The magazine for the Searcher and Detectorist

Volume 2, Issue 1 January - February 2011

l l l l l

Recovery Team Assists Law Enforcement. A Brief History of Metal Detecting. GPS Detecting. Recent Discoveries. NEW Club Listings.

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

Welcome to Relic Hunter Magazine!

Worldwide Discoveries in Every Issue
Jim Leonard Editor & Publisher

This hobby is fun, its profitable and its rewarding. Just ask a few that have made fantastic discoveries like Terry Herbert or that person who has had their lost ring returned or an interesting relic that revealed a small part of our history. Metal detectors have played a large part in our discoveries. If youve been hunting as long as I have, since 1963, youve found your fair share of junk and a few treasures along the way. Youve also seen the growth of this industry from World War II mine detectors, BFO (Beat-frequency oscillator), TR (Transmit-Receive), VLF (Very Low Frequency) and PI (Pulse Induction) type detectors. In this issue, Im going to give you a very brief history of metal detectors, its inventor and a few of the more notable pioneers within this industry. Im going to stay away from discussing GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) or the 2 box systems. Ill hold those for a later time. I will show some truly great photos from Garrett, Fisher, Whites and Minelab who contributed their images, plus a few of my own, along with a very basic time line on how detecting has progressed since the early days. Somewhere out in the north Georgia woods theres a BFO detector wrapped around a tree that I donated to the ecology...

Behind every find is a great photo!

Share it with the Rest of The World !
Email me your photos and a brief description of your finds for the next issue! Videos accepted too! Send me your youtube link. jleonard@jpl-designs.com
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User controls for Relic Hunter

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Turns the sound ON or OFF DOWNLOAD the magazine as a PDF file. PRINT selected pages or you can print the entire magazine! MAGNIFY enlarges the page. FULLSCREEN enlarges the magazine to fit your screen WEBLINK saves the link of the magazine. THUMBNAILS shows you every page for quick navigation. BOOKMARK the page. Like an article, then bookmark it or save your place while reading the magazine. TABLE OF CONTENTS lists certain sections or articles that provides you a quick link. Relic Hunter is a breakthrough in how magazines are currently being read now and how they will be read in the future. Emags, as some people call them, are great for the environment, saving thousands of trees and lessening the amount trash that goes into the landfills. Well continue providing instant links to all the advertisers websites, simply click on their logo or web address.
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Whats Inside
Cover Photograph
Army Spc. Sean Hogan uses a mine detector to search for improvised explosive devices near Baqubah, Iraq. The 141st Engineer Battalion, known as the Trailblazers, is performing sweeps in the Baqubah area. The 141st is attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. DoD photo by Spc. James B. Smith Jr., U.S. Army.

Recent Discoveries

All throughout this issue!

Florida Evidence Recovery Team Detecting GPS Hunting A History of Detecting How to straighten out a coin (video)

10 14 18 44

Metal Detecting Club Listings (NEW and FREE) 46 Back Cover Photograph
U.S. Army Pfc. Jeremiah Jones, 21 Bravo combat engineer, uses his ANP/PVS 14 mine detector to locate a possible buried mine during an early morning weapon cache search mission nearby Khark water treatment facility in Taji, Iraq on Feb. 13, 2007. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kitt Amaritnant)

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

Recent Finds
Hi Jim I had only been involved in the hobby for about 12 months. I decided, and since talking to other people I see this happens with regularity!, that I should look at up grading my machine. I started with an X-Terra 30, simple things for simple minds. Great little machine with cracking pinpointing capability. Anyway, I went into the local retailer and we talked about the various other options, bells, lights and all the attachments. I am not a technical person and the appeal of a switch on and go appealed to me. Budget was a consideration too and with that in mind a second hand Minelab Quattro seemed to tick the boxes, so handed over my hard earned cash. For the first 3 weeks I could have wrapped it round the nearest tree. The noises it made seemed like bagpipe music. But I kept going digging lots of targets - good and bad - to get an idea of what they I had found. Pinpointing was a nightmare - I really missed the X-Terra ability. Various bits and bobs came out in the three weeks but in September there was an organized charity dig in Englefield near Reading. The morning came-the forecaster predicting a very hot day - and they were not wrong! Various fields in different states but I decided to give the rough ploughed field a go. Unfortunately I was engrossed in conversation with a couple of other detectorists when we realized we had missed the off. I made my way to the ploughed field and the one entry point. Switched my Quattro on and started to search. I had not gone more than a dozen steps when I had a little high
6 Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

pitched squeek in some ones foot print! I was in all metal mode so I was going to dig most signals. I narrowed down the target and dug it out. Now to find it in the soil. The thing kept moving! Or perhaps I kept missing it. At one point I nearly gave up - thinking it was trash anyway, but I kept on. Eventually I did get it in a hand full of soil. Bit by bit I whittled it down to a small amount, putting that in the palm of my hand I stirred the soil and my jaw nearly hit the floor. There looking up at me was a quarter stater! To say I was a happy chap was an understatement. First target, in the entrance of the field, in some ones FOOTPRINT. I can only think that when everyone started the noise must have been overpowering and confused all the machines so people missed it. I did get a hammered penny and a few other bits but that was the highlight of my day by far. Now I always let the herd rush off on these rallies - I have a good look around where they have been - just in case Allan Ashford - Newbury, Berkshire, UK

