A piece of test equipment from the Radio - Television Training Association back in the early 1950's. It was a New York City based training course where you could get (for a price ) a set of kits and this was one of them. Good old school type electronics training courses by mail ! There were dozens of ads for such schools in the mens and electronics hobbyist magazines back then. Even though it was a cheap RF signal generator it was fun getting it working again Brad.
I was big into my Ham Radio hobby between 1995 - 2005 and then got hooked on fixing up old radios from the 1920's -1940's. I got tired of hunting for tubes on eBay and getting gauged tring to buy NOS early tubes, so I ended up buying out the entire inventory of tubes and test equipment from a 92 yr old radio/TV repairman in Indiana. I live in the Chicago area so I drove the hour and a half with a rented UHaul truck and closed the sale. I was mostly interested in the Pre WWII tubes especially the tubes for dozens of Atwater kent Breadboards I was restoring. The sale included a couple hundred 6V6 and 6L6's along with more 12AX7, 12AT7, and 5U4G's than I could count. Along with these tubes were tons of TV tubes that I couldn't seem to even give away. In 2012 I sold my home and had a big Ham Radio and Antique Radio sale in IL and unloaded about 30 huge tube caddy's full of these tubes for between $50 and $100 a piece (maybe 25 cents to 50 cents a tube!). I could cry now that I see what these tubes go for and having an interest in building my own guitar amp... Man oh man...
4:48 Wow, my old scope, well almost, mine is branded Trio CS1303D, but otherwise identical. As they are not calibrated, I rarely use mine, it's last serious use was as a RTTY tuning indicator. Seeing yours as a B&K kind of has me wondering who the originator was, I always assumed Trio but.....
For the love of all things man, turn that into a killer tube amp! Let it live a much more useful second life! the front panel is gorgeous, and it has some killer patina. Imagine putting some little hot rodded Marshall or fender circuit in it or something, or design your own, make her a little sleeper! It already has an input and output jack, 3 EQ knobs and the big center one would be gain, at least that’s how I would do it.
R5-D3 Surplus (owner Bob Lee passed in 2015) in Oregon City would frequently have signal generators from Tektronix surplus which had Telefunkin 12AX7s inside, which he would sell for his std price , $3.50. Good times!
I have a very similar model to this one. The left knob controls the level of the fixed audio frequency. The right knob controls the Radio frequency range. It's probably putting an amplitude modulation RF signal. Always fun to see these old things bouncing back to life with a little help.
Exactly why I watch this channel, pure entertainment. The other answer to the question: Why are you just switching in on? Because it's mine, I paid for it. Another cool video. Thanks.
Now the next video could be an attempt to do something with the components. I wonder if there could be a way to modify the design of the circuit to make it useful. Basically remove the RF application and focus the circuit on AF.
I picked up a Heathkit signal gen last year, getting ready to recap it. A little more sophisticated design than that rtta, supposed to put out square or sine waves, has I'm thinking five tubes. Caps are all old and leaky in it too
It looks like it was built just like one that I have under a different brand. All of those bands are RF. A&B are in kHz and the rest are MHz. It only puts out a single audio frequency. I want to say it was 400Hz, but it may be 1kHz. The bands should have some of the special frequencies marked accordingly, for example 455kHz should be marked, as that was the standard IF of AM radios at that time. You would dial in an RF and then modulate that with the audio signal. The audio signal didn't have to be perfect, it just had to be audible or able to see it on the scope through the various stages of the radio. It is a much simpler way to align AM radios than using a modern generator, where you have to press multiple buttons or menus to set up the IF or RF frequency and then the amplitude modulation and then the audio frequency and percentage, etc. Just hook this up, dial it in and you're in business. Because the dial is not very accurate I have mine connected to a frequency counter as well. Try using it on your next radio restoration for the alignment.
10:49 like Ace Frehley would say, Shock ME lol Probably a dumb question, but how can you tell what Caps you can replace caps with Polyester and which with electrolytic? Or is that too much of a loaded question?
