Intricate Instruments

Test and measurement instruments are the tools of the trade for electronic engineers and hobbyists. “To Measure Is to Know.” We cannot do without. Electronic instruments are interesting intricate electronic devices of their own, rewarding objects to build or repair.

Instruments I collected

During the years when I practiced my electronics hobby, I bought electronic instruments that I needed if I could afford them. During all these years, a number of occasions occurred to obtain nice second hand professional measuring gear. As a result, I have collected a number of mostly old instruments to use, admire and analyse.

I have a small collection of analogue multimeters using a moving coil meter movement.

Then, of course, a lot of valved instruments are on the Valve Veneration page and voltmeters and counters using nixie tubes.

• A Philips GM2885 Calibrating oscillator, from 1949.
• A Philips GM2315 LF generator, from 1950.
• A Philips GM6004/02 diode voltmeter, about 1951.
• A Philips GM7635/01 valve multimeter, from 1953.
• A Philips GM2317 LF generator, from 1954.
• A Philips GM2883 RF generator from 1954.
• A Philips GM2886 RF sweep generator from 1955.
• Two Heathkit V-7A Valve Voltmeters
  
• A IM-11D Valve Voltmeter and a wreck
  
• A Philips PM5100 LF generator from 1963.
• A NordMende UW342 sweep generator from the early sixties
  
• A Philips PM532O signal generator with AM and FM.
• A Philips PM5321 signal generator with AM and FM.

Besides valve scopes, I have (or have had on my hands) a number of scopes without valves (well, they still have a CRT):

• A, let's say, cute Heathkit IO4560 scope,
• A Hameg HM207 scope I fixed for a friend,
• A unique home-built Elektorscope after the Elektuur design,
• A performing Tektronix 2235 scope that I use regularly,

I also added two tube testers to my collection:

• A B&K 700 tube tester
• A Hickok I-177 tube tester

And, of course I have a number of transistorised instruments that are useful and interesting, despite the more modern technology. A small selection:

• A Delta D015-1.5 laboratory power supply.
• A Philips PE4801, an early transistorised adjustable power supply using a neon tube as voltage reference.
• A Philips PM5126 sine/square-wave oscillator.

Instruments I built

Over the years, I have also built a number of instruments myself. Some were very rewarding to build, some were just sources of frustration. Some of the ones that succeeded:

• My FM stereo test signal generator, from an ELV kit
• A simple yet practical UTP cable tester.
• My autoranging capacitance meter, odd-looking but very useful.
• My microcontroller based FC7008 frequency counter from an ELV kit
• My μA723 based 4-25V workbench power supply,
• My High voltage power supply, built after a Muiderkring design.