1st Day of the Year, 1st Indian dug, date 1867

Goes4ever - NW Ohio, USA
Well we finally got some warmer weather, ground thawed, rain stopped so I hit a small old park in town. This place is rather trashy, lots of iron. First coin I found was 1926 wheat, then I got the first indian of the year, and a semi key date to make it even sweeter, 1867.........made my day. Got 2 more wheats, 1944, and 1928, then just before leaving I got the SMOOTH 1889 indian it was an odd signal, 01-32, and DEEP......I about passed it up. Glad I didnt. Also found the boyscout item, it came in like a pull tab. All items were found in areas I have hunted before in conductive mode, today I ran TTF all day. My hunting partner was also running in TTF and he got an 1865 indian.

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

Recent Finds

Club Hunt yields Big Surprise!

by Stuart Littlewood

Found a nice hammered on Wed on our recent club dig. It was actually my second signal of the morning. What a fantastic result!! Henry VII London groat, mintmark escallop. Type 3b. Double-arched crown with both arches jeweled and straggly, uncombed hair. 1493-1495 Coin identified on UKDFD. Happy new year to everyone!!
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Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

Mid Florida Evidence Recovery Team

Submitted by Bill Beardsley, President

Assists in Retrieval Of Crime Scene Firearm

t started with a phone call from the Marion County Sheriffs Department . a request for the Mid Florida Historical Research & Recovery Association to assist in the recovery of evidence possibly used in a homicide approximately four years ago. On the following day (Wednesday, April 21st) a quickly-assembled team of Mike Sniegowski, Chuck Barber, Roger Ackley, Roger Schultz, Al King, and Bill Beardsley, under the soft drizzle of the still-dark sky, met for an early-morning breakfast at McDonalds in Silver Springs before proceeding to the rendezvous at the Sheriffs Offices in Forrest Corners. After sharing mutual introductions with Inspector Mike Mongeluzzo and Detective Larry McArdle of the Major Crimes Unit and nearly a dozen Sheriffs Deputies, and apprised of the circumstances surrounding the crime, we were then led in caravan style (surrounded front and back with about ten marked and unmarked police vehicles) to the search site on the other side of the St. Johns River, well into Volusia County. The items we were to search for were 9mm and .380 semi-automatics that had possibly been used at the crime scene, and discarded roadside from a vehicle by the perpetrators while they were being pursued for a traffic violation. Each member of our team was accompanied by an assigned deputy, whose duty was to dig any targets that we indicated were worthy of inspection. Needless to say, a
Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

lot of flattened soda cans saw the light of day after a long rest in the soil. The area of concentration was along the drainage ditch running parallel to the roadway. In some areas it was as wide as eight or more feet, black in color, with occasional mounds for footholds. Some of us worked the water from its edges, while braver souls like Roger Schultz and Roger Ackley plunged right in. (I think their enthusiasm for wading was diminished somewhat after the first sighting of a water moccasin with which they were sharing the

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water.) But shortly thereafter, Roger Schultz had a distinctive response on his detector that dictated digging by his accompanying Deputy Sheriff. And there, revealed in the hole, was a .380 ammunition clip with three cartridges remaining in place, later identified as possibly used in the crime. A very confirming find that indicated we were doing the right thing . in the right place. And it wasnt long before he received still another signal, which, when dug, revealed a plastic 9mm semi- auto Berretta, that may also have been used during the execution of a crime. After a welcome and filling roadside lunch served by the Sheriffs Department, and shared with our new companions, we returned to the task in the now punishing afternoon sun and temperatures, but, buoyed by the finds of the morning, with the same high degree of enthusiasm. As the afternoon wore on, spirits began to lag, but hope remained with each of us that the next signal would reveal the targets we were seeking. About three oclock the decision was made to call it a day, and that was communicated to all the coordinating Sheriffs and staff, along with instructions to converge at the midpoint of our search area (approximately 4 1/2 miles in length). One of our search party, working that particular area, continued his search as we were all gathering, and in his closing sweeps received a strong, high pitched sound emitting from his Tesoro Tejon that indicated

a target worthy of inspection lay below the heavy layer of pine needles. Carefully brushing aside the three to four inches of pine needles that covered the unknown target, layer by layer, the search finally revealed, imbedded less than an inch into the dark soil, the 9mm semi-automatic.

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

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Mid Florida Evidence Recovery Team

Assists in Retrieval Of Crime Scene Firearm

Our team for Saturday, April 24th, was composed of Grant Wellman, Tony Sormani, George Benjamin, Jim Kriebel, Eric Bothur, Sonny Johnson, Jason Heeter, Bob Doyle, Bruce Carey, and Bill Beardsley. The procedures that day fairly well echoed our experience of the previous few days, with similar search patterns, digging assistance, and so forth, but without the success of our previous search. The .380 frame continued to elude the best efforts of both our team and that of the Sheriffs Department. But the day was far from wasted. All our participants learned a little more about evidence recovery that will stand us in good stead on future efforts along those lines. Our Club members showed that they continue to respond to the needs of our community and the various agencies that contribute to our safety and protection. And, on top of that, everyone who participated reveled in an exciting detecting experience. Shown below is a group photo of the first days hunt members of our Clubs Evidence Recovery Team and the Sheriffs Deputies.

