My collection as promised

[Mark S.]

It took me a while but here they are.

These are photos of most of my collection. There are a few missing.

These were taken at the spring 2006 FMDAC convention in Niagara Falls.

[Esteban]

Congratulations!!!

Very, very impressive!!!

[Archaeos]

Fantastic! I think that I have seen most of them on ebay. Most of them are from the late 60's and early 70's. Many of them are old style BFOs ... wow! Really a nice collection.
André

[Qiaozhi]

Very interesting collection. Thanks for sharing.
It must be great to play around with some of these old beauties.

I guess you win the award for "anorak of the month".

[Carl-NC]

Wow, very nice! They all look new, too.

OK, a few questions... 2nd pic from the bottom, nearest detector is a small Fisher. I just bought one of these on eBay. What is it, and how old?

Same pic, 4th detector over (next to the T-10) with the red metal handle and Fisher coil... what model is this?

Last pic, what is the brown-box detector (next to the Nugget Master)?

3rd pic from the bottom... what are the 2 outer detectors (same coil type)? Westinghouse? Also the detector just north of the D-Tex, has the control box on the coil (maybe an AM radio laying next to it?).

- Carl

[Mark S.]

Most are from the 60's and early 70's. There are a few from the 50's. I stick to pre-discriminator models. I do have Garretts first discriminator. The oldest is a 1951 Goldak. It was probably made for utility co's. It is the one on the floor at the very end (real long).

Better then half of them work fine and more work somewhat. There are only about 10 that are totally dead. And yes it is interesting to play with them. Some of them can hardly get a coin at more then 4 inches while others get pretty decent depth.

Whenever I show them or do a talk I will take the 1955 Fisher T-10 and set it next to a Minelab Explorer. It makes for a good conversation.

Mark S.

[Mark S.]

Carl,

We must have been posting at the same time.

Here are the answers.

The first detector is some kind of radiation or geiger counter type unit. I would put it in the early 50's or earlier judging from the logo. I saw a manual for it on ebay one time but it went for way too much. I emailed the guy and said I would give him $10 for a copy but did not get a reply. I ask Fisher for info on it one time but they said they didn't have anything.

The red "tube" shaped detetor is an oddball. It is A Fisher T-15. The electronics are inside the tube. If you look closely at the coil you will see the meter. I got it on ebay several years ago. It is the only one I have ever seen and have never seen any literature or ads for it.

The one next to the Nuggetmaster is an Apollo. Made by Whites.

The last two are the '51 Goldak(laying on the floor) and the closer one is also a Goldak. Not sure of the year but looks like late 50's early 60's from the literature.

You are right on with the am radio ( and your eyes are sure working fine). It is a Relco. Without checking I think it is a 12T. Tuned to and heard thru an AM transistor radio. It does work and is fun to show. Although you have to find a station within a narrow band and tune the detector to it. Had it working fine at home. Took it to a club meeting and could not tune in a station in the needed range. Guess you couldn't hunt with it just anywhere! The man who bought it new in the 60's gave it to me.

Oh yes, the photos make them look a lot nicer. Some are beat up but there are a few like new. The one in the box on the end of the table is a D-tex Professional. It is in the original shipping box with the original packaging(shredded paper). It doesn't appear to have been used. It may never have been put together. (I have not assembled it)

Mark S.

[Joe(TX)]

WOW IMPRESSIVE

TO MARK S.: I have some questions also! 3rd photo - 4th and 6th detectors from the left. What makes are these and they look to be early TR's? Thanks Joe

[Mark S.]

Joe,

4,5 and 6 would be Detectrons. Older model 7T, followed by the Gofer and the yellow one is a Gremlin. The later two may be TR's. I cannot remember off hand. 7T is a BFO for sure.


Mark S.

[Joe(TX)]

YOUR FAVORITE

OK MARK, if your wife told you that you could only keep one detector out of your collection or else she would leave you, which DETECTOR would it be and why? ......................OF COURSE, IF MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD TELL HER THAT I WOULD MISS HER............LOL HA HA JOE

[momule55]

Great collection!! Especialy the Bounty Hunter II and the old Garretts

[Mark S.]

Thanks Momule. There is a little something for everyone in there.

As for Joe's question, that's a tough one. I have so many favorites. Maybe I would have my wife choose. "Honestly your honor, I have no idea how that rack of detectors (and the refrigerator) fell on her!!"


Mark S.

[Joe(TX)]

IF MY WIFE CHOSE THE FAVORITE ALL-TIME VINTAGE DETECTOR?????

If I let my wife choose, she would want the one with the FM radio, beauty salon and dishwasher attachments. And then try to explain to her that those are unnessary bells and whistles!!!!! LOL HA HA JOE

[Joe(TX)]

TO MARK S. FOREIGN DETECTORS AND ARMY MINE DETECTORS?????

Hi Mark! Did you ever collect any of the above? I had a great vintage Army Mine detector from the early 1940's. Inside the detector housing it looked like mint condition plus I had the original case which included mint never used extra vacuum tubes and the original instructions! Unfortunately I left it in a back storage building on my vacant lot and it got stolen. I sure do miss it but it must have weighed 40 or 50 pounds. Those soldiers of yesterday sure did have some hardships. This unit may have taken 2 soldiers to operate it! On foreign detectors: some from the U.K. sure do look interesting! I've always admired the ARADO and VIKING series. The Viking 5 or 6 is very similiar in operation to the Compass 77b. The Viking VK series look a lot like the Fisher Excel. But it does target I.D., land /salt mode plus a lot more with only one 9 volt battery. The Arado 120B came out in the late 1970's with a Target Signature when most other detectors only had Good/BAD meters. Back to American detectors, what is your oldest Fisher Detector? JOE

[Joe(TX)]

TO MARK S. VINTAGE UNDERWATER SCUBA MODELS???

I didn't see any in your pictures, do you collect any of these? All I have is a article in an old scuba magazine that shows a Army mine detector converted into an early underwater scuba model! Joe