Cambridge Instruments Slide-Wire Potentiometer

[AlanBeckett]

I've got a Pye Resistance box - see attached.
It's beautifully made and very accurate.
Alan

           

[Shaman]

Hi, i know its not the same quality, but non the less not so common, i have a working PYE Component tester in green crackle finish, i guess it was made for a reason, i would guess as a test piece, the main draw back is to zero the meter you have to remove the brass scale....regards...Alan.

[Yorkie]

Those wire-wound resitances in the box are never going to drift high in value as would carbon composition ones Alan.

When all of this old gear is opened up to reveal the inside, often they look as good as when they were made, even though externally they may have been through the wars a bit. I have a Taylor sig genny, and externally it's not much to look at. Internally, it looks like it's just come off the assembly line.

I can see the attraction of test gear to those who collect it. The Americans made some wonderful stuff that goes for bargain prces, but the killer is the P&P, plus risk of damage in transit.

[AlanBeckett]

... i have a working PYE Component tester in green crackle finish ...

Alan,
Friend, brother, comrade, etc, etc.
One of these?
Alan

       

[Joe]

Now that's SERIOUSLY nice. The knobs look a bit Marconi to me.

Cheers

Joe

[AlanBeckett]

Don't think so Joe. That sort of knob were standard issue in the 40s and 50s.
Alan

[Joe]

Yes, you're right (naturally ). Aren't they on B40s as well?

- Joe

[Andrewausfa]

This is my Pye resistance box, exact same as yours on the inside Alan. I've put a wander plug on it for scale.

Unfortunately there's something wrong with the 8 thousands setting which I can't sort out. A story for another day.

Andrew

Actually, looking at yours again, I see mine has another terminal. So it isn't quite the same!

[AlanBeckett]

Ah, so. Where is the extra one connected to?
As far as I can tell all the 'Resistors' on a switch are identical and they get added up as the switch is rotated. So, if only 8000 is duff I think it must be the switch
Alan

[Andrewausfa]

Alan,

I forgot I owed you a photo. This is the inside of my box.

[attachment=4581]

The resistances all add up so yes, I too came to the conclusion the switch is duff. However, I was drawn at first to the broken wire connection which you can see at middle left of the photo. I've made it worse for the photo but when connected nothing reads correctly on the thousands range.

Andrew