If it was April I would suspect an elaborate April Fool’s joke, but this seems to for real – Arado are making a new metal detector!
The Arado 120B is the stuff of legend, almost 30 years later, the original Arado metal detectors sometimes change hands for sums of money above and beyond their original recommended retail price.
Hard to believe the Arado 120B was originally released in 1978! As a kid I always wanted the Arado 130, but I never had the money and later ended up getting the C-Scope 1220. And yes, I still have the C-Scope 1220 and it still works brilliantly!
Although Arado have returned to the hobby industry, I am no closer to achieving my dream of owning an Arado, the new Arado hobby model, the Arado 320, retails for around £1295. Still cheaper than an Minelab E-Trac, but still more money than I’ve got.
The Searcher Magazine reports that they will be publishing an independent field test report on the Arado 320 in the October issue. I for one can’t wait to see how the new Arado fairs against the Minelabs!
For some pointless but wonderful metal detecting nostalgia, be sure to check out this page on the Arado website, seeing all those old adverts brought the memories flooding back!
No related posts.
MY MATE HAS A ARADO 120B,WHICH HE WONTS TO SELL HE WONTS £50, IS THIS WORTH IT,I HAVE JUST RETIRED, SO WONT A HOBBY & THIS SOUNDS LIKE FUN.ANY INFO ON THIS MODEL WOULD HELP ME. MANY THANKS..STEVEN
The Arado 120B is a classic, a lot of people would probably tell you that it is too dated, but I, personally, think an Arado 120B for fifty quid is a bargain!
Where does your mate live?
Ken.
I have been metal detecting since the late 1960s, in the70s i had various detectors ,which i used with varying degrees of success, until Ipurchased arado 120b and a130 they were both brilliant no frills machines, that were with experience of use unbeatable, I had many wonderful finds ,with them, and working as an archaeologist they were invaluable on site, and on the spoil heaps,when they both developed faults they unfortunately were unable to be repaired,as the manufacturers ceased to give any backup or repair service, devoting themselves apparently to supplying the military,this of course left me with 2 expensive pieces of junk in a corner, hence I was of course delighted to hear that arado were returning into the public sector, i ,made enquiries to the firm regarding putting the old machines back into working order, and of course offered to pay for the work(I did this,as I now am moving to ruse in Bulgaria and wished to donate the machines to our local Archaeological team as they would be invaluable for work out there, funding ,is not good out there) Imyself was going to purchase one of the new models,I recieved the reply from arado, that it would be no longer viable to repair the 120b ,and 130, so I feel that although I stand by my opinion , of the working ability of the early machines,and most likely the new machines, Imyself am going along a different ,track,as although i am not short of money now Iwould not like the same thing to happen again I therefore leave you to form your own opinions on the matter
Hello Philip, Were they not able to repair them because the parts are no longer available? Did you try getting in touch with http://www.pentechnic.co.uk/ ? They might be able to fix them.
Yes I did get in touch with Pentechnic, but had no reply ,I seem to remember, when the machines started to go down on me Stuart of Spinadisc was able to do some repairs but it would seem that the yellow pack in the electronics was apparently a blocker and didnt allow interference subsequently ,I went for a Whites ZX Spectrum ,this is afine machine, however the dig no dig principle ,or straight forward ferrous non ferrous qualities of the arado are ideal for archaeological work, Irecall the fact that i could pick upthe smallest coins and even individual shot gun pellets , it has been suggested that a Saxon X1 is a similar format so will give one a test run,mind you looking through current mags it looks as if I am a bit out of touch, any advice or suggestions greatfully accepted.!!