Frankenstein oscilloscope - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

dragonser · 30th Dec 2017, 8:24 pm

HI,
I decided today to go through some items I haven't looked at in many years !
One item I found was this Frankeinscope.
well it uses a mix of valves vr91, 6c5 , vt90, ecf82 and a 3bp1 crt.
Originally it had a separate power unit with valve ? rectifiers and I think two selenium rectifiers for the eht. I should still have it ...
I got it originally from a Amateur radio junk sale in the early 1980's .
Hopefully I can find the separate power supply !
which wouldn't pass heath and safety standards even back then ....
So I am thinking that this would make a project for any spare time that I get.
An oscilloscope wouldn't be that useful ( I have got several now ) but I wondered about making a NBTV monitor ...
any comments would be appreciated !

Philips210 · 30th Dec 2017, 10:24 pm

Hi Peter.

There's an interesting article of a scope tube TV in the Practical Television magazine featured here: http://www.radiocraft.co.uk/agus.htm The set was named 'Argus'.
I also have a few old oscilloscopes that are not really worth repairing but could form the basis of alternative projects. The NBTV setup would be a good little project to undertake. I intend to use one old Heathkit scope as the display for the spectrum analyser that I built. Another redundant scope will supply the necessary components for an oscilloscope clock project.

Regards
Symon.

Philips210 · 30th Dec 2017, 11:23 pm

Also, there's excellent coverage of the Argus project by member Argus25 here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=130476

Regards
Symon.

Alistair D · 31st Dec 2017, 11:48 am

There are articles in the following issues of PTV
Mar52
Apr52
May52
Jun52
Aug52
Sep52
Feb53
Apr53

All can be found here

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...n_Magazine.htm

Al

Diabolical Artificer · 1st Jan 2018, 7:34 am

Argrrrgh, it's hideous! You could leave it out to frighten the grand children or it would also make a good component tester of the V/I sort, you know for testing zeners, caps R's etc, etc. that or build a proper curve tracer.

Andy.

dragonser · 1st Jan 2018, 10:37 am

Hi,
yes it is quite a mixture ( both vr91 b9g valves and b9a ecf82 ). but yes actually a component tester is a good idea ....
if I made it all a bit neater, found the external power supply and had x, y and z inputs available ( with built in amplification ) it could probably be very useful.
I don't think the crt is big enough for a curve tracer.
But I think I have a larger crt ( saved from a telequipment scope that had been fire damaged when it's previous owner had it ) to make a component tester .

Diabolical Artificer · 2nd Jan 2018, 8:11 am

I have the schematic for a decent component tester if you need it. It uses a TL074 to first make a 1khz wein bridge osc with very low THD ( this is usefull in itself for testing audio) and also a precision meter read out as well as high/low current facility.

Andy.

30th Dec 2017, 8:24 pm	#1
dragonser Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK. Posts: 735	Frankenstein oscilloscope HI, I decided today to go through some items I haven't looked at in many years ! One item I found was this Frankeinscope. well it uses a mix of valves vr91, 6c5 , vt90, ecf82 and a 3bp1 crt. Originally it had a separate power unit with valve ? rectifiers and I think two selenium rectifiers for the eht. I should still have it ... I got it originally from a Amateur radio junk sale in the early 1980's . Hopefully I can find the separate power supply ! which wouldn't pass heath and safety standards even back then .... So I am thinking that this would make a project for any spare time that I get. An oscilloscope wouldn't be that useful ( I have got several now ) but I wondered about making a NBTV monitor ... any comments would be appreciated ! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Regards Peter B

30th Dec 2017, 10:24 pm	#2
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,579	Re: Frankenstein oscilloscope Hi Peter. There's an interesting article of a scope tube TV in the Practical Television magazine featured here: http://www.radiocraft.co.uk/agus.htm The set was named 'Argus'. I also have a few old oscilloscopes that are not really worth repairing but could form the basis of alternative projects. The NBTV setup would be a good little project to undertake. I intend to use one old Heathkit scope as the display for the spectrum analyser that I built. Another redundant scope will supply the necessary components for an oscilloscope clock project. Regards Symon.

30th Dec 2017, 11:23 pm	#3
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,579	Re: Frankenstein oscilloscope Also, there's excellent coverage of the Argus project by member Argus25 here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=130476 Regards Symon.

31st Dec 2017, 11:48 am	#4
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Frankenstein oscilloscope There are articles in the following issues of PTV Mar52 Apr52 May52 Jun52 Aug52 Sep52 Feb53 Apr53 All can be found here http://www.americanradiohistory.com/...n_Magazine.htm Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

1st Jan 2018, 7:34 am	#5
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,667	Re: Frankenstein oscilloscope Argrrrgh, it's hideous! You could leave it out to frighten the grand children or it would also make a good component tester of the V/I sort, you know for testing zeners, caps R's etc, etc. that or build a proper curve tracer. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

1st Jan 2018, 10:37 am	#6
dragonser Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK. Posts: 735	Re: Frankenstein oscilloscope Hi, yes it is quite a mixture ( both vr91 b9g valves and b9a ecf82 ). but yes actually a component tester is a good idea .... if I made it all a bit neater, found the external power supply and had x, y and z inputs available ( with built in amplification ) it could probably be very useful. I don't think the crt is big enough for a curve tracer. But I think I have a larger crt ( saved from a telequipment scope that had been fire damaged when it's previous owner had it ) to make a component tester . __________________ Regards Peter B

2nd Jan 2018, 8:11 am	#7
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,667	Re: Frankenstein oscilloscope I have the schematic for a decent component tester if you need it. It uses a TL074 to first make a 1khz wein bridge osc with very low THD ( this is usefull in itself for testing audio) and also a precision meter read out as well as high/low current facility. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.