A COLLECTION OF MORSE TELEGRAPH AND RADIO RELATED ITEMS FROM THE RADIO STATION OF M6BRN.

#15959

#212136

Pocket Voltmeter

Dual Scale French Volt – Amp Test Meter circ 1920.

This pocket meter is probably manufactured in France in 1920 and is a dual scale Volt and Amp test meter. It is in great condition with no damage to the cord or Bakelite case and is in fully working condition. The scales show that it would measure voltage 0 – 8 volt, 0 – 160 volt and 0 – 48 milliamp current. The lower voltage of the L.T. battery would be tested and go through a 162.5 ohm coil where as the 160 volt measurement of the H.T. battery would be through a 3250 ohm coil. There are two terminal screws on the top face for testing current and which, due to the design, lead me to think that this is French made. There are no manufacturers markings visible but is of high quality. 
Pocket volt meter (German) circ 1930
This is a German pocket (fob watch style) D.C. volt meter, sold to and used by radio users who wanted to know the condition of their H.T. and L.T. batteries for their early valve radios. The meter, housed in a Bakelite case has two scales, one being 0-240 volt and the other 0-6 volt with a negative mark on the case above the contact pin. This has a manufacturer’s logo mark of a letter K in a circle of which research continues to trace the manufacturer and the D.R.G.M. stamping on the lead contact pins confirming its German heritage. This example is in good, fully working condition.
D.R.G.M.
There was already a law on design protection in Germany from 1876, but as a result of increasing industrialization and the increased movement of goods, especially in the wake of growing economic interest perception on a national level, it was decreed that a new utility model was created.
A Reichsgesetz of 1 June 1891 created the legal requirements for Germany, so that the Imperial Patent Office introduced the "German Reichs-Gebrauchsmuster" on 1 October 1891. Zahlreiche Produkte wurden so zwischen 1891 und etwa 1945 mit der Kennzeichnung „DRGM“ versehen, oft unter Hinzufügung der Musternummer, die es heute erlaubt, die Entstehungszeit mancher materiell überlieferter historischer Geräte auf ein bestimmtes Jahrzehnt einzugrenzen. [1] Auch einige Jahre nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg war diese Kennzeichnung in Westdeutschland gelegentlich noch üblich, die Abkürzung lautete dann entsprechend "DBGM" (Deutsches Bundes-Gebrauchsmuster). Many products being made between 1891 and about 1945 bears the marking "DRGM", often with the addition of the pattern number that allows today to narrow down the time of origin of some material of traditional historical units to a particular decade. Some years after the Second World War II, this marking was still customary in West Germany with the abbreviation then corresponding to "DBGM" (German Federal Utility Model).
Pocket Voltmeter – SIFAM – BREVETE- S.G.D.G. circ 1930.
This nice example of a pocket voltmeter from the French maker SIFAM which is confirmed by the ‘Made in France’ mark on the bottom edge of the dial face and comes complete with the original box although this is missing its top flap. It has a range of 0-6 volt D.C. and 0-120 D.C. and has a common positive contact and two negative leads, one red and one black, corresponding to the volt range indicated on the dial. It is in good working order and fully tested.
Breveté (or brevete without the accent as most sellers write it) means patented in French and most items produced between about 1850 and 1950 have that word stamped on them
Along with breveté, SGDG is usually also stamped on the item.

SGDG is not a brand.

It means 'Without any guarantee from the Government' (Sans Garantie Du Governement) and was by law required to be stamped on ALL objects with a legal patent from 1844 until 1968, especially those manufactured for export.

Some French manufacturers produced clocks for high-end jewellers (such as Tiffany's, Mappin Webb and private names) without stamping their own brand name on them, BUT they did have to stamp "Breveté" and SGDG somewhere on the movement and usually on the back case.


