What old(seldom) piece of Test Equipment do you own? Nostalgic thread!

[SG-1]

I would think for residential work you would measure the service before turning on the branch circuits.  I suppose that if you did this day after day, your faith that everything is ok would grow.

I had not considered neon lamps.

[LeoTech]

Well, I would even as a residential electrician use at least one multimeter. Especially for continuity measuring, and making sure the power is off before i poke around the outlet, power inlet, breaker array or whatever have you.

Lars

Sent from my E5603 using Tapatalk

[vk6zgo]

My other old voltmeters, a DMM, & ammeters.

What was being an electrician like back in the day?

These old instruments were only found in labs.  Few people could afford such luxuries.

I am thinking that early electricians used bell ringers & light bulbs for troubleshooting problems in homes & commercial buildings.

Most of the Medium Wave AM Broadcast transmitters I worked at had at least some of that sort of gear.

There was a "Sub-Standard" AC voltmeter at one place, which we used to set the PA tube filaments accurately.(It had a big, varnished wooden box, with a spirit level to get the movement exactly level).

We had, at that time, several large manned country stations, which were similarly equipped.
They had another couple at the Maintenance Depot, which were taken away to unattended sites from time to time

[Chris-IP5]

Hello forum!

Old? Some of my kit might be as old as I am... this meter is definitely older than I am!

I have a Taylor Electronics Valve Voltmeter Model 172A.

Inside is 3 valves from Brymar 13D8 (double triode), CV283 (double diode), and another that looks like a CV283 (markings worn off).
The valves are marked "Made in England".

I'm not knowledgeable about valves maybe some of you have more info?

In the nostalgia department I've got also:

Eagle AG.71 audio generator
Leader Electronics LMV-86A AC millivoltmeter
Elektro Automatik EA-7060-025 PSU
Feedback FG601 function generator
Heathkit oscilloscope OS-2
Heathkit RF-1U RF signal generator

Might get snapping them later

Best wishes,
Chris

[schmitt trigger]

Scope made in early 70s. I still ocasionally use it and hate this thing, it weights about 20 kgs.

I LOVE Soviet-era electronic equipment.
Would it be too much to ask, to take a picture of the inside?

[MarkL]

I have an old Spellman 15kV @ 4mA tube power supply who's main attraction is a high frequency air-core transformer.  I think it's circa early 1960's.

Besides being fun to repair, I've only used it once when a client asked for destructive surge testing on a third-party device.  Ok, you got it!


EDIT: Hmmm... I should probably add that the testing was not as uncontrolled as that statement sounds.  This supply has surprisingly good load regulation from 0 all the way to 15kV, and there was other circuitry involved...

[schmitt trigger]

An Eico 628 Vacuum Tube tester.

This one is from my late grandfather. He liked to keep things in good shape. It is pristine.

[Tony_G]

That is just fantastic.

TonyG

[joeqsmith]

This is my model 90651, Millen grid dip meter.   I was using this old relic this weekend.   The custom coil allows me to use it down to about 800KHz. 

[joeqsmith]

1950s ARRL handbook showing an ad for it.

[schmitt trigger]

The radio-amateur's golden years!

[zitt]

Have a old pre-ww2 portable oscope that I purchased back in 1990s off of fleabay.
At the time; I was a EEstudent at Mississippi State - budget was my only concern but now its just a neat piece of equipment.
I'll have to pull it out from storage and power it up one day.

[Chris56000]

Hi!

How about a Wayne Kerr B221 Ratio – Arm Transformer Bridge?! Not only had it got one, there's TWO Mullard EM34 Dual Sensitivity Magic Eye Balance Indicators in it, one for L/–C measurements and one for G (Conductance – 1/R) measurements!

(Has anyone seen how much a N.O.S. EM34 is these days?!)

Not only is it a load of very fiddly setting–up, it's scaled in Inverse Measurements as well, so you "have to stand on your head" mathematically to get the actual values out of it!

Example:–

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Wayne-Kerr-B-221-Universal-Bridge-/201311512090&ved=2ahUKEwiF9cT3gbbaAhUIfMAKHZFeChIQjjgwAXoECAEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1fJswxsD2h0zIKNoEh5oNb

Manual:–

http://bama.edebris.com/download/wayne/b221/Wayne%20Kerr%20Universal%20Bridge%20B221%20and%20accesories.pdf

Chris Williams

[G0HZU]

I think I can go one better than 'seldom'. I've got a classic/vintage HP432A power meter that has never been used. I keep it carefully stored and it includes the cables and manual all still vacuum sealed as it left the factory.

The meter itself looks so good it looks like it was made yesterday. It's as squeaky clean as a new windscreen for a car

I do have another one that I use now and again but this unused one is a bit special. The cal stickers and tamper seals on the meter case are the original ones from the HP factory.

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

haven't found the cal certificate.

[Bud]

Simpson I guess grid dip meter, with calibration cards. Made in Canada !!

[Bud]

haven't found the cal certificate.

Heck, you've got the winner ! 

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

Not actually mine. (Thankfully)

[JohnPen]

A Nombrex Signal generator from 1955/65 I forget quite when.  Owned from new my first piece of genuine test equipment other than an AVO Multiminor meter. The Nombrex still works but has a rather variable output level but is a quick solution for providing signals for RX up to 350 Mhz (harmonics for that range).

[Miti]

A Russian U4324 in the original box with the original probes and a Simpson 260, both in perfect condition.
Funny story with the 4324, when I bought it the needle was jumping like it would catch on something. I thought it was dust or something inside the mechanical part. But as soon as I removed the plastic top cover it was moving smooth. I thought aha, the dust or hair or something was on the top cover so I gave it a nice cleaning and put it back. Same thing, it was lumpy. It took me a while to figure out that the plastic cover had static charge. The fix was a wash with Downy followed by a partial rinse and then let it dry. It works perfect since then. Well, the precision is far from acceptable but it works.

[TimFox]

Wayne-Kerr B221:
Actually, the two dual magic-eye tubes form a single null indicator for the bridge.  With a tube amplifier between the two eyes, this is the best wide-range null indicator I have ever used.  The four eyes “close” in sequence as the AC voltage drops towards null.  The response is virtually instantaneous.
When I got mine, I thought they were separate indicators in phase quadrature (real and imaginary components) until I found a manual.
The few standard components are hermetically sealed, and the turns numbers are integers (guaranteed for eternity).  When I checked my unit against lab capacitors, it was within factory spec after more than 50 years.