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Old 14th Nov 2019, 2:11 am   #1
fetteler
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Default AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Hi Folks,

I've been lucky enough to recently acquire an AVO MK lV tester in need of some careful but not drastic restoration and the discussion arose as to how much these excellent testers would have originally sold for 'back in the day'. Any ideas?

Cheers,
Steve.
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Old 14th Nov 2019, 5:24 am   #2
Craig Sawyers
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Well it is actually the price of a 163 in this thread https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=157680

But that was £291 in 1975.

Craig
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Old 14th Nov 2019, 10:17 am   #3
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

The Bank of England say that has inflated to just under £2400 at 2018 prices https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/mone...ion-calculator. Stuff was expensive in the good old days.

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Old 14th Nov 2019, 11:01 am   #4
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

That was what I worked out on the thread link above. Makes the current eBay price of around half that seem like a bargain
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Old 14th Nov 2019, 11:46 am   #5
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Thanks Craig, that's very interesting. I think the MklV was produced in the early 60's so I guess there was considerable inflation between then and 1975. I'm still curious to know what the MKlV originally sold for, I'm sure there's some old AVO price lists or advertisements out there somewhere...

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Old 14th Nov 2019, 1:12 pm   #6
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

What distorts our view of their price is that they went through a phase when anything for valves was just seen as scrap metal.

Weren't AVO meters around £80 back in '75. I remember seeing that in an ITT distribution catalogue around that time. So the price of less than four normal AVOs for a VCM163. Cheap!

David
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Old 14th Nov 2019, 5:21 pm   #7
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Leaving aside the value now and the journey the world has taken to arrive at that value, my question is how much did it cost when it was new in 1960 something?

Cheers,
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Old 14th Nov 2019, 5:57 pm   #8
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

I seem to remember adverts in period editions of wireless world extolling their virtues, but I think they were quite free of numbers with pound signs in front of them.

You might have to start searching WW at the American radio history website.

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Old 14th Nov 2019, 6:04 pm   #9
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Not relevant to the OP's VCM but what appears to be a MK1 has a £60 tag in an AVO advert in 1953:

https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2...arch=%22avo%22

Lawrence.
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Old 14th Nov 2019, 6:10 pm   #10
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

I thought that the go-to source of this was Wireless world in the 1960's. Alas although the MkIV valve tester and the corresponding transistor tester were advertised on page 1, there are no prices - you had to ask for a brochure.

So unless there is a brochure out there from the earlyish 60's it is going to be difficult to find out.

What I *did* find out is the VCM163 was introduced in March 1969.

I also found an advert by Colomor (who are still around) in 1968, listing a MkIII, presumably second hand, for £45.

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Old 14th Nov 2019, 6:29 pm   #11
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Still at £60 was the MKIII:

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images...5506WW-Avo.jpg

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Old 15th Nov 2019, 8:08 pm   #12
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the help so far

Cheers,
Steve.
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Old 16th Nov 2019, 10:46 am   #13
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

OK - in the 1952 Wireless Worlds, AVO published prices.

The MkII "Valve Characteristic Meter" was £50. That was the first one to use AVO's patent that was the basis of the MK III and Mk IV, and even the core technique in the 163 (ie using mains AC for anode, screen and grid voltage).

The AVO 8 was £19 10s, and the All Wave Oscillator £30.

The RPI has done a factor of 29 times since 1952, which makes:

MkIII Valve tester £1450
AVO 8 £566
All Wave £870

Craig
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Old 16th Nov 2019, 12:18 pm   #14
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Have some old Electronics Brokers catalogues.

In 1975 the CT160 was £60, an Avo 8 was £38, but the Russian U4324 was £9.75.
The next catalogue, no date, guess 1978ish the CT160 was £90, TT169 was 25, VCM3 was £96 and TA was £90. The Avo 8 was £40.
In 1981 the Avo 8 was £70, no valve testers.

Test equipment was certainly expensive then. In 1972 I paid £100 for a Solartron CT1212 scope, like a Tek 545 with a single timebase, then another £40 for a two channel plugin. Can't really see anything other than valve testers that have even remotely kept up their value since then.

Also found a Z&I valve trice list, no date, but dad's writing on it so possibly 1950's when he fixed TVs and radios. An ECC83 is 7/-, EL84 is 7/-, a KT66 is 12/6, a 6L6 is 9/-.
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Old 16th Nov 2019, 8:30 pm   #15
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Default Re: AVO MKlV valve tester original cost

Going the opposite way to the how much the purchase price would be in today's money I've just done an online calculation to work out what the £25 I just paid for my VCM would represent in 1963 terms and it's about £1.20 or £1/4/- in old money. Somewhat less than it's purchase price, mind you it would have been in brand new condition back then rather than having the 'patina' of 50 odd years and spider's nests in the dials

Cheers,
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