New member - vintage test equipment collection

[Steve Johnson]

Okay,  first post here.  This category made me interested in joining.  I've been collecting antique and vintage test equipment for years.
I'll post a few here if anyone is interested otherwise you can see more at my web site linked at the bottom.
Some of you might have seen some of these posted elsewhere.

This first is the one that got me started collecting test equipment.
A counter top tube tester from 1934 allowed customers to test their own tubes (Supreme Instruments - Mississippi USA):

More of my Supreme instruments collection: SupremeInstruments.org/

I have items going back to the late 1800s.  Here is a soldering iron from that era:

More soldering tools here: My soldering iron collection

I've used Fluke meters on my bench for many years. I still have all of them.  Here's why (self explanatory):


I'm not sure how many vintage test equipment items I have in my collection but it's got to be well over 1,000 items. Mostly from the 1920s through the 1950s. Here's a few on display (the Philco grandfather clock/radio's chassis from 1931 was being restored at the time of this photo):


If there's any interest I'll post more photos as time goes on.  Thanks for letting me share.

[steve30]

I saw your site a while back. Nice stuff .

That soldering iron looks cool. I wonder how it compares to modern electric ones  .

[Steve Johnson]

That soldering iron looks cool. I wonder how it compares to modern electric ones  .

It's got adjustable temperature control.  If you want it hotter you leave it in the fire longer.

[MJLorton]

Hello Steve,

A big thanks for posting....what a brilliant collection!

Not sure where you are based in the US....but some fine day I would love to see your collection if you accept visitors.

Cheers,
Martin.

[Steve Johnson]

Thanks,  I'll try to remember to post a couple of photos every week.

[Paul Collins M0BSW]

 These are just fantastic, I guess you would be considered as an historian.

[lfh003]

In the mid-1960's, I found that every 7-11 store had a tube tester. I was in amateur radio then and often tested 12AT7 and 6BE6 tubes, among others, and you could buy a new tube in the store! The test station stood about 4 foot high and had lots of testing positions (holes). This store, for you who may not have heard of them, was like a food mart without the gas pumps. Where we lived, Orlando, Florida, you were guaranteed a cold, satisfying watermelon or your money back...no questions asked.
G'day to Cape Town, haven't been there (nor Johannesburg and Pretoria) since 1977.

[bobcat]

Ahh, back when the enclosure was as important as the equipment!
Great collection!