At the time of writing this the world of metal detecting is booming with new technology and design, not too long ago we could have found ourselves thinking, where do we go from here? The answer? A long way!
The metal detector has progressed enormously. In 1881 Alexander Graham Bell the famous Scottish born inventor hurriedly designed the first machine in an effort to save the life of the fatally wounded US president James Garfield.
In doing so designed the first ever electromagnetic detector and named it the “Induction Ballance” he hoped to find an assassin’s bullet that was lodged in the president, but his efforts were in vain.
1925 saw Gerhard Fischar invent the first ever portable metal detector. It’s uses were mainly for prospecting and de-mining but as people started to recognise the possibilities of being able to find metal objects in the ground, a new type of person stepped to the forefront, the Treasure Hunter!
Fischar continued to be successful throughout the years and Fisher Labs are still going strong to this day, but in the 1970’s a new kid was about to enter the block, Charles Garrett!
Charles Garrett was an electrical engineer and a keen treasure hunter too; he used his skills to build himself his own metal detector and from that moment on the wheels were in motion to see the start of the Garrett empire. Soon Garrett were producing what were to become the best and most popular metal detectors of all time, their design fielded new technology such as the first computerised metal detector and the first ever digital signal processing. They would continue to grow with the Garrett Ace range, a machine that left the other manufacturers in their wake, it was also a machine that helped many of us on our way into the wonderful world of metal detecting.
Garrett held that mantel for quite some time, but the ever-evolving world of technology waits for no man, and it was not long before other players stepped onto the field, enter stage left, Minelab and XP!
Minelab stole the show with their new machines, the new technology gave the user many more options and choices, they could even update the software to keep their machines finally tuned. The high end Minelab CTX 3030 was the benchmark that many others simply could not meet, its depth and signal processing were a force to be reckoned with. Garrett tried to keep up by launching their new Garrett AT range, but it wasn’t a match. Then into the mix came XP with their revolutionary XP Deus, this machine offered even more!
The XP Deus was the first all wireless machine, its wire free fully adjustable shaft and super lightweight build were a hit from the very start. This machine offered more user settings than ever before, possibly to the point of potentially putting some buyers off, as it may be considered to be over complicated. The superfast recovery speed and Deus’s ability to work extremely well in iron infested ground meant that it’s still a favourite to this day.
Minelabs CTX 3030 and XP’s Deus are without question very formidable machines, but to own one of these high end machines you have to pay high end prices, and for the vast majority of people who don’t have lots of disposable income they are sadly out of reach.
But all is not lost!