@@ringostarr4520 always some Safety Granny in here.... fires can be put out....explosions increase viewers... this is TH-cam..we want entertainment..not to be put asleep....😤 🇨🇦🤓🤙
I doubt that the waveshape this is producing is deliberate as a simple oscillator is far more likely to produce a sine wave. I suspect that the strange waveform and the inability to vary the audio ouptput frequency are related. If you can fix the latter then the output would likely become sinusoid. I'd check the variable capacitor for dirt and corrosion on the rotor's bearing/commutator.
If it is like the one that I have, the audio frequency is not adjustable, only the RF. There is only a single audio frequency generated (400Hz or 1kHz, I can't remember which). This would have been used to align the antenna, RF and IF sections of an AM radio. The AF signal did not have to be perfect, but I think you're right, it probably still has some issues and Brad didn't have any impedance matching between the generator and scope. There may be some compensation problems with scope as well.
@@srtamplification So, I was way off base here. Your description explains the switches on the RF and AF level controls. That is, the RF switch determines whether there is any output and the AF switch determines whether the output is modulated by the fixed frequency audio. I agree that the 'scope may have issues and I still suspect the variable capacitor.
Hey Brad! 😃👍! Trouble is I think it still has a fault that's distorting the heck out of its output waveform! I could be wrong but I wouldn't want a signal like that as a testing signal!
Well, looking at the waveform shape, the signal is reaching the "outer limits" somewhere, probably due to misbiasing of a tube somewhere due to a leaky cap or drifted resistor, Seen that shitty "not a sine wave" before.
I worked for many years doing Commercial sign repair abd manufacturing..part of this was Service repair on Signs...including Neon signage....they are High Voltage but Low Amperage ( still very dangerous )....getting zapped was normal and would wake you up if early in the day.... average voltage is 7,000 to 15, 000 Volts....enough to arc and actual touching isn't required at times....amperage is in milliamps but they come in low to high versions.... and a loud buzz will be heard just before you get hit.... followed by varioys screams and curses depending on the person... i got shocked by AC too...that feels differently and not fun either... shocks are never wanted but can happen .. welding in rain ....not fun....testing for spark on a gas engine ... another fun experience you want to avoid....🇨🇦🤓🤙
This machine has a FIXED audio oscillator a relaxation oscillator using a neon bulb. It is used to modulate the RF signal. The RF oscillator will be a sine wave as it uses coils. You have not repaired it, otherwise it would show an RF signal. You are correct though, its rubbish, very cheaply made to profit from the unfortunate poverty stricken souls that gave their last few dollars in an attempt to better their lives by achieving a skill from these "learn by post" electronics educators of the 40s/50s. The certificates were meaningless, only a few lucky ones would actually enter the industry..
It showed an RF signal when he had it connected to the RF output. In order to get both on the scope, you have to combine an RF signal with the single AF signal that is generated. If he would have done that you would've seen a modulated RF signal on the scope.
Meanwhile..all the neighbours Radio's and TV's are getting weird Noises and Tones coming through them....Dogs are howling from the sounds they hear ..Cats are hiding ( more than Normal ) ....Traffic Lights nearby are switchibg on and off..Red to Green in milliseconds. causing accidents and carnage ....😂 Thanks Brad.... Turn it Off and deny any knowledge of anything you might have done!! as Usual... 🇨🇦🤓🤙
A piece of test equipment from the Radio - Television Training Association back in the early 1950's. It was a New York City based training course where you could get (for a price ) a set of kits and this was one of them. Good old school type electronics training courses by mail ! There were dozens of ads for such schools in the mens and electronics hobbyist magazines back then. Even though it was a cheap RF signal generator it was fun getting it working again Brad.
www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Consumer/Archive-Radio-Electronics-IDX/IDX/50s/1953/Radio-Electronics-1953-03-OCR-Page-0023.pdf#search=%22radio
I was big into my Ham Radio hobby between 1995 - 2005 and then got hooked on fixing up old radios from the 1920's -1940's. I got tired of hunting for tubes on eBay and getting gauged tring to buy NOS early tubes, so I ended up buying out the entire inventory of tubes and test equipment from a 92 yr old radio/TV repairman in Indiana. I live in the Chicago area so I drove the hour and a half with a rented UHaul truck and closed the sale. I was mostly interested in the Pre WWII tubes especially the tubes for dozens of Atwater kent Breadboards I was restoring. The sale included a couple hundred 6V6 and 6L6's along with more 12AX7, 12AT7, and 5U4G's than I could count. Along with these tubes were tons of TV tubes that I couldn't seem to even give away. In 2012 I sold my home and had a big Ham Radio and Antique Radio sale in IL and unloaded about 30 huge tube caddy's full of these tubes for between $50 and $100 a piece (maybe 25 cents to 50 cents a tube!). I could cry now that I see what these tubes go for and having an interest in building my own guitar amp... Man oh man...
