I collect and restore antique vacuum tube electronics (i.e. "boatanchors") and vintage solid-state gear.
This page only has the most recent posts, but you can view a full index of my posts to Antique Electronics and Vintage Solid State.
Eico 320 Signal Generator Restoration
I’ve taken a liking to the blue art deco paint scheme on Eico’s old test equipment.
This Eico Model 320 signal generator is a good example.
Internally, it is a very basic two-tube signal generator, with a 6X5 rectifier and a 6SN7 dual triode. …
Heathkit IM-28 VTVM Restoration
I recently restored a Heathkit IM-28 VTVM.
I had always wanted Heathkit’s IM-13 bench model VTVM. The IM-28 is the “new look” version of the IM-13, and I couldn’t pass it by when I saw it at the MIT Flea.
…Homebrew Switchable VTVM Probe
Here’s my homebrew switchable VTVM probe.
This one was made up for a Heathkit IM-28.
I used a tiny SPDT slide switch I purchased some time ago from Electronics Goldmine, a 1 MΩ resistor, and a scrap of Vector board to put together the switching circuit.
…Switchable VTVM Probes
Many popular VTVMs used a switchable probe: a probe that contains a one megohm resistor for DC measurements, and a switch to bypass the resistor for AC and Ohms measurements.
For example, here is the classic Heathkit probe from my IM-11 VTVM.
…RCA WG-299D Probe Repair
One of my RCA WV-98’s from the MIT lab clean-out came with a WG-299D probe that was suffering from a very brittle plastic shell.
As soon as I started to use it, the main shell of the probe fragmented into shards of plastic. …
Precision E-200-C Signal Generator Restoration
The styling of the Precision Apparatus Company E-200-C signal generator has always appealed to me.
For an economical service-grade instrument, it’s also well designed and crafted.
Precision supplied a hand-calibrated reference frequency chart with each instrument as part of their “Servicing by Signal Substitution” instruction booklet. …
RCA WV-97A Senior VoltOhmyst code 850 serial 8799 restoration
I promised ARFer John Stouffer a VTVM from my stash. I had also promised ARFer Hylaphone that I'd find good homes for a batch of three RCA WV-97A Senior VoltOhmysts that he had given to me, so one will be on its way to John. …
History of Precision's Signal Generators
I did a little research into the history of Precision’s signal generators via the scans of “Service” magazine hosted by David Gleason’s AmericanRadioHistory.com.
The E-100
Precision’s earliest signal general was the E-100.
…1958 Transitron Catalog
Thanks to Shawn Fox (sfox7076 on the Antique Radio Forum) for allowing me to host his scans of the 1958 Transitron Catalog.
This is the cover from the selection guide, the other scans include full data on the parts.
…
RCA WV-98C(K) Assembly Instructions
Thanks to Jim (rja2907 on the Antique Radio Forum) for allowing me to scan and host his copy of the Assembly Instructions for the kit version of the WV-98C.
The manual includes calibration instructions not found elsewhere, and the wiring diagrams should be quite helpful when restoring a WV-98C.
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