Lowrance’s Fish-Lo-K-Tor, the good old days?

Lowrance 60s with flasher 1

It’s going to be short today, as these pictures speak for themselves. They probably date from the early 60’s, though even Lowrance (who provided them) doesn’t seem sure. But that’s about when the company’s portable flasher — wonderfully named the Fish Lo-K-Tor, and also known as the Little Green Box — really took off. According to Lowrance history, it eventually sold a million units! None of us, manufacturers included, pay much attention to the old stuff as technology hurtles forward, but I’m starting to get nostalgic about gear like this. I wonder if there are collectors?

Lowrance Fish-Lo-K-Tor



PS It’s amazing how interest in the Fish-Lo-K-Tor never seems to die. I’m happy to say that Lowrance sent over the original manual at the request of a commenter below, and you can download the 2.7mb PDF here. It’s a great read even if you’re just interested in the history of marine electronics and/or the basic issues of fishfinding.

Ben Ellison

Ben Ellison

Panbo editor, publisher & chief bottlewasher from 4/2005 until 8/2018, and now pleased to have Ben Stein as a very able publisher, webmaster, and editing colleague. Please don't regard him as an "expert"; he's getting quite old and thinks that "fadiddling fumble-putz" is a more accurate description.

74 Responses

  1. Marty says:

    Just ASKING HOW OLD WOULD THE MODEL LFP-300 fish lo k tor be and CAN I GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS UNIT LIKE A OWNER MANUAL MY DAD GOT THIS FROM MY UNCLE AND I AM A 41 YEAR OLD THAT WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT AND JUST KEEP IN MIND I just GOT A NEW VEXLIAR THIS WINTER AND LOVE IT BUT. THIS IS RIGHT UP MY TRAIL TO HAVE A OLD ONE AND REALLY WANT TO GET A HOLD OF A OWNERS MANUAL FOR THIS UNIT !!! THANK YOU I WOULD BE SO THANKFUL EVEN IF IT IS A COPY OFF A OLD BOOK TO MATCH THIS UNIT LFP-300 Lowrance Fish LO-K-TOR [email protected] Please Feel Free to e-mail me !!!!! Have a good day fishing the next time you go TO YOUR FAVORITE LAKE OR RIVER

  2. thomas freeman says:

    Have found a lowrance fish-lo-k-tor lfp300 in mint condition. What size battery does it use? Call me back soon 209 521 2500 thanks tf

  3. Beau says:

    can anyone tell me if this works for ice fishing?, i have used the vex before, but i can afford the vexilar- and have just ordered a fish lo-k-tor on ebay… please let me know.
    thanks,
    beau brewton

  4. Darin Gunderman says:

    I have some of the same questions, so if any of you received responses on the battery or if it will work for ice fishing, please let me know. I also have a newer unit, that looks similiar, but is brown and the case is made out of plastic. It looks like it takes the same battery.
    Thanks

  5. Mike Navarro says:

    I have an lfp-300 fish-lo-k-tor in excellent condition. what is something like this worth. could you advise me on this.

  6. dusty says:

    That lowrance p300me works like a charm! have one and it definately does the job still!

  7. Debbie says:

    Last summer (2007) I bought my son’s a
    Lowrance FISH LO-K-TOR AT A BARN SALE FOR
    5.00 !!! The old timer said it was hardly used and worked great it still has a tag (71004) on one side and (in a triangle on oppisite side102)
    It is in origanal box, with owners manual !
    As for what it is worth I have know I deal ??
    ( but really don,t care …my youngest son is 16 and I know he will want to use it for years to come ! ) Some thing,s really don,t have a MONEY VALUE Also owners manual says to use Magnum 44 batteries 6 volt.It takes two batteries ..it say’s other common batteries didn’t last but only 1 hour and these last 4 times longer than ordinary battery
    I hope this help’s some of your questions
    peace too you all !!
    p.s.
    I just realized it actually has the sticker that says ” push” , were the batteries go !! Debbie
    [email protected]

