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Reg Wilson

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Reg Wilson last won the day on April 22 2020

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location:
    Walmer central Victoria Australia
  • Interests:
    Prospecting Geology History
  • Gear In Use:
    GPX6000. GPX 4000. Polaris 4x4 & tow coil. (QED prototype)

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    reg_g_wilson@yahoo.com.au

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  1. Aureous, I think you worded that rather poorly, as some may get the impression that I tried to pass that nugget off as American.
  2. In a discussion with a mate recently about the amount of testing being done, or lack of, in regard to the public release of certain detector models, I recalled an amusing episode in this regard. Way back in '87 Bruce Candy asked me if I was interested in testing a new advance since his highly successful GS15000, which proved that an Aussie built detector could match it with the 'big boys'. We had discussed the possibility of a metal detector which would ground balance itself, rather than having to constantly re ground balance every time the mineralisation changed, which could be quite frequently in many Australian goldfields. Bruce had built a prototype of just such a detector, which was revolutionary not only in the new technology, which he had called 'ground tracking', but also incorporated a light weight plastic housing, unlike the previous metal box configuration used by most detector manufacturers. Naturally I jumped at the chance to be involved, and shortly after our phone conversation the 'new toy' arrived, which was much more compact and lighter than the previous 15000. It was important to put this technology to the test over many ground types, from iron stony rough bush to more open country. Months of testing and refining took place with the prototype going back and forth to Adelaide for changes and tweaking. While working in some open grazing country a problem surfaced that had both Bruce and I puzzled for some time. Occasionally a positive sounding signal would be encountered where the ground tracking would not tune out what sounded like a good 'deepish' response. This signal would disappear once the topsoil was removed but remain as a more faint hum when the hole was backfilled. There was no defining difference in the ground appearance where these signals were encountered and for some time this situation had me totally perplexed, and it only happened in the one bit of open ground. The conundrum, when finally solved, turned out to be sheep piddle. When a sheep relieved itself it left a false signal, which sounded just like a deeper target and would not tune out. Back went the prototype again, and when it returned the sheep problem had been solved. The rigorous testing that the GT16000 received turned up hundreds of ounces in its prototype form and went on to being a hugely successful breakthrough for Minelab, putting the company on a firm footing to become the world's best builder of metal detectors.
  3. Not so long back I had a farmer friend call me and let me know that he was pulling out a fence on his property and that it was crossing a line of gold that I had detected years ago. Would I be interested in detecting the old fence lining in the hope of picking up some possible gold that may have been hidden by the fence? Naturally I replied in the affirmative, and seeing how James was having his yearly time off from farming I asked my farmer friend if it would be okay to bring my good mate along as well? He said that if I vouched for him it would be fine. The percentage for each was agreed upon, so we loaded up the old van and headed south. The fence line was a disappointment as there was old wire everywhere and soon proved to be a nightmare that yielded nothing. Also an old dam bank that could have been a chance was another waste of time. An area that I had always thought a bit too far west of the main line of enrichment looked interesting, having the right mix of stone and soil, so I gave it a shot while James detected further north. A couple of small bits soon turned up so I decided to zig zag southward to see if the colours might continue. For a while it was only bullets and broken bits off farm machinery until there came a broad signal that whispered up from depth. I took a big deep breath and slowly scanned the suspect hum. It sounded good even though just a murmur, and too positive and regular to be ground noise, not changing at all no matter from which direction or slight ground balance change. Once through the top soil the gravel began to show and confidence grew, although I was not 'spending the money' until at a couple of feet the source of the signal was unearthed. The dirty lump in my hand by its very weight told me what it was. With a wash and weigh the gold was revealed as a pretty ironstone and quartz bit over fourteen ounces. The best bit yet for my 6000 and 11' coil. Who says these are a 'flypoop' machine? James and I then gridded out the run for a half kilo altogether, his best bit being a nice worn and clean 2oz lump. Needless to say, our farmer friend was surprised and pretty 'chuffed'.
  4. Thanks Steve for jogging the memory. Seems every time we get the book ready to go another lump turns up or another story, although it is getting to the stage where we must just get on with it.
  5. Okay, so the 6000 has a few things which could be improved, but it is still a bloody good detector. I for one have proved that it is not just a 'flypoop' machine. It will do me just fine until a better detector comes along. (maybe I just fluked a good one. I am pretty lucky with that sort of thing)
  6. I seriously doubt that the big loop concept is practical, as if it was it would have been used by the pro prospectors, and what's more Minelab would have been all over it like the tar baby over brer rabbit. If Bruce Candy could not sort out the bugs and shelved the project that tells me that it was not a 'goer'.
  7. Mick is the only one that I would ever consider in regard to modifications. A genuine 'good bloke'.
  8. Don't get too excited about about this this load of BS from Woody. The truth about 'his' big loop is that Bruce Candy brought a setup as described here to Maryborough in Victoria way back in 1990. I was at that time sharing a house with Ian Jacques and John Hider- Smith on a small property on the western side of Maryborough. We were testing the first PI detectors built in Australia when Bruce came up with the idea of a big circular loop that could be assembled over ground suspected of holding big gold. The idea being that the loop would be the Tx while the operator would use a Rx detector only. This seemed like a good in idea in theory but in practice it had more bugs than a Bangkok dormitory. After much perseverance the idea was abandoned, although Bruce may have patented it. It is laughable that Woody claims to have come up with this concept when it fact it was a far more competent person involved in the original idea. If this ever came to fruition it would be enormously expensive and a lot more complex than intimated in the video. A snowball's chance in hell of it ever seeing the light of day. If it were feasible, Bruce would have already developed it.
  9. Sad but true. It ain't what it used to be. 'Reality' TV shows have been partially responsible for blowing up the prospecting scene as an easy cash cow, attracting some pretty ordinary characters, (adding to the dodgy buggers already established) which makes serious prospecting a business where you need to keep your wits about you.
  10. There are old timers who regularly find good gold using a pan. The secret is knowing where to use one. Same goes for detecting. I know people who find good gold using a detector but wouldn't have a clue where or how to wash a dish. I also know detector operators who after years of swinging a coil have still not found enough gold to fill a tooth. Chasing specks in the grass is not my idea of prospecting, so I will just leave them for those who have nothing better to do with their time. Don't care if I go weeks without a colour, but get a buzz when I dig something worth the effort.
  11. I found a lot of gold using a Deep Seeker in the early eighties, but when I discovered a better machine I naturally made the change. Proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I will always use the best available regardless of brand. Even if the best detector was made in North Korea I would have no qualms about buying one as soon as I could get my hands on it. As a matter of fact I have used an ATX and was quite happy to give it back to the guy I had borrowed it from.
  12. Try a better detector. Garret was top dog in 1980, but things have changed since then.
  13. Will you guys please desist in callings specks nuggets. Buy a gold pan if 'dust' turns you on.
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