[Test areas are mostly HP and Tektronix oriented]
Contents:
Note: If you represent a firm that provides schematics to consumers (min quantity of 1 and under $100 minimum order), please
information. Thanks!Rich Osman, Michael Covington, Jim Mc Vein, Richard D. McRoberts, Jeff Gruszynski, James Walker, Bill Mayhew, Stanley Perkins, Mike Serafin, Thomas G Booth, Scott Holderman, John T. Black, Ronald Zettlemoyer, Jerilyn McLaren, Paul Hudson, Stan Griffiths W7NI, Terry O'Laughlin, Mark Wolfe, Joel Kolstad, Jim Tannenbaum, Bob Parnass AJ9S, Gary H. Harmon, Jr., Nigel Cook, Tony Bailey, and John De Armond
Bob is a retired Tek engineer who refurbishes and sells scopes for spending
money. He also repairs scopes at remarkably good prices. A typical deal will
be a 60 MHz transistorized Tek scope for about $125. Anyone who attends
hamfests in the southeast will recognize Bob as "Mr Scope."
Mr. Kidd is a retired Tek engineer who sells old Tektronix manuals:
For example, a 465 manual is $35. Also available, for $20, is Stan Griffith's
"Oscilloscopes: Selecting and Restoring a Classic"... As reviewed by Wes:
"I bought that one through Tucker Electronics and it is one good book for anyone
who has an old Tek scope. It details how to troubleshoot them, where to find
parts and most of all, it rates them as to their serviceability in today's
electronics. It also covers the MANY plug-in's out there. I had no Idea how
Many was there! Like a strain gauge pulg-in?? Good book and worth the money
(as I own 4 old Tek scopes and love each of them dearly ;-)"
And here's a something from Stan Griffiths, the author himself:
[in response to a plea from an owner of a dead 454 scope]
You may recognize my name as the author of "OSCILLOSCOPES--Selecting and Restoring a Classic". I love old Tektronix scopes and I want to see yours run again. I own 454 S/N B010100 (the first one!) which I bought in a local estate sale. It was the estate of one of the design engineers who worked on the project. I guess you don't have to be dead to have an estate sale since he was there personally to sell me the instrument!
Stan Griffiths, W7NI
E-mail: W7NI@teleport.com
(From Jim Adney)
Ed specializes in good quality second hand service manuals for Tek and
HP. I find that a fax to him that includes a fax back number gets the
best results since he has a printed request in his hand that he can
check out and respond to.
Any time you are buying Tek manuals you should make sure the parts
list shows serial numbers up close to yours. HP manuals should be
bought by the serial prefix number (that is the number before the "A"
in the serial number; make sure to get a manual that covers your
serial prefix or higher. Later manuals USUALLY cover earlier models
as well, but not always. The serial prefix covered by an HP manual is
shown on th title page.
So fax Ed your list of model numbers with the serial prefix of each
unit. I usually specify "model HPxxxx, serial prefix yyyy or higher."
Price for an average manual is $15 + postage.
(From Michael H. Roland)
I would like to inform you that John Micek (Warner Robins, GA) is retiring from the used test equipment business.
Used manuals for test equipment, amateur equipment and early receivers. Prices range from $5 to $35. Send an SASE with your request for price and availability.
Operation and service manuals; schematic service for old and new amateur radios, commercial and military surplus test equipment, commercial and surplus military radios, antique radios and equipment manuals. Catalog not available due to large stock. Send an SASE for price and availability. Include make and model of each unit.
[Older Tektronix 'scope stuff/plugins/manuals]
If he doesn't have what you are looking for, he will know
who to point you to here in the land of Tektronix.
Most older manuals are available as fische only. The paper versions are
sky high if they're available. I paid $7 for a 561A manual, and $5 and $10
for the amp and timebase plug-in manuals. Newer scope manuals are about $25
on fische, and in excess of $100 for the paper version. I was able to find
a surplus fische reader at the SW Bell surplus store for $10, so it's not to bad.
HP is much better when it comes to pricing on their paper manuals :-(
The source of the OEM Tek scope air filters is alive and well.
