Empathy List Archives

time-nuts@lists.febo.com

Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement

View all threads

Varian V-4700A Rubidium Standard

Chris Quayle

Wed, Sep 27, 2023 9:45 PM

Found this on the usual site:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394869426524

Part of a collection of test gear found in a barn
by a house clearance company. Could not resist and
a 340 mile round trip to Cheshire to collect it. A
real two man lift, must be 80-100 lbs. Some
corrosion inside the open frame case and looks like
it needs an an external psu, but should be a great
restoration project.

Not much info on the web, but there is a paragraph
and more in the William J Riley "The History of the
Rubidium Standard". Turns out that this was one of
the first commercial examples of the type, from
around 1962. All solid state, other than a double
triode oscillator for the lamp exciter.

Has anyone here seen or used this type, and can a
manual be found for it ?. Serious historical interest
item and would be great to get it running and compare
against more modern types...

Chris

Found this on the usual site: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394869426524 Part of a collection of test gear found in a barn by a house clearance company. Could not resist and a 340 mile round trip to Cheshire to collect it. A real two man lift, must be 80-100 lbs. Some corrosion inside the open frame case and looks like it needs an an external psu, but should be a great restoration project. Not much info on the web, but there is a paragraph and more in the William J Riley "The History of the Rubidium Standard". Turns out that this was one of the first commercial examples of the type, from around 1962. All solid state, other than a double triode oscillator for the lamp exciter. Has anyone here seen or used this type, and can a manual be found for it ?. Serious historical interest item and would be great to get it running and compare against more modern types... Chris

Jeff Huselid

Thu, Sep 28, 2023 12:12 AM

I had one of these, it went to Corby Dawson years ago. I had the power
supply/battery charger too ( 28V 5A ) but it ended up somewhere else.

Regards, Jeff Huselid

On 9/27/2023 2:45 PM, Chris Quayle via time-nuts wrote:

 Found this on the usual site:
 [1]https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394869426524
 Part of a collection of test gear found in a barn
 by a house clearance company. Could not resist and
 a 340 mile round trip to Cheshire to collect it. A
 real two man lift, must be 80-100 lbs. Some
 corrosion inside the open frame case and looks like
 it needs an an external psu, but should be a great
 restoration project.
 Not much info on the web, but there is a paragraph
 and more in the William J Riley "The History of the
 Rubidium Standard". Turns out that this was one of
 the first commercial examples of the type, from
 around 1962. All solid state, other than a double
 triode oscillator for the lamp exciter.
 Has anyone here seen or used this type, and can a
 manual be found for it ?. Serious historical interest
 item and would be great to get it running and compare
 against more modern types...
 Chris
 _______________________________________________
 time-nuts mailing list -- [2]time-nuts@lists.febo.com
 To unsubscribe send an email to [3]time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com

References

I had one of these, it went to Corby Dawson years ago. I had the power supply/battery charger too ( 28V 5A ) but it ended up somewhere else. Regards, Jeff Huselid On 9/27/2023 2:45 PM, Chris Quayle via time-nuts wrote: Found this on the usual site: [1]https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394869426524 Part of a collection of test gear found in a barn by a house clearance company. Could not resist and a 340 mile round trip to Cheshire to collect it. A real two man lift, must be 80-100 lbs. Some corrosion inside the open frame case and looks like it needs an an external psu, but should be a great restoration project. Not much info on the web, but there is a paragraph and more in the William J Riley "The History of the Rubidium Standard". Turns out that this was one of the first commercial examples of the type, from around 1962. All solid state, other than a double triode oscillator for the lamp exciter. Has anyone here seen or used this type, and can a manual be found for it ?. Serious historical interest item and would be great to get it running and compare against more modern types... Chris _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [2]time-nuts@lists.febo.com To unsubscribe send an email to [3]time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com References 1. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394869426524 2. mailto:time-nuts@lists.febo.com 3. mailto:time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com