UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Vintage Test Gear and Workshop Equipment

Notices

Vintage Test Gear and Workshop Equipment For discussions about vintage test gear and workshop equipment such as coil winders.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 18th Aug 2018, 9:55 am   #1
spaceelectronic
Triode
 
spaceelectronic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 18
Default AVO Valve tester

Morning all.

I've an AVO CT160 valve tester which hasn't been used for some time. It came with a 2 pin power socket. Should I get it checked before powering it up again?

Thanks, Dave.
spaceelectronic is offline  
Old 18th Aug 2018, 1:04 pm   #2
David Simpson
Nonode
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,838
Default Re: AVO Valve tester

Dave, Jesus - YES ! If you've no AVO VCM experience - Contact Mike Barker via the BVWS, or via this Forum(Murphy Mad) ASAP.
There is literally a vast amount of info available via 'SEARCH' . Folk, myself included, have banged on & on about CT160's. Me - no more, except if someone ill-advisably considers recommending adopting a 'suck it & see' approach. We're talking about a very expensive old(1950's/60's) bit of kit, whose spares are becoming as rare as rocking horse manure.
There are one or two other CT160/AVO VCM enthusiasts down in England, who no doubt Mike would recommend if he's too busy.

Regards, David
David Simpson is offline  
Old 18th Aug 2018, 1:35 pm   #3
spaceelectronic
Triode
 
spaceelectronic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 18
Default Re: AVO Valve tester

Thanks Dave for this very important advice. I'll contact Mike and discuss further.
Dave
spaceelectronic is offline  
Old 18th Aug 2018, 1:56 pm   #4
David Simpson
Nonode
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,838
Default Re: AVO Valve tester

Dave, I'd like to offer my welcome to this Forum. We, some of us old f**ts, in the vintage fraternity, sometimes bicker & bang-on at times, but not bearing any ill-will.
Yourself, with such a great technical background, will I'm sure bring a breath of fresh air into Forum discussions.
I hope all goes well with your CT160.

Regards, David
David Simpson is offline  
Old 18th Aug 2018, 2:04 pm   #5
spaceelectronic
Triode
 
spaceelectronic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 18
Default Re: AVO Valve tester

Thanks Dave. Much appreciated.
Its needs people like yourself to 'bicker and bang on' sometimes to save us from doing silly things to our equipment or even to ourselves!
By the way I've founds Mikes details and will PM him now.
Dave
spaceelectronic is offline  
Old 18th Aug 2018, 3:02 pm   #6
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,799
Default Re: AVO Valve tester

Be aware that it is quite easy to damage AVO valve testers simply by unfavourable settings of the controls.

There is no real protection of the meter movement and a lot have been destroyed. Spares are not available. The firm that used to refurbish them wont touch one with an open circuit coil. Movements as sensitive as the original are hard to find. People have put lots of effort into making new scales to suit different eters etc etc.

The guitarists and the audiophiles have latched onto these things big time and the amount of money they change hands for is staggering. One faction seems to think that Avo tested valves sound better, the other lot think they'll give them the magic tone to be the next Stevie Ray Vaugn or Eric Clapton. Whether you believe them, their money is real and the prices for pretty looking VCMs is stratospheric.

Some care is advisable.

David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is online now  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 1:22 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.