WATES (made in France) Volt – Amp Test Meter circ 1930.
This pocket meter, manufactured by Wates in France in 1930 is a Volt and Amp test meter. It is in great condition given that it has a painted steel case but due to the fact that the original box has survived almost completely in-tact obviously helped. The scales show that it would measure voltage 0 – 6 volt, 0 – 150 volt and 0 – 30 milliamp current. The lower voltage and current go through a 200 ohm resistor where as the 150 volt measurement would be through a 5000 ohm resistor. The operating instructions are printed on the dial face and with the cables and probes all perfect, this meter is in fully working condition.
Pocket Double Reading Volt Meter Model 12/120 – CIFEL circ 1925

This is a British made pocket (fob watch style) D.C. volt meter, sold to and used by radio users who wanted to know the condition of their H.T. and L.T. batteries for their early valve radios. It was manufactured by Cifel Products Ltd, with offices and works at 134 Pentonville Road and 2 Cynthia Road, London. N 1. This example is in good condition apart from some minor loss of black paint on the brass case and is complete with its box.
Pocket Radio Volt Meter Model 12/120 – Josef Neuberger circ 1935

This is a German pocket (fob watch style) D.C. volt meter, sold to and used by radio users who wanted to know the condition of their H.T. and L.T. batteries for their early valve radios. It was manufactured by Josef Neuberger of Munich. Josef made a number of models of these radio volt meters from 1927 although the company, Neuberger Messgeräte GmbH, Munich was formed in 1904 and was sold in 1998 to Muller & Weigert of Nuremberg.
Pocket Twin Scale Pocket Volt Meter – Golden Arrow - circ 1925

This is a British made pocket D.C. volt meter, sold to and used by radio users who wanted to know the condition of their H.T. and L.T. batteries for their early valve radios. It is British made under the “Golden Arrow” brand and is complete with its original box indicating that it was marked in their catalogue under the code V 23. This voltmeter is housed in a Bakelite casing and has twin ranges of 0 to 180 volt D.C. and 0 to 9 volt D.C. This example is in good working condition with no cracks to the Bakelite or damage to the cord but it does have a crack in the glass which can be easily replaced. I have yet to establish who produced Golden Arrow products so if anyone has information on Golden Arrow products please contact me.
Pocket Volt Meter by Rotax No 7620 circ 1930.

This beautiful boxed, polished Nickel plated, pocket volt meter was manufactured by Rotax around 1930 and carries a serial number of 7620. It has a range of 0 – 6 volt DC and is complete with its embossed box with the manufacturers name clearly shown on the lid. Rotax started life as Rotax Motor and Cycle Company in 1907 with its head office in Willesden Junction, London NW. and went through various name changes until it was bought out by Lucas in 1926 with Rotax Ltd. going into voluntary liquidation in 1933. From 1939 Rotax was a wholly owned subsidiary of Joseph Lucas Ltd. and concentrated principally with the production of equipment for aircraft. Prior to this they also manufactured electrical items for the motor industry including batteries, and other electrical tools.
Pocket Twin Scale Pocket Volt Meter (British Made) circ 1925

This is, what I presume to be, a British made pocket D.C. volt meter, sold to and used by radio users who wanted to know the condition of their H.T. and L.T. batteries for their early valve radios. This voltmeter is housed in a Bakelite casing with screw on front and rear covers. It has twin ranges of 0 to 120 volt D.C. and 0 to 12 volt D.C. and is in good working condition with no cracks to the Bakelite or damage to the cord and is complete with its box.
Pocket (Fob Watch) Volt Meter (Single Scale) circ 1930.

This polished Nickel plated, pocket volt meter was manufactured around 1930 and is presumed to be British made. It has a range of 0 – 18 volt DC and is complete with its box but has no manufacturers name indicated. It has a number 20 printed on the box along with what appears to be V6648. It is in good, fully working condition although there is fraying to the cords outer sheath but that doesn’t detract from its insulation or functionality.
Pocket Volt Meter (Single Scale) by B.B.L. circ 1920.

