When did continuity testers become standard?

[Owad]

When did audible continuity testers become common in bench multimeters? I'm looking at vintage Keithleys, HPs, and Flukes, and there aren't continuity testers on units of the vintage (and price) I was hoping for. Are there any vintage Keithleys with an audible continuity tester? Any vintage bench multimeters with it at all, that anybody would recommend?

[Wytnucls]

Fluke 37 30$
Fluke 45 300$

[Wytnucls]

Philips PM2525 100$

[Wytnucls]

Solartron 7063 300$

[alm]

I think it started to appear early-mid eighties on handhelds (e.g. Fluke 8020B), then went up to the bench meters. You're more likely to find it in the entry level bench meters that might be used for servicing, rather than in the high-end ones mostly used for system applications. Not much point in having a beeper when all it's doing is hanging in a rack connected to a computer . So a HP 34401A will have it, but the HP 3457A will not.

[Owad]

Thank you both. I've been looking at 34401A's. I like the price of the PM2525's, though.

[eevcandies]

Get a PM2535 ...has AC RMS readings , generally better specs

https://www.abletron.com/index.php?route=product/manufacturer/info&manufacturer_id=40 (links to datasheets)

[bluey]

I think it started to appear early-mid eighties on handhelds (e.g. Fluke 8020B), then went up to the bench meters.

100%. 8020A didn't have it from 1977-1984 and 8020B did in 1984.
http://bee.mif.pg.gda.pl/ciasteczkowypotwor/Fluke/FLUKE%208020B%20Instruction.pdf

[Owad]

Thanks, eevcandies and bluey.

So I actually ended up with a Keithley 175. It was giving weird readings, but was cheap enough I figured I'd take a chance on it. Some contact cleaner seems to have solved all its problems.

I am disappointed by the lack of continuity testing, though. I guess I'll either pull out my handheld meter for that, or maybe get something like probe master's 105 probe.