  8. Richard says:

    I bought one in mint condition. The only thing is that i have no idea what batteries to use or how to hook them into the unit. Can anyone help me?
    Thanks, much appreciated.
    Richard

  9. dave says:

    i bought a lowrance lo-k-tor and i dont know if the screen lights up until you put sonar into the water can anyone help me out. you will need 2 volt battteries for it and the just push up against the battery slide under the sonar reader

  10. Eric says:

    Hey I have a Lowrance fish lo-k-tor lfp-300d with no transducer. Is there anywhere I can buy one for it or is there a new model that will work on it? I can’t afford a new Vexilar or anything like that so I would like to get this one working again if I can. Thanks for any help you can give me.
    Eric

  11. STEVE says:

    I TO HAVE COME IN POSSESION OF A LOWERANCE FISH LO-K-TOR LFP-300D, AND I ALSO DO NOT WHAT TYPE OF BATTERY IT TAKES . CAN YOU HELP ME ?
    THANKS STEVE

  12. allen says:

    I have got this leather green box that says fish lo-k-tor on it. Someone gave it to me. It came with no instructions. So i don’t know what battery works it. The tag number on the box is 23885. Please send me some information on the lo-k-tor.
    Thank you,
    Allen

  13. Steve says:

    Any I dea where I can find a transducer?

  14. Andy says:

    Any 192 khz transducer will work. Go to Radio Shack and get a 1/4″ phone plug. Very simple to install. There are several transducers on ebay right now.

  15. dave says:

    The unit takes two 6 volt lantern batteries. I use the remington 6 volt re-chargables available at walmart for like $5.They are seal lead batteries so you don’t have to worry aout them leaking and they last for like 12 hours.They go in any way as long as the springs are facing the front of the unit.

  16. Anonymous says:

    I have the same unit and have used it since the 80s. Use good quality six volt square lantern batteries. Insert in the box with the springs toward the front.

  17. Mike says:

    I have a LFP-300 in mint condition and it works very well. Yes they work for ice fishing and you can even ping through some ice as long as the transducer is wet on the tip. We just drill a hole just big enough for the transducer and just hang it down. I have several manuals and even the sales broshure. Mine was made in 1965 and I think they were released in 1963. The tags that several people are mentioning are the original sales tags, keep them with the unit or at home in a safe place. Value? working units in good shape $20 – $60 depending on condition and manuals. But they work great and you should keep it and use it.

  18. Rick Miller says:

    Dear Debbie or Mike,
    Would there be a way that I could get a copy of the units manual. I’d pay the copy expense and shipping.
    I to have a little green box or Fish LO-K-TOR and would like to know more about it.
    Thank you,
    Rick Miller
    [email protected]

  19. Ray Nelson says:

    I have green box in working order with the transducer mount that I will sell it is in good working order. I used it for ice fishing in Michigan but have been in Alabama (not much ice) since 2004. I would like $50 for it

  20. Neal says:

    Andy,
    How do you know the Lowrance LFP 300D uses a 192 Khz transducer?….do you have a technical specification document?…just curious.
    Thanks,
    Neal

  21. Neal says:

    I just purchased a Lowrance LFP-300D and it has the original instructions, sales brochure, box and receipt $166 in year 1979.
    Indeed Andy’s note above is correct because the specifications show 192 Khz in the paperwork.
    Regards,
    Neal

  22. Rich Cochran says:

    Would anyone please email me a copy of the user manual for the LFP 300 FISH-LOK-TOR [email protected] Thank you very much for tour assistance.