This polished Nickel plated, pocket volt meter was manufactured by B.B.L. around 1920 and is presumed to be French made. It has a range of 0 – 16 volt DC and is complete with its box but further research is needed to establish information on the manufacturer B.B.L. It is in good, fully working condition although the box has age related issues with the padded silk inside the lid fraying and parting. The fob watch case opens nicely, revealing the coil and probe cable, unfortunately the probe itself is missing.
Pocket Volt Meter (Single Scale) 0 - 120 volt. Circ 1915.

This pocket volt meter is housed in a polished Nickel plated case. It was manufactured around 1915 and is presumed to be manufactured in France. It has a range of 0 – 120 volt DC but has no manufacturers marking visible. This model has no cables or probes permanently fitted but instead it has two terminals at 10 and 2 o’clock around the dial for probes to be attached to and is in good, working condition.
Pocket Volt Meter (Single Scale) by J.A.R. circ 1910.

This Nickel plated, pocket volt meter was manufactured around 1910 and is presumed to be manufactured in France. It has a range of 0 – 6 volt DC and is marked J.A.R. on the dial but further research is needed to establish the history of J.A.R. The back opens to reveal the coil and cable which could be taken through a hole in the back, allowing the case to be closed with the cable still usable. It is unclear if the probe was permanently attached to the cable or if it was a detachable probe as the probe is missing. The case plating is thin, going through to the base metal in the back and the bow is in rather poor condition with signs of corrosion.
Pocket Double Reading Volt Meter by A.M.P.E.R. of LYON circ 1930

This is a pocket D.C. volt meter with twin scales of 0-130 and 0-6 volt, French made and sold to and used by radio users who wanted to know the condition of their H.T. and L.T. batteries for their early valve radios. It is housed in a Nickel plated case and marked A.M.P.E.R. of LYON in France on the dial. This example is in good working condition with no damage to the case or plating, the probe cables have a small amount of fraying but both probes are intact, unfortunately it is missing its box.
Pocket Volt Meter (Single Scale) 0 - 12 volt. Circ 1935.

This pocket volt meter is housed in a polished Nickel plated case. It was manufactured around 1935 and is presumed to be British made although no maker’s marks are visible. This example is in full working condition with the cable and probe in good condition and has a range of 0 – 12 volt DC.
Pocket volt meter (Foreign) circ 1930
This is a pocket (fob watch style) D.C. volt meter, sold to and used by radio users who wanted to know the condition of their H.T. and L.T. batteries for their early valve radios. The meter, housed in a chrome case has two scales, one being 0-120 volt and the other 0-6 volt with a red marker at 90 volt and 2.3 volt. This has no manufacturers mark apart from the indication that it was not made in England. This example is in good, fully working condition.
Twin Scale JOLEX volt meter (Foreign) circ 1930

This is a pocket D.C. volt meter, similar in design which includes the box, to the above example. The meter, housed in a Bakelite case has two scales, one being 0-120 volt and the other 0-12 volt with a red marker at 90 volt and 4.6 volt. Instead of a fob watch type bow it has a non rotating pinch lifter all within the design of the case. This case is unusual and I have seen the same meter mounted in a Nickel plated case like that above. This has a manufacturer’s mark of JOLEX on the dial but these types of meters seem to have been assembled from generic parts with this model marketed through the JOLEX brand. This example is in good, fully working condition.
   Pocket Voltmeter – Sutra. Paris. circ 1926.

This nice example of a pocket voltmeter marked Sutra – Paris which was the brand of the Construction - Appareillages - Spécialités Électriques C.A.S.É. S.A. who were known to occupy the following addresses ; 18 Rue de Passy, Paris 16e (1926) and 78 Rue Fondray, Paris 15e (1927). It has a range of 0-8 volt D.C. and 0-120 D.C. and has a common negative lead and two positive contact points with coloured identification rings at the base, red for 120 volt and green for the 8 volt. It is a dead beat meter which means that it is highly damped bringing the pointer to rest very quickly and without over shooting or vibrating and has two protective internal coils, one of 230 ohms and one of 3450 ohms. It is in good working order and fully tested.
  
