Roach detector

[Old California]

Hello Carl and forum gang,

Here's a detector I'm sure you don't have, It's the Roach detector and does have a crude type of visual and audio ID.

Still works, Only about 300 detectors were made before the company busted. Happened to get this one from the investor who helped the designer get off the ground.

Let me know if any of you have this unit, late sixties or early seventies. I have the magazine somewhere when this unit was first put into production.....And yes, It is called the ROACH

HH, Paul (Ca)

[Carl-NC]

I believe that was on the cover of one of the old Treasure magazines. First one I've heard of, besides that.

[Unregistered]

Frover of old Treasure magazine

You're right Carl, It is one a front cover of an Treasure magazines. I'm going to visit my mom in a day or so and will dig up the old magazines from the garage.

That was the first time I seen the Roach detector from the magazine, Then I went on a massive search trying to locate one. Then, One day came across an old man who had a plumbing business who helped the designer "Los Angeles area" years ago get the business off the ground as a silent partner with his capital.

Long story short, The small time detector company went out of business leaving the plumber "The main investor" with a major loss. The plumber did manage to get a few of the Roach detectors, That's how I ended up with one. The plumber asked me to convert the battery with a current type which I did and when taking the detector back to the plumber's home not knowing he had died a few days earlier......The plumbers wife said I could keep the detector but instead I gave her a $100.00 bill, Some how it was a miracle the detector ended up in my hands as this may be one of the working Roach detectors.

Thanks Carl,
Paul (Ca)

[Elie]

You should replace the mismatched screw.

[Unregistered user]

Roach Detector

The Roach Detector was the forerunner of the Semtech Metlsensor. But these were all in 2nd and 3th place for TR I.D. detectors. The 1st one was the Phase Readout Gradiometer which came out in 1974. It cost $850, weighed 7 lbs but it opened up a very large areas of very trashy locations. I believe that the PRG is rarer than the Roach detector , only 50 or so was made! I am a frequent Ebayer and have never seen a Roach or a PRG listed.

[Esteban]

Patent drawing and detector photo from advertisement

The PGR runs at 7.2 khz

Two tone audio = 800 Hz for iron

1100 hz for non ferrous

[Old California]

Update on Roach detector

Thanks gang and Carl for the information related to the Roach detector, Here's the front cover of a same treasure magazine you seen Carl. The Roach detector is featured on both the front cover and inside the magazine is dated "Summer 1975."

I feel it's a miracle to have located one of these limited detectors due to the business going out of business, Feel like I have something only a few others in the world have.

Based from the magazine, The Roach detector was designed by an Electronics Engineer who at the time was a Consultant for Missile Research and Development. Jack Roach was the man behind the Roach detector, I met the man who helped fund the detector business as Jack's silent partner which is how I aquired the detector.

Rather than swing the coil, One would walk in a straight forward monition and then use the two smaller coils to discriminate the signal. With practice and having to break the old habit of swinging, It was a good fun detector once learned.

Thanks again and good hunting,
Paul (Ca)

[Esteban]

About "rare" detectors

Found in ebay. According the text, was the first manufacturer in El Paso.

[ma330]

bandido umax

hi to all :
i want data about bandido umax ii . depth detect and....
any one can please help to me . tank you

[Elie]

Rather than swing the coil, One would walk in a straight forward monition and then use the two smaller coils to discriminate the signal. With practice and having to break the old habit of swinging, It was a good fun detector once learned.

How does that work?

[Unregistered]

Hello Elie,

I'll post how the Roach detector operates and using the special square coil, The coil really has two mini coils built into the large square shape frame.

It'll be a pleasure to share how this unit works, You'll be amazed how simple it operates and how it operates as well.

Give me a couple of days,

HH, Paul

[Old California]

Now I'm logged back in,

I'll post how the Roach detector wokrks in a couple of days.

HH, paul