  23. Kevin Vervoort says:

    Did you ever get a response to your need of paperweork for your Fish Lok-A-Tor, if so could you please forward them to me also….. hoping to get this working, functions but doesn’t show fish…..just the bottom……thanks Kevin

  24. KevinVerVoort says:

    If anyone has paperwork on this unit please email me at [email protected], we can trade phone #’s ore I can give you my address to send paper copies….. anything to get the manual and such…..thanks

  25. Brenda says:

    Trying to find 6V batteries now is difficult – so here’s a tip I’ll share – Amazon sells floating lanterns for under $4 packaged with a battery – you will need 2. Walmart carries the lantern pack as well for over $7 each. 6V batteries are rarely used now so they are expensive to buy. This is the cheapest option I have found – lantern becomes disposable but for the price of what the 6volts are going for its the most cost effective. Good luck.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Do you still want manual for green box. I have one and will send in mail. I enjoyed mine and hate to toss the booklet. [email protected]

  27. ken says:

    I purchased my green box in 1975 or 1976. It was readily available then at all tackle shops.
    I purchased a conversion kit and ran it off of a standard deep cycle battery most of the time.
    I found one at a Garage Sale in Mint condition two years ago. Never used! Got it for $10. I I still have my original green box and will display that one in my den. I’m tempted to use the new one.

  28. Anonymous says:

    hey people, all of you who are worried about batteries. the 6 volts are hooked up to produce 12 volts, so all you gotta do is buy a small motorcycle/atv/lawnmower battery for about 20 bucks, cut the wire leading to the battery area and splice in appropriate connectors for your motorcycle/atv/lawnmower battery. most batteries of this size use a slide on spade connector. takes 5 minutes and you can use a rechargeable 12 volt battery that will still fit inside the green box battery area. good luck. the red wire is positive and the black wire is negative, match those to the battery terminals and your in business. that buying lanterns for the 6 volt batteries online sounds like a horrible way to power a little green fishin box! 🙂

  29. Kent Kircher says:

    I have a LFP300 . It looks brand new and in the original box with
    the Operations Manual. The original cost was $179.95.
    Anhone interested in buying it? Just email me at
    [email protected].

  30. Doug says:

    Hello
    I bought a Lowrance Fish LO-K-TOR “Little Green Box” but can’t find and instructions online manual, or Pdf. If anyone has a copy please email me or point the way to its instructions online I can’t find anything.
    Thanks Doug
    [email protected]

  31. Randy Doyle says:

    I also just bought little green box and would like to find an owners manual. Can anyone tell me where to get one
    Randy

  32. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Cool. Lowrance saw these comments and just sent over the original Fish Lo-K-Tor manual in PDF. See PS above for download. It’s a great read!

  33. That manual is not dated, but it contains a Zipcode, which dates it to 1963 or later.
    However, the Fish-Lo-K-Tor dates from September 1959, after development since summer 1957. See the history here:
    https://www.igfa.org/Museum/HOF-Lowrance.aspx
    That really is amazing; the transistor was brand new technology then. The transistor radio is only a few years older.
    Compare the photo in the IGFA article to the photo at the top of this post. I’m guessing here, but I’d say that happy fisherman is Darrell Lowrance himself.

  34. Randy says:

    Ben, not seeing the “PS” above. Can you elaborate? Thanks

  35. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Randy, you may need to refresh your browser. It’s right under the photo of the Fish-Lo-K-Tor, link to PDF here:
    https://panbo.com/Fish%20Lo-K-Tor%20Operations%20Manual%20lr.pdf

  36. Bill Flock says:

    I have a LFP-300D green box lowrance fish lo k tor. Would like to know if it shows fish on the screen.Have no manuel for it.Seems like it only shows depth.

  37. Grayson says:

    Hey guys looking for somewhere i can get ahold of an old transducer for my green box…any ideas? Love the old unit please let me know. I would really like to use the unit again once it’s complete. I am literally dead in the water without it!
    Thanks

  38. gary says:

    do you have copy of lawrance lfp-300 manual

  39. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Gary, the Fish Lo-K-Tor manual that’s linked to above and below does not mention model LFP-300 but a lot of readers seem to think that they are the same thing.
    https://panbo.com/Fish%20Lo-K-Tor%20Operations%20Manual%20lr.pdf

  40. Jim says:

    Hi, the wire that goes to the male plug broke off right where it is attached (screwed down) to the plug. I see there are two wire inside the main wire, which one should I re-attach ?

