New member from Indiana

[mikenannie]

It's been a long time since I last visited this forum (had to reset my pword). Not sure if I ever did an intro before.

I started detecting in the 1970s with a Compass Judge. Did well with that machine back in the day. My next machine was a Teknetic 8000, another very cool machine and the first with audio target ID. My dad and I sold them as distributors for a few years. That was a game changer machine back then. My current machines are a Beach Hunter ID and a White's Matrix M6. I've been more and less active in this hobby for 50 years. I used to hunt with my dad but he is now 87 and unable to join me. I haven't done much hunter by myself, so that's new and different.

We used to go door to door in old neighborhoods and ask permission to hunt yards. Found a ton of stuff. Not sure I have the nerve to do that anymore. I'm mainly a coin hunter.

I'm considering 'upgrading' my machines to just one, the Minelab Manticore. I'm sure the technology has advanced a ton, even since my M6 was introduced. I like hunting beaches, although mainly Lake Michigan. Never seem to find much in Lake Michigan beaches. Not sure if it's lack of skill, or the movement of the beautiful Michigan sand. My feeling is that items sink very quickly making hunting those beaches a real challenge.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to lurking, reading and helping newbies as I can. Great hobby. Thanks

 

[TampaBayBrad]

Welcome back Mike! I started same time as you....late 60's early 70's. Saved enough lawn money to buy a used BFO unit to hit the schools with. Took some long breaks between then and now. You'll love the Manticore once you learn it. Get it while it's on sale now for $500 off. Great to see you get back in the "swing" of things.

 

[MasonDixonMding]

Welcome from maryland

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... My next machine was a Teknetic 8000, another very cool machine and the first with audio target ID. My dad and I sold them as distributors for a few years. That was a game changer machine back then. .....

Welcome to the forum. And questions to you about that ^ ^ Do you recall about what year that would have been ? Ie.: When you sold those first TID machines ?

Because I distinctly remember the very first time that a dealer came and showed that machine, to our metal detecting club meeting attendees. In about 1982 or '83. I can't remember exactly which Teknetics it was, but .... it was the first time that any of us had ever seen, or heard of : TID (Whites had not yet come out with their TID machine yet).

The dealer set it up on a table in front of the 25 meeting attendees. And ran a series of sample targets past the coil, in a table-demo. For example : He waved a foil wad. It made a certain sound. Then he waved a nickel. It made another different sound. Then he waved a pulltab, and it made a 3rd distinct different sound. Then he waved a gold ring and ... (drum roll) IT MADE A 4th DISTINCT DIFFERENT SOUND than the prior 3 sounds ! The audience was spell-bound !!

A few guys in our club immediately bought this machine from that dealer. Convinced that they were now going to be able to go to junky parks and "dig gold rings till their arms fell off" After all, it's pretty hard to argue with a table demo. like that, EH ? Needless to say, they got a rude awakening . Doh !

 

[mikenannie]

Welcome to the forum. And questions to you about that ^ ^ Do you recall about what year that would have been ? Ie.: When you sold those first TID machines ?

It would have been the early 80s I believe. The Teknetics of that era were amazing machines but like today’s equipment, they weren’t perfect.

We used to go out at night and hunt between the sidewalks and the curb in the dark. Without permission since in our area that strip of grass is actually owned by the city. I could tell you the sounds of the silver coins so we focused on only digging them. Did very well doing that.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

It would have been the early 80s I believe. The Teknetics of that era were amazing machines but like today’s equipment, they weren’t perfect.

We used to go out at night and hunt between the sidewalks and the curb in the dark. Without permission since in our area that strip of grass is actually owned by the city. I could tell you the sounds of the silver coins so we focused on only digging them. Did very well doing that.

Yes. Those were ahead of their time. Whites quickly copied them, with their own TID machine, by about 1983 . But theirs wasn't as good as the Teknetics, from what I recall.

As far as the depth : The Teknetics was about identical to the flagship 6000d. Which, during those years, was the work-horse coin/park/beach hunter. So depth was about the same, yet the addition of Teknetics TID was groundbreaking fun.

And yes, some of those early Teknetics it almost seemed as if you could tell the difference between copper penny (wheatie) and silver.

Another short-lived Teknetics that was ahead of its time, that came out in the mid 1980s, was the "Condor". It never sold that many, but those who had it loved it, for junky park cherry-picking.

 

[cellrdwellr]

Welcome, from Central MA!

 

[Diggerjonny]

Welcome back! Fellow Hoosier here. Northern Indiana

 

[mikenannie]

Welcome back! Fellow Hoosier here. Northern Indiana

I’m in Allen county.