Nice job love these old 260 meters the best part made in USA.

Thank you. I have a series 7M 260 with a similar failure. The meter requires 85 uA to reach full scale. It did have a battery leak which may be related to the issue. I'll be going to Hunstville hamfest soon, so I'll see what turns up. :) Although digital voltmeters are available for not much money, I like having a good reliable analog meter. I learned something else today about this meter, don't try to clean the white lettering with an enzyme cleaner such as "Awesome" cleaner from Dollar General. The White paint cleans off along with anything else.

I bought my 260 in 1960 and still use it today. They are still available for purchase today. I have several newer 260’s. 😂One thing I don’t like is the newer series use proprietary jacks which make test lead adapters necessary in my shop. Most of my instruments are the modern Fluke meters. I would never give up my 260.

Great video, as always. This one revived my desire to fix my old broken 260, whose movement was binding around zero. Once I saw how easy it was to take it apart, I opened the meter face and found that one of the studs that holds the scale in place had broken off. It was simple to epoxy it down and put it all back together again. Calibration was straightforward and now it reads

Very informative video; nice to see the old come back to life, "well done"

Hi Alan, Great video on the ole' 260. (I have a Series 6M and a Series 8P, which helped me fix tons of pieces of electronics, as well as to trace miles of circuits to find cable faults over the years). I believe the meter movement in the 6M is still alive and well, although the circuit is suffering some, while the 8P is in great shape. (Both lived long lives due to their 'roll-top' case; the one on the 6M wore out from dryness and quit 'rolling'.) Through all of those years of use, the 260 remained my 'main meter', even though I had a newer (at the time) Fluke DMM. But the old analog meter in a 260 will tell you things that you can't see on a digital multimeter (as you alluded to in the Video). And it helped me find several problems that everyone else missed. But I appreciated your video most, because it gives me new hope for my "Wounded Warrior" (the 6M)l Thank you! ... More! More! :) 73, Neil, K7WK

Superb video. My series 6P is the #1 tool of my workshop. I even named the thing.......When I'm working on Ham radio projects, this Classic VOM is better than any digital meter I've ever used.

Very good input from you Sir! I liked the calibrating part the most.

I love the Simpson 260 meter. I own two myself, series 7. I used the for work on generators when synchronizing two generators together, among many other uses. The series 7 actually requiers some desoldering to remove the board. Great video, thank you.

Well after viewing your video. I went through my draws and found my 260-6XL. I put new batteries in it and it still working after 36 years. WOW.

Thanks again for another fine video. I own two of these myself. My college instructor would have given you a "D" for calibrating in vertical position instead of laying flat after adjustment. He did me...Lol . He always insisted using analog meters in flat horizontal position. Guess he's right when you think about it. I never forgot that lesson. I always love your video's..

Thanks for the quick reply. Since I already bought the base with another set of vise last year, the addition of the PanaVise 376 will be the next item on my shopping list. Thanks again.

Great Video, Thank You! You're a good mechanic! It's important to do all the mechanical stuff well regardless how insignificant the task may seem. Like stripping wires, using correct hardware, etc.

I have a 260 series 7. Great meter. I have 4 Triplett 630’s, A, type 4, APLK and a NA with range divider circuit. I find the Triplett meters to be a bit more accurate and a little more versatile with more ranges. Other than the 30v battery they are great. They usually sell a bit cheaper on eBay compared to the Simpson. I think the Simpson was more popular in the day but not any better. Great video as all yours are. Thanks for all the tips and knowledge.

Alan, per usual, your videos are informative and helpful. This one contains some VERY useful calibration tidbits. I knew about the 50 uA position but never seen it done. It should be an easy matter to build a reasonably accurate *portable* device to tote to swap meets to test the Simpsons that abound there. Also, I had not reviewed the schematics carefully so it's good to know that all other DC voltage settings hinge off the accuracy of the 2.5 VDC setting and only vary by dint of the value of aged the precision resistors. What occasioned my visiting was that I picked up a Simpson (Series 5, I think) at a swap meet this weekend where someone had replaced the meter movement with a Series 6 or 7 ~~ I disremember. Nonetheless, it seemed to be accurate. This video will aid in further corroborating that hypothesis. So now I am up to two: the aforementioned series 5/6 and my Series 7PM. If I get another, I am going to seek counseling. Thanks again, Bill, k6whp

Repaired some corrosion in a Series 4 while watching this video.Working!