  41. f hribar says:

    I know this post is old, but I just rigged up for 12 volt (2-6es) by unsoldering two wires from battery board and adding wire to them and put on alligator clips for 12 volt.

  42. Paul beckm says:

    How do you install the batteries?

  43. Bill frovik says:

    Hello
    Does anyone have an schematic for the lpf 300. I’ve been looking for a long time and called many shops.
    Thanks for any help
    Bill

  44. Podge says:

    I know your post is from 2008 but did you ever get a reply on whether the transducer has to be in water for the light to work and show depth. Does it have to be in 4 feet or more of water.

  45. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Podge, most any sonar transducer has to be in water to operate, preferably a few feet.

  46. Anonymous says:

    Ben do you happen to know if the strobe light on the unit will light up when you turn it on if the transducer is not in the water to give it a signal. When i put the batteries in and turned it on the strobe light in the dial spun around like it is suppose to and the battery indicator reads full charge but the light doesn’t light up. Do I need to take it to the lake and put the transducer in the water with at least five feet of depth from the transducer to the bottom of the lake? Thanks, Dave

  47. Anon, I would think it would NOT light up, as the flash is triggered by the echo from the bottom. Without an echo, no flash.

  48. Anonymous says:

    Two 6v batterys

  49. shelly miller says:

    could you please email instructions i just bought a 300f fish finder no transducer but i will get one pd. 1.25 good buy hopeing it works

  50. Albert Franchetta says:

    I have an old Lowrance flasher unit. It is a series 2000-2160. Is there anywhere that I can get a power cord and transducer for it?

  51. Brian W. says:

    The light should light up at the zero foot indicator without a transducer plugged in. I use mine for ice fishing and it works great! If you have some clear ice, spill some water on it, plant your transducer on the wet area, it reads the depth right through the ice. I find the depth I want this way before I drill a hole. It also shows the fish coming and going. Will I buy a vexilar any time soon? NO I Won’t!

  52. Clint Bridges says:

    I have one and the circuit board inside is marked 505B and is dated 1961. I need to replace the capacitors on it and wonder if anyone else who has an older one would post the values for the capacitors on their circuit board her for me. I especially need to identity the one marked C9 on the circuit board.

    Thanks

  53. Pat Heindl says:

    I am looking for a manual or PDF for Lowrance LFP-250 Fish-loc-tor

    • Michel says:

      I have this model and the manual so I will likely take photos of the pages as a backup.

      • Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

        Hi Michel and sorry I missed your comment, Pat. The PDF manual referenced at the end of my entry above is still on our website and should also download from this link:

        https://cdnkey-bb0b.kxcdn.com/images/Fish%20Lo-K-Tor%20Operations%20Manual%20lr.pdf

        It’s truly amazing how an entry that I wrote 16 years ago about an already old fishfinder still draws interest. The Fish-Lo-K-Tor rocks!

        • Michel says:

          Thanks Ben,
          My manual is dated 1975. I got my Lowrance from my aunt and uncle when they retired from their cottage. I recently mentioned to another fishing relative that I had an old Lowrance and he was so jealous, and said people would “die” for one of those old units, so now that I’m established at a lake finally, I will hang on to it lol. My manual goes a little more into depth on the fishing stuff, with 34 pages, so I will treasure it also. Everyone appreciates your 16 year old post about something three times that old!

  54. Earl Schmidt says:

    Does anyone know the history of the Lowrance flasher depth finders? I’m confused about so many people saying the “Little Green Box” was the first. I have a Lo K Tor, RED BOX, made by Lowrance in Joplin, Mo. A member of my family bought it in the late 1950s (maybe 58 or 59). Several years ago, a fishing museum wanted it for a display. — it still works with its transducer. Obviously, I do not believe the “Green Box” was the first. In fact, I’m not sure the “Red Box” was the first. There is such a lack of accurate information about the history of the flasher depth finder.

