Vintage Test Equipment
| On this page I will be displaying various types of vintage test equipment I have acquired over the years, some pieces will be common but interesting others not so common. Click on any picture to see a high definition picture of the piece. Hope you enjoy the tour. |
OSCILLOSCOPES
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National CRM Uses a 1" 913 CRT for display. This line of National scopes were intended for use by radio operators, they were used to monitor modulation and have only minimal components as shown in schematic. Time base for horizontal sweep was derived from the AC power line at a 60 cycle rate or an from external signal. List price was $18.50 less tubes, see ad here. |
National CRU Uses a 2" 2AP1 CRT for display. As in the model CRM the unit has only two tubes, the CRT and a rectifier. List price was $32.50 less tubes. |
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| This 2" National CRU-P is identical to the Model CRU shown above, except that the front panel is laid out horizontally. |
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National CRR (?) Not really sure if it is a National piece or a copy. It has no ID plate or markings anywhere, other than the engraved knob labels on the panel. It uses a 2" 2AP1 CRT for display and a 6X5 rectifier rounds out the tube complement. |
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RCA Model 151 Uses a 1" 913 CRT for display. This scope was introduced around 1936 at cost of $47.50, by 1938 the cost was 39.95. These prices included tubes, see ad here. |
RCA Model 151-2 Uses a 2" 2AP1 for display. This model is identical to the model 151 except that a 2AP1 CRT was shoehorned into the box, the tube had to be installed at an upward angle to fit in the shallow cabinet. This scope was introduced around 1938 at a cost of $49.95 |
| Inside chassis view of the RCA 151 oscillograph. Typical of most 1930's oscilloscopes, this uses a 885 as the horizontal sweep generator, 6C6's for the horizontal and vertical amplifiers and an 80 rectifier. |
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Deforest's Training Inc. This scope was used as part of a training course. Possibly from the original DeVry Institute which was started in 1931 as the DeForest Training School, as the name on the unit doesn't quite match, I can't say for sure. No cabinet, click here for a side view. |
UTL Model E This scope was used as a training project for students enrolled in the United Television Laboratories School. The school started off in the 1940’s as United Television Laboratories aimed at TV repair following the WWII boom. later in the 50’s they changed their name to United Electronics Laboratories, and by the early 60’s became United Electronics Institute. By the 1980's they were gone. The cabinet is home made, it uses a 2" 2AP1 CRT, has vertical and horizontal amplifiers, and linear sweep generator. |
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Homemade Uses a 1" 913 CRT, probably dates from late 30's. Direct connection to the deflection plates, probably used in a HAM shack as modulation monitor. Well constructed cabinet made up of 7 pieces all screwed together. Circuitry very similar to the National CRM above. |
Homemade This one uses a 2" 2AP1 CRT. It is very crudely built as can be seen in the photograph below. It is a true scope as it has a 884 tube to generate the linear sweep. |
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Supreme Model 530 Uses a 2" DuMont 24-XH CRT for display. Typical of early Supreme equipment, this is housed in a dovetailed, quartersawn oak cabinet. Very primitive set, has only 2 tubes, besides the CRT. A 5T4 rectifier and a 6J7 vertical amplifier. Sweep is either external or internal 60cycle |
Supreme Model 535 Uses a 2" 2AP1 CRT for display. Typical of early Supreme equipment, this is housed in a dovetailed, quartersawn oak cabinet. This updated model has vertical and horizontal amplifiers, and a real horizontal sweep generated by a 884 tube. Original cost was $49.95 |
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Supreme Model 546 Uses a 3" 906 CRT for display. Typical of early Supreme equipment, this is housed in a dovetailed, quartersawn oak cabinet and a highly nickel plated chassis shown below. This early version dates from around 1938.