Dual Scale French Volt – Amp Test Meter circ 1910.

This pocket meter is probably manufactured in France around 1910 and is a dual scale Volt and Amp test meter. It is in good working condition with slight deterioration to the nickel plating but the cord is still good. The scales show that it would measure voltage 0 – 8 volt and 0 – 30 amps current which would probably indicate this meter was actually used in early automotive electrical testing rather than radio battery testing. It has a negative lead with two positive contact points, one for testing volts and one for amps. There are no manufacturer’s markings visible but with the threads being metric and the overall design this leads me to think that this is French made.
  
Twin Scale Pocket Volt Meter by Walsall Electrical Co Ltd circ 1925

This twin scale volt meter was manufactured by Walsall Electrical Co Ltd. Walsall Electrical were established in 1870 and resident at 61 Bridge Street, Walsall where in 1892 became a limited company. Printed advertising from 1921 / 1922 shows that the company was manufacturing a large range of electrical meters, switchboards and other electrical instruments and had been for over 40 years. This example although in good condition and complete with its original box, tests that the primary meter coil is open circuit although the upper scale resistors are still in good working order. It has twin scales of 0 - 9 volts and 0 - 180 volts and is in a nickel plated case with black painted back. It is marked that this instrument has a resistance rating of 300 ohms on the lower scale and 6000 ohms on the upper scale and would have been used for testing radio circuits.
  
   Dual Scale Volt – Amp Test Meter – Triangle Products Ltd. circ 1940.

This pocket meter was manufactured by Triangle Products Ltd whose registered address was Greencroft Mills, Manchester Road, Hyde, Cheshire in 1939. They were actively advertising from 1939 to 1970 although they had been bought and sold by various companies during that period. In 1967 Triangle was bought by K.M.T. (Holdings) Ltd who themselves were purchased by Thorn Electrical Industries a year later.
This meter has a range of 0 – 250 volts, 0 – 25 volts and 0 – 25 milliamps. Although the cable is in good condition the internal primary meter winding is testing open circuit but the secondary protection coil for the upper range is testing correctly. It has a common negative probe on the cable and two positive contact pins for the two ranges. This meter, due to the range of scales, would indicate it was designed for use testing radio circuits.
Pocket Volt – Amp Meter by Legg (Industries) Ltd circ 1940.

This is a pocket meter, manufactured by Legg (Industries) Ltd circ 1940. It is a Volt and Amp test meter housed in a nickel plated case and is in good overall working condition although the condition of the cord is poor. The three scales show that it would measure L.T. 0 – 6 volt, H.T. 0 – 150 volt and 0 – 40 milliamp current. The lower voltage and current go through a 150 ohm resistor where as the 150 volt measurement would be through a 4500 ohm resistor. There is a warning printed on the dial face regarding connecting H.T. voltage to the L.T. terminal and highlighting that the H.T terminal was coloured red.
  
   Combined Volt – Amp Meter by Peto & Radford Ltd circ 1903

This pocket meter was supplied by Peto & Radford Ltd of Hatton Garden, London in 1903. It was manufactured in France and is a dual scale Volt and Amp test meter. It is housed in a large 2 1/4” diameter nickel plated fob watch type case which, due to the stem, crown and bow, is identifiable as being French although the paper dial is also marked as such. It is complete with its original box which has a close fitting ring preventing movement while travelling. The print on the dial is faded and the cord is missing which would have been housed inside the case behind the hinged cover but the meter itself is in full working condition. The scales show that it would measure voltage 0 – 6 volt and 0 – 15 amperes and was designed for use testing circuits in early motor vehicles as can be seen by an advertisement for Peto & Radford Ltd under the heading Testing Instruments for the Touring Season dated 1903.
  
Pocket (Fob Watch) Volt Meter marked Omega S.A.  circ 1915.

