Old Metal Detector used in the 60"s.

[TomB]

Thought you guys would like to see the metal detectors that were used in the early 60's.
This is a Metrotech 220 metal detector. It operated on a 9 volt battery. There was no
on/off switch as such. To turn the detector on you plugged in the headset and unplugged
it to cut it off. To ground balance the machine you used a wooden popcicle stick to turn
the screw on the coil head. When you could no longer hear the tone, the detector was
ready for use. The sensitivity dial was used to determine the size of the object under
the coil. A lead bullet would show a 5 and a brass buckle would show a 20+. The
trouble was there were so many objects in between these two items, one had to dig
every signal in order to not miss something good. I receovered several U.S. buckles
at 9" but most items recovered were in the 1" to 6" range.

TomB
Should have added...A piece of aluminum pipe was used to make a handle and covered in foam. It was then attached to the detector handle and shaft. The small handle would kill your wrist after a short time hunting.

 

[Anonymous]

That is really neat. It looks like it's in great shape. Thanks for sharing.

 

[John LA]

n/t

 

[Reconmarine1984]

My father used one way back in 1960s, and i was digging relic for him. It was stable machine, and we found lots relics. I just laugh we I see people post that new machine are heavy. Chuck Acton

 

[ivanll]

n/t

 

[nugget71]

I must say 9" on a belt buckle is awesome and what a name "Metrotech" you gotta love what each decade into the future has given us and who knows what the next 10 yrs will bring. Thanks for sharing I love things of the past.
Cheers!

 

[Beale]

That is very cool! Than you for sharing, Beale.

 

[TomB]

Thanks everyone...was hoping you would enjoy the post.
I sold the Metrotech I had in the late 70's. Last year while walking through a flee mkt. I found this Metrotech 220 and the guy was asking $20.00 bucks for it. I purchased it and found that it still worked. I contacted Metrotech, who are still in business and talked to an employee who remembered the 220. He then told me that he had one new coil left for the 220. I purchased the new coil for $50.00 bucks and now the machine is like new. Finding this old Metrotech rekindled my interest in metal detecting which led to my purchasing the X-Terra-70.

 

[xwyokid]

You know we put up old rifles on the wall, why not an old detector??

 

[Boris]

Wouldn't it be great if we could take an Xterra-70 and sneak back into the 60s for a month or two?

 

[TomB]

Wouldn't it be great if we could take an Xterra-70 and sneak back into the 60s for a month or two?

Oh My Boris....the thought makes my mouth water.

 

[hogedog]

It's better than an old mine detector! Nice shape, and well cared for. It's where We all started and were happy with what we had!


JFK

 

[nero_design]

OMG! You beat me to the post!!! I just found one of these Metrotech's in the roof whilst cleaning last week!
The original "bag" is a Samsonite with a foam insert which is in the scrap heap to be thrown out since it's all rusted and busted.
The detector is in great condition though.

Original coil is bright yellow. Will post a pic for you to compare.

What an AMAZING coincidence!

Cheers,

Marco

 

[TomB]

OMG! You beat me to the post!!! I just found one of these Metrotech's in the roof whilst cleaning last week!
The original "bag" is a Samsonite with a foam insert which is in the scrap heap to be thrown out since it's all rusted and busted.
The detector is in great condition though.

Original coil is bright yellow. Will post a pic for you to compare.

What an AMAZING coincidence!

Cheers,

Marco

Lol Marco...the coil was a bright orange...I paited it black. TomB

 

[nero_design]

Here you go! Made in 1967 I think. Very interesting to see how the unit folds down. Even the coil cable is concealed within the shaft!

I thought this might have been the last of it's kind. Apparently not!

Cheers!

Marco

 

[lazyaussie]

great finds some of those old detectors are fetching a pretty penny on eBay i was going to collect a few & put em on the wall until i saw the price they"r going for now i think i"ll stick to the new ones.

 

[Jesse W. McComas]

That is the first Metal Detector my Father bought me back in 1968 when I was 15 years old. I still have it and it does hang on my Wall as a memory of what got me in this hobby so many years ago. I see it every day. Oh, and it still works. It also came with an external speaker that you plug in to the headphone jack if you did not want to use headphones. Thanks for bringing this topic up. The price back in 1968 was $125.00 Used. I would not part with if for any money in the world. HH...Jesse.

 

[TomB]

Marco...The only difference I see in our two detectors is yours is a Metrotech 220S made in 1967 and mine is a Metrotech 220 which I purchased in 1964. I do remember a friend who had a Metrotech with a yellow coil. My first one was black and the coil that I recently purchased was bright orange, which I painted black.[attachment 114862 Metrotech005f.JPG]

Though I would add a pic of the headphones that came with my detector.

Thanks Marco for the pics TomB

 

[papazitro]

I used to detect with a buddy back in the early 70's he found quite a few rings with it will admit it did look odd when he was trying to pinpoint the item. Talking about old, i used a machine built by compass called MIGHTY MITE, boy i would sure like to know if anyone out there has one they would want to sell me, great nastalgia thnks

 

[holder31]

Hi...while looking through some "junk" at my grandpa's (what a treasure trove he has!!) I found an old Metrotech 220a. I have always been interested in metal detecting but haven't the funds to buy one. I took the metrotech home added a 9volt battery and viola! it worked. They don't make things like they used to. I hope I don't get laughed at too bad when I haul this beast out!!