I am glad you are making videos again.
But we almost didn't get to see it ...
4:48 Wow, my old scope, well almost, mine is branded Trio CS1303D, but otherwise identical.
As they are not calibrated, I rarely use mine, it's last serious use was as a RTTY tuning indicator.
Seeing yours as a B&K kind of has me wondering who the originator was, I always assumed Trio but.....
These are my favorite videos! I really love this stuff!
Glad you like them!
hey brad the guitaolgist, I hope you wone the school case. good to see you back.
No prosecution.
@@TheGuitologist
what happened? you in Jail?? Again!!
🇨🇦🤓🤙
Can’t wait to see your guitar build for scar my guitar video.
Guitar is complete. Just need to film demo and edit.
For the love of all things man, turn that into a killer tube amp! Let it live a much more useful second life! the front panel is gorgeous, and it has some killer patina. Imagine putting some little hot rodded Marshall or fender circuit in it or something, or design your own, make her a little sleeper! It already has an input and output jack, 3 EQ knobs and the big center one would be gain, at least that’s how I would do it.
Have the same little BK scope. Little guy gets more use than my bigger scopes. Nice taste.
R5-D3 Surplus (owner Bob Lee passed in 2015) in Oregon City would frequently have signal generators from Tektronix surplus which had Telefunkin 12AX7s inside, which he would sell for his std price , $3.50. Good times!
Hi, I had one of those and the indicator was a piece of transparent plastic with a line through.
That unit could repurposed to be a mean class A guitar amp!
Excellent video Keep these coming.
Hey Brad, your work always impresses me! Happy 2024 brother!
I have a very similar model to this one. The left knob controls the level of the fixed audio frequency. The right knob controls the Radio frequency range. It's probably putting an amplitude modulation RF signal. Always fun to see these old things bouncing back to life with a little help.
@TheGuitologist was this you?
Exactly why I watch this channel, pure entertainment. The other answer to the question: Why are you just switching in on? Because it's mine, I paid for it. Another cool video. Thanks.
I have one of those that i turned into a regen using 10 9 volt batteries..it did work
Always love the Russian sounding ditty you play during the time lapse. 😂
Getting the schematic might be a good idea
Cool stuff
Now the next video could be an attempt to do something with the components. I wonder if there could be a way to modify the design of the circuit to make it useful. Basically remove the RF application and focus the circuit on AF.
Meanwhile cars are driving down the Street with god awful noises coming out of their radios.😂😂😂😂
I picked up a Heathkit signal gen last year, getting ready to recap it. A little more sophisticated design than that rtta, supposed to put out square or sine waves, has I'm thinking five tubes. Caps are all old and leaky in it too
It looks like it was built just like one that I have under a different brand. All of those bands are RF. A&B are in kHz and the rest are MHz. It only puts out a single audio frequency. I want to say it was 400Hz, but it may be 1kHz. The bands should have some of the special frequencies marked accordingly, for example 455kHz should be marked, as that was the standard IF of AM radios at that time. You would dial in an RF and then modulate that with the audio signal. The audio signal didn't have to be perfect, it just had to be audible or able to see it on the scope through the various stages of the radio. It is a much simpler way to align AM radios than using a modern generator, where you have to press multiple buttons or menus to set up the IF or RF frequency and then the amplitude modulation and then the audio frequency and percentage, etc. Just hook this up, dial it in and you're in business. Because the dial is not very accurate I have mine connected to a frequency counter as well. Try using it on your next radio restoration for the alignment.
Yo Brad 🤘
What happened to your workbench? You're doing repairs with yhe drums now?
A lot of times, the filter caps are open, and cause weird output problems.