The grin on Mike Sniegowskis face spread quickly to every member of our team and that of the Sheriffs, like an ocean wave engulfing all of us. Then came the cries of elation, high fives, and the slaps and embraces by the members of both teams. The scene resembled the moments following the outcome of a hotly contested college football game. But something was still missing . the .380 semi-auto itself. And Inspector Mongeluzzo wanted a clean sweep. Could we assemble another recovery team to re-search the area? And how soon? Confident that our community-conscious members would be responsive, a request for volunteers posted on our web-site generated ten members eager to share their expertise in this worthy endeavor.

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Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

Sheriff Honors Club Members

By Bill Beardsley

arion County Sheriff Ed Dean, and his staff, honored the members of our two Evidence Recovery Teams that assisted their Major Crimes Unit in recovering a firearm and other crime evidence in Volusia County earlier this year. Each member received a certificate and a medallion (which is shown above) in recognition of their individual efforts. During his presentation, Sheriff Dean, who proved to be a most gracious host and consummate professional, spoke glowingly of the contribution to his organization made by our Club members, and indicated the likelihood of calling upon us again in the future, when the need arises. Every member attending was impressed by his willingness to devote both his time, and that of his top staff, which included the Chief, Captain, and Inspector, to the more than half-hour presentation. Most importantly, the occasion was still another indication of our Clubs commitment of service to our community and to its law enforcement agencies. This was an event in which each and every member of our organization can take pride.

Back row: Inspector Mike Mongoluzzo, Roger Ackley, Al King, Tony Sormani, Sonny Johnson, Jim Kriebel, Bill Beardsley, George Benjamin, Roger Shultz, Sheriff Ed Dean. Front row: Grant Wellman, Eric Brothur, Mike Sniegowski, Chuck Barber. Missing from above: Jason Heeter, Bruce Carey.

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

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Recent Finds

Using a GPS to track your hunt!

by Jim Leonard

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Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

went for a quick hunt with my friend, Larry Shirah, to a place near a well know battle site here in Georgia. For Christmas, one of the gifts I got from my wife was a Garmin Vista HCx GPS and decided to give it a go to track my hunting area and mark any finds that I might happen to discover. When I got to the area, I turned on my tracking, put the GPS in my pocket and started swinging the loop. Larry had gotten several readings, 1 dropped and 1 fired plus a few bits of iron. I had my detector set up with my England settings, allowing me to hear everything but the good stuff was going to give me a low tone beep. I listened for that low tone beep. First object was a lead weight, second was a carved 3-ring bullet and the next was a musket ball. On every find, I inserted a new mark on where I found the object. Returning home I downloaded the GPS to the map and then transferred the information to a Goggle satellite map. It worked perfectly.

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

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Recent Finds

est detecting story for me was spring this year.. For weeks I hunted a very small cove beach that used to be popular many years ago. I spent a ridiculous amount hours over a period of 2-3 months on that beach and I didnt find any gold (nor silver!) and even when a buddy started joining me, we still didnt find anything. Until one day when I called up my buddy to see if he wanted to go to the beach, I find he was packing up and had found 2 rings.. Raged with jealously, as he had only been detecting a matter of weeks on my favorite beach, I had spent in excess of 200 hours on that beach and never saw any gold (or silver for that matter!) and my buddy comes along and pulls 2 rings! So I went back to the beach that morning, just after he left, but due to the amount of people there I couldnt detect,

so I went back home whining... Not fair! Anyhow, I returned later that evening and wasnt leaving until I found some gold! Two hours pass and Im getting really bored after digging only a total of 12p, 2 coins.. And not forgetting the complimentary pocket full of rubbish.. I move to the middle of the beach and decide to hit a 2-3 more signals and then call it a day.. I quickly found an undug signal which sounded like every other signal on that beach and lazily dug two spadefuls of sand. My next sight would change detecting for me for life and is reason why I am a detecting junkie. I have to have my fix of looking for that illusive piece of gold ..symptoms of gold fever? Under my headlamp, sparkled my first gold ring, 9ct heavy wedding band, and it was the start of an addiction that was hunting gold! Thanks for letting me post Golddigga

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Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

TM

The Garrett AT PRO is the All Terrain solution for the serious relic hunter.

A Civil War mini ball recovered by Bill K. while eld testing the AT PRO in Georgia.

Standard and Professional Audio Modes High-Resolution Iron Discrimination Powerful DD coil Fast recovery speed Auto or Manual Ground Balance Digital Target ID Waterproof to 10 feet

For more information and to nd your local Garrett dealer contact:

800-527-4011 (U.S. & Canada)

MADE IN THE USA

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

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A History of Metal Detecting

We need your help, and please bring your device.

American President Garfield is shot.

