General Information

Serial #

8463

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal/ Bakelite/ Glass/ Leather.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

19.6 cm

Width

21.8 cm

Height

10.4 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Energy-electric

Category

Measurement

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Weston

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New Jersey

City

Newark

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1947+

Canada

Used at the National Research Laboratories for Electrical Engineering until 1974, when it was found to be defective.

Function

Used for precision laboratory measurements of voltages up to 1000V., D.C. or A.C., up to 5000 cycles.

Technical

Good example of precision instruments of the 1940s. The first Weston meter to incorporate an internal easily replaceable vacuum type thermo element (introduced in 1937). Previously, thermo instruments either used an external heating element or an internal one which was housed inside the case and needed to be sent back to the manufacturer for replacement. In this case, only the thermo element needs to be sent to the manufacturer. The manufacturer then sends a new one along with a correction chart because each thermo element is slightly different and the meter and thermo element must be calibrated together. This artefact has two correction charts in a pouch in the lid, dated to 1947. The replacement of wooden cases by Bakelite ones in this kind of accurate laboratory instrument is due to the cheapness and easy maintenance of the synthetic as well as to its insulating and electric properties. The finger operated Bakelite zeroing knob represents a departure from previous models that had a screw. As with the removable thermo element, ease of use was emphasized in this meter.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

NRC sticker & stencilled inventory number on case/ Mfr's plate below dial/ Strip of tape marked 'Defective, May 1976, P. Mougeot'

Missing

No input leads provided.

Finish

Black case. White dial face.

Decoration

N/A