AVO Multimeter survey

[Superscope]

Thanks to everybody.
That's a valuable addition of Model D information.

Sinewave,

Do your Meters have the Four Digit Year shown as in Phils earlier Picture?
Don't know if it's overly important, but you never known if this information
might become useful in the future.

Now, the NATO Arrow as you called it is interesting!
NATO didn't come into existence until 1949, and that Meter is 1943.

So is it a later replacement Scale I wonder , or is the Arrow the symbol of
a different Branch of British Military?



Ian

[Aitor Eneko]

I have this cyma Watch from WWII, which was used in WS 19 radio with the same? broad Arrow

GSTP General Service Temporary Pattern

[Superscope]

A quick bit of on-line research says:

The Broad Arrow or Pheon represents the Head of an Arrow or Javelin,
which were of course the Military weapons of the day back in the 15th 16th Centuries.
The Symbol has been used since the 16th Century and maybe earlier in England
and later Britain.

Originally it is believed to have meant that objects so marked were bought
from the Kings Money.

Later in British History, it was used to mark Government Owned objects which were
required by Law to be marked in some fashion.

It was commonly used by the British Military, since the Symbol had a Military background.


In short then, the Pheon could be any British Military Service, it simply means the Object
was Government Owned.


Amazing, now I have learned something today!
Also explains why I never get anything finished as I'm always Sidetracked!


Ian

[Phil G4SPZ]

You’ll also see the Broad Arrow on O.S. trig points.

[Sinewave]

Yes perhaps I shouldn't refer to it as the NATO arrow.

All meters have the date in the four digit format.

Also at the bottom of the movement scale they have the writing

'B.S.F.G ACWEECO.LTD' and then 'REF No. 10S/10610'

[The Philpott]

I think i have heard it referred to as the WD (war department?) arrow, but the person might have been mistaken. On everything from batteries to spanners, often accompanied by the year of manufacture (which is useful.)

On many occasions i have borrowed a steel bar about 6' long, about an inch and a half in diameter, one end terminates in a wedge, the other a four-sided point. Despite the corrosion the year and arrow are still visible. It appears to be made out of some sort of unobtainium steel, is completely inflexible, quite sonorous and massively heavy- i use it in conjunction with a pivot block, for levering out small tree stumps. I think originally it was a tool for changing the links on tank/caterpillar tracks. Taken for granted for many years- but like many of the things we use it would be difficult to replace.

By comparison with the CE mark (or sometimes even the TUV mark!) the arrow effectively delivers the message- 'This is fit for purpose'

Dave

[Aitor Eneko]

Serial number for the survey list


Avo 8 mk3 from a famous web 54204.267

[barrymagrec]

My Dad`s AVO 8 mkII, owned from new. 78759-C-858

[Bobdger]

Avo Type D 48A ser n 18025 - 1144 Printed on the scale card is the year 1949 .

Bob

[Superscope]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the original Number from the 48A.
You never know, that Meter may still exist somewhere!
Although it is not on our Database unfortunately, I just looked.

Are you able to read the Serial Number from the Model D?
It should be immediately to the Left of the 1949 you mentioned, and it should begin with a D.





Ian

[The Philpott]

Bob, I don't know how much you know regarding these, but as Ian says, the gist is that the Model D has found shelter from the weather in a box originally used for a Model 48A meter.
It won't therefore have any compatibility with the accessories provided, you need a Model 40, 47A, 47A(S) or 48A meter for that. There are loads of Model 40's knocking about, that would be the easiest to procure (especially the later ones).

Probably the most useful accessories are the DC current shunts, i think you have capacity for up to 480amps with an accuracy plus or minus 2%.

Dave

[Bobdger]

Hi Ian and Dave

The Sn on the scale card is D104 - 1149. there is a ref number
deep below the scale front moulding 105 or 10S -10610

Thanks.
Bob.

[Barnmead]

I have been looking at the database and see that one of mine is listed three times on page 8 lines 76, 77 and 78 but perhaps you have found these?

I also have three more that could be added:
Model 8 s/n 45836-c-456
Model 8 MkII s/n 105043-c-360
Model 8 MkIII s/n 65083-867

[Sinewave]

Bottom left hand corner, is that the serial number or the part number? Reason I ask is that usually, this range of hand helds has the number on the right hand, stamped/pressed into the scale plate.

What do you think?

[Aitor Eneko]

From a famous web...

Avo 7 metal case with serial number 7109-3262

[pmmunro]

Sinewave,

Post No. 1974 - That's a part number. You may find that there's a serial number indented into the scale plate at some point but the white covers the surface and there is no other filling of the characters. The serial number on some later Multiminors is like this.

PMM

[Sinewave]

Sadly nothing on this. It's a shame as I wanted to enter this on the survey, but it's serial less. A model 71 I have has the number on a sticker, others are indented into the scale plate, but this one has nothing and will remain a mystery.

[Aitor Eneko]

another 7mk2 metal case found on the internet

SERIAL 3418-A-367-M

[Sinewave]

With thanks to Studio263 who kindly donated to me an Avometer Model 7, serial No.39538-A-253.

This meter has some lovely history belonging previously to the RAE based at Farnborough. It has the aluminium rear casing and is still in perfect working order.

It comes with a set of orginal leads with the NSN and a case with the lettering ZD. 00207.

What a beautiful example of a mark 1 Avometer Model 7 this is.

[Aitor Eneko]

Avo 8 mk3 find on a famous web metal battery cover

serial nº 37760.266