Beb's Vintage Tech - Simpson 260-3 Multimeter Repair

Today will be Part One of the repair and recalibration on this Simpson 260 Series 3 multimeter. I believe this one is around a 1959 vintage but not positive.

It starts out as not really being a "repair", my plan was to just replace the capacitor and germanium diodes, clean it up, and calibrate it. Once I opened it up though, there was a broken PCB trace that was pretty simple to fix.

Like I say in the video, I don't plan on using this meter, but having it as a non-functional shelf ornament doesn't seem fair to such an iconic piece of test equipment. So once it's up and running, I'll try to find places where it can be used, if only for sentimental reasons if nothing else.

Stay tuned for Part Two which will cover calibration (although we won't be able to go up to the 1000V range!).

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Check out the Simpson 260 website for lots of great info:

Get you some awesome stuff from MG Chemicals!

[Shnick]

Came back to this video as a reference on my second 260 refurb. This one ended up having 4 precision resistors out of spec.
Thanks for keeping the video up!

[mcdradus]

those are very good meters! if you do any work on vintage equipment mainly tube equipment those analog meters are a must have.

[armandoperdomo]

Hello my friend, 3 days ago I bought the same Simpson 260 Series 3 multimeter. I discovered the broken fuse, a desoldered diode. Although I fixed it and now measured, I think the previous owner moved the potentiometers. 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.

[carlospagan]

Tendras alguno para vender yque este en perfecta funcion como el 260 3?

[jaredsciguy]

I just got one of these, it was being thrown away. It's a simpson model 260, never heard of em till just looking them up, mine looks older than yours and has no series number, the inside is way different also.. it was corroded inside around a D battery and also has 4 smaller AA batteries in it, just like you said but not designed the same. caps are very old school and a few things I couldn't ID from memory or personal experience, looks like silver/gray cylinders, a bit smaller than a cigarette but same shape/proportions and has metal shavings stuck to it like its magnetic. I'm guessing high tolerance resistor? It was used in a research lab used by students I think, wasn't taken care of too well. Could I get the corrosion out and take out all the cloth wound wire, (there is both cloth and plastic coated conductors) and rebuild it with more modern parts and expect it to work? I dont really care to use it as a viable meter, but I like little projects like this and would be upset to find I cant get it working, for all I know if I give it a real battery terminal it may work already. But I'm not holding my breath cuz this thing looks rough and I'm expecting at least a few burnt components by smell alone.

[christianhudspeth]

I've got one of these from my grandfather whom passed away when I was young. It seems to be in working condition but the wires and knobs are missing. These can use any kind of banana plug right? (Edited grammer)

[VintageElectronicsGeek]

Nice meter...Simpson has been copied by many! Really hard to watch video due to the CNC and its really high pitched noise, had to just skim through the video. Great job on servicing...looking forward to part 2. ~Jack, VEG

[nor]

That cap you put in is that a, .1 mfd ccapciator ? Nice job on your meter Hours is in better shape then mine .

[christianhudspeth]

It's funny because the circuit board in that artifact is probably hand soldered and not a printed circuit board as you refer to it thru the video.

[oscarcastillo]

Please indicate the dimensions of thePlease indicate the dimensions of the axlesPlease indicate the dimensions of the shaftsRange Switch and Function Switch. if possible orIf possible, aflat. I will be very grateful (Arequipa - Peru)

[Shnick]

Is that .1 millifarad or .1 microfarad? Schematics say “mfd”, which according to what I’ve read, is nowadays referred to as “uF”.

[johnstumpf]

you would be far better served using caig fader lube in any potentiometer. wd-40 is bad juju on those.

[erin]

Those varistors are wire wound low value precision parts. Leave em alone !

[jerichosantos-crig]

hey beb, is there any way to contact you via chat?