I
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The National Archives

t was July of 1881 and the American President Garfield had been shot twice by an assassin at a train depot in Washington, D.C. Alexander Graham Bell (inventor of the telephone) had invented a device for medical sciences that would detect metal located in human bodies. For months he had experimented with his device on living Civil War soldiers in an attempt to locate bullets and lead fragments still lodged in parts of their bodies. His metal detector had moderate success.
Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

Mr. Bell arrived at the Presidents room, surrounded by doctors, who, in their attempts to locate the assassins bullet had failed. One bullet grazed Garfields arm; the second bullet lodged near his spine and could not be found, although scientists today think that the bullet was near his lung. Most historians and medical experts now believe that Garfield probably would have survived his wound had the doctors attending him been more capable. Several inserted their unsterilized fingers into the wound to probe for the bullet, and one doctor even punctured

Garfields liver in doing so. This alone would not have caused death, as the liver is one of the few organs in the human body that can regenerate itself. However, this physician probably introduced streptococcus bacteria into the Presidents body and that caused blood poisoning for which at that time there were no antibiotics. Mr. Bell set up his detector and ran a scan on the area of the Presidents body. The detector didnt work. Through repeated attempts there was still no success in locating the bullet lodged in the body of

The National Archives

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

19

A History of Metal Detecting

In a telegraph t

Succeeded in apparatus. We oclock. No ne that the bullet

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Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

to his wife, August 1st 1881, Mr. Bell says:

n locating bullet in body of an old Soldier with new e are to try the President tomorrow morning at eight eed for further secrecy. The doctors are concerned t isnt where I heard the sound last time. - A. G. Bell
President Garfield. Then Mr. Bell determined that the President was lying upon a mattress supported by steel springs and the springs were interfering with his device, producing static. Mr. Bell asked to have the Presidents body moved to a thick cotton mattress so a more through could be performed without the presence of steel. The doctors attending the President conferred upon the request and refused to move the President from his bed, fearing more complication from the gunshot wound. President Garfield died of a massive heart attack or a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm, following blood poisoning and bronchial pneumonia, at 10:35 p.m. on Monday, September 19, 1881, in Long Branch, New Jersey. Thus was the first use of a metal detector recorded in history. Its ironic that the hunt for lead bullets still goes on in the states, as hundreds hit the fields and woods in search for treasure.

Information gathered from: http://www.fisherlab.com/about.htm

Dr. Gerhard Fisher

In the late 1920s, Dr. Gerhard Fisher, a German immigrant who studied electronics at the University of Dresden, obtained the first patent ever issued on aircraft radio direction finders. He was working as a Research Engineer in Los Angeles, California at the time and his work attracted the interest of Dr. Albert Einstein. After a demonstration of Dr. Fishers equipment, Einstein enthusiastically and correctly predicted the world-wide use of radio direction finders in the air, on land and at sea. When using such direction finders during those early years, aircraft pilots found that errors would occur in
Relic Hunter January - February, 2011 21

A History of Metal Detecting

their bearings when metal objects came between the transmitter and receiver, or whenever they passed over certain areas. Different pilots flying different planes always observed the same errors over the same places. When Dr. Fisher investigated this phenomenon, he found these errors to be the result of highly conductive, mineralized areas. Dr. Fisher concluded that a portable electronic prospecting instrument could be developed that used the same principle to detect the presence of small buried objects and ore deposits. He continued his research into this phenomenon, and in 1931 he founded Fisher Research Laboratory in a garage behind his home at 1505 Byron St. in Palo Alto, California. He and four employees began producing the Metallascope, starting each unit as a new order came in. The Metallascope was a rugged, easy-to-use metal detector. By todays standards, it was perhaps an ungainly device: two large, flat wooden boxes containing simple copper coils, five vacuum tubes, and a few assorted components. It soon captivated the imagination of the country, and within a short time, the world.
USS MACON CRITICAL TOOL FOR DR. FISHER

22

Around 1933, the U.S. Navy hired Dr. Fisher to install a radio direction finder aboard the dirigible, the USS Macon. It was aboard the Macon that Dr. Fisher discovered that large metal buildings and mineralized mountains cancelled out the instruments direction
Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

finding capabilities leading him to the discovery of the first metal detector. Dirigibles served the U.S. Navy as floating bases for scout planes during the 1930s, but the program was eventually abandoned. It became obvious that the highly touted U.S. Navy lighter-than-air program had a fatal flaw: dirigibles had a tendency to crash during severe weather. By 1936, sales had increased to the point where the garage was no longer large enough. Fisher Research Laboratory moved to a small building at 745 Emerson St. in Palo Alto. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Fisher was granted a patent for his Metallascope. The Metallascope was soon nicknamed the M-Scope, and as such, became an accepted standard for all types of electronic metal detection: geologists located ore, treasure hunters found treasure, utility companies located buried pipes, lumber mills located metal inclusions in sawn logs, and law enforcement agencies used it to locate abandoned or hidden weapons. In 1939, just prior to World War II, Fisher moved to an even larger building at 1961 University Ave. in Palo Alto. During World War II and the subsequent Korean Conflict, the company was called upon to contribute its technical competence to the war effort, but the M-Scope business was never neglected. In 1961, Fisher moved to an even larger production facility in Belmont, California. In 1967, Dr. Fisher retired, having firmly established his name in the annals of electronic history. The company continued to

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

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A History of Metal Detecting

grow, and in 1974, Fisher Research Laboratory moved 90 miles southeast to Los Banos, California. In 1990, Fisher built a spacious, modern manufacturing plant in the Los Banos Industrial Park, where the worlds oldest metal detector business resided until it was acquired by First Texas Products in 2006.

