Jim McCulloch

Walt, the book and cheat sheet is $9.00 postpaid. Send the payment to my PayPal account "Ophirau@gmail.com". The PM me your snail mail address. Thanks!

Steve, I know exactly how you feel. I myself was a White's user for 37 years, and for 30 years I was one of their largest dealers. I'm still mentally numb about them going out of business. Yesterday l said my "goodbyes" to many of my friends at Whites. What a loss. Oh well...

I still have a few of the 6" round concentric coils for the Goldmaster 24K left in stock. In my opinion, this is the best coil for the 24K. If you have a 24K, but don't yet have this coil, you really need to get one before the supplies run out. My package deal is this: the 6" 24K concentric oil, coil cover, White's Digmaster digger with sheath, an autographed copy of my book "Advanced Nuggetshooting with the Goldmaster 24K," and my 24K optimal tuning "cheat sheet." All of these items, brand new, for $175.00 postpaid. Email me at ophirau@gmail.com, or call me at (760) 401-7514.

One of Southern California's premiere beach hunters, AND electronic prospectors, was Ray Gailbreath, aka "Randsburg Ray." He made his living detecting gold jewelry from the beachs, and gold nuggets from the deserts, of Southern California. One of the most interesting stories Ray told me was when he was detecting at the ritzy portion of Malibu Beach. A very distinguished-looking English butler in a suit came up to him and asked him "My good man, might that machine find a gold medallion on a gold chain?" When Ray said "yes," the butler escorted him to a private section of beach in front of a really pricey house, and asked him to find the medallion, for which he would be well paid. Within a few minutes he found a gold medallion. The butler told him that wasn't the correct one! Ray happily pocketed it. A little while later he found a gigantic medallion. It was a 1952 coronation medallion of Queen Elizabeth II. He presented it to the butler, who said "His Lordship will be well pleased." "His Lordship" was nobleman whose mother had been one of Elizabeth II ladies-in-waiting. He gave Ray $2,000 as a reward.

Creeping Senility. That's one of my favorite garden flowers! Once, while detecting at Randsburg, I got a signal, immediately adjacent to a fresh drywash pile. Laying there was a 1/2 oz "stubby" glass viaI. Inside I found a tiny little note which read "Ransburg," as well as about 7 grains of gold dust. I wish I could have returned it to the owner...

Way cool my brother. I totally agree.

Thanks, Simon, but I am 67 and have been battling Parkinson's Disease for 8 years now. When I told Jeanie about the probable closure (not a total certainly yet) she happily exclaimed "You an retire now and enjoy your life!" Maybe so...

Sad indeed, especially for someone who has been a user for 37 years and a dealer for 31. Yes, many factors contributed, but not to be overlooked are the negative effect of counterfeit machines, produced "you know where." I cannot tell you how many times I lost genuine GMT sales when the potential buyer opted for a $150.00 machine from overseas. Often I got vilified for asking an "exaggerated, ripoff artist" price, but a month later, when the $150.00 counterfeit arrived, the victim "cried bloody murder". "I'll never buy a White's detector again!". But the problem was that it WASN'T a genuine White's product.

I clean mine with Aqua Regia. 😉

Reminds me of a similar story Woody Woodworth told me about his first foray with a metal detector in 1977 at a location he had personally drywashed in the 1930's. First signal was a rusty 1930's-era tin can. "Probably one I discarded." The next 5 signals were also cans. Signal 7 was a stunning 3.5 ounce chunk of the Most Happy Yellow Metal. Yeah, this post just might revive the "dig 'em all" debate. HH Jim

Stunning find, congratulations to Ron for recovering it, and, especially for his perseverance in digging that deep. I guesstimate that it has about 25 square inch surface area (7" by 3.5+") and with 17 ozt AU content, and only 16" deep, the ear-bashing Ron likely got could have made him. conclude it was large iron trash. But, no, he kept at it. Well done!

Ok Simon, what's the verdict?

Wow. What a coincidence.

Although I've personally owned over 100 machines in 37 years of electronic prospecting, I would consider the chestmount version of the GMT to be my (former) favorite. I totally wore one out, total poundage of AU found with it now faded into memory. (Actually not completely forgotten, since much of it was converted into real estate.) My second GMT-BM, far less used, with only about 1350 nuggets to it's credit, is now owned by Glenn in CO. Glad to know that it is still being used. Which means that my new favorite is the Goldmaster 24k. Only drawback is that I wish it was chestmount. HH Jim

Whoo hoo, Simon, thanks for sharing your adventure with us!