HELP!!! Can anyone help me obtain the schematic for a 2002 mesa stereo 2:fifty? Mesa's schematics aren't public apparently
10:49 like Ace Frehley would say, Shock ME lol Probably a dumb question, but how can you tell what Caps you can replace caps with Polyester and which with electrolytic? Or is that too much of a loaded question?
dont you have a VARI AC for bringing up gear slowly?
Where’s the fun in that?
@@ringostarr4520
always some Safety Granny in here.... fires can be put out....explosions increase viewers... this is TH-cam..we want entertainment..not to be put asleep....😤
🇨🇦🤓🤙
1954 Octal tubes
I doubt that the waveshape this is producing is deliberate as a simple oscillator is far more likely to produce a sine wave. I suspect that the strange waveform and the inability to vary the audio ouptput frequency are related. If you can fix the latter then the output would likely become sinusoid. I'd check the variable capacitor for dirt and corrosion on the rotor's bearing/commutator.
If it is like the one that I have, the audio frequency is not adjustable, only the RF. There is only a single audio frequency generated (400Hz or 1kHz, I can't remember which). This would have been used to align the antenna, RF and IF sections of an AM radio. The AF signal did not have to be perfect, but I think you're right, it probably still has some issues and Brad didn't have any impedance matching between the generator and scope. There may be some compensation problems with scope as well.
@@srtamplification So, I was way off base here. Your description explains the switches on the RF and AF level controls. That is, the RF switch determines whether there is any output and the AF switch determines whether the output is modulated by the fixed frequency audio. I agree that the 'scope may have issues and I still suspect the variable capacitor.
Hey Brad! 😃👍! Trouble is I think it still has a fault that's distorting the heck out of its output waveform! I could be wrong but I wouldn't want a signal like that as a testing signal!
Others with this same model report the same waveform.
@TheGuitologist Oh right. Fair enough then, as long as it's frequency is adjustable I spose!
It's the scary outer limits wave...watch out!
Well, looking at the waveform shape, the signal is reaching the "outer limits" somewhere, probably due to misbiasing of a tube somewhere due to a leaky cap or drifted resistor, Seen that shitty "not a sine wave" before.
I worked for many years doing Commercial sign repair abd manufacturing..part of this was Service repair on Signs...including Neon signage....they are High Voltage but Low Amperage ( still very dangerous )....getting zapped was normal and would wake you up if early in the day.... average voltage is 7,000 to 15, 000 Volts....enough to arc and actual touching isn't required at times....amperage is in milliamps but they come in low to high versions.... and a loud buzz will be heard just before you get hit.... followed by varioys screams and curses depending on the person... i got shocked by AC too...that feels differently and not fun either... shocks are never wanted but can happen .. welding in rain ....not fun....testing for spark on a gas engine ... another fun experience you want to avoid....🇨🇦🤓🤙
This machine has a FIXED audio oscillator a relaxation oscillator using a neon bulb. It is used to modulate the RF signal. The RF oscillator will be a sine wave as it uses coils. You have not repaired it, otherwise it would show an RF signal. You are correct though, its rubbish, very cheaply made to profit from the unfortunate poverty stricken souls that gave their last few dollars in an attempt to better their lives by achieving a skill from these "learn by post" electronics educators of the 40s/50s. The certificates were meaningless, only a few lucky ones would actually enter the industry..
It showed an RF signal when he had it connected to the RF output. In order to get both on the scope, you have to combine an RF signal with the single AF signal that is generated. If he would have done that you would've seen a modulated RF signal on the scope.
Send it to Shango 66 he'll probably get a kick out of it .
...would plugging this thing into Biden makes his slurred/deranged speech more comprehensible?
Asking for a friend...
a butt plug would be best so he gets full amperage ...
Meanwhile..all the neighbours Radio's and TV's are getting weird Noises and Tones coming through them....Dogs are howling from the sounds they hear ..Cats are hiding ( more than Normal ) ....Traffic Lights nearby are switchibg on and off..Red to Green in milliseconds. causing accidents and carnage ....😂
Thanks Brad....
Turn it Off
and deny any knowledge of anything you might have done!! as Usual...
🇨🇦🤓🤙
Haha
JUNK
🤟🏻