Canadian Wireless Test Equipment

[David Dunlop]

I was doing some equipment research on line over the weekend when I stumbled across a PDF File posted at some time by Jerry Proctor, which I found a very interesting read. It is a copy of a mid-1960’s Royal Canadian Navy equipment listing of all Oscilloscopes in service at that time with the RCN. It was several pages long with illustrations and descriptions of each scope.

The first surprise was that the total number of oscilloscopes in use was 39, including four identified as ‘British Admiralty Pattern’. Based on the NATO Stock Numbers, the rest of the equipment was either of Canadian or US manufacture.

The second surprise was the 5th illustration, which happened to be of the OS8-B/U Oscilloscope that I have always known to be a US Navy Contract Item from 1952. I picked one of these up years ago for around $50 Cdn all in. It is a rugged little design and probably close to the first truly light weight portable scopes built. Mine is a US Navy contract item built by Hickok.

Having seen this RCN document now, I wonder if a contract was ever placed for a run of OS8-B/U scopes that have RCN ID tags on them, or if what the RCN needed was simply bought direct from US Navy Stores?

David

[David Dunlop]

I have been picking away on this scope lately in my spare time between the usual summertime chores around the house and, quite frankly, the desire to be outside enjoying the back garden whenever possible. I will have 7 more months of indoor time to play with electronics soon enough.

The scope started out working quite well, but over a few weeks I noticed the horizontal controls starting to drop away. Then the vertical controls gave away to the point all I got was a small horizontal trace line at the upper section of the screen that gave me purely random responses to any of the controls. A complete valve replacement did not improve things and I eventually traced the problem to the two electrolytic capacitor cans in the power supply. Both were Mallory Type FP items, one a three section unit and the other a four section.

A little searching on the web revealed a company in the States was still making these capacitors using the original 1920’s equipment from Mallory. And the two capacitors I needed were available with suitable specs AND dimensions. This latter point is very critical in such a compact chassis design. So I shall be ordering a pair of capacitors shortly.

I hope to get the scope back up an running before winter sets in as it will come in handy in testing my two 52-Set receivers.

David

[David Dunlop]

I ran across a tidbit of information on this company this morning.

Measurement Engineering was producing precision electronics items (type unknown) during the war. They were located at: 104 Lombard Street, Toronto, Ontario. The SG-1 was their very first product aimed at the postwar commercial radio servicing market and production of the SG-1 started in 1945.

David

[Rod Salter]

LeaderLSG10.jpg

I have a LEADER LSG-10 made nowhere near Canada
not as many functions as David's

The dial faded away, I was able to download a clear picture and after many print attempts eventually had one the correct size to glue over the face

cheers rod

[David Dunlop]

Rod.

Thanks for posting.

There are no date references I can find anywhere on my LSG-10A, or in the manual. The data plate on the back shows the usual model and serial number information and the Stark name and address in Ajax, Ontario.

However, on closer inspection, I just noticed ‘JAPAN’ is stamped into the outer rear chassis, just below the AC Mains Line exit grommet.

I wonder if Leader was a postwar electronics company in Japan which developed a line of Signal Generators that eventually caught the attention of Stark? Perhaps not built here in Canada by Stark, but assembled, so the model number system stayed the same.

David

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Rod Salter

Attachment 111576

I have a LEADER LSG-10 made nowhere near Canada
not as many functions as David's

The dial faded away, I was able to download a clear picture and after many print attempts eventually had one the correct size to glue over the face

cheers rod

I have seen similar LSG signal generators around at hamfests. These cheaper or basic signal generators tend to leak RF energy out of the case, the shielding is not that great. As an example, if you need a radio frequency signal that is down in the low microvolts region, these cheap generators are not the ideal instrument for aligning receivers because of the leakage.

[David Dunlop]

Go figure.

After finding a very nice Hickok 209A to go towards my 52-Set Project, a very nice Stark VT9 shows up for sale on Kijiji out of Coronation Park, which I am assuming is in Ontario. The item was part of a national search result and I did not register the exact location.

As is typical of a lot of vintage test equipment, no leads or probes are with the meter. The seller has identified it as a VT9, but it could be a VT9A. there are no show stopping differences between the two models.


David

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Go figure.

After finding a very nice Hickok 209A to go towards my 52-Set Project, a very nice Stark VT9 shows up for sale on Kijiji out of Coronation Park, which I am assuming is in Ontario. The item was part of a national search result and I did not register the exact location.

As is typical of a lot of vintage test equipment, no leads or probes are with the meter. The seller has identified it as a VT9, but it could be a VT9A. there are no show stopping differences between the two models.


David

These are VTVM ?

I guess like me you are a fan of Mr Carlsons lab on utube. In one of his videos, he describes how these older VTVMs are actually better than the modern Digital multi meters for certain measuring parameters. He recently did a series describing the detailed rebuild of a AR88 receiver , including showing the complicated alignment procedure.

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Stark VT9 shows up for sale on Kijiji out of Coronation Park,

Is this the listing - I didn't find Coronation Park (rather Confederation Park, listed under Saskatoon)?
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-general-elec...ter/1665563325