This polished Nickel plated, pocket volt meter was manufactured around 1915 and is presumed to be made in France. It has a range of 0 – 10 volt DC and is complete with its box but has no manufacturers name except the trademark of Omega S.A. or A.S. It is in good, fully working condition although there is fraying to the cords outer sheath but that doesn’t detract from its insulation or functionality. It was designed for use in early automobile electrical circuits. Further investigation is required to confirm the manufacturers mark.
Twin Scale Pocket Volt Meter by A.H. Hunt ( Capacitors) Ltd. circ 1925.

This twin scale volt meter was manufactured by A.H. Hunt (Capacitors) Ltd and is complete with its box, which unfortunately is in poor condition but clearly shows that it is a Hunts instrument box. What is visible on the remains of the label is Croydon which was the earliest place that Hunts operated from before moving production to Wrexham and Yarmouth. What is evident though is that this instrument was manufactured in France so may be something that Hunts purchased in before putting their name to it. It may also be of a time that manufacturing was in the process of being moved. It has twin scales of 8 volts and 150 volts and is in a nickel plated case. It is marked that this instrument has a resistance rating of 4500 ohms and is designed for special low current consumption.
  
Pocket Volt Meter (Single Scale)
by A.H. Hunt ( Capacitors) Ltd. Circ 1930.

This pocket volt meter is housed in a polished Nickel plated case. It was manufactured in 1930 as confirmed by the markings on the dial. Also marked on the dial is the Trade Mark of the maker, A.H. Hunt (Capacitors) Ltd. and made in France as is another meter in the collection manufactured by Hunt, but also carries the Broad Arrow of the Ministry of Defence so was used by the Armed Forces. It is a Dead Beat Moving Coil Type meter meaning that it has dampened movement with minimum settling time of the indicator. It is large for a pocket meter measuring 2 ½” dia. by 4” high and has its own leather case. This example is in full working condition with a range of 0 – 16 volt DC.
PIFCO ‘All in One’ Test Meter circ 1930

This is an example of an ‘All in One’ Pocket Meter manufactured in Britain by Provincial Incandescent Fittings Company or PIFCO as most people will know it as but was also manufactured in Germany. It was made around 1930 with the British patent no 337881 and is housed in a maroon or brown Bakelite case which has flat facets around the outside of the case. It was truly tone of the first multi-meters having ranges of 0-8 volts, 0-240 volts, 0-40 mA. with capacity to carry out valve and circuit tests. It requires a single 1.5volt dry cell housed inside the back cover to carry out some of these functions. On the rear cover was a set of connection instructions but on this example they have been worn off. This example is in full working condition but is missing the supplied probe leads.
  
  Pocket Volt Meter (Single Scale) by Connecticut Tel & Electric. 0 - 8 volt. Circ 1915.

This pocket volt meter is housed in a polished Nickel plated case. It was manufactured around 1915 by Connecticut Telephone and Electric Company Incorporated. In 1915 it is advertised in their catalogue, under the codeword, ‘Frim. No.805 Voltmeter 0-8 volts priced at $2.75’. It is complete with the supplied leather case with snap lock which it states that all meters are furnished in a leather case unless otherwise specified. What is odd is that it also states that the advertised cost does not cover this and an additional cost of 50 cent would be charged for the case. This example is in full working condition and has a range of 0-8 volt DC. Unfortunately it is missing its probe lead.
  
Pocket Amperes Meter – Type 152 X by Durite Ltd circ 1945.

This is a Type 152 X pocket Amperes meter with a serial number 41530, manufactured in Britain by Durite Ltd circ 1940. This meter has a black painted case with nickel plated bezel and is in good working condition complete with its box which has the remains of a label, which is illegible. The scale show that it would measure 0 – 25 amp and would have been used for checking current on automotive systems. Durite Limited is an active company, incorporated on 31 March 1942 with the registered office located in Harwich, Essex. and this example would be manufactured quite early in their history.