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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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9th Jan 2020, 11:29 am | #1 |
Diode
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Posts: 8
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What kind of unusual antique square metal electric meter is this?
Dear experts.
I have this meter that is extremely heavy. It looks like it is made of cast iron. It has two windows. The front window does not have anything, but you can see the pointer inside moving. When I flip it, I can see the scale to 20. I could not decipher what it says in terms of the name, except 20V. It has four feet on the back, which means the device can be placed in a horizontal position. What an unusual thing. Any ideas? Thank you! |
9th Jan 2020, 12:18 pm | #2 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
Posts: 2,679
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Re: What kind of unusual antique square metal electric meter is this?
Quote:
Though, it is interesting what you can deduce from a meter's face. For example, when alternators replaced dynamos in cars, they got rid of the amp meter that was customary for decades that often had a -30 - 0 to +30 Amp scale. They replaced it with a volt meter with a center marking of 13V. The reason for this was that 13V is the "charge neutral voltage" where a well charged battery in a car neither absorbs or delivers significant charge to the system. So if the voltage climbed above this value you knew the battery was likely charging, and below that value, probably discharging. Until, of course, idiot lights largely replaced the meters, or the scientific units disappeared from the meter faces, to become colors like red=bad & green=good, like you see on a lot of valve testers. |
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9th Jan 2020, 12:31 pm | #3 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 2,196
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Re: What kind of unusual antique square metal electric meter is this?
The clue is in the second photo. This is an interesting example of the Robert Paul Unipivot galvanometer. Robert Paul was an electrical instrument pioneer in the early 20th century, based in Hatton Garden, London. His business was later acquired by the Cambridge Instrument Company. More info on the IET website at https://www.theiet.org/publishing/li...aul-1869-1943/
You've got a nice museum piece - an example of early electrical industry history. Martin
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9th Jan 2020, 1:39 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Coulsdon, London, UK.
Posts: 2,152
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Re: What kind of unusual antique square metal electric meter is this?
The double sided scale may suggest an educational use.
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9th Jan 2020, 6:23 pm | #5 |
Diode
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Posts: 8
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Re: What kind of unusual antique square metal electric meter is this?
Wow! Hartley118, you are right. Unipivot! I was thinking about the signage and did not recognize such a word at all! Thank you so much. I guess here in British Columbia we have many meters and gauges made in the UK
Education use? I got it. Yes, you are also right. Actually, I want to say BIG THANK YOU to everybody who wanted to participate in identifying this piece!!! What an amazing job!!! |
10th Jan 2020, 7:53 am | #6 |
Diode
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Posts: 8
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Re: What kind of unusual antique square metal electric meter is this?
Does anybody know the value of this galvanometer? Since I do not collect such electric devices, I am thinking of placing it for sale somewhere.
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10th Jan 2020, 1:13 pm | #7 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 2,196
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Re: What kind of unusual antique square metal electric meter is this?
Quote:
Prices in completed auctions on eBay can be a guide. 'Buy it now' prices are often a triumph of optimism over reality. As an example, here's a rather more comprehensive nice clean Paul galvanometer with a 'Buy it now' price of £45 https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Vintage-Robe...UAAOSwfvtcSGcv Best of luck in selling it. Martin
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