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Old 14th Jan 2010, 2:12 pm   #501
gianpaolo
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

SPCh,

On the scale on the right: Part No. 13574-80
On the left: Serial No. 11,532-6-71 (hand written)
I find no other numbers.

Gianpaolo
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Old 15th Jan 2010, 4:44 pm   #502
jamesinnewcastl
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Hi

I've accquired another EA113-Love 'em! Frustratingly though its not working!

However on the dial is a number 5.128 1974 No other visible numbers!


James
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Old 21st Jan 2010, 6:56 pm   #503
albert jackson
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

First allow me to Thank Paul for the welcome to the Forum, I failed to notice any 'Reply to Message Icon' in the Private Message section.

Having lost my out buildings to a small development, most of the bits and pieces suffered, however whilst ferreting about to-day I came across an unpolished box that has an AVO within, sadly no cables but some details in the lid and briefly I'm looking to tie it down to a year as a means to eventually market the item.

Having browsed I cannot ascertain the model to a particular year.

The AVO itself is a 47a and the details in the lid suggest Admiralty Pattern 48a.

Incorporated in the box is ..............

Universal AVO Transformer 240A 60A Use 120 MA Range.

AVO Multiplier480 v 3600 v Use AVO Meter at low Pot end.

Shunt ?? No 2023 AMPS 120 M.V. 120

Shunt ?? No 0 AMPS 480 M.V. 120

At the right hand end of the scale is a "J" No 7129-142. R

Regards Bert

Last edited by Darren-UK; 21st Jan 2010 at 9:35 pm. Reason: The Welcome message is automated, hence no Reply facility.
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Old 22nd Jan 2010, 12:18 pm   #504
hilitevr
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Hi Bert

You can wish your AVO a happy 68th birthday, because the last three digits
of the serial number mean it was made in January 1942.

Regards
Trevor
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Old 22nd Jan 2010, 1:52 pm   #505
pmmunro
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Bert,

There were two versions of your meter made for the Admiralty. The Pattern 47A is the basic meter and was supplied in a wooden case a little bigger than the meter. The Model 48A was a test set based on the 47A meter and included the accessories which you list, all in a larger wooden box.

The Pattern 47A is very similar to the contemporary, commercial, Model 40 but without the highest resistance range. Possibly there was some detailed changes in internal finishing of the Admiralty models to give some protection in a marine environment. Like the Model 40, the 47A and 48A are best suited to "heavy current" applications since they draw 6mA for full scale deflection, (3mA with the "Divide by Two" button pressed).

These meters are still surprisingly common and I have been told that one was found with an Admiralty calibration label from the 1990s.

If carefully stored and properly serviced, they can still be as accurate and serviceable as when they were made so they are still useful instruments though less robust than solid state meters, but not necessarily less accurate.

Despite their usefulness, they do not command high prices. A good price for a 47A would be £15 to £20, possibly a little more with its case. A 48A set might get £10 more, but it all depends on who is looking for one. These are based on eBay prices; which off course are very variable and the less popular Avometers do not always sell.

Quite possibly someone on this forum could be interested.

PMM.
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Old 25th Jan 2010, 11:43 am   #506
albert jackson
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Many Thanks for the information 'Gents', so its two years older than me to the month !!,
I did have many of these early boxed instruments of differing applications but I have to admit that unlike you chaps I would marvel at the build quality of timber housing, the joints,the robustness and the often adopted method of the slot head screws all aligned in one direction.

It very much sounds as though postage will exceed its worth as regards using the Ebay method. that said I did have a beautiful housed transformer that shipped to an avid collector organisation in Belgium.

Regards Bert.
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Old 30th Jan 2010, 6:07 pm   #507
victor3d
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

I live in nyc and have an AVO CT160 SERIAL NUMBER AVO 3061 TJ. I have it set to operate on 120 voltage and own many of the optional valve adaptors.
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Old 31st Jan 2010, 8:29 pm   #508
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Hi. Was just researching my model 7 and found this forum.

here are some more:

Model 7X (Panclimatic) does the X signify Panclimatic ?

4XXXX - 7X/571. sn handwriten on scale. Aluminium case.

Model 8 MkIII..9XXXX 569. sn handwritten on dial. Black bakelite case.

Model 8 MkIV 5XXXX 84 10/71. sn on case label. greyish black case.

I also have my first ever multimeter, an AVO Multiminor Mk 4,bought new in the 60's. Even got the little user manual with a circuit diagram ..But there is no serial number.
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Old 7th Feb 2010, 1:25 am   #509
jungleburger
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

hello
I have three meters at present
A Type 73 s/no **6290 not working on x10k ohms
A model 8 Mk5 s/no 94239 8v/3/73 needs gaiters for the cutout and rev m c buttons
A heavy duty s/no 33613-25a
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Old 8th Feb 2010, 5:18 pm   #510
John H.
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Hi SPCh,
My meter (perfect working order) is marked; Avo 8X Mk 4 serial No 42506 and is dated 4/4/71.
The other, I believe to be a Mk7 is marked; A.M. Tester Type D. On the scale is;
No D. 8761-443 1943 and B.S.F.G This also works but the accuracy is off, only to be expected after 67 years !
Hope this is of interest, John.
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Old 8th Feb 2010, 7:28 pm   #511
SPCh
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Thanks for the inputs; keep 'em coming.

