Bakelite Case GEC Selectest date of Manufacture? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Andy Day · 10th Jul 2014, 7:55 pm

I have just acquired this GEC Selectest, and I'm curious to know when it may have been made. As you can see from the pics, It's clean and original inside, but quite shabby although not to far gone outside. I'm sure when I went to work at GEC at the Grove in Stanmore in 1962 there were none around - all Avos if I remember correctly. There doesn't seem to be a serial number, but the movement has patents 592392 and 576303, also "and pending". The movement is marked as 1ma fsd.

Andy Day · 14th Jul 2014, 8:26 pm

Hi again. There was once a serial number at the top of the scale, but it's rubbed. I realize it would be impossible to date precisely without an s/n, does anyone have an rough idea of the range of dates possible? I've seen some with a black surround to the cutout, mine is red. I've seen one advertised as 1935, surely it's not that early?

Station X · 14th Jul 2014, 9:39 pm

Both patents date from 1943, so the meter can't have an earlier date than that.

http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...R=576303A&KC=A

http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...R=592392A&KC=A

Ed_Dinning · 15th Jul 2014, 9:10 pm

Hi Andy, I believe the Selectest's were in white and a different style of case from the early 60's. If you look in WW etc you should see them advertised.

Ed

Peter.N. · 15th Jul 2014, 11:20 pm

We had one where I worked in 1955, it was an excellent meter, much better made than an Avo.

Peter

10th Jul 2014, 7:55 pm	#1
Andy Day Pentode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 154	Bakelite Case GEC Selectest date of Manufacture? I have just acquired this GEC Selectest, and I'm curious to know when it may have been made. As you can see from the pics, It's clean and original inside, but quite shabby although not to far gone outside. I'm sure when I went to work at GEC at the Grove in Stanmore in 1962 there were none around - all Avos if I remember correctly. There doesn't seem to be a serial number, but the movement has patents 592392 and 576303, also "and pending". The movement is marked as 1ma fsd. Attached Thumbnails __________________ The older I get, the faster I was!

14th Jul 2014, 8:26 pm	#2
Andy Day Pentode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 154	Re: Bakelite Case GEC Selectest date of Manufacture? Hi again. There was once a serial number at the top of the scale, but it's rubbed. I realize it would be impossible to date precisely without an s/n, does anyone have an rough idea of the range of dates possible? I've seen some with a black surround to the cutout, mine is red. I've seen one advertised as 1935, surely it's not that early? __________________ The older I get, the faster I was!

14th Jul 2014, 9:39 pm	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Bakelite Case GEC Selectest date of Manufacture? Both patents date from 1943, so the meter can't have an earlier date than that. http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...R=576303A&KC=A http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...R=592392A&KC=A __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

15th Jul 2014, 9:10 pm	#4
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: Bakelite Case GEC Selectest date of Manufacture? Hi Andy, I believe the Selectest's were in white and a different style of case from the early 60's. If you look in WW etc you should see them advertised. Ed

15th Jul 2014, 11:20 pm	#5
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Bakelite Case GEC Selectest date of Manufacture? We had one where I worked in 1955, it was an excellent meter, much better made than an Avo. Peter