In the US & Canada: 1-800-227-8164, 6AM-5PM Pacific Time,
Monday-Friday. (Prices are between $25-$40 each for these ones when I looked, but
this could change tomorrow. Call to get the latest prices)
Tel: 1-800-227-8164 6AM-5PM Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
Another number to try is:
Tel: 1-800-452-4844
But it could be old.
(From Walter Shawlee 2)
Sphere Research Corporation
1955A Moss Court
Kelowna, BC, Canada V1Y 9L3
Tel: +1 (250) 762-5455
Fax: +1 (250) 762-0244
E-Mail: walter2@sphere.bc.ca
WWW: http://www.sphere.bc.ca/test/
We have a huge HP->to->Industry Standard Semiconductor cross-reference. [Decode all those odd 1820-xxx numbers!] Also HP and Tek repair parts and equipment on-line, plus helpful FAQs and links to all kinds of test gear sites. We also have a big used equipment site on line for Canadians.
B+K Precision
Maxtec International Corp.
6470 W. Cortland St. (could be '6460')
Chicago IL 60635
Tel: (312) 889-1448
Fax: (312) 794-9740
Ask them for the servicing information manual and calibration procedure. Inform them of the model year and serial number.
Domain BBS
Tel: 1-208-375-6571
Marty Gasmans service manuals are included as are manuals from other individuals. You may search the database while online, add your own entries, change your own entries and delete your own entries. Anyone may log onto the BBS and search any of the databases. Please feel free to add service manuals that you no longer need and would like to sell. If you have a very large list of manuals, contact the sys-op for a free database program that will let you enter the manuals off-line and then upload them to the database.
Trilithic
9202 E. 33 St.
Indianapolis, IN 46236-4200
Tel: (317)895-3600
They provide support and manuals for older Texscan brand spectrum analyzers, signal generators, or field strength meters.
Fair Radio Sales
Lima, OH
Tel: 1-419-223-2196
Tel: 1-419-227-6573 (old?)
They carry some older manuals as well as tubes of all sorts. Call them and ask for a catalog.
Diverse Devices
75 Priory Rd
St Denys, Southampton
England SO17 2JQ
Tel/Fax: (+44) (-0)1703 584680
E-Mail: diverse@tcp.co.uk
WWW: http://www.tcp.co.uk/~diverse/
(From Nigel Cook)
Shop stocking Obscure/Obsolete Components, Second hand test equipment, Pinouts, Service Manuals, and Schematics and more.
Marty Gasman's Manuals
E-Mail: mgasman@tiac.net
WWW: http://www.tiac.net/users/mgasman
I have over 3,000 audio service manuals audio owner's manuals original manufacturer's literature.
W7FG VINTAGE MANUALS
Care of: GARY GOMPF
E-Mail: w7fg@eigen.net
WWW: http://eigen.net/w7fg/
We have over 3000 manuals in stock, and ship 6 days a week. Mostly ham and test equipment manuals.
Manuals Plus
P.O. Box 549
TAD #601
Tooele, Utah 84074
Tel: 801-882-7188
Tel: 1-206-531-8031 (might be disconnected)
Fax: 801-882-7195
E-Mail: jackh@manualsplus.com
WWW: http://www.manualsplus.com/
These folks sell and buy service manuals and parts for test equipment. Expect to pay $30-$50. I've been hit for over $100 on manuals for newer equipment.
(From their Home Page)
Manuals Plus sells and purchases used Electronic Test & Measurement Equipment Manuals. We maintain a large stock of original (not photocopied) test equipment manuals for equipment manufactured by Hewlett-Packard, Tektronix, Fluke/Philips, Wavetek, Wiltron, GenRad, IFR, Systron-Donner, and many others. We pride ourselves on being able to respond to client requirements in a prompt manner.
Service Center
Paramus NJ
Tel: (201) 262-9550
They have Service/Information on Fluke meters.
Tucker Electronics
Dallas, TX
Tel: 1-800-527-4642
They are another good source of used manuals for older instruments.
