Cool new toy

[bubba]

Not soda related, but a guy at work just brought me a really awesome military tube tester from WWII. This thing is cool as hell. I did a quick search on it and found a site for restoring it. He bought a house that is full of old radios and test equipment. He is going to start loading his truck and bringing to me. I can't wait to see what else he has...

[BrianB]

Tube Testers are really neat. I have an older, 40's vintage, Simpson Model 555 Tube Tester that I use for my Jukebox and Antique Radio tube testing needs. Here's a pic of the faceplate while I had it apart for cleaning and alignment.

[bubba]

Thats cool.. I have a few more of these coming to me still from a few different pieces. Next week I am picking up an old console radio and a few desktop radios.. not sure of models at this point, all I know is they are very old tube radios all in pretty decent condition. Just what I need... another collecting hobby

[GreginNM]

Careful...it's worse than soda machines!!  They are cheaper, lighter, and smaller to collect!    

Nice looking tester!  I have a Hickock 539B? tester that I picked up.  Can't remember which model for sure right now, and it's in New Mexico with my family while I sit here in Southern California for another month!

Can't wait to see more pictures, bubba!

[bubba]

All info I find points to a military version, but I can't find anything to say its military. I pulled the chassis out this afternoon, and its just a metal box with a wiring label on the inside. I'm excited to see what the guy brings me on Monday. He said he has 2 old oscilloscopes and a bunch of other stuff. It sounded like more than one pickup truck load of stuff.

The guy that lived in the house he bought made it to 103yrs old. The rest of the family lived in France and didn't want anything to do with the contents of the house. My buddy got the house for cheap since he had to clean it out. Among the junk, he found a pure silver bar.. He hasn't weighed it, but he said its big and heavy. Unfortunately he has thrown out some stuff before I met him. He was planning on taking this tester out of the box and using the box for tools and junking the tester.. I can only imagine what he has thrown away already. I haven't mentioned this new batch of toys yet to the boss either.. they will just start appearing little by little..

[bubba]

My guy has been bringing me in loads of stuff daily. Once I get some of it cleaned up and figured out what they are, I'll post some pictures.. The original owner of this stuff must have been an old time electrical engineer or an above average tinkerer... I've got a really old decade box, and old Q Comparator with a really cool green CRT screen.. looks like something from an old submarine..., box of old tubes, some other resistance boxes, and a few items I'm not really sure what they are yet. I just love looking at these things. I've got another buddy thats an old timer Ham Radio guy and he may have some input of these.. I'll probably see him next week.

[Vendo_110]

Careful...it's worse than soda machines!!  They are cheaper, lighter, and smaller to collect!    

Nice looking tester!  I have a Hickock 539B? tester that I picked up.  Can't remember which model for sure right now, and it's in New Mexico with my family while I sit here in Southern California for another month!

Can't wait to see more pictures, bubba!

Where you live in New Mexico Greg?

[Creighton]

Pictures please!!
Creighton

[bubba]

OK.. Here are a few pictures of Mondays delivery...

Q Comparator


Decade Box





Radio station receiver? I haven't looked into this one yet. Not quite sure what it is at this point.. There is no mic attachment, but there is a 2 prong plug on the back with nothing yet to plug into it.

[bubba]

I got a big load of stuff Tues, but haven't had time to take any pics yet or really dig through it. There is another tube tester, some old resistance boxes, and old oscilloscope, a Heathkit SW band radio and some other small pieces of test equipment. There is also a handheld UHF/VHF receiver that looks really cool. I'll try to get pics tomorrow of this latest stuff. He said there is still 2 - 6' racks of equipment and a bunch of other stuff. My workshop at work is starting to fill up and he said there is still lots more. The worst part is that he has thrown away some of it already. I can only imagine what he has gotten rid of. If anyone has any info on this stuff, I'm interested. So far the info I've found has been limited and not in language I can understand.