kpinnc 12,017 #1 Posted January 25, 2023 (edited) I've been rearranging/ thinning out the horrible mess in the garage. When we moved here, we came from a house with both a full floored attic and a basement to a larger place with niether. Half of the garage and my utility building have become dry storage ever since. Every couple months I take a few boxes and go though them, in the hopes that I'll be done before I croak. Last night, buried in the bottom of one box was my old Simpson meter. It's dusty but still works. Some might think this is old junk, but these things are the only way to go! Made all the day's begrudging work worth it! Just another example of "I forgot I had that!" Edited January 25, 2023 by kpinnc 6 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,305 #2 Posted January 25, 2023 16 minutes ago, kpinnc said: Last night, buried in the bottom of one box was my old Simpson meter. It's dusty but still works. Some might think this is old junk, but these things are the only way to go! Is the name "Simpson" in the white background? Usually it is on the black case. I agree, that type of meter is ideal when working on tractors. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #3 Posted January 25, 2023 (edited) I have a Simpson 260. All we used in my submarine days in the late '70s. My ? is fellas is what do we do with them in this day and age of DMMs ? No way I can't round file it but never use it. @squonk Edited January 25, 2023 by WHX?? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,098 #4 Posted January 25, 2023 Some tractors ( Wheel Horses ) will cause erratic readings on a DMM with the engine running. Probably half of the tractors I've worked on have needed an analog meter to get a stable reading on the charging circuit 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,017 #5 Posted January 25, 2023 (edited) 12 minutes ago, lynnmor said: Is the name "Simpson" in the white background? You made me go look. Now I'm embarrassed. It's a Tripplet corp knock off. I've had it since the days of GTE and never paid attention. Dangit! Edited January 25, 2023 by kpinnc 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #6 Posted January 25, 2023 22 minutes ago, squonk said: Some tractors ( Wheel Horses ) will cause erratic readings on a DMM with the engine running. Agreed Squonky but even my cheapy DMMs gives me an idea a what's going on. Still looks to be a quality instrument in the day KP. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,017 #7 Posted January 25, 2023 14 minutes ago, WHX?? said: Still looks to be a quality instrument in the day KP. It is decent, far better than today's offerings for sure. Heck even the battery still has a little life left (enough to deflect the needle in a resistance reading), and it's been in there for almost 20 years. I'm still tickled I found it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #8 Posted January 25, 2023 (edited) There's a similar thread about old Simpson meters on another forum... Synchronicity! Show us your Simpsons! I've got two of them... somewhere... Edited January 25, 2023 by Jeff-C175 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,166 #9 Posted January 25, 2023 My twins er Tripplets 3 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,098 #10 Posted January 25, 2023 My Simpson is identical to the one of Ed's on the left. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #11 Posted January 25, 2023 4 hours ago, squonk said: My Simpson is identical to the one of Ed's on the left. 'cept that ain't a Simpson... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,017 #12 Posted January 25, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said: 'cept that ain't a Simpson... Same mistake I made on the original post. Still a heckuva lot better than anything made today, and still a great meter. Anyone who might doubt it should try timing points with a digital meter. I've got a Fluke but still love my analog! Edited January 25, 2023 by kpinnc 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,215 #13 Posted January 25, 2023 18 hours ago, kpinnc said: Every couple months I take a few boxes and go though them, in the hopes that I'll be done before I croak. When we moved to NC from Florida my wife packed her collectables, treasures and other things she couldn't live without in a couple dozen large plastic totes. That was seventeen years ago and they are still stacked in my shop where we unloaded them. I hope she will get around to sorting through them some day but I'm not holding my breath. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #14 Posted January 25, 2023 1 hour ago, kpinnc said: I've got a Fluke but still love my analog! Me too... several in fact, and a lab grade Hewlett Packard 5-1/2 digit precision. But there are more analog meter displays around my shop than you can stake a shick at! I don't only 'do' tractors! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #15 Posted January 25, 2023 15 minutes ago, 953 nut said: seventeen years ago Yeah... I know how that is! There are boxes in the attic and the garage that have not been opened since we moved here in '84 ! That's almost 40 years! YIKES! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,098 #16 Posted January 25, 2023 7 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said: 'cept that ain't a Simpson... Guess it's been a while since I had this baby out! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,995 #17 Posted January 26, 2023 5 hours ago, kpinnc said: I've got a Fluke but still love my analog! There's something "trustworthy" about seeing that needle move 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EB-80/8inPA 1,641 #18 Posted January 26, 2023 23 hours ago, kpinnc said: Heck even the battery still has a little life left (enough to deflect the needle in a resistance reading), and it's been in there for almost 20 years. It’s unbelievable it hadn’t corroded after that long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,017 #19 Posted January 26, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, EB-80/8inPA said: It’s unbelievable it hadn’t corroded after that long. Yes it is. The D cell was just starting to, but the 30v is still good. Edited January 26, 2023 by kpinnc 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