Just found a 260 series IIIs. Batteries had been in there since 1991 (had dates taped to them), cleaned that mess up and replaced them, repositioned the meter movement (needle was hitting at furthest point). It also was far too loose so snugged it up so that it had a smooth movement. Used some WD40 to clean connectors inside since the ohms 0 zero reading fluctuated between 3 settings. It helped fix that prob. I still need to calibrate with a true voltage source but it seems fine. My Dad was an electrician and had an old meter so I am familiar with them. There is just something beautiful about the design. BTW: I am in Canada, the meter is a Canadian made one. Picked it up for $40- at thrift store.

Excellent Simpson meter video like all the rest. That is a quality meter.

Thank you so much for this video. I just bought one yesterday for $25 WITH the case that has the sliding door on it. It needs a cleaning and I'll put in a new battery. His Father who passed away was a Collector of ANY type of vintage electronics, the garage is packed full of it. Checkout Craigslist Jersey shore if you are interested. The video here shows me exactly what to do to check it out. Thanks again !

Just a plug for Simpson vintage analog meters - Unlike other meters of the 70's and earlier, the Simpson 260-6 user manual clearly graphs out its responsiveness to AF and low RF with the AC voltage ranges. Its performance looks good for my needs. I plan on getting that model meter and will be using it for audio frequency voltage reads because of the speed of taking readings that an analog meter gives.

I have a 260 6-series that had a floating needle. The adjustment screw wouldn't move the needle and when taking a measurement it would nudge it in that direction but float freely. After watching this video I took a second look at it, and it seems to be working fine, lol. I could only test voltage because I can't find the needed batteries around here!

Well, worth to ask, mine was another issue, when it was laying down position, it reads ok, when it was on any other position, the needle won't reach 0 when trying to calibrate. I wonder if the movement needed to be replaced.

Great video as usual...what did you use as the current source when you did the initial 50uA full scale test?

Thank you for continuing to make such interesting and informative videos. I would like to start using my late father's AVO meter (the UK equivalent of Simpson). The one I have is a late 1960's model but has some corrosion in the battery compartment. Is there any solvent or cleaner you can recommend?

Hi, I have a 7 series and it gives me zero horizontally and on 2 sides, but in the other potions it does not give zero, as well as no measurement works, I want to know if the galvanometer is fine? .Thank you

I wanted to share my experience with you folks. I purchased an used simpson 260 series 7M from eBay. Everything looks good except that the needle did not reach the Zero position at the Rx1 ohm scale when the leads were shorted together. Because the Rx100 and Rx10,000 scales were working fine, I tested the resistor R16 (11 ohms) and it checked OK. Then, I concluded that it must be a parasitic circuit create by dust and dirt. Even though the PCB circuit looked pretty neat, I cleaned the traces and the areas around the resistor R16 and the Range Switch with a Q-tip and 100% alcohol. To my satisfaction, the Rx1 scale started working as it should.

Good day, I have the same measuring device. Rx1 mode does not work. Do you have any suggestions?

Nice video. There are a bunch of surplus Bach-Simpson 635HV meters floating about in the Canadian used market. The "working" (ie needle moves full-scale) ones go for $35, the not-so-working ones go for $25. I got one of the latter ones and cleaned it up. Battery goo had got into the meter movement and was fouling the moving coil. I carefully scraped it out with a dental pick, and now it works! It's pretty far off calibration on some scales. Not going to test its 6kV range at all! 73 de VA3PID

Waggish comment in re your "nothing more boring than watching someone remove four screws" comment. I would add/replace the sentiment: VIRTUALLY ANY unboxing video up to the point where the delivered product is fully exposed, all packing and wrapping materials are out of sight, and the item in question has had the analysis/review commenced! Others than that, I can think of NONE of your fine videos that violate that maxim, Alan!

BTW: cool video. very informative.

Although it isn't related to the topic, could you tell me where I can get a vise like the one you have on your PanVise base ? Regards. BTW, keep up with the good work, always interesting, easy to follow and specially motivating as I quite oftenly attempt to reproduce the simple circuits you're explaining to study and comprehend them even further more. Thanks again !

Very good video my buddy. 3 days ago I bought the same Simpson 260 Series 3 multimeter. Can you help me calibrate it, because in R*100 and R*1 the measurements are not correct. I tested the resistors with a Fluke 77 tester. Best regards.

Hi I'm looking for Function Switch knob for Simpson 260 AMM Thank you in Advance Best Regards

The best for telco industry too. I have one and want a new one too

I changed out the meter movement on my simpson 260-6 had one with a bad board , another with bad meter. after reassembly repaired unit will not read. any ideas?

When I was in college the Simpson 260 was the Fluke 87... I would still like to have one around. Sometimes an old analog meter is very useful....

the meter movement of a 260 series 5, works in a 260 series 8?