The Mine detector (Polish) Mark I was a metal detector for landmines developed during World War II in the winter of 1941 1942 by Polish lieutenant Jzef Kosacki. In the pre-war period the Department of Artillery of the Ministry of National Defence ordered the construction of a device that could be helpful in locating duds on artillery training grounds. The instrument was designed by the AVA works, but its implementation was prevented by the outbreak of the Polish Defensive War. Following the fall of Poland and the transfer of Polish HQ to France, work restarted on the device, this time intended as a mine detector.

WORLD WAR II

From the 551 to 553 to the 1265X, shown above, this one was one of my best from Fisher.
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The National Archives

WWII Popular Science Magazine Advertisement

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

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A History of Metal Detecting

1881 1931 1933 1941 World War II

Key Events In Det

Alexander Bell

Dr. Fisher First practical metal detector

Polish Mine Detector 1943 SCR-625

Little is known of this stage of construction as the work was stopped by the battle of France and the need to evacuate the Polish personnel to Great Britain.

In late 1941 Lieut. Jzef Kosacki devised a final project, based partially on the earlier designs. His discovery was not patented; he gave it as a gift to the British Army. He was

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tecting History
1950 1964 1976 1978 1985 2011

Whites Electronics

Charles Garrett TR/VLF Use Pulse Induction

Minelab BBS Multple Frequency SETA and DVT

given a thank you letter from the King for this act. Kosackis design was accepted and 500 mine detectors were immediately sent to El Alamein where they doubled the speed of the British 8th Army. During the war more than 100,000 of this type were produced, together with several hundred thousands of further developments of the mine detector (Mk. II, Mk. III and Mk IV). Detector was used later during the Allied invasion of Sicily, the Allied invasion of Italy and the Invasion of Normandy. This type of detectors was used by the British Army until 1995. The Polish detector had two coils, one of which was connected to an oscillator which generated an oscillating current of an acoustic frequency. The other coil was connected to an amplifier and a headphone. When the coils came into proximity to a metallic object the balance between the coils was upset and the headphone reported a signal.
The SCR-625 1943 US Army mine detector
Relic Hunter January - February, 2011 27

A History of Metal Detecting

Whites Detectors beginnings date back

to the year 1950 and the uranium craze. When all the country was looking for uranium, so were Olive and Ken White, Sr. The only Geiger Counters available used headphones and Mr. White quickly learned that headphones created a problem in rattlesnake country. He invented a better product but was told his design was impossible by the leading Geiger Counter manufacturers. Deciding to manufacture the design himself, he and an employee built one Geiger Counter a day. The counters were well received and within seven years, Whites had 65 employees. In 1958, the U.S. government announced it would no longer purchase uranium. All was not lost for this growing business, however. At the request of a former dealer in Tombstone, Arizona, Mr. White was persuaded to build a metal detector. On his first outing, the dealer found a Spanish spur, a large piece of silver, several
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Ken White and Olive White

Ken White Jr. and Ken White, Sr.

artifacts and a few coins. This successful first outing was written up in a book with Mr. Whites name and address. The year was 1959. Orders and requests for information poured in and marked the beginning of the Whites we know.

Whites Electronics is a world leader in the design and manufacture of metal detectors. Currently led by Ken and Mary White, using the same philosophy that was so successful for Kens father 50 years ago. Give the customers quality and value, treat your employees like you would like to be treated and the future will be bright. As the technology changes, Whites electronics will continue to be on the forefront.

Above photo: One of the earliest metal detectors I have in my collection, a Coinmaster 2D. It still works, although a little dusty and the meter is a bit faded, it reminds me of my Coinmaster 5 DB. My first VLF detector that I used for years. Above left: One of the best analog detectors, the 5900 SL Pro. Above right: Whites XLT. My first step into the digital realm of metal detecting. LED readout of whats in the ground and the relative conductivity of the object thats being detected.
Relic Hunter January - February, 2011 29

A History of Metal Detecting

Charles Garrett at his workbench

One of the first Garrett detectors.

Garrett Detectors

In 1963, Charles Garrett, a talented electrical engineer rents a few commercial metal detectors and finds them totally unsatisfactory. He begins work in the garage of his Garland ,Texas home to design, develop and build better ground search metal detectors. Eleanor and Charles Garrett establish their business April 1, 1964. Garrett introduces the dual search coil Hunter, his first metal detector, to the market (retail price $145.00).
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By 1967, Garrett competes with more than 35 companies who have a standing history of manufacturing and selling metal detectors. He recognizes early that his detectors must offer better searching capabilities than those available from his competitors. Through the next decades, Garrett becomes known as being an innovator in the metal detecting industry introducing one of the first TR/VLF machines. One of the keys to the companys success is being able to foresee a need or a service within the industry and then, with the

Charles Garrett and Roy Lagel in the field

Relic hunting in west Texas

talented engineering staff and marketing expertise, Garrett brings that product to the consumer. More information about Garrett and their fascinating facts can be read at the company website: http://www.garrett.com/media/media.htm

Photographs provided by Brian McKenzie, Garrett Metal Detectors, Garland, Texas.

