Zelandeth
Flashlight Enthusiast
Kinda a cross between electronics and history here...moderators feel free to move this if you think I put it in the wrong place.
Was actually looking for a computer PSU this afternoon in the loft, and spotted an old cardboard box in the corner I'd never noticed before. I decided to brave the extremely high probability of falling through the lounge ceiling to get to it, because I was curious (like that's something that hasn't got me into trouble a zillion times before).
As it turned out, this box was full of old (really old) panel meters. I've included pics of them below. Most are pretty conventional volt/ammters, though there's a runtime meter and frequency meter which are a bit more obscure I think. I've only been able to test the one ammeter, as everything else seems to require obscure power supplies (120VAC or RF frequencies). So I can't say whether they work or not.
This may actually have the date printed on the face, as it reads 1945 in the bottom left corner. On the back thre is white printed text reading:
1592423
D
Z.A.21547 W.P. Don't know if that means anything to anyone.
Another RF ammeter. At least this one actually has a logo on it. It, like the one above also has what could be a year on the face, reading 1942 in this case. Text on the back of this one reads 44o977.
J-B-T Model 31-FX Frequency Meter.
Now this one's a bit more obscure - and initially I was at a loss to explain how it would work. Think I've figured it out now though. Those little white rectangles are actually connected to metal arms, these disappear back into the housing further than I can see. I am guessing that they're all connected to something which will vibrate at the supply frequency - some being sprung so that they resonate at specifically tuned frequency. This I'm guessing will mean that some will move further than others, effectively meaning a curve would be visible there on the display, with the widest point indicating the supply frequency. All guesswork, so don't quote me on it! I'd like to test the theory, but I'm a bit short on 100-130Vac 60Hz supplies.
Text around the edge of the face reads: "Made under Triplett patent No. 2,403,809" and "J-B-T instruments, inc. New Haven, Conn, U.S.A."
FS 273V DC Kilovoltmeter.
Now, voltmeters...I have a few of them laying around, but this is the first KVmeter I've found! Nor do I actually have a use for a meter reading up to 30kV. Don't know whether I'd trust something that old to deal with those voltages either. Possibly dating from 1942 by the number on the lower left of the face.
Weston Model 301 DC Milliammeter.
Yes! One I could actually test! And it works too. Accurate to 0.5mA it would appear as well. Face is actually matt silver, not white as it appears in the photo. Text on the face reads: "Weston Electrical Instrument co., LTD., Surrey, England." The number in the lower right corner appears to have been written by hand in Indian Ink, in TINY numbers too, 20504. I have to guess that's a serial number.
Aero Model 1001 Runtime meter.
This thing is seriously heavy for its size, and that little display just looks classy. Just like the little tape counters you get on cassette players...but in what appears to be stainless steel. Have to assume this is a simple syncronous motor and gear arrangement. Not sure is the red digit represents 0.1 hours or 1 hour though. And again, no way to test it at present.
Text around the bottom of the meter face reads: "O'Keefe & Merritt Co. Los Angeles, Calif. U.S.A."
Probably bored you all to tears here, if that's the case I'm sorry. I just thought someone might be interested. I know we have collectors of antique radios and such around. Wondering if anyone's familiar with any of these instruments, and knows what sort of place they'd originally have seen service in. And if anyone can date them? I'm at a loss really other than those which have what could be the production year printed on the face.
It's amasing what you can find when you're not looking, isn't it!
Also, any of these likely to actually be worth anything? I doubt it, but figure it's worth asking.
Was actually looking for a computer PSU this afternoon in the loft, and spotted an old cardboard box in the corner I'd never noticed before. I decided to brave the extremely high probability of falling through the lounge ceiling to get to it, because I was curious (like that's something that hasn't got me into trouble a zillion times before).
As it turned out, this box was full of old (really old) panel meters. I've included pics of them below. Most are pretty conventional volt/ammters, though there's a runtime meter and frequency meter which are a bit more obscure I think. I've only been able to test the one ammeter, as everything else seems to require obscure power supplies (120VAC or RF frequencies). So I can't say whether they work or not.
This may actually have the date printed on the face, as it reads 1945 in the bottom left corner. On the back thre is white printed text reading:
1592423
D
Z.A.21547 W.P. Don't know if that means anything to anyone.
Another RF ammeter. At least this one actually has a logo on it. It, like the one above also has what could be a year on the face, reading 1942 in this case. Text on the back of this one reads 44o977.
J-B-T Model 31-FX Frequency Meter.
Now this one's a bit more obscure - and initially I was at a loss to explain how it would work. Think I've figured it out now though. Those little white rectangles are actually connected to metal arms, these disappear back into the housing further than I can see. I am guessing that they're all connected to something which will vibrate at the supply frequency - some being sprung so that they resonate at specifically tuned frequency. This I'm guessing will mean that some will move further than others, effectively meaning a curve would be visible there on the display, with the widest point indicating the supply frequency. All guesswork, so don't quote me on it! I'd like to test the theory, but I'm a bit short on 100-130Vac 60Hz supplies.
Text around the edge of the face reads: "Made under Triplett patent No. 2,403,809" and "J-B-T instruments, inc. New Haven, Conn, U.S.A."
FS 273V DC Kilovoltmeter.
Now, voltmeters...I have a few of them laying around, but this is the first KVmeter I've found! Nor do I actually have a use for a meter reading up to 30kV. Don't know whether I'd trust something that old to deal with those voltages either. Possibly dating from 1942 by the number on the lower left of the face.
Weston Model 301 DC Milliammeter.
Yes! One I could actually test! And it works too. Accurate to 0.5mA it would appear as well. Face is actually matt silver, not white as it appears in the photo. Text on the face reads: "Weston Electrical Instrument co., LTD., Surrey, England." The number in the lower right corner appears to have been written by hand in Indian Ink, in TINY numbers too, 20504. I have to guess that's a serial number.
Aero Model 1001 Runtime meter.
This thing is seriously heavy for its size, and that little display just looks classy. Just like the little tape counters you get on cassette players...but in what appears to be stainless steel. Have to assume this is a simple syncronous motor and gear arrangement. Not sure is the red digit represents 0.1 hours or 1 hour though. And again, no way to test it at present.
Text around the bottom of the meter face reads: "O'Keefe & Merritt Co. Los Angeles, Calif. U.S.A."
Probably bored you all to tears here, if that's the case I'm sorry. I just thought someone might be interested. I know we have collectors of antique radios and such around. Wondering if anyone's familiar with any of these instruments, and knows what sort of place they'd originally have seen service in. And if anyone can date them? I'm at a loss really other than those which have what could be the production year printed on the face.
It's amasing what you can find when you're not looking, isn't it!
Also, any of these likely to actually be worth anything? I doubt it, but figure it's worth asking.