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Clough-Brengle Model CRA Uses a 3" 906 CRT. In 1935 this set cost $79.50, increasing to $84.50 in 1936. |
Supreme Model 546-A A later version of the Model 546 line of scopes, electrically it is identical to the earlier versions. This model has a metal cabinet and the chassis is painted wrinkle black. |
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Supreme Model 560A The Vedolyzer uses a 2" 2AP1 CRT for display. This device was called a "Complete Dynamic Analyzer", it consisted of a oscillograph, vacuum tube voltmeter, dynamic signal tracer, multimeter, and a wavemeter all in one 35 lb. package. |
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Philco Model 7019 Uses a 2" 2AP1 CRT for display. Also known as the "Junior Scope", small and lightweight it sold for $66. This set is very similar to the Waterman scope. Click here to see ad. |
RCA Model WO-57A Uses a 3" 3MP1 CRT for display. This CRT is very short about the same as a 2AP1, this allows the 3" scope to be housed in a case not much deeper than the Model 151 shown above. This set is from the early 1950's
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Clough-Brengle Model 126 This set uses a 3" 906 CRT for display. This is very similar to the Model 126A shown below. This model was produced in late 1937, see packing list.
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Clough-Brengle Model 105 Uses a 1" 913 CRT. In 1935 this set cost $48.50. |
| Inside view of the Clough-Brengle Model CRA oscillograph, the 906 CRT is an early version of the 3AP1 CRT without the internal aquadag coating allowing you to see the gun components and the rear of the screen. |
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Clough-Brengle Model 126A This set uses a 3" 908 CRT for display. The 908 is the same as the 906 except it has a P5 phosphor. This is a blue trace with a very fast decay time used for photography applications. |
Inside view of the scope. Unusual construction is used in this set, instead of the components installed on a standard chassis, the parts are attached directly to the cabinet. This set has been restored. |
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Blue trace of the P5 phosphor. |
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RCA Model 155 Uses a 3" 3AP1 CRT, uses same internal components as the Model 151. This scope was introduced around 1938 at a cost of $63.95, included tubes. |
DuMont Model 164 Uses a 3" 3AP1 CRT. The internal components have been coated with a sealer, typical of what you find in military gear that was to be used in areas of high humidity. A label dates that the coating was applied in August 1945. |
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DayRad 65 Uses a 3" 906 CRT. In addition to being a general purpose oscilloscope this unit contains a wobbulator, a motor driven sweep generator, to do sweep alignment of equipment.
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Bendix Model 160 Has a built in sweep generator centered at 1Mhz, sweep width of +/- 15Khz. The center frequency can be shifted up or down by connecting a signal generator to the bottom terminal posts and tuning it to the desired center frequency. |
Close up of the CRT mount showing the sweep graticle. For the operators manual click here. |
9Z4P1 / K1207 - 9" CRTThis large CRT contains five independent electron gun assemblies, each gun has its four deflection plates brought out around the neck of the tube. I did find a mention of this tube used in a high speed display unit used by NASA for radio astronomy. |
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Size comparison, the tube in front is a 3AP1 |
TUBE TESTERS
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Weston Model 788 Also known as OQ-3 in the Naval version. To test tubes, individual jumpers are connected between the tube socket panel and the tester panel |
Triplett Model 1610 "Robot" tube tester. |
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Sterling Model R-402 A battery operated tester for early battery tubes like the 201 or 199. |
Supreme Model 35 Original cost was $29.95 |
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Sterling Model R-404 An early tester used to rejuvenate the filaments on tired tubes and test filament emission. Rejuvenating the filament was used only on thoriated filament tubes. Click here to read the instruction manual and why rejuvenation is possible.
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Stark Model 911 Basic emission tester. Nothing really special about this unit, I just liked the color combination with the bright red sockets, knobs and meter. |
Triplett Model 1213 Another basic emission tester, small portable unit, circa late 1930's. |
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Oak Ridge Products CRT tester. Another test unit I know nothing about. Apparently it was connected in line with an active CRT and tested the CRT under operating conditions. It also included a 500v and 15KV voltmeter. |
Miscellaneous Testers
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Meissner Analyst
A multipurpose tool for the service technician has the
following functions: Original cost $113.85,
catalog ad |
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Hickok Test Bench This bench unit contains a Model 177X Signal Generator, a Model 510X Mutual Conductance Multi Tester, and a Model TS-50 Universal Test Speaker, two electrical outlets, a patch panel, lights built into the top overhang to light up the work bench. |
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Hickok Model 510X
A multi-purpose device. A mutual conductance tube tester, DC voltmeter, AC voltmeter, Ohmmeter, and capacitor tester. |