History of the Metal Detector

In the beginning metal detectors, couldn’t pick up any thing deeper than one inch down. As time passes and inventors learn more, the capabilities of the metal detector have greatly improved. On July 2, 1881, American President James Garfield was shot in the chest, and the bullet was left behind. Alexander Graham Bell, tried using one of the first original metal detectors, in order to help locate the bullet. Alexander Graham Bell wasn't able to locate the fatal bullet that was left behind. The following day, it was discovered that the metal detector was confused by the metal coils located in the bed he was laying on. In 1925, Gerard Fisher was the first person to apply for and receive a patent for the first portable tool known as a metal detector. This was a revamped version of the one that Alexander Graham Bell used to try to help James Garfield with. Metal detectors have many uses. They are used medically to find metal in the human body.

Metal detectors are also used to help in the process of detecting land mines. They are also used for security purposes in air ports, court rooms, prisons, post offices, and other high security buildings in order to find weapons, like guns or knives. Miners and prospectors also were very glad to use the invention. Construction is yet another field in which the metal detector is very welcomed. In this case they use the metal detectors ability to search out steel reinforcement beams, pipes, and wires. Archaeologists, also use a metal detector to help in the findings of coins, and artifacts.

Many people have become interested in the use of metal detectors, over the last few decades. This has become a very popular hobby, all over the world. People are well known for taking metal detectors to the beach hoping to find money, jewelry, old coins, gold and many other great undiscovered buried treasures. Metal detectors have also become very popular among retirees. Some people actually have made a living from finding war relics or gold nuggets.

Metal detectors hit both ends of the price spectrum these days. You can get a commercial one brand new for around $100.00 or get a top quality gold detector for up to $5,000.00 to experiment with. They even have a cheaper version for kids, which I think is a great lesson being taught while they have fun learning what types of things are metal. The metal detector has been a very useful invention in our society. Many industries use this invention to save them a lot of valuable time, and make their work much easier.

Contributed by Mike Champion