John,
Your "A.M D" is not a Model 7, but a variant of the Model 40, designed specifically for the RAF. The DIV 2 button is actually a switch - very useful, but a mixed blessing as it can inadvertently be left in the "wrong" position ! !
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Old 8th Feb 2010, 7:45 pm   #512
oldticktock
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Hi

Model 7 NO.54947-A-355
Model 9 NO.10.040.667 AC side dead, all else works ok

OTT
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Old 10th Feb 2010, 7:09 pm   #513
jungleburger
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Hi
just an update to my previous list, I have now aquired a model 8 Mk3 S/No 25961-c-654
Which has a badly cracked case but is still operating, anybody got a spare case?
A Mk8? mod No 1 S/No 13579-11-72 High sensitivity, it came in an MOD marked case, would this be a special for the MOD?, It looks like a Mk8 but has nothing other than shown as markings
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Old 16th Feb 2010, 10:09 pm   #514
Lucien Nunes
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

This afternoon I had an unusually large number of meters all hooked up to an experiment, so I took the opportunity to jot down the numbers of those plus the remainder in the cupboard including the fixer-uppers. I have a couple elsewhere that I'll have to get the numbers from later.

Patt. 47A 8909-742
Model 40 4057**-743 #
High Res Model 2 1739-B-250 #
Model 8 21***-C-254
Model 8 29***-C-1254
Model 7X 90***-A-363
8 Mk. III 66***-967
7 Mk. II 10***-A-1069-M
Model 40 50**-B-170-M
8 Mk. V 99*** 8V/11/73
8 Mk. V 06*** 8V/8/79 #

The items marked # are unserviceable although the model 40 looks retrievable and possibly the HR2 once I fix its broken case. The last instrument on the list became extensively, um, decalibrated, following my one and only experiment in AVO-bowling!

Lucien
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Old 21st Feb 2010, 3:50 pm   #515
Kevin Hoyland
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Hello,
An update on my Avos.
Avo7 mk2 serial no 84112/ 7/10/75

Avo8 mk4 """""" no 60246/ 84/21/71

Avo8 mk6 """""" no 2167/M90284/2/84


Regards Kev.
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Old 21st Feb 2010, 6:31 pm   #516
SPCh
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Jungleburger, (your post #514)

The "serial number" you quote is consistent with a Model 8 Mark IV,
but your quoted "Model 1 (High sensitivity)" suggests a NATO version (Test Set No. 1) of the Model 8 Mk II.

I guess the "quote" comes from the back plate, but where does the "serial number" come from ? Bottom right hand corner of the scale plate, almost out of sight ? Or bottom left (ditto) ?

If the full scale values are 100 & 250 it's a Model 8; if 100 & 300 it's a TS1.
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Old 22nd Feb 2010, 4:30 pm   #517
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Avometer model 8 mk 3 no 3475.964

Ive had it for about 30 years: Still working fine on volts and amps (dont use resistance scale because of problems with batteries).

regards

Howbesol
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Old 22nd Feb 2010, 9:08 pm   #518
SPCh
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Welcome to the Forum, Howbesol.
Thanks for a generous first contribution.

The batteries should (need) not be a problem.
For the two low resistance ranges it's a normal U2 / D (?) cell.
For the high range (BR121) they're still readily availavble, though expensive
(and you can live without the highest resistance range, or use an external battery).
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Old 23rd Feb 2010, 7:04 pm   #519
M0XNA Neil
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

I have the following AVOs:

AVO 8 mark 5 with reference JD No 0542104 8V

Ex Navy TS1 mk 4, which is an AVO 8 mk6 with reference 1060 M924750 TS1 mk4 dated 0488.

I assume that all AVO 8s from 5 onward are NATO spec and pan-climatic, does anyone know why the metal screen for the TS1 was dropped for these variants?

thanks,

Neil.
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Old 23rd Feb 2010, 9:12 pm   #520
SPCh
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Default Re: AVO Multimeter survey

Neil,

I'm not sure your assumption is correct.

To my knowledge (which will stand correction) AVOs after the Model 8 Mk III were not generally panclimatic or to NATO spec. They were (relatively) low cost, commercial products which, towards the end, were kept alive only by bulk orders from RS.
The last NATO TS1s I'm aware of were Model 8 Mark 2s (and possibly 3s) in metal over-cases.

Interesting territory - our learned friend PMM may be able to shed more light....

Last edited by SPCh; 23rd Feb 2010 at 9:15 pm. Reason: typo
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