Found A Different Kind of Relic

While going through the vast accumulation of "stuff" at my parents' house recently I discovered this invoice for the Garrett metal detector that my dad bought way back in 1968! I must admit that I was somewhat shocked at how much they paid for it, they were on a limited income and that was a lot of money to them back then.

Dad says he ordered it from an ad he saw in one of the treasure hunting magazines. As I have mentioned before, I still have that metal detector with both coils and the instruction manual. I put new batteries in a few weeks ago but I could not get it to turn on.

Just thought I'd share. This had to have been one of the very first Garrett metal detectors!

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That's cool. My dad has one of the older models and it still works. I had him try my AT Pro a bunch of years back and he couldn't believe how deep coins could be.

That is an interesting relic there! You should post a pic of the detector too. Imagine what you could find back then if you had your eTrac in the late 60's? Heck you could go to the bank and get rolls of half dollars and you would be guaranteed to get all silvers in 1968 (was 1968 the last year for 40% silver halves?).

Some pix of the detector and associated ephemera.

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So interesting, Tony! I remember using mechanical type writers. Did dad make any cool finds? What was your first detector?

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Originally Posted by OxShoeDrew

So interesting, Tony! I remember using mechanical type writers. Did dad make any cool finds? What was your first detector?

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My first detector was this one! I kind of assumed possession of it after my parents lost interest. I don't remember any cool finds with it other than an Indian Head Cent which my mom and dad got very excited about for some reason. Other than that just some common coins but many of them silver.

My second detector was a Whites Coinmaster 5000/D. Man, that thing wore your arm out! I bought it used in 1981. After that I bought a Fisher 1260-X and the quality of my finds increased dramatically.

Those are some cool pics of that machine. That off center concentric coil is interesting. I have to wonder since you have all of that paperwork and the detector looks in great shape (other than not being able to turn on), if it is worth today what your Dad paid for it in 1968?

Can't say I ever swung my coil over one of those babies. Sweet find Tony! That wasn't cheap money back then either.

Nice Drew. Save it for another 50 years and your kids can take it to some future edition of Antiques Roadshow! You've got the invoice and all the documentation - so, you know, it may be worth more than $189 by then!

John

Great posting. I still have my Garrett Groundmaster from the early to mid '70's. I borrowed it to a friend to find tree nails when cutting and it has not worked since. Still, it is nice to hang on too. WD