Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

BILL WYMAN LAUNCHES SIGNATURE METAL DETECTOR

“Metal-detecting is not just for anoraks or eccentrics; it’s probably the best and the most enjoyable way of learning about our history,”

Bill Wyman

For many of us, experiencing the richness of Britain’s history is done in museums, classrooms, libraries or over the internet. As life becomes busier and more advanced, the appreciation of our own heritage grows in importance. Now it’s possible for children and newcomers to be part of history, archaeology and anthropology, just by visiting fields and moorland. Bill Wyman’s Signature Detector is the 1st easy-to-use, light-weight effective metal detector available to people of all ages wanting to find their own piece of history.

The numbers of finds with genuine historical and monetary importance is growing rapidly in Britain, last year almost 58,000 finds were reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme the governing body of historical finds in Britain; a massive 45 per cent increase – 93% of which have been found by metal detectorsists. With this in mind, Bill Wyman, the legendary former Rolling Stone and passionate archaeological enthusiast, has created his own metal-detector to share the experience and thrill of historical discovery.

“Metal-detecting is not just for anoraks or eccentrics; it’s probably the best and the most enjoyable way of learning about our history,” says Wyman. “On any garden, country field, footpath, woodlands, beach or moor land you can find a huge variety of historical objects, all easily located with this high quality metal detector.”

The Bill Wyman Signature Detector is the perfect product, designed with one thing in mind – to make the experience of metal detecting fun, easy and accurate. To activate simply switch on and go. There’s no intensive training manual or geeky jargon to slow you down. As you head off on your metal-detecting adventure, you can select between field or beach settings to get the best coverage depending on the terrain. With your metal-detector turned on, a high-pitched tone is emitted to tell you if you are hovering over a good target like gold or a low pitch tone indicating a bad target like iron. Then all you need to do is prop the detector on its rear struts, grab you trowel and start digging!

“Everything you find tells you something about our history, it’s not just things that are very valuable that explain things about the lives of our ancestors,” says Wyman. “I’ve owned many metal-detectors over the years, but none are as simple to use and effective as my own Bill Wyman Signature Detector.”

Wyman recommends people of all ages to give it a go, as the Bill Wyman Signature Detector is ultra-lightweight and adjustable to cater for people of all ages, from children through to new enthusiasts. The Detector comes with a free informational DVD and is supported by an in-depth and easy to use website (www.billwymandetector.co.uk).

“Metal detectorists have been described by Minister for Culture David Lammy as ‘the unsung heroes of Britain’s heritage’,” says Wyman. “I hope with this new detector that more people take up the adventure and delight in personally discovering our nation’s history.”

Note to editors:

All finders of gold and silver objects, and groups of coins from the same finds, over 300 years old, have a legal obligation to report items to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Prehistorical base-metal assemblages found after 1 January 2003 also qualify as treasure. Please refer to www.billwymandetector.co.uk for full details of the laws covering metal detecting in the UK.

For more info, including test samples, hi-res imagery, prices, stockists and interview requests, contact Duncan at Brandnation:

Duncan Gowers
Tel: 0207 940 7170
Email: Duncan@brandnation.co.uk