In the early years of metal detecting, people found hundreds of thousands of lost and hidden items. It’s true their numerous finds were partly due to the hobby being new, and the abundance of untouched areas waiting to be hunted, but the main reason for the success of the early treasure hunters lay in their detectors, and their skill in using them.
The story of the old-timer with the detector manufactured in 1962 running rings around the inexperienced hunter using the “state of the art“ machine is almost a proverb in detecting circles. During a diligent hunt of a foundation near Folsom, California, I was joined by an older gentleman sporting a pre-VLF, TR detector. After two hours of searching, he walked away with two Indian head pennies and a clad quarter, while I had to settle for one 1945 Lincoln
cent.
Without a doubt, an older machine in the hands of an experienced operator is a powerful treasure hunting tool. The secret lies in the operator‘s knowledge of his or her machine, and a person’s ability to interpret the little nuances of its squeaks and beeps. The older detectors are still capable of leading the way to unlimited treasure, if the operator is willing to put in the i time necessary to become familiar I with a machine.
This holds true for operators of newer detectors. The longer you work with it, the easier it will be to understand what it’s tying to tell you. A thorough understanding of your machine will lead to more finds, regardless of the age of the detector.