Minelab Does anyone know what Minelabs first detector was called?

[wiley coyote]

I think it may have been called a Gold Seeker 5000. An almost identical copy of a Whites 6000D. About 1982. Anyone know for sure?

 

[grubstake]

Here you go, straight from the horse's mouth:

 

[wiley coyote]

Hi. Grubstake. I owned the three mentioned in that note. And, also a F.T. 16000. F.T. stood for fast track, which handled mineralised ground better than the G.T.16000. The F.T.16000 came out about a year after the G.T16000. The Goldseeker 5000 I was asking about came out in about 1982. It was identical to a Whites6000D

 

[Deano]

Here you go, straight from the horse's mouth:

View attachment 16720

I went detecting in 1989 with Bob White (who owned the Elm Motel in Bendigo) and Barry Maggs. Bob was using a GT 16000 and I was using a Fisher Gold Bug. I later used a GT 16000 that year. Someone showed me a Goldseekers 15000 but I cannot remember who it was? Then in 1990 I met Peter Bridge (a book publisher who brought in some of the first Garrett’s) in Perth and he did tell me they were a mob of ****** in South Australia who copied a Whites circuit. Then in 1993 I had a FT 16000 in WA. But my first detector was in about 1973 which was a Bounty Hunter III BFO.

 

[wiley coyote]

Hi Deano. That's what I was told also. It was exactly the same shape as a Whites 6000d hand held detector. All the controls were in exactly the same position, and it sounded, and discriminated the same also. Barry Maggs took me out on a training session after I'd bought a new detector in the mid 80s. I had a 15000 when they first came out. The handle kept snapping off it . Got it fixed a few times, under warranty. Then I converted it to a hip mount. It was a pretty good detector back then. I found a lot of gold with it, but, gold was so much easier to find back then. And bigger!

 

[PeterInSa]

We bought the 15000 Shaft and Belt mount units then the GT16000, I though the first unit was the 1200, but item below suggest the 9000

https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/1901-goldseekers-vlf-12000/

 

[lazypat]

I went detecting in 1989 with Bob White (who owned the Elm Motel in Bendigo) and Barry Maggs. Bob was using a GT 16000 and I was using a Fisher Gold Bug. I later used a GT 16000 that year. Someone showed me a Goldseekers 15000 but I cannot remember who it was? Then in 1990 I met Peter Bridge (a book publisher who brought in some of the first Garrett’s) in Perth and he did tell me they were a mob of ****** in South Australia who copied a Whites circuit. Then in 1993 I had a FT 16000 in WA. But my first detector was in about 1973 which was a Bounty Hunter III BFO.

I still have my old sd2000

 

[PeterInSa]

Re Peter Bridge (Then in 1990 I met Peter Bridge (a book publisher who brought in some of the first Garrett’s)

Didn't He/was involved in coming up with a Bridgeright gold detector?

Or am I confusing him with someone else

 

[grubstake]

I believe it's the same bloke. He imported and sold Garrett Deepseekers in the late '70's, which kicked off a WA gold rush. When Garrett in their wisdom decided to award sole Australian distribution rights to somebody on the East Coast, he decided to make his own machines and go into competition. I'm only repeating what I heard way back then, so if somebody else knows more/different, please correct me.

 

[Hippyty79]

The old Garrett store is next door to Hesperian print in Oats st, Carlisle, last time I went Peter was still there.

 

[IBGold]

The old Garrett store is next door to Hesperian print in Oats st, Carlisle, last time I went Peter was still there.

Minelab,s first detector was the Goldseakers 15000 the Goldseakers 9000 and Goldseakers 12000 were from the company that sold out to what would become Minelab the 9000 and 12000 were made in Brompton Adelaide I still have my 12000.

Regards, Ian.

 

[Bush]

I have a working 12000 from an exchange of a welding repair job yrs ago.
Fairly shore it was built in Silverwater or possibly where they were distributed in nsw.
Have been wondering if another coil may work better for it.