Eleanor and Charles Garrett

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011 31

A History of Metal Detecting

1986 Goldseeker 15000

32

Since its origins in 1985, Minelab has been a world leader in providing metal detecting technologies for consumer, humanitarian demining and military needs. Through devotion to research and development and innovative design, Minelab is today a major world manufacturer of hand held metal detector products. Over the past 25 years, Minelab has introduced innovative and practical technology and has taken the metal detecting industry to new levels of excellence. Minelab specialises in advanced electronic technologies, directed by a highly innovative and dedicated research and development team inspired by the physicist Bruce Candy. In April 1986 Minelabs first detector, the Goldseeker 15000, came off the assembly line and within the next two years, over 8,000 Goldseeker units were sold throughout Australia. It was detector that was able to detect better in the ironstone and heavy mineralized ground than did the competition. Minelab was the first to introduce Broad Band Spectrum, or BBS, a new method of detection. Instead of operating at a single frequency, BBS enables the detector to operate using 17 separate frequencies simultaneously.
Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

2010 GPX 5000 In 2008 Minelab became a member of the dynamic Codan Group of Companies. The parent company, Codan Limited, is an international leader in high frequency radio and satellite communications. Sample photos provided by Sheila Kelleher, Minelab Ireland

1987 GT 16000 Auto Tracking

1991 Sovereign Multi Frequency and Tone

1993 Excalibur Variable Discrimination

Relic Hunter January - February, 2011 33

A History of Metal Detecting

Naturally, there are a lot more companies who are manufacturing other great detectors, but this has just been a brief history of the major companies and their events. One detector that Im very curious about is the XP DEUS, manufactured in France. If youll look at one of the article written by Stuart Littlewood, youll see the control box for this detector. It has some promising attributes, its lightweight, it uses wireless headphones, and it folds up. Looks like the Starship Enterprise when collapsed. The XP uses 4 frequences: 4, 8, 12, and 18kHz. It works with either 2, 3 or 4 tones for target identification. The control box is removable and has rechargeable batteries, as well as the wireless headphones. The coil sends the signal to the contol box and the earphones by radio frequencies, There are no wires and allows the user to either mount the control box on the stem or you can wear it on your belt! Since this detector hasnt been released (officially) here in the States, Id welcome any and all reports (and finds) on how well this detector performs in highly mineralized, like what we have here in Georgia.

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Perfect for Shallow Water Hunting!

An ergonomically designed auxiliary handle that is added on to any stick tool such as a shovel or rake. The design encourages one to work with a more erect, less stressful posture, reducing strain and injury to lower back muscles and joints.

Distinct advantages of the Pro-Handle are:

user bending by 10 inches. Minimizes custom angles to choose from. 5 flat for easy storage. Folds Gives the user the advantage of an offset handle to reduce back bending plus the usefulness of a straight handle without compromising either. No tools are required. Can be placed anywhere along or around stick tool for maximum comfort. Strong as steel, yet weighs only 1lb, 2oz. For both the homeowner and the professional.

FIND IT online ONLY AT

http://www.prohandle.com/demo.htm
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Recent Finds Just A Little Silver Sunshine

by Lynn Burks, Macon, GA, USA Hi Jim, just thought I send to you another find for the magazine. Well, I beat my husband again. Hes was not a happy camper when I popped out my first silver half dollar right in front of him as we were detecting at a local park near our home. This is a park where Ive gone with him before I got my Fisher. He found the Mercury dime and a couple of the wheat pennies and I found all the rest. This is a lot of fun and Im always pointing out to him, Lets go hunt that old house.

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Confederate Artillery Shrapnel found...

by Hunting Henry Henson, Chattanooga, TN, USA Went out for a few hours last month and dug We hunted up the hill and I found these 3 up this top to an exploded Civil War shell. I grape shots. Im suspecting that there was havent cleaned it up and you can see the hole some heavy action going on here. where the fuse was. It was deep, down almost Were still looking and have found some a foot and I thought I had found another canwide pieces of lead that must have been a non ball. About 5 feet from it, Bob, my huntsabot or something. ing partner found what he believes are some Thanks for posting my photo. of the other parts to the cannon ball.
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Recent Finds
Research Does Pay Off!
Last week I noticed in our local weekly paper that construction on a new High School was going to begin in the spring. They even showed a map displaying the entire layout. Well, I checked the area on an old 1937 aerial image and discovered that there was once a farm house there. Then I checked the 1868 Beers map and there it was! The land belongs to the school district making it open for detecting. So on Friday (New Years Eve) I got out there and, believe it or not, my very first target was a 1944 Merc Dime! Encouraged, I pressed on and found another silver dime, a 1951 Roosevelt, a 1946 Jefferson nickel (older than me!) and 6 wheat cents, all from the 1940s. I didnt get back there Saturday because, uhhhh, I was still a little fuzzy from the by Yeasty Delaware, USA

previous nites celebrations but today I was determined to continue the search. I plotted the area most likely to have more coins on Google Earth and loaded the waypoints into my GPS and when I arrived at the site I flagged the area I planned to hunt. Needless to say, it payed off. I found a dateless Buffalo Nickel, another Merc Dime (1919) and, best of all, the nicest silver coin I have found to date. A really sweet 1898 Barber Quarter! The condition of this coin indicates that it must have spent most of its 112 years in the ground. I have not even covered 1/4 of the sites area. I plan to get back there tomorrow! The most important thing Ive learned is that its wise to pay attention to the local news. Once again, research does pays off!

