Tektronix Model 453 Oscilloscope found today

[Captainclock]

Hello everyone, today I found at the local antique mall for $30 a Tektronix Model 453 Oscilloscope and its complete with its original probes and everything. Only problem is that I've never used an oscilloscope before and it looks extremely convoluted to use, and I don't have the original manual for the unit (although I think I can get one for it over at the BAMA.) Anyone know anything about this particular model of oscilloscope and does anyone have any tips for a newbie on how to properly go about using one of these beasts?

Pictures posted below.

[Electronic M]

If you search online there are good tutorials on scope usage.

The scope should have a calibration reference oscillator that you can hook a probe onto to test operation and calibration.

One that old may still work fine, but the only way to know is to test it....The pots and switches are likely dirty by now.

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

If you search online there are good tutorials on scope usage.

The scope should have a calibration reference oscillator that you can hook a probe onto to test operation and calibration.

One that old may still work fine, but the only way to know is to test it....The pots and switches are likely dirty by now.

Thanks, I'll take a look, I did manage to find the manual for it on the BAMA and I was reading through the manual and boy was it convoluted! Some of the stuff they talked about in there was bordering on physics, and high mathmatics like Triginometry and Calculus, (all of which I have not taken at all) it seems like its going to take a lot of tutorial videos and reading to try and figure out how to use this thing. It does actually have some calibration stuff built into it from what I could see on the side of the unit. It seems that according to the circuit boards on the inside of the unit this thing dates back to 1965, and it is all solid state and has socketed transistors in it for easy replacement of transistors. It also says on the unit that it used to belong to IBM originally.

[snelson903]

witch antique mall was that , thats a pretty good find. captainclock

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by snelson903

witch antique mall was that , thats a pretty good find. captainclock

A local antique mall to me called 821 Antique Mall, which is off of Beardsley Street In Elkhart, Indiana.
They also had a large Benchtop sized Oscilloscope there that was the size of a small server computer for $40 there, although I'm not sure what brand it was and it was missing the front cover and the attachments.
Although this one that I have here is missing its screen covers.

[snelson903]

have to check it out , thanks

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by snelson903

have to check it out , thanks

No problem.