How old is BountyHunterMetal Detectors?

[ikandigit]

I was wondering if anyone knows when BH started making MetalDetectors?......I think they were made in Tempe AZ. in the beginning,I guess thats where they started???,but what year?

 

[foreverRich]

They started either in 1974 or 1975. One of the first machines was the Red Baron.

 

[nugget]

The Red Baron, my mate borrowed one from his boss back in 1996 (i think from memory), we turned it on and it burnt, smoke flew out of it everywhere! Total write off! Looking back, detectors sure have come a long way both in comfort of use and tech! Live your dreams! HH regards Nugget.

 

[ikandigit]

Thanks for the info.........HappyHunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[foreverRich]

My first VLF detector was the Red Baron. I found a lot of coins with it and "TONS" of trash. Ah, those were the good old days. Having one of the old units makes you appreciate how far the the quality of detectors has come over the years. If i can just live long enough to see them identify and RECOVER the coins.
Till then I guess I will just keep on diggin and being surprised at what comes out of the hole.

 

[BH-LandStar]

I want to put a good sized electro-magnet on the coil to just suck the goodies out of the ground...lol...

Happy Hunting,

BH-LandStar

 

[syrknight]

newbie here--just got a bounty quick silver--went to try it today at a old cemetary next to where I grew up--found some 58 and 60 pennies and a lot of old metal pull tabs--so I guess I am doing something right--learn as I go

 

[ikandigit]

Hey syrknight sounds like you have a good machine,..I had bought a new QuickSilver before x-mas and sold it just before x-mas so i could buy a TimeRanger with accessories.I didnt even have a chance to use it,but it looked like a user friendly machine....Good Luck and ...................HappyHunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BH-LandStar]

Keep digging them pull tabs...One day, one of those will turn out to be a nice gold ring with a fat diamond in it...I am still waiting to find mine too...lol

Happy Hunting, and Welcome to the group...

BH-LandStar

 

[Pioneer_101]

Hi.. I to are new in the forums. But my detector is a Pioneer 101. I really don't know how old it is, but it still looks new and is in excellent condition, does the job for me. I go the the beach a lot, especially, just after a big storm. I to may find the "BIG" find someday as Fisherfisher did, but I got to do it from the shore...LOL I have found about 100 pieces of fine old coins and several gold rings and chains, among other metals and lots of PULL TABS....

 

[JB(MS)]

Originally Bounty Hunter was PNI (Pacific Northwest Instruments) and was located in Klamath Falls, Oregon. SDC (Space Data Corp) purchased PNI sometime around 1970, give or take a couple of years, and moved the company to Tempe, Arizona. George Payne designed the first manual ground balance circuits, the first motion detector and the first discrimination circuits based on phase shift for the Red Baron series while working for them in Arizona. Don't know if it was before or after they were sold but PNI was renamed Bounty Hunter. Later, Bounty Hunter was purchased by Teknetics and moved back to Oregon. When Teknetics went under in the late 1980's, First Texas (Techna, Inc. before changing their name) purchased Teknetics and the Bounty Hunter name. Prior to the Teknetics/Bounty Hunter purchase First Texas manufactured a line of low end detectors named Techna. I had a couple of Techna's, including a Smart Tracker XR 8 that was once their top end model, and the performance was terrible compared to the major brands. Teknetics made the highest performing detectors on the market before they went under, all designed by George Payne. The Mark I set the standard for current detectors, the Turbo SST is still one of the deepest detectors around and the Big Bud and Big Bud Pro were outstanding performers that are still sought after. Too bad First Texas chose the low road for so many years instead of building on the technology they purchased from Teknetics. Can't fault their current detectors though. Link is to field test of an upgrade of the Time Ranger I was asked to do a few years ago, photo is of a First Texas Techna I owned, for a very short time, a lot of years ago.
http://jb-ms.com/bh/

 

[ikandigit]

Thanks for the excellent info. JB[MS].I wish my printer worked,as I would definitely print your input for my future reference. HappyHunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!