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History of Tachikawa (TMK)

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joeqsmith:
I was given an old Tachikawa meter and had never heard of the brand.  So I attempted to do some research on them but found pretty much nothing.   This meter was rebranded for IBM and is the 200C.  They seem fairly common on eBay and I would doubt are collectible or have much value.   

This link shows a SN starting with a 6,5 or 9.  Obviously they produced a fair number of them.   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Model-200C-Analog-AC-DC-Volt-Ohm-Meter-Read-below-/253158141785?hash=item3af166af59:g:OqYAAOSwpuBZve3B

I wrote the IMB archives to see if they had any information about why IBM had the meter built.  So far I have not heard anything back from them.   A friend of mine wondered if they were not some employee handout sort of thing.

Does anyone have any history on TMK or how IBM got tied in with them?   I'm sure there is some story there.

coppice:
TMK meters were pretty common in the late 60s/early 70s. They were excellent quality, so its not surprising IBM would have used them as a source for their own meters. The one in your picture looks it was designed specifically for IBM, as TMK branded meters generally had 2mm sockets. Your picture seems to show 4mm sockets.

joeqsmith:
To be clear, the ad in the ebay link is not mine.  Nor am I trying to sell mine.  It was only for a reference.

From the internet it appears they were also known as:
Tachikawa Radio Instrument Co of Japan
Tachikawa Radio Measurement Co
TMK, Tachikawa Radio; Miyatani

TMK is the abreviation of Tachikawa Musen Keiki.
Musen is the old Japanese word for 'radio'.  Keiki is business.

I also found a few ads and a schematics.  Nothing matched.  The one attached is for an AMK-200.  Similar, sort of.  Like how a cow would compare with a dog. 

Funny, I don't think of IBM as a hand held meter supplier for the public.  This is why I wonder if it was made for their employees.  Possibly for their field technicians.


joeqsmith:
I had also found this picture showing what appears to be SN# R201356.  Note there is no fuse holder and the two additional, unmarked jacks.   Maybe IBM told them that a fuse may be a nice thing to add after a few mishaps.    I'm sure there's some stories here. 

coppice:

--- Quote from: joeqsmith on October 07, 2017, 04:32:55 pm ---Musen is the old Japanese word for 'radio'.

--- End quote ---
Musen is the current word for radio, or more accurately wireless, too. Mu == ? == haven't. Sen == ? == line. Its the same term used in Chinese.

--- Quote from: joeqsmith on October 07, 2017, 04:32:55 pm ---Funny, I don't think of IBM as a hand held meter supplier for the public.  This is why I wonder if it was made for their employees.  Possibly for their field technicians.

--- End quote ---
You are probably right. They might have been for inclusion in customer toolkits, or something like that, but I don't think they would have been sold as a standalone product.

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