Canadian Wireless Test Equipment

[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 K]

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 K]

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

[David Dunlop]

Hello Grant.

Yes, that is the wee beastie! Thanks for tracking it down and posting the info.

Interesting that it is the earlier VT9 as opposed to the later VT9A. I suspect the differences would be subtle and very likely, the leads and probes from both the Hickok 209 series of meters and the Stark series of VT9 meters would be fully interchangeable.

For comparison, I have attached a photo of my Hickok 209A. Note the main difference is a minor relocation of a few controls by Stark and that Hickok had the functions rotate with the switches against fixed markers on the front panel, whereas the Stark version of the meter used the switch as the indicator with the functions fixed on the front panel.

If you are familiar with typical vintage VTVM equipment, these two photos will be deceiving. This Hickok/Stark meter is 16.5 inches wide, 13.5 inches high and 8.5 inches deep, weighing in between 15 and 20 pounds. Notice the Hickok handle is a basic bent steel rod format, whereas Stark went with something a lot more comfy.

David