Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[burakkucat]

Just purrfect. 

[4candles]

...b*cat's OP has sparked an interest, not to mention nostalgia, in such matters, and I've now got eBay searches bookmarked for 'Wandel & Goltermann', 'Wayne Kerr' and 'Hatfield Instruments'. This could be an expensive year.   

Not too bad so far. 

Had to bid up to £30 for this Hatfield Measuring Set 1017A. Works fine with two PP9 batteries (under the cover top left), but I'd like to source a Power Unit 91A if possible. It goes into the battery compartment, and is in fact about the size of two PP9s - just the kind of thing our resident dark ovine might happen upon in his travels.   

The real bargain, though, are the Wandel & Goltermann PS-20 and PMP-20 oscillator and level meter, known colloquially as 'bricks'. Very portable, and amazing build quality.

It seems the seller had found an aluminium case containing the 'bricks' (with manuals), a handheld RF oscillator, a capacitance meter, two sets of cased RF adaptors, and a couple of test leads. He'd no idea what they were, and the case had been in the loft for several years - indeed the PP3s in the bricks had an expiry date of 2000. No sign of corrosion though - presumably the case provided a good seal. Started at £9·99 and I was the only bidder. 

[burakkucat]

Nice looking equipment. 

It may be a silly question but will you actually use it? 

[4candles]

I acquired them mainly because of the large part they played in my working life, and their intrinsic historical and technical interest.

They will be utilised though, as such things were at home, in my days as one of Beattie's drones. Nothing serious, just footling around experimenting and testing various audio and telephonic devices.

One such project in the pipeline is investigating the differing ring tones encountered in certain conditions, and when calling some exchanges. It's been intriguing me and another ex-drone, especially as I believe, from my limited knowledge of digital switching, that the ring tone is always generated at one's own exchange.

[burakkucat]

One such project in the pipeline is investigating the differing ring tones encountered in certain conditions, and when calling some exchanges. It's been intriguing me and another ex-drone, especially as I believe, from my limited knowledge of digital switching, that the ring tone is always generated at one's own exchange.

Yes, I believe I have read somewhere that the "ring" tone is generated locally. Now you have mentioned that project I can understand the need to measure the different tones!

[burakkucat]

I've just noticed that there are two copies of the Hatfield Instruments Measuring Set No 1017A & 44C Operator & Service Manual available on eBay as "buy it now" items.

[4candles]

Thanks b*cat.