Check that Tube - ECN Electrical Forums

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I am sorry I have not been around here for a bit... Been doing the trade school thing the past few weeks!
Anyway I was in my granparents basement and I found this old vacuum tube checker that ithought was kind of interesting as well i found this piece of conduit with some old fittings that have been on this earth for some time... Just thought I would share the pictures!

Adam Derus (Rewired}

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The fundamental circuitry in tube testers such as this is pretty straightforward, yet the equipment always manages to look very impressive due to sheer number of switches and sockets needed to cater for every configuration.

Some of the old Avo valve (as we call tubes over here) testers now sell on eBay for a small fortune!

Great finds! Vintage items like this are always so much fun to look at and discuss.

Hope you hang onto them for a long time. Thanks for the pix.

Mike (mamills)

Used a tube checker similar to that one in the navy on the gun mount to which i was the mount captain. The ship was built in the late 1950s and was still in service in the late 70s &80s. Neat find. Thanks for the memories.

Heathkit made neet stuff radio gear including 2 meter ham sets, VTVM's o-scopes even a dyi airplane.

even a dyi airplane

Whats that, a Do Yourself In?

LarryC

That's exactly what Heathkit's founder , Ed Heath, did. Killed in a homebrew aircraft crash.

The tube tester I usually use is a Hickok "Cardmatic" (branded for Western Electric), which is programmed for each tube type by inserting a punched card into a reader slot. Just plug the tube into the right socket (one for each base type), then plug in the card. Let warm up, and test...

Here is a good picture of the unit, and the suitcase full of cards:
http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Roe...5874-L2/Western-Electric-KS-15874-L2.htm

Come to think of it I DO have an old heathkit O-scope in the basement tucked away that I will get out this weekend if i have time and take pictures of it.. There is still a heathkit guitar amplifier and a bass guitar amplifier over at my grandparents place as well that I will get out and take a shot or 2 of.. Probably more stuff down there too as my grandfather was a heathkit junkie...

A.D

Great to see that well made equipment.
Hang on to it Adam, Its great to keep that as a good memory from granddads work or hobby.
Thanks for sharing the photo's with us.
Raymond ( RODALCO )

I have an old Heathkit VTVM (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter) that comes in handy when aligning an old radio. You hook it across the speaker terminal wires.

Someone gave it to me when I bought an RF generator from them. It's in perfect shape.

Heathkit gear was sold in Britain for many years, with suitable changes where appropriate for our different power supply arrangements, broadcast standards, etc.