Recent Discovery

[markg]

A guy found this detector in a wood pile at a local factory. Looked like it had been there for years, weathered badly, shaft was broken and coil was busted. As a challenge they gave it to me. Two days later I installed batteries and low and behold it came on. Couldn't find a manual so I went into experimental mode and can say I was impressed with the air test (for a China product).
To start with I thought it was a single tone machine, dime and nickel gave a high tone, but adjusting the ground balance and the discrimination revealed attributes that reminded me of the TDI. Now a nickel gives a low tone and a dime remained a high tone.
Next I took the machine to my test garden of over 10 years and was shocked to hear a repeatable response of my deepest targets.
Please note, I’m not promoting China products, only indicating what I found.

There is one adjustment on the side that I’m wondering about not sure what it might be.
Would also like information about this machine, the internet really doesn’t indicate when they were manufactured or much detail.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Interesting. Never seen that particular machine before.

 

[JJdigs]

I have seen one forsale on the bay last year...I almost bought it but held back... Nice score

 

[vlad]

did it come with fortune cookies?
China, really? I read they were from Europe years back.

 

[markg]

So curious I took the blasted thing apart and it seems more complicated than I first thought.
Would like to know something about this little box.
Sensitivity maxed, discrimination just clicked on (yes it clicks on) and ground balance lowest possible setting.
The machine can give an audio report on my deepest test garden target (8" nickel in Virginia dirt).
I've tried many other machines on this target and the best without any doubts is the White's TDI SL (PI).
The SL has no issues until I increase the delay or ground balance past 8.
The White's V3i with stock 10" will only give and audio 1 of 5 sweeps. (very disappointed)
The F75 somewhat better at 3 of 5 sweeps. (expected)
Virginia red dirt tends to rob from 1/3 to 1/2 of a VLF capabilities.
But this machine is in between the two.

One neat feature of this China product is you can increase the discrimination to the point where a zinc penny gives a low tone and a copper penny remains a high tone.
Puzzled why a cheap built can perform so well.

 

[vlad]

.........with target i.d.?