Marconi Moisture Meters - Calibrate & repair

Hi,
Apologies for delay in replying, been away over the weekend.

We can certainly recalibrate any Marconi Moisture meter, regardless of the model.

A ‘standard’ calibration is £75 (including replacement modern batteries if required) plus parts as needed and return shipping to your address (return shipping is usually just less than £10 with insurance and signature on delivery).

An initial assessment of condition is given on receipt of the instrument prior to commencing any work.
Any parts required are advised to you (prior to replacement) and a full report is supplied on completion.

We can also supply and fit mains units if required. If this is requested it is carried out at the same time as the standard service and is £100 (inclusive of the service) plus any parts and shipping as above.

We test and calibrate the instrument to original manufacturers specification and procedures, having spent over 40 years doing this, we are the only operation capable of this complete original service.

Each unit is stripped and cleaned thoroughly and then tested with a crop sample prior to return (currently Barley - Chesterfield 2017).

If required we can also offer refurbished s/hand units fully set up and ready to use.

Generally spare parts are available and we can provide scales or charts as well as operating cards and handbooks for all models if required.

Sorry but we do not handle other makes of Moisture meter, only Marconi.

If you would like to send the instrument to us for any kind of work (or just an assessment) then we are happy to help and can provide shipping instructions and contact address.

I hope that answers your questions, if there is anything else you wish to know, please get back in touch and we will do our best to help.
Best regards

Hi,
Thanks
If you need any help with a Marconi Moisture Meter, feel free to ask.
Regards

Thank you for the kind words, we aim to please.

Happy to help anyone with a Marconi Meter irrespective of age.
Sorry folks we do not do other makes.
Regards

Hi Johnski.

No problem, happy to help.

Here are the standard details.
We can certainly recalibrate any Marconi Moisture meter, regardless of the model.

A ‘standard’ calibration is £75 (including replacement modern batteries if required) plus parts as needed and return shipping to your address (return shipping is usually just less than £10 with insurance and signature on delivery).

An initial assessment of condition is given on receipt of the instrument prior to commencing any work.
Any parts required are advised to you (prior to replacement) and a full report is supplied on completion.

We can also supply and fit mains units if required. If this is requested it is carried out at the same time as the standard service and is £100 (inclusive of the service) plus any parts and shipping as above.

We test and calibrate the instrument to original manufacturers specification and procedures, having spent over 40 years doing this, we are the only operation capable of this complete original service.

Each unit is stripped and cleaned thoroughly, re-calibrated to makers specification using the original processes and then tested with a crop sample prior to return (currently Barley - ex Chesterfield 2017).

If required we can also offer refurbished s/hand units fully set up and ready to use.

Generally spare parts are available and we can provide scales or charts as well as operating cards and handbooks for all models if required.

Sorry but we do not handle other makes of Moisture meter, only Marconi.

If you would like to send the instrument to us for any kind of work (or just an assessment) then we are happy to help and can provide shipping instructions and contact address.

I hope that answers your questions, if there is anything else you wish to know, please get back in touch and we will do our best to help.

If this sound like something you are looking for (I can certainly do TF933C models ;-) then my shipping address is...

Mr N.Adams
18 Greenriggs,
Stopsley
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 9TQ

Currently the turnaround time is approx 10 days but we try to work faster wherever possible at this busy time. I will provide an assessment on receipt and then you can decide on how to proceed or otherwise.

Please ensure you pack the unit securely and especially the clamp and electrode units to ensure they do not slop about inside the casing and cause damage.

I am 99.99% confident we can sort it out for you - unless it has been hit by a truck!
Best regards

Vintage Steve said:

Hello
I know this thread is 2 years old but my Marconi batteries are now flat, do you still do mains conversions and service? If so, can I post the batteries to you and what is the cost of a mains conversion and service please?

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Hi Steve,
No problem, I am still servicing and calibrating Marconi Meters.
A mains conversion is OK too.

I would suggest that sending me the batteries without the meter is not much use.
The best bet is send me everything and I can give you an honest appraisal of what needs doing and any parts required. I suggest including the G-clamp and electrode cell assembly (ring, plunger electrode) as I check out these important parts as well.

Most 'normal parts are covered within the service price - but there are some exclusions i should make you aware of that are too costly to be covered in the package - I can still provide them as repair or replace but at additional cost - thankfully most are generally unusual to be needed all the time.

Exclusions are...

• Bent/deformed G-clamps (usually because people leave the compression cell done up - don't that if possible)
• Faulty internal meter movement
• Leaky electrode cell (electrical leakage caused by damage or damp)
• Severe casing damage or corrosion on the casing due to leaky battery acid.

