Test Equipment Anonymous

It's sleeting here now.

-Pat

:lol: Time to add an extension or two? https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F4b%2F6e%2F92%2F4b6e92a90b3f831b3987a9941a201712.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=810596a0623b47699a514b8b78b432efa2609dd937f9ec58505d13a9fc641350 I think putting ANY vintage test g...

:lol: :lol: :lol: He's definitely got a crazy set of whiskers! https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2601-18-Felines/i-fg83PtP/0/KwcbvMz5CsBcvx3JV7hQ7XMkt2mM3Nx3V49DqCD7j/X2/26_02-09%20Marconi%2002-X2.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2601-18-Felines/i-3wzZ5KS/0/KV8t4mbckGzTD53NtFXsmKvSpS8wFjC8sbz...

Marconi: https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2601-18-Felines/i-b8QG6S7/0/LG68Q5r5dKJqrt3Tm66BZJXbWPFhVbDQH6h3PH66t/X2/26_01-15%20Marconi%2020-X2.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2601-18-Felines/i-fSRwwSR/0/LBr4x6jkhDQJt3Sn38cfznqZt95mS7H824hWhdL3G/X2/26_01-15%20Marconi%2022-X2.jpg https://photo...

<snip> I have lots of Q-Max punches, but did I have a 62.5mm punch? No. I clamped the 1/8" additional top plate to lathe face plate and bored it to 62.5mm for the meter. Fits nicely. Sounds like you need N+1 Q-max punches, specifically one in 62.5mm Ø... ;) :twisted: :twisted: -Pat

There are so many sketchy channels these days. I open them in a new window, and look at comments to see if anyone has immediately called them out; if not watch for a while to see how sketchy it actually is. More often than not, I find myself downvoting it, then going back to the original window and ...

Yeah, I'm keeping an eye out for such things. The zig-zag effect reminds me of this style of staircase. Nice looking design, so hip the designer's bum fell off - and your's probably will if you try to descend. https://cdn.trendir.com/wp-content/uploads/old/archives/2015/10/11/unusual-stairs-floatin...

HP used analog meters in the LSDs of the 524B (still in the repair queue): https://photos.smugmug.com/Electronics/HP-524B-Electronic-Counter/i-4dcnSZK/0/KVmG6VmqkhtpdNJsK9Rdh9PWSkXRwrdX73NnGrjKK/X2/HP%20524B%20Counter%20front-X2.jpg And the 5210A Frequency Meter was totally analog. (This one doesn't...

And how about the vertical decimal displays (I've heard them referred to as 'pinball' displays)?
The LSD's decoder has some issues - you can see a few of the neons lighting simultaneously as it counts up...

-Pat

I have a Numitron timer (only pic I could readily find of it), but have thus far not come across Minitrons.



-Pat

Ahh, but do you have any stacked lucite plate displays?
-Pat

Mike, the snowblower does in fact have a Tecumseh Snow King engine, but I apparently ran it dry last time I used it - pulled the float bowl off and it was bone dry and clean, and the jet was pristine. Added some gas and it fired on the first pull without even the need for any Start, Ya Bastard! (I R...

Yeah, I have two perches and three beds with low wattage (4 W) heating elements in them - they're popular this time of year!

Faraday observing the snowfall earlier today from his heated perch:

13" here at the moment. https://photos.smugmug.com/Weather/Snow--Jan-2026/i-4mddB74/0/K4pHZc5ztmg3RTTLf56wFZzb3LhRkQ7J824p9gzWL/X2/IMG_6428-X2.jpg Just got home a few minutes ago from a 2-1/2 hr round trip to get my friend's wife from work because a tire on his truck has decided to start going ...

He and Schottky really are damned near twins

(This one makes my back ache!)

-Pat

Coming down at a good clip here, and it's been steady at about 4~6° F (~-15° C) for at least the past twelve hours. Looks like at least 4"/100mm have come down so far. https://photos.smugmug.com/Weather/Snow--Jan-2026/i-b5xWzjQ/0/M2dJvGbj7854zMHCCszNh7QBL5gMDcs27SGgNGV32/X2/IMG_6413-X2.jpg http...

I guess it's time to get the snowblower out and running... Haven't used it in years. No doubt the stores will be a mob scene on Saturday, and look like a plague of locusts have passed through. On a different note, MGJ was the destination for my first dual cross country from Oxford, CT (OXC) back in ...

Mice foolish enough to enter my house have a VERY short half-life.

-Pat

Now a few of Marconi: https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2601-18-Felines/i-979w8gB/0/LQN73ZBf9DRvdM6xMJ643StWLjXKWs6ZwPSFkrp4N/X2/26_01-10%20Marconi%2001-X2.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2601-18-Felines/i-H3HLcdZ/0/KwN6RQLctT6bVHWgwVqjPWgMbXQQLLfCL74p7ssDk/X2/26_01-11%20Marconi%2002-X2.jpg ...

MED6753 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 4:14 pm Harley at about the same age. Harley lacks the black tufts on the ears but otherwise damn near identical.

They really are!

Schottky: https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2601-18-Felines/i-vXGPShT/0/M7GRqDFzTn5psGkx252Df9nT6WhzRSScg328WKrHN/X2/26_01-11%20Schottky%2016-X2.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Animals/2502-16-Felines/i-FsrfDXj/0/LwqPv52mK7XsLJjK6StL3L67knjjdHwhD6L2BkBL3/X2/25_08-31%20Schottky%2021-X2.jpg https://ph...

Yeah, I saw that in the wee hours this morning - very sad news - I always enjoyed seeing Pooch's cameos in Shahriar's videos. They always leave us too soon, no matter how long they're here.

-Pat

tggzzz wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 10:04 pm No, I'm not entirely rational.

Are any of us?

-Pat