple targets. . . a 4 inch coil would be better still!
? ? If the targets you are looking for are small gold nuggets, the original ADS will
be just fine, because the prospecting mode is always "VLF all metal" and the original ADS has that.
? ? The small 4 inch coil will pick up the tiny BB sized and smaller nuggets at a
greater depth than the 8 or 12 inch coil. The 12 inch coil will detect the bigger
marble sized nuggets deepest.
? ? Your first thing to consider is, "Do you want to put in hours searching areas with
TR discrimination, where others have already hunted in VLF Disc.?"
? ? Even if you do have areas to hunt that have never been detected, do you want to find stuff dating back to the 1920's. . .? or use a VLF disc. and find stuff dating back to the 1820's or older?

 

[stoney56]

Thanks for the history lesson, Lonewolf. I had forgotten the other reasons why I didn/t like then as well. But too, remember that back then that people werent as trashy as they are now(disposable society) or as lazy.

 

[minelabex1000]

Hey lonewolfe, you seem to know detectors pretty well, do you know why the Wilson Newman (sp?) Daytona was such a deep seeker in all-metal mode?

It wasn't worth a flip when using discrimination, but in all-metal it was terrific. I could detect penny sized coins in land fill areas at 9+ inches deep. That was really something back in the early 80's.

 

[lonewolfe]

I'm not familiar with that machine minelabex,

In the early days for over a decade, I used Garretts exclusively. In 1995 had a whites for a few years, and then started buying Fisher.

I now use Mine-lab, Fisher, Garrett & White's and have no desire to buy/use any others!

HH

 

[GrantWA]

That ebay add was not mine, I just found it when doing a search looking for a new detector. I still have my ADS Deepseeker but the last tiem I went to change the batteries.. took 7 or 9 nine volts if I remember right .. the battery box asembly pulled out of the case instead of just the battery box.. needless to say I dont use it any more

I dont remember ever finding a coin more than about 6 inches deep with that machine, I do remember having trouble in California in some areas when trying to switch back and forth from TR to VLF checking the signal.

I also seem to remember the blasted Ground Balancing would contimually change and you had to recheck it about every 5 feet.

 

[minelabex1000]

Yes, that unstable characteristic was common in the old detectors.

Most machines today are greatly improved. But, they all have their problems.