GPO Multimeter: Info Sought - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

russell_w_b · 18th Jan 2011, 10:05 am

Anyone wish to comment on this little multimeter I've been given, other than its external dimensions are 5¾" x 3¾" x 1¾"?

It appears to be accurate (specification unknown) on all ranges compared to a Fluke DMM. Who made it? Taylor? AVO? Other...?

jimmc101 · 18th Jan 2011, 10:19 am

Looks very similar to a Taylor 127A.

First thing to do is to make a blanking plug for the 'S' socket, this connects directly to the meter movement (for connecting an external shunt).
It's is all too easy to connect to this rather than the '+' socket and the result is catastrophic.

Jim

russell_w_b · 18th Jan 2011, 11:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmc101

First thing to do is to make a blanking plug for the 'S' socket, this connects directly to the meter movement (for connecting an external shunt).

Jim: thanks for that - will do!

Herald1360 · 18th Jan 2011, 1:59 pm

It does, doesn't it. Looks like the GPO specified simpler scaling, though.

G4XWDJim · 18th Jan 2011, 3:05 pm

It is a Taylor 127A badged by the PO.

As an ex Xerox engineer I used one a lot in the 1960s and found it to be a reliable meter that stood many shocks and bumps and survived being dropped on the floor many times when I opened the lid of a copier when it fell off.

There have been a few PO ones at rallies over the years.

Quite easy to repair too when you stick the mains across the ohms range as I did a few times.

I had several at one time and took the movement out of one to fit into an Avo Mk3 valvetester. It wasn't quite sensitive enough even though it fitted. Maybe the op amp mod would have helped.

Jim

russell_w_b · 18th Jan 2011, 4:37 pm

Chaps: many thanks for the replies. Now I know!

DaveH-UK · 7th Nov 2012, 7:38 pm

Yup, I scored one of these 127A's at a boot sale to day... the Guy wanted £4 but I convinced him it was only worth £3. Smart little analogue meter... even got the leather case with it

It looks pretty clean and appears to work on all volt, current and ohm's ranges... have not tried the resistance ranges yet as no batterys installed. I did notice I have a broken resistor coming off the wafer sw. So will have to find a schematic to see what the value is. I beleive Taylor was part of the AVO group or vise versa?

I just love boot sales... never know what you are going to find; like a bag of Mazda/Mullard valves that I also scored today... I will be checking those out on the valve tester later.

DaveH - G4NWP

DaveH-UK · 7th Nov 2012, 7:51 pm

Did anyone find a manual for these litlle Taylor 127A meters?

DaveH

jimmc101 · 7th Nov 2012, 8:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveH-UK

Did anyone find a manual for these litlle Taylor 127A meters?

DaveH

See post #4 of this thread.

Jim

DaveH-UK · 7th Nov 2012, 8:21 pm

Aghhh, thanks Jim, just downloaded those files

It shows the resistor values coming off the wafer switch... so I can get my soldering iron in there and replace a broken resistor.

DaveH - G4NWP

Gi4CZW Cliff · 7th Nov 2012, 8:40 pm

We used to know these meters as a "Meter Multi-Range 12 A", and yes, very handy. Later we got the 12 C. The bigger AVO shape, was a "M'M'R 14 C". Cliff.

18th Jan 2011, 10:05 am	#1
russell_w_b Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 3,687	GPO Multimeter: Info Sought Anyone wish to comment on this little multimeter I've been given, other than its external dimensions are 5¾" x 3¾" x 1¾"? It appears to be accurate (specification unknown) on all ranges compared to a Fluke DMM. Who made it? Taylor? AVO? Other...? __________________ Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI.

18th Jan 2011, 10:19 am	#2
jimmc101 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 674	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought Looks very similar to a Taylor 127A. First thing to do is to make a blanking plug for the 'S' socket, this connects directly to the meter movement (for connecting an external shunt). It's is all too easy to connect to this rather than the '+' socket and the result is catastrophic. Jim

18th Jan 2011, 3:05 pm	#5
G4XWDJim Octode Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,465	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought It is a Taylor 127A badged by the PO. As an ex Xerox engineer I used one a lot in the 1960s and found it to be a reliable meter that stood many shocks and bumps and survived being dropped on the floor many times when I opened the lid of a copier when it fell off. There have been a few PO ones at rallies over the years. Quite easy to repair too when you stick the mains across the ohms range as I did a few times. I had several at one time and took the movement out of one to fit into an Avo Mk3 valvetester. It wasn't quite sensitive enough even though it fitted. Maybe the op amp mod would have helped. Jim

18th Jan 2011, 4:37 pm	#6
russell_w_b Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought Chaps: many thanks for the replies. Now I know! __________________ Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI.

7th Nov 2012, 7:38 pm	#7
DaveH-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Winchester, UK Posts: 36	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought Yup, I scored one of these 127A's at a boot sale to day... the Guy wanted £4 but I convinced him it was only worth £3. Smart little analogue meter... even got the leather case with it It looks pretty clean and appears to work on all volt, current and ohm's ranges... have not tried the resistance ranges yet as no batterys installed. I did notice I have a broken resistor coming off the wafer sw. So will have to find a schematic to see what the value is. I beleive Taylor was part of the AVO group or vise versa? I just love boot sales... never know what you are going to find; like a bag of Mazda/Mullard valves that I also scored today... I will be checking those out on the valve tester later. DaveH - G4NWP

18th Jan 2011, 1:59 pm	#4
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought It does, doesn't it. Looks like the GPO specified simpler scaling, though. Attached Thumbnails __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

7th Nov 2012, 7:51 pm	#8
DaveH-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Winchester, UK Posts: 36	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought Did anyone find a manual for these litlle Taylor 127A meters? DaveH

7th Nov 2012, 8:21 pm	#10
DaveH-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Winchester, UK Posts: 36	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought Aghhh, thanks Jim, just downloaded those files It shows the resistor values coming off the wafer switch... so I can get my soldering iron in there and replace a broken resistor. DaveH - G4NWP

7th Nov 2012, 8:40 pm	#11
Gi4CZW Cliff Pentode Join Date: May 2011 Location: Enniskillen, Fermanagh, UK. Posts: 188	Re: GPO Multimeter: Info Sought We used to know these meters as a "Meter Multi-Range 12 A", and yes, very handy. Later we got the 12 C. The bigger AVO shape, was a "M'M'R 14 C". Cliff.