Well, I do collect old electronic instruments. Heck, I've got stuff that came in wooden cases - old General Radio Corp instruments that are really beautiful in function and design.

Well, a week or so ago, I noticed a pricey little deal on Yahoo! auctions, almost past my price range for such items, but it was so nice I decided to buy it anyhow. It was an ESI Impedance Bridge - the original with an eyeball tube (magic eye) for adjustments. I like those things, and this one was in very nearly perfect looking condition, so I ponied up the fifty bucks and bought it.

It came in today, and got my usual arrival inspection. Just like the picture, it was in mint condition.

I bought it from a couple in New Mexico.

The shipping address says it came from Roswell.

There are two stickers on it. One says "inspected, date due, Apr 18 1962, std lab, ASTRONAUTICS"!

I'm reading this and thinking "ASTRONAUTICS"? In New Mexico?

Then I notice another sticker on the top of it - a silver sticker. It has been scratched with a knife until it is nearly obliterated. I can still read, barely, Property of USAF.

Ok, so he probably came by it at a surplus sale. But what was it doing in Roswell?

Incidentally, this thing works pretty well, I'm going to have to order up a manual for it and figure out all the functions.

But, in case you think I'm making this up:

1Z 872 X02 03 1052 430 6

is the UPS tracking number, go to UPS, put that in and hit detail, and you can see where it came from and went.

I'm feeling a little odd this Christmas.

Wonder if I could get a good price on this thing from some of the UFO buffs?

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

Answers

Paul, You didn't know that Roswell really existed?

My Dad went there to fix a problem they had with strange signals they had on a lot of their equipment one year. They provided their own power, completely off of the "grid" (or what existed of it at that time). He told me about it this past year, said that, yes, the place was super secretive and he managed to fix their problem. Said he didn't ask questions and no one volunteered any. Must have been late '50s or early '60s when he went.

As soon as I get over to his house some time after Christmas, I'm going to have to inventory all of his old equipment. I'm sure there are some you might like to have. I know he has a signal generator, and have seen other things that might interest you. He told me he has an old origional tube from the 1930's I think, that was one of the first made.I'll be keeping that I think.

When I was little he would give me a tube that he had broken the glass off of and explained each part as I took them apart.

Dang, I miss him!

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

I knew there was a Roswell, but how did a fairly sophisticated electronic instrument get to Roswell with an 'astronautics' calibration sticker on it? Maybe from a White Sands auction, but I'm sure some folks could come up with wilder scenarios.

I'd love to see your Dad's old equipment.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Paul-

While it would be tempting to come up with some wilder scenarios, your White Sands surplus sale theory is most likely correct.

After Y2K turned into a dud, my fiance and I went to a few of the local survivalist stores to pick up some good deals. We like to camp and before the world was about to end, most of these places catered to campers and hikers. Anyway, at one store, in amongst the dry food and biodegradable TP, we found a vintage 1962 radiac meter from New Zealand for $20. We bought it and keep it around as a conversation piece. It weighs about thirty pounds and is the size of a small coffee table, minus the legs.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Incidentally, many of those tubes were probably made in Owensboro, KY, where the big GE tube plant used to be.

My aunt and uncle worked over there. I forget what his job was, but she was a line supervisor.

Millions of little glass tubes going by, and the folks on the line putting teeny components into them, one at a time. Then into the vacuum room and the ovens, then flashing and the cathode test.

Almost a forgotten world.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Speaking of strange old electronic instruments, anyone want to take a shot at explaining this one?...

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

well heck, they are both 'turned on' btw.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

Very outdated however....look who's on top!

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

lol, CD, a great representation there. I am still trying to figure out where the volume button is on the lower part of the box.....

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000