[Boatanchors] SP-600 meter

[Peter Markavage]

I got a 200 ua meter of the right size at Dayton several years ago for a
$1. One of those guys that had all sorts of meters all over their tables.
Opened the meter up, removed the dial, erased all the markings, and then
used rub on lettering and lines to make a new meter scale. This was
before, "do everything on the computer" days. S-meters aren't highly
accurate anyway, so having highly accurate placement of meter markings
wasn't a high priority. Sold the SP-600 at Dayton 2 years ago with the
meter still in place, working, and new owner very happy. With a little
playing around with meter shunts and/or S-meter circuitry, you could
probably use a number of different meters as long as they physically fit
into the original hole. I very rarely adhere to the rule of "beating the
bushes" and pocketbook, to find an original exact replacement. My rule
generally goes something like, "does it fit", "minimal time screwing with
it", "does it work", "it is aesthetically pleasing in respect to the rest
of the stuff on the panel", "done".

Pete, wa2cwa

On Wed, 8 Aug 2007 13:25:55 -0400 "Todd, KA1KAQ" <ka1kaq at gmail.com>
writes:
> Thanks for the additional info, Al. I've glanced at the SP-200 
> meters
> before as a substitute, but was lucky to get one through Bill Marx
> back in the late 90s from his friend Chris in Florida. Think I paid
> $10-$20, but it was a decade ago and private sale.
> 
> The worst cases I've seen involved boring out the meter hole, 
> drilling
> the panel for mounting holes, and mounting huge, monster meters in
> place of the original. Think I've seen 2-3 like this over the 
> years.
> >From the days when old radios weren't so old and were seen merely 
> as
> tools, not as being aesthetically-pleasing.
> 
> de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ
> 
> On 8/8/07, Al Parker <anchor at ec.rr.com> wrote:
> > Hi Boomer, Bob, et al,
> >     Yes, the SP-200/BC-779's also use a 200 ua meter.  They're 
> basically
> > measuring AVC voltage, tho' the ckts are slightly different.  The 
> meters are
> > both the same dia., have a round face and bezel, fit the same 
> 2-1/8" hole
> > with a back ring for securing, no screws.  The older meter is 
> back-lit, and
> > it's scale is only an S-meter, to S-9 only, while the SP-600's has 
> an audio
> > ouput scale on it.
> >     I did find my pic of the SP-600 meter scale & sent it to Bill, 
> WD5DZG,
> > this AM.
> >     I think Bob & I were watching/commenting on, the meter he got 
> from ebay
> > a while ago.  I have seen them there occasionally, but prices go 
> from abt
> > $75 to up well over $100, I think.
> > 73,
> > Al, W8UT
> > New Bern, NC
> > www.boatanchors.org
> > www.hammarlund.info