Test Equipment Classics

Used test equipment can be a good buy

This is especially true of "lab grade" test equipment. This is very high-quality equipment intended for industrial or research use that was generally near state-of-the-art at the time it was produced. Because the state of the art keeps moving, equipment that is 10 years old is considered highly obsolete, yet even 20 or 40 year old equipment frequently has capabilities in excess of current "service grade" equipment (Hitachi, Goldstar, B.K. Precision, etc.) See Rec.antiques.radio+phono Tools and Test Equipment(FAQ: 8/9) for discussion of the test/lab grade distinction and of types of older tube-based equipment.

Fine instrument makers

The used lab-grade instrument market is largely dominated by Hewlett-Packard (now Agilent) and Tektronix, but there are many other quality makes which have narrower specialties. I must also admit that there's an aspect of collectiblity here. Instruments made before 1970 often have a degree of old-world crafstmanship which many geeks find irresistible. I'm particularly fond of General Radio's art deco, but Leeds and Northrup has a victorian charm.

Test equipment manufacturers of distinction

My General Radio fan page

My current instrument collection

Maintaining old instruments

Many of the classic pieces of older equipment were made by manufacturers that are now gone or are no longer in the general purpose test equipment businesses. The nonexistence of the manufacturer doesn't make a whole lot of practical difference, since Tektronix and Agilent don't provide much support for the really old stuff, and if they did have spares, etc, the price would be appalling. Availability of the service manual is the main consideration, but there is a thriving market in old manuals:

Test Equipment Manual and Parts Sites

sci.electronics repair FAQ.

Where to find old instruments

Though I haven't gotten anything usable this way, you can get old instruments for free if you know where to look or who to ask at a university or company. Also, if you go to a hamfest at the end of the day, you will find stuff that didn't sell being given away. There are a number of ways to buy used instruments:

General notes on the used instrument market

Buying and selling on eBay

Hamfests

Online equipment dealers

Electronic junk stores

Last update 13 July 2002