Need info on Hickok Model 209A

[Tubejunke]

Originally Posted by Einar72

You could try cleaning the switches and see if that helps. Use a quality product like DeOxIt or RidOx, and make sure you don't get any on the meter face. I'm curious if your class ever discusses the fact that stuff like this is almost never made here anymore.

I took the thing apart and replaced the two D-cell batteries, cleaned the rotary switches, pots, and tube sockets. I probably should let it just sit powered up for a long time while periodically changing the selections to energize the various circuits containing capacitors. This is like dealing with any other vintage electronics. If a piece of equipment has been long dormant, the capacitors often sort of come back slowly. I have seen TV sets with all sorts of issues fresh out of storage end up working later after playing a while. I know resistors have high potential to change value with temperature change which could have explain some of what I have seen. I have always thought that the capacitors were taking their time coming back to life.

I always manage to drift from the subject; sorry! Anyway, the thing is clean, and nothing is burning. That's a good start to me. I didn't have time to download the manual at the college Monday. The first day is always a bit hectic. I will be back Wednesday to do it. Instructions are very important for Hickok stuff. I don't know why they chose to make their stuff operate with such a multitude of settings. Granted, this awesome meter does perform a LOT of functions for the time period. We take for granted holding a Fluke V DVOM in our palm. This Hickok unit is a monster! It's frankly impractical, but that's something I love about it. I mean they had much smaller VTVMs way back. We still have about four Simpson "Black Beauty" (my name) analog, solid state meters in classroom that were a technicians standard for many years. I get one out to do my laboratory measurements just to freak the other students out. Every time I do it somebody asks what it is, or what am I doing. Their use is not taught. They are just left over from years back and the school will not let go of anything, not to a student anyway.

Last, we never talk about the sellout of America's, and once the worlds greatest industrial base. It's sort of a bummer subject since that is why half of us are in college at mid-life trying to learn a trade that is largely based in industry these days. And the industry is all but completely gone! Too many people today think that there is something wrong with working at making things. It almost seems like you are a loser if you use your hands to work and don't mind getting those hands dirty. I don't see it that way. A true loser is someone who is above that or thinks that they are above anyone who does it. Just my opinion....