I can provide service for these items as well but on a case by case basis..

Typical costs are a standard service including full strip and clean, minor repair and re-calibration, plus return shipping (tracked & insured) is around £100 all in.

A mains conversion performed at the same time as the standard service is £150 complete (includes all standard items as above) - any parts required are advised prior, so you can be fully aware of what is needed and why.

I offer a pre-assessment report on receipt.
Once you agree to go ahead there are periodic updates on progress.
A full report is provided on completion along with calibration results. [useful for farm assurance]
No payment is required until the meter is ready to come back to you.

I can supply replacement charts or scales,copies/scans of instruction card or handbooks if required (subject to availability).

I'm assuming your meter is a TF933A or 'B' model, as usually the 'C' or 'D' models do not generally require mains conversions - although I have done some. If your meter is earlier than a 933A then please let me know and it is still possible to service and repair them although it requires a slightly different process.

Current turnaround is about 10-14 days from your go-ahead after assessment.

Hope that sounds what you are looking for - if there are any questions feel free to ask.

If you wish to send the meter to me, then please ensure you pack it well - especially pack the G-clamp as it is heavy enough to rattle around inside the casing and cause damage.

My address is
18 Greenriggs
Stopsley
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 9TQ

Regards
Nigel

Robert said:

What's a tidy fully serviced mains or battery powered one worth please?

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Hi Robert,

Tricky question, as always it depends on what someone else is generally prepared to pay.
This is usually how urgent their need is for a working meter.

There are some ridiculously high priced meters in poor condition on a certain auction website at present and definitely not worth what is being asked. This could be opportunists simply trying to get a high price or thinking it has more real value irrespective of condition.

A fully serviced (and properly calibrated to MPPS - not just an agronomy day check...) and clean tidy meter with all accessories in working order can be up to £200 if it is really spotless. But again you can pick them up for less. Poor examples require a lot of work to restore and therefore can be had to little money.

Condition (like cars) is everything...

Also it does slightly depend on the model of the meter TF933 plain or A/B/C/D. Although age is not always a factor as I know of many very good early models in excellent condition.

Meters that I refurbish and sell always have a warranty as well so there is some value in that.

The best way is to see a meter and offer an honest opinion on the condition as seen - it is hard to generalise.

One thing which does stand out compared to other makes of meter (other user opinions are worth taking into account here), is that the Marconi Moisture meter is almost always worth restoring (unless it is a hopeless basket case) because it is still one of the most rugged, reliable and repeatable meters with many hundreds still around after over 50-60+ years in many cases - not much else lasts like that on a farm.

I admit to being biassed as I have worked on these for over 40+ years, but it does hold true that other makes are shown to be less reliable or repeatable over time...

Don't take my word for it - ask others... Even the new fancy meters are not always the best solution.
Most people want something simple and reliable to use - Marconi does that!
Hope it helps
Regards
Nigel

Senneca said:

I have a TF 874A, can you do this model? I'm local, could drop it round.

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Hi Senneca,

Yes, I can do TF874A Models - they are Timber meters so they operate somewhat differently to the crop moisture meters - but I can certainly fix and calibrate them. The main issue is usually battery corrosion to the casing due to leakage of old cells or rodent damage (eaten wiring - or acute urine damage)...

I have spares available and can repair most damage unless very severe. There are two versions depending on age, either black or silver cased, but the majority of parts are the same.

I’ll be happy to look at it for you and give an honest opinion on condition and any work it might need.
There is no obligation for this. Then we can discuss any questions if necessary.

I can offer mains conversion or modern battery replacements if required - if it already has mains (either original fit or third party) I can test it and check it over if required.

Initially there will be an ‘as received’ status report so you know what is required.
If you are OK with that then I will provide progress updates as work is done.
A full report and calibration results are provided on completion.

Turnround is typically 10-14 days from receipt/proceed.

As you suggest you are local then we can arrange collection/delivery as appropriate.

The standard service/calibration is £100.
If a mains conversion is required then it is £150 all in (including the service) provided it is carried out at the same time as the other work.

Although it doesn't really apply here, I can often provide copies/scans of manuals and different measurement scales or charts for most of the models (this is usually for the crop based meters - the timber ones have all the common scales as part of the native meter).

You will see most of what I can offer from previous posts. But if there is anything else you need to know...

I hope that helps - as I said, if there are any questions please feel free to ask.
I’m based in Luton by the airport, where are you?

Regards
Nigel