  55. Brian Weber says:

    The “Red Box” was the first, but… They had so many problems with it they recalled them and replaced them with the “Green Box”. For those that still have the Red Box, they are REALLY COLLECTABLE! I have seen people ask for over $300.00 for them on E Bay. It is a Valuable Museum piece of History. You are lucky to have that one.

  56. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Many marine electronics manufacturers have collected examples of what they’ve developed over the years, but to my knowledge, the amazing evolutions of the last 50 years are not being covered with real museum quality anywhere. I’d love to learn different, but in the meantime the small New England Wireless & Steam Museum keeps plugging along:

    https://panbo.com/new-england-wireless-and-steam-museum-a-must-visit/

    • Pat Walker says:

      Any idea where I can find a transducer? I bid on this gem in an auction and found several people were as interested as I. Just need the transducer. Thanks for any tips someone can give me.

  57. william Frovik says:

    HELLO ALL
    i am a 70-year-old in dire need of an lfp 300d green box. service manual with the schematic.i used to repair them when i worked at Fish Lectronic in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. my grandsons have been playing with them since they were young. and keep wanting to see them work. i want to try to repair the two i have so they each have their own..lol. i will pay good bucks for one.
    thanks for any info. 73’s n0mnb. [email protected]

  58. Joe Luciani says:

    I have a LFP-300 that will rotate but the bulb does not light up and the battery indicator is zero. Does the transducer need to be in water? Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the schematic?
    Thanks

  59. Brian Weber says:

    It should light up even without the transducer plugged in. I think your spinning light may be out. As for the battery light, I’m not sure. Is there a fuse inside.

  60. Anonymous says:

    Thanks I’ll check it out. Y5

  61. Don Witte says:

    I found a Warranty and Service Guarantee Form, one page 7.5″x10.5″ for a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor and have no use for it. But do not want to toss if someone else can match to a device. It shows some wear and tear. Does not have any model numbers, just picture of the green devise. Please contact me if you would like.

    • Pat Walker says:

      I would love to have that information. Still looking for a transducer.

      • Don Witte says:

        I can send it to you, but prefer to give to a person that has a Fish Lo-K-Tor. I am no asking for any payment. Let me know if you want me to mail to you.

        • Pat Walker says:

          I have a fish lo k tor I purchased at an auction this summer. I am also looking for a transducer. My address is P Walker 2263 Forrester Road Newbern, Tn 38059

  62. Brian Weber says:

    I have found the best place to find a transducer is normally eBay.
    Brian

  63. Anonymous says:

    I have one on Ebay for 12.00. The unit is broken but the transducer is clean and in nice shape.
    jluc2514

  64. Don Witte says:

    Pat, will mail document thi week.

  65. Gary says:

    Thank you, Ben, for this nostalgic trip down memory lane with the Lowrance Fish-Lo-K-Tor. It’s fascinating to see how far marine electronics have come since the early 60s. The ‘Little Green Box’ not only marks a significant milestone in fishfinding technology but also holds a special place in the hearts of many anglers and boating enthusiasts who remember it fondly. The fact that Lowrance sold a million units is a testament to its impact and popularity.

    It’s great to hear that there’s still interest in these vintage devices. The availability of the original manual is a wonderful resource for collectors and those interested in the evolution of fishfinding technology. This piece of history gives us an insight into the foundations of modern marine electronics and the ingenuity of early designs. I’m curious if anyone here collects these vintage models or has stories to share about their experiences with the Fish-Lo-K-Tor. It would be great to hear more personal anecdotes about this iconic device!

  66. ImoForPc says:

    Ah, the Lowrance Fish-Lo-K-Tor! I remember using that thing back in the day and loving every minute of it. The memories of spending hours on the water, watching the fish swim by on that small screen, still make me smile. It was a simpler time, but the good times were worth it. Thanks for sharing this blast from the past!

Join the conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *