Avo 8 with metal case no panclimatic

Hello, today i received an AVO 8, with a metal case, the front is brown, as the panclimatic, but the instructions on the back are for the AVO 8. I think it is a Panclimatic with the wrong instructions attached.

Serial number 62149-C-657

Does anybody know the exact model?

How can i remove the metal case? i wish to clean and paint exactly with the same paint the metal case, it is difficult to take it apart.

Thanks

Photo of the interior. I can read PANCLIMATIC

The battery case is made of baquelite, similar to AVO 8, with spaces for probe

[Superscope]

Hi Aitor,

There are very few guarantees with AVO meters these days, because there is always
the possibility Parts have been Swapped or changed.

However, your AVO is for sure a Military Model 8x Mk II due to the engraving on the Top of the Front Panal (showing the Military connection) and it's Date.
The Military engraving shows an early Meter before Nata Stock Numbers were in fashion,
which also fits in with the Date of the Meter.

I'm not aware of any Military AVO's that were not Pan-Climatic, but the only way to know
for sure is by looking inside to see if various Componants (The Transformer especially) are potted in Resin.

I notice that the Data Plate is separated from the Meter, so it might be, that this is not original.
It might also mean AVO just used a standard Data Plate at the time. Something they regularly did in the past.

Military Meters as far as I know, did not have the Mk Number shown on the back, but did
normally have Pan-Climatic in writing.

Can't help you with the Metal Case removal, I have never removed one, at least not yet.
I think if you do a search on this forum, it has been discussed before.

Ian

Thanks, the data plate was attached, but a corner was bent, i unscrew it. it looks original and as it has been there for years...the bent corner was rust and the screw also was, so i think it is the original plate.

What about the baquelite battery cover? The panclimatic use to have a metal one isn it?

[Superscope]

I guess we will never know for sure about the Data Plate.

Could be original, where AVO used a Domestic Stock Data Plate.
Could have been replaced due to damage in the past, and a Domestic Plate was used as a replacement.

Having looked at your Photo's again, the Transformer is clearly Potted in Resin, so it is definitely a Model 8x.

Never understood why these were never called an 8sx, since they all appeared to be Screened as well.


Ian

transformer an others components.... see photos

Can anybody confirm the date? june 1957? as far as i know, panclimatic appears in the 60´s

Originally Posted by Superscope

Never understood why these were never called an 8sx, since they all appeared to be Screened as well.

Thanks, could you tell me the differences between 8x and 8SX?

only in the metal case?

8x baquelite
8sx baquelite plus metal case

[The Philpott]

The data/instruction plate looks like it could be the correct one. As the battery cover is bakelite, it is probably a replacement.

Dave

Ok. I will look for the metal one.

Do you know if that baquelite cover was used on avo 8 mk3??

[Superscope]

Hi Aitor,

Yes, it is a June 1957 Model 8x Mk II

As you thought the X refers to the Meter being Pan-Climatic.
The S (if it had one) refers to the Meter being Screened.

All the Military Pan-Climatic Meters I have seen or read about, were also Screened,
and indeed the Military Model 9 was originally called a 9sx (virtually identical to the 8x except the 0,3 Scale).
This seems to have been dropped when the 9sx became the Test Set Multirange No 1.
The Meter remained mostly the same, but the 9sx ID stamp on the front was dropped.

As far as I know, the Model 8 Pan-Climatic was never called an 8sx, even if it was Screened.

I think Pan-Climatic Models exist without Screening, but I have never actually seen one personally.
As I understand it, the original Pan-Climatic AVO's were produced for the Military during
WW II for campaigns in Tropical environments, which of course would mean they Date from the 40's or even the late 30's.

As Dave said, it is very unlikely the Battery Cover is original.
As a Screened Meter, the Bakelite Battery Cover would compromise it's screening.

I personally rate these and the 9sx as the best AVO meters of all.
Most of mine are still well within their original specification such was the quality and robustness of their construction.

Ian

[Superscope]

The Bakelite Battery covers are another AVO Minefield.

Who knows what's 100% correct.

All my Model 8's of any Mk have the Flat thin Cover. Not even sure these are truly Bakelite.

The only exception is a Mk II which had it's cover missing when I got it and I robbed one like yours from a Scrap Model 40.
And there hangs the problem, they are all inter-changeable between different AVO Models.

But does it really matter? Nice to be Historically correct where ever possible, but the wrong
cover is probably better than No Cover at all.

Ian

Originally Posted by Superscope

But does it really matter? Nice to be Historically correct where ever possible, but the wrong
cover is probably better than No Cover at all.

Yes, you are right.

I am not going to separate the metal case from the baquelite one, is very complicated, i will paint it with the same paint carefully.

The AVO is working perfectly in all ranges. i love it!

Here you are the batteries that it has inside since the beginning of the world i think. No leaks and no rust inside.

HEY!!!!

I just clean the Bakelite battery cover, and IT IS BROWN!!!, this AVO 8 Panclimatic is brown too, so i think that it is original!!.


I think this is important, because could confirm the use of that cover in panclimatic. See photos, i hope you can see the difference of color. In the second photo i think is very clear.

Just waiting your opinion.

Thanks to everybody

[Refugee]

Those batteries look well and truly rotted.

[The Philpott]

I agree Aitor, this could mean the battery cover is original. If you wanted to find another brown bakelite battery cover you would have a long search. Very unusual!

Dave

In a few days, when i finish it, i will post a couple of photos .

Originally Posted by Superscope

Hi Aitor,......

I think Pan-Climatic Models exist without Screening, but I have never actually seen one personally......
Ian

you mean this one?

You can see the metal battery cover that i think was in a case steel because of the gold color ant type of paint

one more

[pmmunro]

Like many other moving coil instruments, Avometers did not survive well in tropical or jungle conditions, but I have no record of panclimatic instruments being produced during the Second World War.

I have a panclimatic Air Ministry Type V (HR) (10S821) Serial No. 239-V-748 which has encapsulated multiplier coils and a screening can.

I also have an early panclimatic Model 8 which has an almost milk chocolate reddish-brown front panel and case, presumably mould resistant, but has no screening can.

As superscope states, both 8S and 8SX instruments were made for the commercial market.

The Model 8 Mk V was designed from the beginning to meet NATO specifications and so no special screened or panclimatic versions were made.

PMM

Finally i finish the AVO 8 mk2 panclimatic.

I cleaned the case, i sanded it, then paint with an special paint against rust anf finally the gold paint that is exactly the same as the original, in Spain is called Martelé.

I cleaned all the interior very well, and polish the battery blades.

The leather was very dry, so i applied horse grease and now is very soft.

The battery cover is the original brown with both sticks probes (red and black), still waiting for the mysterious probe.

Finally i put the red and one black cap that were missing from another Avo which is waiting its turn to be repaired.

The AVO works very well in all the ranges.

I am very happy with this panclimatic!!