Precision Apparatus Company Series 856 Multi-Range Tester

[Andrewausfa]

I bought this a few weeks ago. The meter was made by the Precision Apparatus Company of Elmhurst, New York State, USA. I understand it was a divison of PACOTronics Inc. and it seems the company were still producing test equipment through the 1970's.

The meter itself dates back to 1941 at the earliest and comes in a nice wooden box, with leads and instruction book with circuit diagram. This one has been 'upgraded' with more modern lead sockets, originally it would have had two plain black ones like the others.

Per the manual the meter ranges from;
Voltage 0-6kV AC
Voltage 0-6kV DC at 20k ohms per volt
Voltage 0-6kV at 1k ohms per volt
Current 0-12A DC
Resistance 0-60 mOhms
Decibels
Seven output ranges - 0-6kV
DC current measurement of leakage in electrolytics
Qualitative paper condenser tests

The meter is powered by a 22.5 and 1.5v batteries for the resistance ranges. The American Burgess Type 4156 22.5 cell is long gone and the previous owner had made up a holder consisting of 3 PP4 9v batteries. From a label on the case they've been there since 12th May 1973 - I was ten - and they still hold 19 volts! I will be making up a holder for seven 3v cells. Anyway, enough waffle. It's had a spruce up and appears to work OK and accurately up to 18 DC volts as well as the resistance ranges. I've not the heart to shove 6kV up it even if I could.

Andrew

[AlanBeckett]

Andrew,
I've got a 920 - see attached.
I'm slowly refurbishing it between jobs. In a fit of enthusiasm I got it shipped over from America. The panel is a bit disastrous and the meter glass was loose, but apart from that it looks pretty good.
Good luck with yours.
Alan

   

[Andrewausfa]

One word - Corrrrr! I do like things with lots of buttons. Restoring that panel looks like it may be tricky.

I'm popping over to the States soon for a few days of lectures so may take an extra case for some US test gear. Or maybe not. I can see that little mans face on the US border controls luggage scanner right now...'and what exactly is that box with lots of wires and a small battery in your suitcase, Sir?'

[Yorkie]

A bonny looking meter Andrew - aesthetically pleasing, functional, and nicely made. You mention PP4 batteries - a tubular version of the PP3 with a press stud connector at each end. Surprisingly, they're still available (at a high price!) from the Small Battery Co, albeit presently out of stock. Not relevant in your case as they weren't original to your meter anyway:

http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_226.htm

However, the PP4 was used in a lot of test gear, including Nombrex, and there's a scan of the battery artwork here for anyone who might wish to make a replica. (Joe will know that already, as the recent proud owner of a Nombrex sig genny):

http://nombrex.g8gon.com/pp4.htm

Of course, a PP3 does the job just as well, and the battery is unseen anyway.

[AlanBeckett]

Andrew,
I assume you're referring to my panel.
The problem is that the Valveholders are all installed from the front, otherwise I'd strip it. The Panel itself is 'etched and filled' so it wouldn't be a big job to refurbish it if only I could get at it.
Alan

[Andrewausfa]

Alan,

My meters panel appears to be screen printed (in black), I assumed yours was too. Is it stuck at the back of a shed then?

David, the previous owner had stuffed the PP4s into a very tight fitting tube and cut a PP3 connector in half to make the connectors. There's a tool clip screwed to the case to hold these and the 1.5 battery. All quite neatly done. The PP4 still have Woolworths price stickers of 18 1/2p. I was surprised they still had so many volts left in them but not quite enough to zero the resistance range.

Andrew

[AlanBeckett]

Is it stuck at the back of a shed then?

Andrew,
No, it's actually on the end of the bench. I've fixed the meter and I've had the switch bank soaking in successive doses of cleaner. I've removed a couple of add-on - aka soldered in - valve bases and tidied up some wiring. The next step is to reinstall the meter - that should be fun - and try it out. In between times I've been studying the diagrams. I've got lots of A3 copies which I've been colouring in in an attempt to follow how it does things. I don't think the Designer's brain worked in the same way as mine.
So, I'm hoping to get there in the not too distant.
Alan