AVO Multimeter survey

[micheal]

Yes March 1936. Mike

[Phil G4SPZ]

Interesting, thanks Mike. Do I take it that the "36" is in the form "MY" where M is the month and Y the last digit of the year of the 1930s decade? If so, this makes this instrument my earliest Avominor, and probably confirms this particular case style as the first type in production.

Looking back to post #1039, I see that Paul has reported a serial number ending in ".95" so this could, on the above reckoning, be from September 1935. Paul, does yours look exactly the same as this?

Phil

[Paul Adams]

Well thank you Phil, as if you hadn’t mentioned this, I wouldn’t have found this receipt for the Avominor dated 20th August 1948, folded up in the original cardboard box, it was under some tissue paper!



I have deliberately smudged out the address for privacy to the original owner.

And yes mines the same as yours.

Paul.

[Paul Adams]

Only just spotted this,and I cannot edit my last post, but the date on the receipt reads: 20th August 1946, not 1948.

Paul.

[micheal]

Yes Phil you are correct, the decade is implied
Mike

[pmmunro]

Up to the introduction of the "Universal" Avometer, there was no date information in the serial numbers of these meters. For the 20-range Universal Avometer, the format was m(m)y-xxx(x) and this pattern continued until the Model 7 in 1936 whose serial numbers were prefixed "7". The serial numbers of the early Universal Minors which I have are prefixed "U" but none of them is from the 1930s. Eventually, it would have been necessary to use two figures for the 1940s to avoid duplication of serial numbers. On this basis I would agree that Phil's most recently acquired Universal Minor dates from 1936 making it a very early model.

If, as the delivery note suggests, the original owner of his Universal Minor was a private customer, he was probably lucky to get it at all since materials were so scarce and most production in 1946 would probably still have been directed to Government approved "Essential" users.

PMM

[gezza123]

Hi Paul.
This one looks like yours, the leaflet is 1937 Gezza123

[oodpeter]

I have a model 12 in leather case with leads, probes and a 90 amp shunt. it has a paper label stuck on the inside of the case saying that it was sold by Crypton Equipment Ltd. Serial 530-1262

I also have a model 8 mark 3 with no serial number that I can find.

[Phil G4SPZ]

My latest acquisition, a DC Avominor, serial number 73586-943, is on the waiting list for the reversal of some previous inappropriate surgery!

[Phil G4SPZ]

Universal Avominor s/n U131377-855, a veritable youngster at just two years younger than me, has joined the "to-do" pile.

[Phil G4SPZ]

A venerable Universal Avometer, serial no. U25757-127 has just arrived. December 1937 perhaps, so quite an old 'un and in virtually untouched condition, too.

[Paul Adams]

Originally Posted by Phil G4SPZ

A venerable Universal Avometer, serial no. U25757-127 has just arrived. December 1937 perhaps, so quite an old 'un and in virtually untouched condition, too.

Ye gods Phil, not more

I haven't bought any for ages.

I did go through my collection though, and found a number of serials I hadn't put up on here, so without further ado...

7MK1, S/N: 7744-18005 (10S/1 AM)
7MK2, S/N: 3095-A-662.F
7MK2, S/N: 4690-A-1067-M
7MK2, S/N: 53989-A-255
7MK2, S/N: 2704-A-562.F
7MK2, S/N: 2295-A-462.F
8MK2, S/N: 126984-C-961

Paul.

[Phil G4SPZ]

Originally Posted by Paul Adams

Ye gods Phil, not more

You're a fine one to talk! Pot calling kettle black, methinks! Your last batch of 30 is bigger than my entire collection!!

[pmmunro]

Thanks for the continuing information.

I won't tell you how many I've got and not just because I don't know for sure, but I do envy the attraction Phil's has for homeless meters. They must know he'll treat them well.

PMM.

[Phil G4SPZ]

Originally Posted by pmmunro

They must know he'll treat them well...

Attributing human behavioural traits to inanimate Avometers must be one of the least-known but serious symptoms of advanced Avo addiction syndrome. It's no coincidence that "AA" also stands for "Avo Addicts". In my case, I'm sure I caught it off Peter. Paul is a fellow-sufferer. There appears to be no cure, nor any motivation to seek treatment. Oh well, I suppose we must just press on!

[AC/HL]

3 posts about a Multiminor Mk4 moved to a new thread.

[Phil G4SPZ]

Universal Avominor U51320-1042. Has seemingly been through careless hands and has acted as a parts donor, as it's missing a bobbin resistor and battery contact spike. Hmm...

[Paul Adams]

Found a few more hiding in the 'to do' pile:

40MK1, S/N: 408707-1045
40MK1, S/N: 1359-B-548

Paul.

[pmmunro]

Thanks for the information Paul; when you come to "do" could you please let us know whether the 1948 Model 40 has a horseshoe or block magnet movement?

PMM

[Paul Adams]

Peter, It’s the block magnet type.



Paul.