AVO - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dean Huster · 19th Sep 2009, 6:53 pm

Pardon this uninformed lout from across the pond, but is AVO still in business or are they like EICO and Heathkit and now a source for inexpensive but quality equipment? I've done a brief Google search but nothing "new" comes up.

Dean

mickjjo · 19th Sep 2009, 7:02 pm

I believe they are now known as "Megger Group Limited" :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megger_Group_Limited

Regards, Mick.

ampzilla · 19th Sep 2009, 10:07 pm

Avo is is today
http://www.megger.com/

G Barham · 20th Sep 2009, 5:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Huster

Pardon this uninformed lout from across the pond, but is AVO still in business or are they like EICO and Heathkit and now a source for inexpensive but quality equipment? I've done a brief Google search but nothing "new" comes up.

Dean

Hi

The really sad thing is that the much loved Avo Model 8 has ceased production.

Many will lament it's passing and there are quite a few historical threads on here extolling (or otherwise) the virtues of the various marques by far more informed people than myself ..I only use them.

Regards

Tony.

AlanBeckett · 20th Sep 2009, 6:20 pm

Tony,
But the good news is that the modern generation doesn't understand them so you can pick them up for (relatively) peanuts

Alan

Dean Huster · 20th Sep 2009, 10:32 pm

I was just wondering, not knowing if they still were being manufactured since AVO seems to be the most popular brand on this portion of the forum by a magnitude, normally that a brand is not only still in production but has a long and proud history.

AlanBeckett · 20th Sep 2009, 11:18 pm

Dean,
One reason for their popularity, apart from the fact that they tend to keep working pretty accurately for ever, is that most vintage UK service data quotes the voltages measured with one. Get one, or a few, they're great.
Alan

M0FYA Andy · 21st Sep 2009, 12:33 pm

Interestingly, RS still list the AVO 8, at a cool £907!

It says 'discontinued product', I guess this means that they still have a stock but it won't be replaced?

Andy

XTC · 22nd Sep 2009, 11:55 am

Apart from other reasons for using an AVO meter for vintage work, a lot of us can remember servicemen using them when we were kids. They were utterly unaffordable tools for the professional, things we could only dream of. These days you can get them for £10 to maybe £40, usually they still work well and are reliable, and they're reassuringly solid.

Pete.

Mike Phelan · 22nd Sep 2009, 4:36 pm

As well as the long-term accuracy, the mechanical construction is superb, apart from the later ones that used a PCB.

Brased · 22nd Sep 2009, 5:55 pm

As Mike says, the construction is just superb. Go for an early Avo 8 built in the traditional style, or the Nato Test Set Multirange No.1 which has the scale ranges of the later models but the construction of the earlier ones. They will be cheaper and better than the later 'improved' PCB version.

Two or three of these around the workshop are ideal for lash-ups when you want to measure more than one thing in a circuit at the same time.

Edward

percival007 · 22nd Sep 2009, 6:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by XTC

.....................using an AVO meter for vintage work....................

I service modern equipment (flat screen tellies, DVD players, Blue-Ray players etc etc) and still use a MKII every day. I wouldn't be without it.

I own several and most still work, the ones that don't have not been looked after at all well. One day i hope to put that right.

They are wonderfull pieces of equipment and i can thoroughly recommend getting one.

James.

russell_w_b · 22nd Sep 2009, 10:52 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0FYA Andy

I guess this means that they still have a stock but it won't be replaced?

Can't be replaced; they're no longer manufactured!

G Barham · 24th Sep 2009, 7:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by russell_w_b

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0FYA Andy

I guess this means that they still have a stock but it won't be replaced?

Can't be replaced; they're no longer manufactured!

Lets have a poetry competition on the virtues of the AVOmeter.

There doeasn't seem to be a section for poems on here, however but I'll offer a MK5 AVO in good nick (no leads) and good working order - postage to be by the winner, for the best entry as judged by the users of this site....someone must know if these a voting system on here ?

If not perhaps we could get one of the nice moderators to collate the votes.....time limit say the middle of October ?

8 lines max. No rude words

What say you ?

Regards

Tony.

PS .... Cowers in a dark corner waiting for the wroth of someone to fall.

Darren-UK · 24th Sep 2009, 9:49 pm

From over the pond came a question from Dean,
since when many answers have been.
The Mods then came and had a nose
and decided tis time to close,
so towards the button a mouse it did lean.

19th Sep 2009, 6:53 pm	#1
Dean Huster Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harviell, Missouri, USA. Posts: 31	AVO Pardon this uninformed lout from across the pond, but is AVO still in business or are they like EICO and Heathkit and now a source for inexpensive but quality equipment? I've done a brief Google search but nothing "new" comes up. Dean

19th Sep 2009, 7:02 pm	#2
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: AVO I believe they are now known as "Megger Group Limited" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megger_Group_Limited Regards, Mick.

19th Sep 2009, 10:07 pm	#3
ampzilla Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 9	Re: AVO Avo is is today http://www.megger.com/

20th Sep 2009, 6:20 pm	#5
AlanBeckett Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,686	Re: AVO Tony, But the good news is that the modern generation doesn't understand them so you can pick them up for (relatively) peanuts Alan

20th Sep 2009, 10:32 pm	#6
Dean Huster Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harviell, Missouri, USA. Posts: 31	Re: AVO I was just wondering, not knowing if they still were being manufactured since AVO seems to be the most popular brand on this portion of the forum by a magnitude, normally that a brand is not only still in production but has a long and proud history.

20th Sep 2009, 11:18 pm	#7
AlanBeckett Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,686	Re: AVO Dean, One reason for their popularity, apart from the fact that they tend to keep working pretty accurately for ever, is that most vintage UK service data quotes the voltages measured with one. Get one, or a few, they're great. Alan

21st Sep 2009, 12:33 pm	#8
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: AVO Interestingly, RS still list the AVO 8, at a cool £907! It says 'discontinued product', I guess this means that they still have a stock but it won't be replaced? Andy

22nd Sep 2009, 11:55 am	#9
XTC Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 837	Re: AVO Apart from other reasons for using an AVO meter for vintage work, a lot of us can remember servicemen using them when we were kids. They were utterly unaffordable tools for the professional, things we could only dream of. These days you can get them for £10 to maybe £40, usually they still work well and are reliable, and they're reassuringly solid. Pete.

22nd Sep 2009, 4:36 pm	#10
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: AVO As well as the long-term accuracy, the mechanical construction is superb, apart from the later ones that used a PCB. __________________ Mike.

22nd Sep 2009, 5:55 pm	#11
Brased Hexode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK. Posts: 318	Re: AVO As Mike says, the construction is just superb. Go for an early Avo 8 built in the traditional style, or the Nato Test Set Multirange No.1 which has the scale ranges of the later models but the construction of the earlier ones. They will be cheaper and better than the later 'improved' PCB version. Two or three of these around the workshop are ideal for lash-ups when you want to measure more than one thing in a circuit at the same time. Edward

24th Sep 2009, 9:49 pm	#15
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: AVO From over the pond came a question from Dean, since when many answers have been. The Mods then came and had a nose and decided tis time to close, so towards the button a mouse it did lean.