Avo Model 160 valve tester -494 pounds??? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

avocollector · 2nd Feb 2019, 4:44 pm

Just amazed at this price on a local auction site over here in NZ - believe it or not that is what it actually sold for yesterday ($940 NZ). Do they command the same prices in the UK?? I can understand it for the later testers but this is a fairly old model.

Dave Moll · 2nd Feb 2019, 6:03 pm

Ah well, if it's old it must be valuable.

Radio Wrangler · 2nd Feb 2019, 6:27 pm

Just take a squint on ebay!

The acoustic properties of audio valves are greatly enhanced by being tested on an AVO VCM so audiophiles have to have them to know that their valves are strong enough.

This is oddly at loggerheads with their general attitude to measurements

Taylor valve testers and the basic emission testers from America don't perform magic, and so their prices are closer to sanity, If you just want something to sort your valve collection to see what's worth using to fix sets.

David

Andrew Mawson · 2nd Feb 2019, 7:49 pm

Sadly when I moved here 11 years ago I had a clear out and sold two CT160's. Even then they went for huge money, people were clambering over each other to buy them !

sven_swe · 2nd Feb 2019, 10:47 pm

I loved my CT160. Unfortunately when I sent my meter for calibration to England it got lost in the mail, so now I have a useless tester without a meter.
Maybe someday I will find a meter to fit, so annoying.

avocollector · 6th Feb 2019, 3:38 pm

Oh well - God knows what the older Avo tester I have will bring my wife - also have a Taylor 45B or C. Just totally floored by this price and will go check ebay as suggested.

2nd Feb 2019, 4:44 pm	#1
avocollector Heptode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wellington, New Zealand. Posts: 653	Avo Model 160 valve tester -494 pounds??? Just amazed at this price on a local auction site over here in NZ - believe it or not that is what it actually sold for yesterday ($940 NZ). Do they command the same prices in the UK?? I can understand it for the later testers but this is a fairly old model.

2nd Feb 2019, 6:03 pm	#2
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,130	Re: Avo Model 160 valve tester -494 pounds??? Ah well, if it's old it must be valuable. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

2nd Feb 2019, 6:27 pm	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,902	Re: Avo Model 160 valve tester -494 pounds??? Just take a squint on ebay! The acoustic properties of audio valves are greatly enhanced by being tested on an AVO VCM so audiophiles have to have them to know that their valves are strong enough. This is oddly at loggerheads with their general attitude to measurements Taylor valve testers and the basic emission testers from America don't perform magic, and so their prices are closer to sanity, If you just want something to sort your valve collection to see what's worth using to fix sets. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

2nd Feb 2019, 7:49 pm	#4
Andrew Mawson Triode Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Battle, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 22	Re: Avo Model 160 valve tester -494 pounds??? Sadly when I moved here 11 years ago I had a clear out and sold two CT160's. Even then they went for huge money, people were clambering over each other to buy them !

2nd Feb 2019, 10:47 pm	#5
sven_swe Pentode Join Date: May 2018 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 104	Re: Avo Model 160 valve tester -494 pounds??? I loved my CT160. Unfortunately when I sent my meter for calibration to England it got lost in the mail, so now I have a useless tester without a meter. Maybe someday I will find a meter to fit, so annoying.

6th Feb 2019, 3:38 pm	#6
avocollector Heptode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wellington, New Zealand. Posts: 653	Re: Avo Model 160 valve tester -494 pounds??? Oh well - God knows what the older Avo tester I have will bring my wife - also have a Taylor 45B or C. Just totally floored by this price and will go check ebay as suggested.