|
Vintage Test Gear and Workshop Equipment For discussions about vintage test gear and workshop equipment such as coil winders. |
|
Thread Tools |
15th May 2008, 6:01 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Coventry, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 18
|
Old pocket watch meter
I found this image of an old pocket watch meter
dunno if anyone knows what it is ? |
15th May 2008, 7:29 pm | #2 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
|
Re: Old Meter
I believe that that pocket-watch meter dates from approx. the 1930's. I own one very similar made by Pifco. It was intended for use with battery-powered TRF-type radios. The two scales on yours are for measuring HT and LT. My Pifco has two 'legs' - one for HT and one for LT, a top-of-case socket for measuring resistance and two screw terminals opposite the 'legs' for measuring current - with suitable scales for each and provision for an internal battery.
The Pifco ones are fairly common - and do not seem to be regarded as 'valuable Vintage' as far as selling them on the Internet and elsewhere is concerned. I haven't seen one like yours before. Al / Skywave. |
15th May 2008, 7:34 pm | #3 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Bedfordshire, UK.
Posts: 395
|
Re: Old Meter
These were used by radio dealers to test customers HT and LT radio batteries in the 20s/30s/40s. They were also sold to customers to allow them to test their own batteries.
In my youth I lived in a very rural area where the outlying farms and cottages, having no mains electricity, relied on batteries to power their valve radios (transistors radios were not then available). The local garage recharged the LT accumulators for a small fee, as well as selling the bulky replacement HT batteries. I earned pocket money collecting and delivering these using my bicycle. |
15th May 2008, 8:08 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 8,195
|
Re: Old Meter
Hi PLL, there were many meters like that produced in the 20's and 30's, and has been said, they were used for battery checking.
They were not very high impedance and tended to show a reduced voltage due to the load, hence selling more batteries! I have a collection of about 15 different types, including the Pifco ones. They are usually cheap to buy and mostly work. I'm still looking for a Onemeter fo the collection. Ed |
18th May 2008, 11:26 pm | #5 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 631
|
Re: Old Meter
I have a single-probe version for 0-6 volts but it appears to be unbranded, apart from a symbol below the scale consisting of a capital N inside a oval, with a down-arrow head on the left vertical and an up-arrow head on the right.
Does anybody know what brand this might signify? The meter works, and is surprisingly accurate, but is pretty much unusable because the movement is undamped and oscillates wildly once set in motion and takes a long time to settle down. Internal resistance is 40 ohms, but shorting input to output doesn't damp it at all either, which seems a bit strange, so I suspect a mechanical defect of some sort. The pointer has a slight rearwards bend that suggests a significant reverse-overload at some time, probably HT. Any ideas on brand or problem please? Cheers Billy |
18th May 2008, 11:47 pm | #6 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
|
Re: Old Meter
Hi Billy -
Quote: . . . "but is pretty much unusable because the movement is undamped and oscillates wildly once set in motion and takes a long time to settle down. Internal resistance is 40 ohms . . ." Remarkable as it may seem, I have a vague recollection that that is how it's meant to perform & be Al / Skywave. |
7th Jun 2008, 12:58 pm | #7 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 631
|
Re: Old Meter
Just picked up a nice "COLUMBIA" P-W meter made (or branded) by National Carbon Company Inc, Cleveland Ohio as a part of a job-lot of four meters. It does up to 11V (not much good for a 12 volt battery) and current to 35A. The movement wasn't working but a touch of realignment, cleaning and lubrication restored it to working order.
Inside it turned out to be a very interesting moving armature type with just 10 or so heavy turns for current wound over the top of a fine wire bobbin for volts. It's a funny old world, I've been in the industry for over 40 years and never knew these things existed until recently, but now I have two! Cheers Billy |
7th Jun 2008, 6:04 pm | #8 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,748
|
Re: Old Meter
Quote:
__________________
Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts |
|
17th Jun 2008, 1:25 am | #9 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 631
|
Re: Old Meter
Quote:
Maybe Google will be my friend, yet again. Edit: Found this on the web: Unlike previous wet cells, Gassner's dry cell was more solid, did not require maintenance, did not spill and could be used in any orientation. It provided a potential of 1.5 volts. The first mass-produced model was the Columbia dry cell, first marketed by the National Carbon Company in 1896. This links National Carbon, who later became Eveready (I think) with the name "Columbia" so this may be an older meter than I thought, bearing in mind that the movement is not moving coil. It may have been used for monitoring the voltage and current drain from series/parallel cell networks used for other than radio or automotive purposes. Another edit: I just spotted that it has Pat. Aug 9, 1910 on the dial, so it was designed for uses existing at that time. It is definitely older than I thought!! Billy Last edited by Billy T; 17th Jun 2008 at 1:52 am. |
|
17th Jun 2008, 7:48 am | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
|
Re: Old Meter
At that time, cars did not have batteries at all, so that discounts that one!
__________________
Mike. |
18th Jun 2008, 7:07 am | #11 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 631
|
Re: Old Meter
OK.
Here are some images of the little beast. I think that radio applications are unlikely as well, so perhaps bio-medical experimentation? I have an intriguing book here entitled "Notes on Galvanism and Faradism" by E.M. Magill and published by H. K. Lewis & Co, London in 1916. This contains a wide range of terrifying electrical experiments doctors could carry out on unsuspecting patients, but all meters are moving coil and no battery brand names are mentioned. Incidentally, most of these practices seem directed at women, for ailments such as "nervous dyspepsia" and "hysteria". Cheers Billy Last edited by Billy T; 18th Jun 2008 at 7:25 am. |
22nd May 2019, 3:30 pm | #12 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,113
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
I just came across one of these pocket watch meters in a drawer, it's a Duco with just the one voltage range 6V, and a short wire lead coiled around the meter movement and with a short stubby 'probe' in a minimalist insulator. The back is released by a press on the 'winder'.
One for your collection, Ed?
__________________
- Julian It's good here |
22nd May 2019, 6:56 pm | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,107
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
Julian's looks like it's a moving iron meter, hence the non-linear scale. Hopefully quite robust.
|
22nd May 2019, 8:02 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
They were mostly moving iron, 200 ohms/volt or thereabouts, hence the undamped motion. The one in post 1 looks linear though.
|
22nd May 2019, 8:40 pm | #15 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 656
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
I also have a couple which I am sure will have been used for wireless batteries looking at the scales.
__________________
Martin BVWS member GQRP Club |
22nd May 2019, 8:50 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
I would love the Pifco one in the square Red case,I do have a pocket watch version.
__________________
G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S |
22nd May 2019, 11:12 pm | #17 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,113
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
@Martin - how do you change range on that one with the 10 and 120V ranges, seeing as it has only one trailing wire and one foot/probe?
__________________
- Julian It's good here |
23rd May 2019, 8:48 am | #18 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Coulsdon, London, UK.
Posts: 2,167
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
Door bells and servant bell boards (annunciators) were in use in 1910.
These probable used Leclanche, NiFe or lead acid batteries. |
23rd May 2019, 8:56 am | #19 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 656
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
It has a two core lead from the top of the meter, one for each range. The foot is negative btw.
__________________
Martin BVWS member GQRP Club |
23rd May 2019, 10:34 am | #20 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
|
Re: Old pocket watch meter
"A" and "B" suggest a possible American connection, A for filament supply, B for HT.
__________________
....__________ ....|____||__|__\_____ .=.| _---\__|__|_---_|. .........O..Chris....O |