Test Gear From the US

[kevin.Hoyland]

[attachment=851][attachment=850][attachment=848][attachment=849]
2 more tester from the US 1 is a Century In Circut Selnium Rectifier Tester.
The other is a Century In Circut Condencer Tester.
Regards Kev.

[Bushbaby]

Nice one Kev
Keep them coming

Regards

Rob

[Shaman]

Nice pieces of test gear Kev...........regards...Alan.

[Yorkie]

Wonderful that such diagnostic equipment, (which must have abounded in the immediate post-war years of 'make do and mend' rather than today's times of 'chuck it away and replace it)' has survived long after it became obsolete. I dare say that a lot of it will have smply been skipped, or worse still, pulled to pieces for its component parts when it was considered that it had outlived its usefullness. You're obviously a very keen collector Kevin, and go to considerable lengths to build up your lovely collection. It's great to know that it's finding its way into safe hands, where it will be cherished, and each time a parcel arrives, you must be overjoyed!

Thanks for sharing it with us - more of the same would be great!

David

[kevin.Hoyland]

[attachment=2199][attachment=2198]Hello.
This Pyramid CRA1-Capacitor Tester-Analyzer came this morning from the US. Some time back i was talking with Bill Benson on the Antique Radio forum you may know him as Old64goat on You-Tube he put a post on You-tube-Testing Capacitor-2 with this Pyramid CRA-1 and he says that it is the best tester he has. Bill helped me with the manual. So in six weeks when i can use my left arm i will change all the CAPACITORS in the CRA-1 and see how it works. I have just put this Arevox-75 Capacitor tester made in the US in 1938 so you can see how the test gear was changing from 1938 to 1956 when the Pyramid capacitor tester was made.
Regards Kev.

[Yorkie]

Another splendid piece of test gear in pristine condition 'from the other side of the pond' Kevin - I just love the eyelid over the magic eye!

Thanks for posting it.

Glad to see you on the forum, and hopefully, steadily on the mend.

Kindest regards,

David

[kevin.Hoyland]

Thanks David.
Regards Kev.

[Skywave]

I know that this may sound unpatriotic, but over the years I have slowly grown to appreciate the excellence of much (not all) of the electronic test equipment that comes out of the USA. Yes, I know that the AVO 8 is a timeless masterpiece, and that Marconi produced some wonderful quality bits of test gear (prior to the 1980's, that is) - and a few other U.K. firms did as well. But say the word "oscillocope" to most technicians & engineers, and the knee-jerk response is invariably "Tektronix". And in the general T & M arena, the phrase "HP" is frequently heard too.  ( I just   HP test gear!). And the names of quality communications receivers are legendary: Collins, Hallicrafters, Hammurlund, National, RCA, to name just a few. (Note: even the famous Racal RA-17 is based on the Collins 51-J receiver). Then there are the almost 'household' names like Amphenol, Amperex, General Electric / General Radio, Fluke, Zenith, etc. The one characteristic that seems to be so characteristic of much of USA kit (again, "much", not "all") is that it does not seem to have been 'built down' to a price, but rather 'built up' to the highest standards that were possible - but to still make a profit via its manufacture.

My chief regret, however, with all this is that when I do see such highly-desirable bits of electronc kit that is located in the USA for sale on e-bay, the P & P charge puts their acquisition way outside of my pocket! :@

But one day . . . one day . . . . when my ship comes in . . . .

Al.

[Bushbaby]

Hi Kev,
Great piece of test gear and a good acquisition.

I also agree with Al with regard to high build quality too.

Its a pity that to obtain this type of equipment that its only source is indeed the US and will incur high postage costs!! I think its a judgement call to how desirable something is to justify the postage even if the cost of postage is greater than the test gear.
Just think though - as the rarity of the US gear increases (think of the spiralling costs in UK of AVO valve testers over the last couple of years!) so the cost will in time will be more than the high postage faced at present, so it could be said that this is the right time to be buying from the US.

Regards

Rob

[kevin.Hoyland]

[attachment=2716][attachment=2715][attachment=2714]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