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Relic Hunter January - February, 2011

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North Georgia Relic Hunters Association

Marietta Parks and Recreation Department
Invites you to Attend

and the

THE 33rd ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN

At The Cobb County Civic Center

548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA

August 13th and 14th, 2011 Saturday: 9-5, Sunday: 9-3

Over 220 8 Foot Tables of: Dug Relics Guns & Swords Books Frameable Prints Paper Items Artillery Items Currency Inquires: NGRHA Attention: Show Chairman P.O. Box 503 Marietta, Georgia 30061

www.NGRHA.com

PRO-TECTOR COVERS

These are a must for any Minelab detector!

Designed for all of the Minelab FBS range of metal detectors. These simply cover the hand grip and the upper battery compartment and offer full protection against scuffs and scrapes when placing your machine on the ground. Pro-Tector will pay for itself in no time, it will add value to your Minelab detector when you come to sell it on! Keep the machine in a brand new state The covers are made from tough hard wearing Cordura material and they have the Pro-Tector logo embroided onthe cover.When dirty, simply put it in the washing machine and its like new again. Fully weatherproof. Protect your investment! We ship all over the World !!

www.pro-tectors.co.uk

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Recent Finds

He Threw Their Wedding Rings Away!

by Raymo, Middlesbrough, UK

Hi Jim, Im not the best story teller but dont mind sending you a few lines: Heres a couple of pictures from earlier this year. While staying on a campsite, detecting for a few days, we got talking to one of the campsite staff. She began telling me that she and her hubby had a large argument. In his tempered rage, he went out side and threw his and her wedding rings as far as he could toss them...

That was 18 months ago and after buying a detector and after endless searching, they still hadnt found their wedding rings. So this is where I come in. Saying to the lady, If there still there, I will find them. Well, to cut a long story short, after 2 hours searching ... I had found both rings!! To say that she was over the moon would be a understatement. Needless-tosay, if we ever want to go detecting in the campgrounds again, we will be more than welcome.

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1 2 3

ITS AS EASY AS

by G. Clooney, Castleford, UK

In January, my mate took me on one of his field, You might find some Roman stuff he said. I was on the field for only 10 minutes and found a Roman Brooch. Getting my second signal, I had yet found another Roman Brooch, My third signal, yeah, you guessed it, I found another Roman Brooch, It was a great day that made me very happy!

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Recent Finds
I found a great coin, but its thoroughly bent and I need some expert advice on how to straighten it out

This has been a problem that many hunters have experienced, finding a very nice hammered coin only to recover it and see that its been folded over. Straightening out the coin can be tricky and if its not done correctly, the coin will break and then youve got a worthless artifact. This was what happened to Rich Shelton, Bucks, UK. He found a nice hammered coin and wanted to hand it over to an expert to straighten it out. There is help out there, if you know where
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to look. Probably one of the best resources for identification and preservation of artifacts is no more than a few clicks away and its known as Minelabowners forum. Minelabowners (MLO) forum is a privately operated site by Gary Brun in Norway, funded by members support, yet its open to any and all persons who love to detect worldwide. MLO also has another great reference named MLO TV. These are user videos uploaded to the server, free of any charge, that provides a great resource for any detectorist.

After watching the video, Rich was able to, with patience, straighten out his coin.

Great going there Rich. Looks as though youve got a keeper with that coin. No expert needed this time!

Gordon Heritage, Ironhearted Gog, has recorded a video how he actually demonstrates how to straighten up a bent coin. Just click on the image to the right and watch Gordon as he straightens out a bent coin.

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Metal Detecting Clubs

REMEMBER CLUB LISTINGS ARE ALWAYS FREE!

NorEasters Metal Detecting Club

Hi Jim We recently changed the nights we have our meetings. The revised schedule is: The meetings are held on the Second WEDNESDAY of each month at 7:30 PM. In addition to August, October and December - there is no meeting in MARCH. Meeting location is in the St. Maurice Parish Church The room called Doran Hall The address is 358 Glenbrook Rd. Stamford, CT 06906-2198. GPS Coordinates: -73.522475,41.065862,0 This is the basement area of the Church. Our contact info is mrmetaldetector@aol.com Our web site is http://www.noreasters.net

Georgia Research and Recovery

We are a relic hunting association. Formed in 1976, the group is 2nd largest in the state with membership throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at THE DELKWOOD GRILL at 7:00 PM The grill is located at 2769 on Delk Road in Marietta, Georgia, USA. We are dedicated to the responsible hobby of preserving the past for future generations. The purpose of this club is to provide social, technical and recreational informational exchange activities that provide for the enjoyment of hunting and collecting items from the past and present. Visit our website: http://www.garrc.com/

Find Us On Facebook
(Click the logo)

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WHY PAY FOR A LISTING ?