Hi, i accidentally put 5Kv ac into 50v range on my 260 series 3 Now the whole ac range is wasted, needle oscillates violently at 50hz i guess. do you have any clue what causes that, is there any dampening or rectification in the circuit that got fried or do i have some mechanical failure at the needle? everything else on meter works perfect.

Not sure if you're replying, can this meter be used in place of a VTVM ? My old vtvm has 10meg impedance and I need something similar to replace it. Thanks !

I'm curious, why did you not replace what looks like a bumble bee capacitor while you were inside?

Greetings ... Thanks for your channel. My 260-8 meter seems to have become "unbalanced", one display tick mark between being positioned vertical and hortizonal. Have been looking for info as if it is better to replace the meter movment or try to repair. Any suggestions ? Thanks..

Swarf! Great *new* word for me. Thank you for a boost in vocabulary. Swarf. Swarf, swarf, swarf! English has a noun for everything!

Thank, nice repair. I have a MF-47 analogue kit. It has scales for hfE, and LV/V. Maybe you could do a tutorial on how to use these. The hfE scale is used to measure the condition of the npn and pnp junction of transistors. It also has a scale for dB which is expained in the Simpson manuel. The LV/V scale is still a mystery since the manuel for it is in Chinese with no translation I can find.

Hello, if you can do video on dissipation factor and quality factor of the capacitors and inductors? I think it would be very educational and interesting. All the best.

Hi, I am electronics technician, years pass and there is still interest in this lol analog meter, I wonder if you know the functions of the 4 potentiometers adjustments that brings in the Simpson 260, know how to recalibrate again if there be maladjusted it is very difficult this? I have the full Schematic Manual of this team, but does not explain how calibrated (R22, R25, R1 & R2) ... By

Which DVM lab meters can measure the Forward Diodes Resistance? In rectifier circuits I think using a Simpson 260 you can measure the Forward Diode Resistance but when the AC voltage is increasing the forward diode resistance will increase in value. So the higher the AC voltage the Higher the Forward Diode Resistance, but how can you measure the Forward diode resistance?

I need to replace the 9volt battery in this Simpson 260

I picked up this exact meter at a antique shop and it looks like this thing has been severely neglected. :( Anyways I was hoping you would have some advice on how to clean up the insides from the terrible corrosion without damaging the parts themselves. I would like to use it in my videos too, I think it looks really cool. Also it appears that no matter what I do, I cannot get any meter movement at all. I hope it is not the meter itself and instead a broken wire somewhere. What points inside the meter will give me the most direct connection to the meter itself?

I always hear people talk about watching "needle wiggle" on analog VOMs being the way to go to do alignments on receivers but have never seen it done or really understand the details behind it. Any chance you might be able to do a video on that?

how do you tell witch 260 meter you have?

Well, I sure over-thought that one!

To calibrate an analog meter, could I go with a DMM I have?. It's not a Fluke, but I'm not looking for precise precise measurements.. reason I ask is I just got a cheap analog meter(Soltec HM-102S) and it's my first analog(excitement). I eventually want a Simpson but figured I need to learn how to use this first. Haha. Only reason I want a Simpson is because of your vids. That vintage stuff is awesome. I also can't find much about how to calibrate these meters out of the box or if they already are. The zero-ing out of ohmmeters is new to me. Recently I've grown quite fond of analog meters..learning about them..and this video showed up just in time, even though its over 4 years old. ..

I attempted to repair one of these once. All I can say is, watch out!! The meter magnet can (and did) pull a jewelers screwdriver out of a loose hand hold :(

I own a couple of these meters, as well as probably 3 other analog VOMs. And a half dozen or so DVMs, none of which are in complete agreement with each other. :-) One of my 260s is a Series 2, I've had it since I was a kid, and it's seen some horrible abuse and a few repairs, mostly when I had access to those folks that could do that professionally. I've replaced the original leather (!) handle with some nylon strapping after the leather one got chewed up in a toolbox lid, the nylon had to be cut with a tool that could handle piano wire. It ain't gonna break any time soon. The other meter I was given not too long ago, and it's a real sad case. The glass is broken, and at least two of the shafts are "frozen" and I'm not sure what to do to deal with that. I *think* that it's even older than the one I had, there are a couple of "3V" batteries in there of a type that I've never seen in rectangular cardboard cases, no sign of leakage (which is why I opened it up in the first place). Do you know of a source to get parts for these meters? Is Simpson still in business? BTW, two of my digital meters are also Simpson, I like their stuff in general...

So far I have 9 260s, a series 1, 2 series 2s, 2 5Ms, a 6XLP, a 7 and a 7P and a series 8. I think I may need professional help.

I have a Busted Case.