First in this series Treasures From The Vault - I present a common everyday portable tube tester - well, common for the 1950's. Enjoy!
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15 thoughts on “From the vault: precision apparatus model 954 tube tester”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Cedric Silvester says:

    Thanks for sharing that cool piece of kit! I recall in the early 1970s it was common to see a tube tester at grocery stores and car service stations. Big stand up cabinet. I don't recall if you had to pay to use it. Cheers!

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Bearded engineerโ€™s show says:

    Always wanted to have one

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars DrRussPhd says:

    You don't have enough stuff in your vault. ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars fanplant says:

    i'd play with the big one at the drugstore but we had a Hickok TV-3 in the house. I don't think it had a battery for reference though

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Angry Dove says:

    I have a tube tester in a metal case but its not electronamic. ๐Ÿ˜I can't get to it right now so I can't say what make and model it is.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Apollo Skyfacer says:

    Hi Fran. Are you sure your Vault is not part of Warehouse 13 ?

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars J.C. Wise says:

    Fran, that tube tester you have has VOM meter functions, I bet the dry cell battery is for the Ohms measuring function. BTW, I have the Precision Apparatus Model 612 Tube and Battery tester (1.5 v to 135v). It has a 9th tube socket for testing Acorn tubes and they sold an upgrade adapter for testing later tubes like the 10 pin Decal, 10 pin min, 5 & 7 pin Nuvistor, Novar and Compactron. Which adapter, I don't have, but plan on making one myself for it. Found online, a complete listing of all the tubes the 612 can test. I have a Jackson 648 Dynamic and a Heathkit TT-1 Transconductance tube testers too.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Pica-Delphon Michael-Scheel says:

    Nice little Almost 5 Minute on a Tube Tester, lets get it Running…

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars George Cohn says:

    I worked for the crookedest repair shop in the late 1960's. While the techs carried the usual compliment of testers in the truck, they were told to bring everything into the shop. Repair charges were based on what the traffic would bear and had no relationship to the actual failure. If you brought in a TV set, I could almost tell you to the cent what the ransom would be to get it "fixed."

    Fortunately I didn't stay there long and got into industrial electronics and eventually ended up being a telecom tech for a large hospital corporation for 30+ years.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Colton says:

    Hah I remember our TV guy when I was a kid in the 60's he was almost one of the family he came round so often! He had a huge case of tubes and a tube tester (think it was solid state) especially when we got a colour set in 1974 the line output tube was always blowing!

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Scott Langille says:

    Spell check tube tester not type tester

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Scott Langille says:

    Good afternoon Fran amazing type test I have the same one but in fair shape compared to your, yours looks brand new

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars drontobil says:

    A treasure? Now in 2022? Yep.
    They fetch almost fantasy sums here in Sweden now.
    The pure TV fat screen testers not so much.
    de SA3BOW

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Timothy Exner says:

    Almost makes me want to be a TV repairman in the 1950's.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars AnimationGoneWrong says:

    Cool looking piece of equipment. Slightly disappointed you couldn't fire it up… maybe in another video? ๐Ÿฅฐ

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