A Q meter measures the ratio of reactance to resistance in a coil, capacitor or dielectric.  The component being tested is connected in a resonant circuit where resistive loss can be measured.  Because this measurement can be made at or near the operating frequency the Q meter often provides a more useful indication of component performance than an audio- or line-frequency meter or bridge.

The Type 160-A covers 50 kHz to 75 MHz with the internal oscillator, and 1 kHz to 50 kHz with an external oscillator.  With the internal multipliers Qs from 0 to 625 can be measured, and special measurement techniques can measure capacitor Qs as high as 10,000.  Basic accuracy is ±5%.  Price in Boonton Catalog B (1942) - $550.00.  The Type 160-A instruction manual is online at the BoatAnchor Manual Archive.

The Type 170-A covers 30 MHz to 200 MHz with the internal oscillator.  With the internal multiplier Qs from 0 to 1200 can be measured.  Basic accuracy is ±10%.  Price in Boonton Catalog B (1942) - $490.00.  The Type 170-A instruction manual is online at the BoatAnchor Manual Archive.

A laboratory potentiometer is an extremely accurate instrument used to measure voltages by comparing them to a precisely known reference voltage.  The L&N 7553 Type K-3 is a prime example of such an instrument.  The reference voltage is provided by a standard cell.  A very sensitive galvanometer is used to balance the potentiometer between the cell and a battery, then the battery is used as a reference to measure other voltages.  I use my Type K-3 to calibrate my HP 738AR VTVM Calibrator.  In addition to calibrating voltage references a potentiometer can be used in circuits for measuring a variety of scientific quantities.  1960 Central Scientific Catalog J-300 price - $730.00.

This counter uses an oven-controlled timebase for accuracy.  It measures both frequency and period with selectable gating times, and can be used with an optional PR47 prescaler for UHF measurements.

This is one of a set of instruments that I occasionally use for work - see Vintage Instruments In Action.

Technology Instruments Corp. of Waltham, MA was founded by former General Radio engineers.  Their Z-Angle Meter measures the same types of audio impedances as the GR Type 1603-A Z-Y Bridge, but is a self-contained instrument incorporating 60 and 400 Hz signal sources and a null detector.  Impedance is read from a dial and phase angle from a meter.  It was described in an article in the Dec-1946 issue of Electronic Industries.  The Instrument Division of TIC was acquired by Acton Laboratories, Inc., of Acton, MA by 1955, and they continued to manufacture the Type 310-A.  Early instruments (1956) from Acton appear identical to those from TIC, but by 1963 the Type 310-A was manufactured in an aluminum cabinet, in place of the stylish copper-lined hardwood cabinet originally used.  I don't have a price for the TIC version, but the price in Acton Laboratories Catalog 101 (Jan-1956) is $470.00.

This is one of the earliest laboratory-grade solid-state portable oscilloscopes.  It was the standard 'scope for IBM field service technicians for about 30 years.  A Tek is overkill for radio repairs, but I also repair a wide variety of test equipment, and I use this 'scope in my work as a radio engineer.  A major consideration in my selection of a Tek is that I've used lab grade 'scopes at work for 25 years and wouldn't be happy with anything less.  I don't have room on my bench (or in my Explorer) for one of the big, tubed Tek 500-series scopes so I chose this Type 453.  It is a compact dual-channel instrument with 50 MHz response.  It includes all of the features commonly found on lab grade scopes such as add, alt and chop modes, as well as delayed triggered sweep.  My Type 453 is later production - it has FET inputs, where earlier production used Nuvistors.  The operating instructions from the Type 453 manual are online at the BoatAnchor Manual Archive.  1970 Tektronix catalog price - $2,050.00.