What year did-----

[D&P-OR]

You already know what I'm gonna say--don't ya? ----So THAT'S how you got that name "Digger"--sounds like ya really worked hard to get it.--Was that Bill that did all the detectin & you all the diggin? ----Digger Randy----Randy Digger--either one of them has a "mighty good ring" to it!------You oughta hear some of the names I've been called when I'm diggin! -------Seriously though--38 years---most of us were young men then.---Where did all that time go?------Enjoy your detecting time folks--father time waits for NO ONE! -------Del

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[D&P-OR]

I remember that red button on the curved handle of the old Compass, Elton.----Wish I would have kept that detector.

 

[Grumpyolddiver]

I may not be that old (mid 50's) but after almost 40yrs of lusting after silver and gold in the ground and underwater. It seems as though I've run this poor old underfed body allmost to the scrapyard.I rememeber when I first started hunting (neighborhood yards) that a day that didn't have 2 or 3 IH's and 10-15 wheatys plus some kinda of silver was very rare.When the Whites 6DB came out the school that I've been rehunting lately gave up on a regular daily 4hr hunt 25-30 silver coins .And there were three of us hunting it for weeks.A friend pulled 14 silver quarters and I don't remember how many dimes to my 27 silvers and He beat me by several. I know the silver is still there but it is real deep.Six plus inchs.The etrac is one of the deepest detectors that I've used but I can only hunt for a couple hrs at a time these days.I find it harder to knock on doors as I get older to get access to private yards, but If you want the really good old stuff .Thats where you have to go.Because the parks are really getting cleaned out.I had an Aunt & Uncle that were Whites Dealers hear in Iowa and from the time I saw a detector there was not much else to hold my intrests(cept for Girls) and Man they were to Expensive.( Still got caught though) Old George could tell the best Whoppers you ever heard. They would usually start with "There Was A Horse Going Across The Desert,Saddle Bags Filled with Gold" Now What 10yr old could resist that???? Now when the grandkids come over it's " Do you kids want to see some Pirate Treasure" And I think I got em allmost hooked and in the boat.Of coarse Grampa has plenty of detectors.But I hope there's enough grampa for all Five ! ! ! Help Grama Help Grumpy

 

[B-Ruce]

Started September 12, 2007 with an Ace 250. Updated to E-Trac early last year.

 

[kraykepler]

For me, it was about 1978 when my dad bought a Heath kit machine. We built it together and I was hooked though I didn't find much of anything. It wasn't until about 20 years later that I stopped renting and borrowing better machines and got my first serious md.

 

[MAcle1997]

1980 for me. I saw an ad in the paper for a used Bounty Hunter. I think I paid $80 for it. I think that machine had an unlimited tuning range because the guy I bought it from turned it too far in one direction and couldn't get it to work again. I must have spent hours turning that knob in both directions trying to figure out what he had done to it. Once I got the tuning problem solved it worked fine.

Mark

 

[Elton]

I loved that detector Del......... but then again about every other coin was Silver.. mostly dimes at schools, parks , etc..LOL wish we could all go back to those days ..

 

[D&P-OR]

Yeah Elton, Compass was going "great guns" till their factory burnt down.----They were good detectors--maybe even "ahead of their time".--------Del

 

[mascard1]

man i just turned 50

 

[muggsc]

I got started in 1979

 

[mr.krayola]

i've been at it since 1989. i was 11 when i started with a whites. these days its minelab! Cool thread!!

 

[terrywl]

I'm going to jump in here too, even if sort of late in the game. 2007 with a DFX, 2009 with my ET.

 

[Derrelld]

The end of 2008. Started with the bounty hunter my Mom bought be for Christmas when I was 10.. The thing sat in the garage for ten years.. I fired it up one day in 2008.. dug like 5 wheats. and a merc out of my fathers yard.. I was hooked!

 

[cosmic]

76 for me with a Fisher 555D..