YOU ARE THE BACKBONE FOR THIS HOBBY!

Daytona Dig & Find Metal Detecting Club

First Club Meeting of 2011. You dont want to miss this one!!! Where: 1 N. Beach St Ormond Beach, FL When: Tuesday, January 25 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Volusia countys only metal detecting club for over 20 years. Meetings the 4th Tuesday of each month. Two Yearly seeded hunts, Finds of the month, Raffles, Prizes and Detectorists of all ages.

Tuesday, January 25

Find Us On Facebook
(Click the logo)

Contact us at digging4nogood@gmail.com

MID FLORIDA HISTORICAL RESEARCH & RECOVERY ASSOCIATION

Mid Florida Historical Research & Recovery Association Metal detecting is fun and Were Diggin It

We meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month at: Gander Mountain. Intersection of I-75 And SR 40 at 6:00 PM
Officers Bill Beardsley, President beardsleytwo@aol.com Mike Sniegowski,Vice President mpsnig@aol.com Carol Seidman, Secretary cseidmank@hotmail.com Roger Ackley, Tresurer. ackleyr@yahoo.com
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Metal Detecting Clubs Coastal Empire History Hunters Association

We are a 2 chapter metal detecting group that meets in Savannah Georgia and Beaufort ,South Carolina We love history and enjoy sharing the hobby of metal detecting, relic recovery and preservation. We meet once a month at the Shoneys Rest. at I-95 & Hwy 204 in Historical Savannah Georgia at 7:30 PM every 4th Thursday.

Find Us On Facebook
(Click the logo)

Our meetings are open to all and we encourage visitors. The meetings include the chance to win a door prize just for attending, club business old and new, a displaying of the members recent finds. Following the meeting we hold a raffle for items that have been brought in as donations for the raffle.

The Stone Mountain Treasure Hunters metal detecting club is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and protection of the hobby of recreational metal detecting. The club is made up of people around the metro Atlanta, Georgia area. Visit our website for more info: http://www.stonemountaindiggers.com/
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Thanks for letting me know about the FREE CLUB POSTINGS. The Palmetto Relic Hunters Club meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Cayce Historical Museum. The Cayce Museum is located at: 1800 12th Street, Cayce, South Carolina Rudy Reves President Palmetto Relic Hunters Club

Palmetto Relic Hunters Club

North Georgia Relic Hunters Association

At North Georgia Relic Hunters Association (NGRHA) we further the enjoyment of responsibly collecting Civil War relics, old bottles and coins as well as other items from years gone by. The NGRHA is dedicated to preserving Georgia history through responsible excavation. The North Georgia Relic Hunters Association was formed in 1972 in partnership with the City of Marietta Department of Parks and Recreation. The association has approximately 100 members from all walks of life. Meetings are open to the public.

Visit us on Facebook by clicking the logo.

When: First and third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Where: Cobb County FOP Lodge, 2350 Austell Road, Marietta, GA 30008 Please visit our NEW web site: http://www.ngrha.com/

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Last Minute Finds My Famine Is Over!

by OmegaMike, Rochester, Kent, UK As some of you will know Ive been going through a bit of a blank patch as far as finds have been concerned recently. Im happy to report the famine has at long last come to an end. Went on a club dig today with Steve_T and several others. The temp didnt get much above freezing all day but it was worth the effort as I was rewarded with a coin from my wish list plus a surprise seal. At first I thought it was a token but Steve assures me it is a seal. Heres my Silver Denarius

Theres still so much more underneath to be found!

by Trotboy, Tiverton, Devon, UK

After this mornings extremity freezing on the Farm, I really just wanted to have some more finds, so went to the park as well! Usual bizarre mix, including one where I thought This signal is clear as a bell and lo and behold - it was! Another shilling and a very worn Victoria Penny (Barely make out 1873 on it) as well as some odd bits, I suspect the top left is a plumb bob, but not sure what the odd shaped object top right is, or the tiny brass bowl (Maybe the end of a cane?) Nice bunch though and still so much more in there its scary.
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A Big Thank You!

And all it takes is just a couple of pictures!

Relic Hunter has grown by leaps and bounds. The last issue was read by over 18,000 viewers, in 33 different countries, in just the first 3 days of its initial release! At first I thought that the server was running slow but then I was totally amazed when I check the stats and saw how many people had come to the site. Keep your photographs and stories coming. All it takes is a couple of minutes to snap off a few photos and write a brief description of what you found or how you found it. Youve got the whole world out there, hungry to read and see the stuff that you find. Im beginning to get regulars who enjoy e-mailing me their photos knowing that people are seeing and reading about their finds. Thank You!!

KEEP YOUR PHOTOS COMING!

E-Mail your photos to: Jleonard@jpl-designs.com For the next issue in March!
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