Alton H. Bowman (W2ZUX)
4172 East Ave., RD2
Canandaigua, NY 14424-9564
Al says he has manuals for everything from garage door openers to electronic organs, CB radio (gulp), test equipment, ham radio, etc. He specializes in equipment from the 1920-1970 era, and says,
McIntosh Home Audio
Tel: (607) 723-3512
Schematics for McIntosh Home Audio are free from McIntosh.
(From Scott Perkins)
GM Delco Publications
Tel: 1-313-974-0341
"...the last time I got schematics they were at no charge!!"
(From Mark Zacharias)
Sansui Schematics are available from:
Fox International
Tel: 1-800-321-6993
As of 2 or 3 years ago, schematics, but not full service manuals, were available for older Sansui units at a very nominal cost. The only problem is that you may have to wait three or four weeks to get it.
Heathkit Education Systems
Heath Company
PO Box 1288
455 Riverview Dr
Benton Harbor Mi 49023-1288
Catalog/Mailing list subscribe: 1-800-44-HEATH Order by Phone : 1-800-253-0570 Order by FAX : 1-616-925-4876 Customer Service : 1-800-253-0570 Technical Consulting : 1-616-925-4914 Parts Replacement/Repairs : 1-616-925-3273 Manuals : 1-616-925-5899 (8-4 EST)
The Manual Man
27 Walling St
Sayreville, NJ 08872
Tel: (908) 238-8964
(From JohnM@daka.com)
Detailed schematics for Mac's are available. They can be obtained from:
Bomarc Services
P.O. Box 1113
Casper Wyo 82602
Tel: (307) 234-3488
Howard W Sams & Company
2647 Waterfront Parkway East Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46214-2041
Tel: 1-800-GET-SAMS
Tel: 1-800-428-5331
Tel: 1-800-428-7267
Ask for a catalogue. Sams Photofacts is a company that publishes service data on TVs and radios going back to the 1930s. More importantly, their catalogue is full of ads for parts suppliers, and it also gives manufacturers' addresses.
(From Jim Tannenbaum)
A. G. Tannenbaum
P. O. Box 386
Ambler, PA 19002
Tel: (215) 540-8055
Fax: (215) 540-8327
E-Mail: k2bn@agtannenbaum.com
WWW: http://www.agtannenbaum.com/
(From their Home Page)
Try us for Service Manuals for Radio, TV, VCR, as well as Antique, Amateur, Audio, and Test Equipment. We buy and sell Vintage Radios, TVs, Tube Hi-Fi Equipment, Test Equipment and Hard to Find Repair Parts. Don't forget our extensive collection of SAMS Photofacts! Didn't find the manual you need? Check back soon, we constantly update our website. Or send us mail, since we stock more than we can list here.
(From Michael Roberge)
Sams PhotoFact folders:
VCR manuals(Sams or Originals) are $15.00/each. Please Call for other manuals.
This source carries previously owned schematics for VCR, TV, AUDIO and some test equipment. Being previously owned they are able to resell them for a fraction of the cost of new. Coupled with this is the fact that they have a wide selection from many manufactures. They carry SAMS PHOTOFACTS and original manufactures service literature. I have personally purchased many manuals from this source. Initially I was concerned that they are used but I must say that this has not been a problem. Never has a single page been missing and otherwise in almost like new condition.
In the event that they don't have the exact schematic for a specific model the owners have cross reference manuals which they use in an effort to locate possible 'look-a-like' chassis for which they might have a manual. I am told that they have many...many filing cabinets full of manuals.
Payment is generally expected in advance until a good working relationship is established. All manuals are shipped first class for $1.50 and they get them out fast.
Before you send off for any schematic, it is highly recommended that you:
Some problems can be fixed without one and in other cases, a schematic will not help to begin with. Most schematics will cost over US$35 and, as a rule, are NOT returnable!
In your post to sci.electronics.repair, please include:
HP's 54600 series knows how to play Tetris!
In the Display/Utility menu, press soft keys 2 and 3 both at once. Or maybe it's 1 and 2. Or maybe 3 and 4. :-) [One of those two other key combinations will get you into a cool debugging menu!])