Rheostat & Ammeter - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Monty_Stubble · 26th May 2008, 9:14 am

Another recent acquisition but what was it produced for.

It came from a WW2 Royal Engineers officer and his widow claimed he brought it back with him.

What could he have been doing with it. It seems much older that WW2 but I may be wrong.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Chris

Ed_Dinning · 26th May 2008, 8:25 pm

Hi Chris, it definatley looks older than WW2, but it should restore and polish up nicely.
It could have been used to set a current to a particular level with a varying volyage source, possibly excitation on a generator set?

Ed

AVO_VCM163 · 26th May 2008, 9:47 pm

Possibly a detonation set. It seems to say "battery should not be connected except with safety key in place".

Similar instruments were used in the field, but agreed more 1910-1920 period.
They were used to first used to check circuit complete then adjust to full detonation current and operate key to detonate.
R

newlite4 · 27th May 2008, 11:32 am

I had one of these some years ago until I sold it at Wooton. It was used for charging batteries. The meter showed the charging current that could be varied with the attached rheostat. I believed that the equipment dated from the mid 1920s.
Neil

newlite4 · 27th May 2008, 12:39 pm

My previous post was a somewhat hasty reply, I recall now that in fact the equipment was a "cell tester". Varying ammounts of load could be applied with the rheostat whilst the condition of the cell could be ascertained through observation of the attached ammeter.
I hope that this helps, I will endeavour to fully engage thought processes before writing in future

.
Neil

26th May 2008, 9:14 am	#1
Monty_Stubble Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Todmorden, Lancashire Posts: 4	Rheostat & Ammeter Another recent acquisition but what was it produced for. It came from a WW2 Royal Engineers officer and his widow claimed he brought it back with him. What could he have been doing with it. It seems much older that WW2 but I may be wrong. Any help would be gratefully received. Chris Attached Thumbnails

26th May 2008, 8:25 pm	#2
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,195	Re: Rheostat & Ammeter Hi Chris, it definatley looks older than WW2, but it should restore and polish up nicely. It could have been used to set a current to a particular level with a varying volyage source, possibly excitation on a generator set? Ed

26th May 2008, 9:47 pm	#3
AVO_VCM163 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 297	Re: Rheostat & Ammeter Possibly a detonation set. It seems to say "battery should not be connected except with safety key in place". Similar instruments were used in the field, but agreed more 1910-1920 period. They were used to first used to check circuit complete then adjust to full detonation current and operate key to detonate. R

27th May 2008, 11:32 am	#4
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,806	Re: Rheostat & Ammeter I had one of these some years ago until I sold it at Wooton. It was used for charging batteries. The meter showed the charging current that could be varied with the attached rheostat. I believed that the equipment dated from the mid 1920s. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

27th May 2008, 12:39 pm	#5
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,806	Re: Rheostat & Ammeter My previous post was a somewhat hasty reply, I recall now that in fact the equipment was a "cell tester". Varying ammounts of load could be applied with the rheostat whilst the condition of the cell could be ascertained through observation of the attached ammeter. I hope that this helps, I will endeavour to fully engage thought processes before writing in future. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.