A bit of electronics servicing history - the Universal AvoMeter Model 7
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avometer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avometer
By Julian
Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado
Good morning all…
Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado
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I remember DMM's being shunned by the pro's in favour of AVO's even as late as the 80's. At Energy Controls (WM) Ltd we had a steady stream of AVO's in for service and repair.
I still have one of these and would not part with it.
They are so useful and are not prone to strange frequencies as DVM's can be. You can watch small value capacitors discharging which would confuse a DVM. with undulating signals a DVM will be going nuts to lock on to a reading, analogue wins out with a visual display. As for the age, there is a date code on the meter faceplate that is partly from direct view by the case, situated above the Q control.
There is a dedicated site on the web (cant recall where) that gives chapter and verse on these and dates the many variants too. My Mk7 IIRC 1952
Please can this meter use for earth geophysical survivors
Ha, I have one of those, inherited from my great-grandfather. It's a Mk1, and kind of battle worn – he used it working as an aircraft mechanic. No case, but it still worked fine when I used it as a kind in the 90s. I'd guess mine is from the 50s, though I'll have to check the serial – it's with my parents at the moment.
My grand dad actually supposedly stole one of these from the navy back in the 1960's and I still have it today!
Know your subject before talking about. Destroyed value in it my taking it apart and introducing dust.
Was mint until you F*****d with it.
The top is home made. It is much newer than the rest of the meter. The original Bakelite tops were prone to cracking through the screw holes due to owners over tightening them.
I have this avometer, it still have one 1.5 volt battery, its everready r1662 wrap in paper box date 1 Oct 1971 . 😁😁😁
wow. yours is in immaculate condition. My one has its case but no cables and the copper battery contacts are corroded. I'd like to find out if it still works like yours. Great video!
I’ve worked for Avo\Megger in Dover for 25 years, and I am company historian. It’s a classic piece of test equipment, sold up until 2008. The date can be obtained from the serial number printed on the scale plate.
The AVO here has had a replacement back instruction panel fitted. Thorn took over AVO when Thorn took over Metal industries back in 1967, then, AVO was part of Metal Industries.
Know this is an old thread, but just found it. I have an Avo 8 & an Avo Multiminor. Still in regular use, still accurate. Yes, I have various modern meters from the cheapo to high quality, but nothing has the pure quality of Avo.
Why make a video when you don’t know the subject. I couldn’t watch it.
Was brought up on the AVO 7
AVO made a whole range of interesting electronic test gear apart from multimeters… mainly valve based; however their is little or nothing on-line detailing this equipment. Mostly just about the multimeters. I have an interesting AVO Type 1388 B if anyone knows anything about it?. Also an AVO ETM, a couple of VCM valve testers… oh, and an AVO 8 🙂 It's high time someone (perhaps an ex employee of AVO) could put something on-line about this iconic British ground breaking company and its extensive products.
And that's how you break a perfectly good case…. you don't pull out… you slide out from the top (or bottom from the looks of yours)
really nice there's something about a wavering needle measuring a varying voltage take a look at the same on a digital meter and all you see is digits flickering all over the place that don't make any sense !