Yesterday, I checked the local classifieds site for “Tektronix” and found an ad for a 547, not working, with some plugins about a 40 minute drive from home for free. It was described as a “treasure trove of vacuum tubes” which almost gave me a heart attack since we all knows what that means would happen to it. I have that 547 that I got back in the spring that I’d like to get working that I don’t know the state of the EHT transformer in it so having a parts unit on hand gives me a much better chance of getting a working unit together. Luckily there was a telephone number in the ad so I called and arranged to go over later in the afternoon and I met the nicest elderly gentleman and we had a great conversation and I showed him pictures of my 547 and some of the other vintage stuff I’ve been working on here.
Anyways, he fired up the 547 and the two traces came up on the CRT (EHT transformer good) and he explained that the retrace blanking didn’t work and that the horizontal sweep had gone out at a later date but that the vertical appeared to be fine still. I said that didn’t think I’d part it out to get mine working but do the reverse since his is all there except for some trouble in the horizontal section while mine’s still unknown. Ideally, I’d like to get both of them fully working.
The 547.
Scopemobile.
There’s a second 1A1 vertical amplifier in the Scopemobile.
This one’s interesting, it’s a third party plug-in that’s an audio analyzer.
Box of six other plugins. There is a type O in the top.
Some other test equipment including a current probe that needs repair. I’ll try to get that going again. Also an HP RF amplifier and the most beautiful power meter in that wooden case.
I really wish we had more time to talk but we’ve kept each other’s contact information and I promised I’ll let him know how it goes with the 547 once I can start digging into it next week. Apparently someone else messaged about half an hour after I called and it sounded like they were interested in pulling all the tubes. I just cringe at the thought of all this beautiful equipment being raided for its tubes and then scrapped so I'm glad I picked up the phone and called right as soon as I saw the ad, and the gentleman was happy to have the equipment go to someone who appreciates it. While I was showing pictures of some of the vintage gear, I played a video of my HP 523D counting and he was so surprised to see one of these again because he used them when he was in university so many years ago. We ended up talking and shooting the breeze about Nixie tubes after that. I really do wish we had the time to sit down and talk longer.