Test Gear From the US

[AlanBeckett]

I think the EMI one is prettier
We did make some really good Test Equipment, but it's often quite difficult to track down.
Alan

[attachment=2717]

[Yorkie]

Hello.
Been working on the Pyramid CRA1 Capacitor analyzer.
New power lead and Red Neon Light 120 volts and 4 new 0.05 /1- 0.02 Capacitors.
Regards Kev

Thanks for updating us Kevin.

Looks in good shape! I guess some test gear has been worked hard during its life in busy repair workshops, but others only used intermittently. The magic eye looks bright and healthy, so that must be a good sign.

Given that it's from the US, I wonder if you are familiar with these cheapo plug-top adaptors:

http://www.ebay.co.uk:80/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400208029159

Just plug into 13A UK 3-pin sockets, and they have a US 120V output at 45 Watts. (375 mA).

David

[kevin.Hoyland]

Hello Alan

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I can send you the name of a good (Optican)
Regards Kev.

[kevin.Hoyland]

Hello David.
Thank you for the link.
Regards Kev.

[Bushbaby]

Hi All,
I'm appreciative of ALL types of test equipment whether it be from the UK, US, German etc etc. Some of the American test gear that has been shown on here is in the order of 70+ years old, looks asthetically pleasing and works well for its age.

The great majority of this test equipment was considered to precision and cutting edge for it day but reallistically by todays modern standards of electronics it could be considered 'junk'. However, this is (unless it suddenly changed) a forum for vintage gear (the clue is the forum title) and therefore, all electronic equipment, whether we as individuals like the equipment or not, need to appreciate that some has taken time and trouble by some of forum colleagues to getting it working again and appreciates its 'worth' to them.

I am sure that in the early sixties when some 'cheaper' transistor equipment appeared, this old gear disappeared by the skipful so this old equipment, especially in wooden boxes is becoming increasing difficult to find and I would think, will start to command high prices (just look at Avo valve testers for example or Sprague Cap Analyzers from the US!!!).

On a personal level I have now stopped collecting any more radios (well for the time being!!) and have commenced collecting test gear. I must admit that the Aerovox 75 that I recently bought is extremely well constructed and probably cost a small fortune in its day. It has one advantage (as with the Hunts CRB tester too here) that it can put a working load on the cap whilst under test which make it very useful for valve radio repairs. Perhaps this is the real point here, using the right test gear for our radio (and other valve equipment) repairs makes me appreciated this old test gear even more and gets a job done during the repair phase.
Isn't this what are all like doing or why are we forum members and adding posts about our 'finds' and acheivments.
Its great to have a blend of old and new, British and 'foreign' to keep out hobby alive!

Lets stop adding negative comments to what our forum colleagues like and want to collect - positive comments or if we can't do that then what I shall do now I've had my rant - 'shut up'!

Regards

Rob

[Yorkie]

Your AVO and your B&K are two very different animals, and each should be reserved for its most approriate application. Your AVO has an input impedance of only 20,000 Ohms per Volt, which is fine for checking vintage radios, where the voltages being measure are generally quite high, so the loading effect of plonking such a low impedance meter across the circuit won't be too great, and where the voltages stated in the service data were, as often as not, measured using an AVO 8.

However, as I and others have mentioned before, for use on solid state equipment, where the voltages being measured are sometimes a fraction of a volt, an AVO will, at best, give very misleading readings due to the loading effect of the AVO, and at worse, stop an otherwise operational part of a circuit from working - an oscillator for example.

On solid state stuff, best leave the AVO on the shelf along with radios of the same vintage, and use your B&K, which has an input impedance of several million Ohms. You also have the advantage of an analogue meter when peaking circuits, where you can see the needle rise then fall, rather than a DVM, which though it will have a similar impedance to your B&K, the digits bob up and down and are less easy to observe.

Quite apart from its obvious superiority to an AVO, as you say, your 'B&K 375' has a separate scale which comes into view for each range selected. Very elegant, very functional and nice and clear.

It will in fact be the best piece of test gear that you are ever likely to own. Guard it with your life!

I'm not knocking AVOs, which are held in great affection by many who enjoy collecting them and using them when restoring vintage radios, and were the standard test instrument for decades - not just multimeters, but other well made and robust items of test gear, notably valve testers and signal generators, but it's important to understand their limitations, notably the low input impedance of 20,000 Ohms per Volt. (1000 OPV for the Model 7).

A DMM for most purposes is a far better bet than an AVO, and though a DMM (Like a VTVM) will read a little higher than an AVO 8 when compared to stated voltage in service data, it won't be much higher. A DMM is also much more convenient for measuring resistance than the cramped non-linear scale of an AVO. A DMM is also much more convenient for measuring resistance than the cramped non-linear scale of an AVO.


Dribbled David.

[AlanBeckett]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Come, come young Kev, at least mine's in colour. Yours is still in Black and White
Alan

[Bushbaby]

When my boxed Weston 772 VOM meter finally arrives (its in transit at present) I'll post some pics of the differences between the American 772 version and the European Weston Sugamo 772E models.
I still believe that a lot of British equipment (this may well be the same for other goods too) suffered from the continued austerity measures following WW2 although doesn't appear to apply to the American counterparts.

I do beleive that much of things that were available (probably to the early/mid fifties) tends to be functional/enough to do a job rather than flamboyant (possibly not quite the right word here) than many overseas products.

Its interesting to note that the early 40s Aerovox 75 that I have uses original black cross head screws in its construction and the gauge of steel used in the chassis is quite thick, components used of high quality (for the age) which does indicate that perhaps raw materials etc., were much cheaper and more readily available than over here. Oh, how times have now changed!

Regards

Rob

[kevin.Hoyland]

            [Hello.
Its good to be Back.
Just in from the US is my Dubilier capacitor Analyzer Model BF-50.

[Yorkie]

Great to see the forum back up and running, and to see you back on Kevin, along with many of the 'old faithful!

The cap analyzer looks bonny, and on the face of it, in nice unmolested condition. Do you intend to test the components and replace as necessary, or just leave it in original unrestored condition?