Marconi Meters & Repatriation

Longpod

Member
Location
Northamptonshire
We have a metal one in the shed, also I have a wooden / bakelite one that I bought in a junk shop many years ago. Have they any value now?
I would say re sale value in un calibrated and neglected condition is low. It can be a very time consuming job to bring them back to life after many years of neglect. They need setting up and calibrating by a pro. I’m sure there are very few that @Lodekka has been unable to bring back to life. Once brought back to life, they should be good for many many more years
 

Lodekka

Member
I would say re sale value in un calibrated and neglected condition is low. It can be a very time consuming job to bring them back to life after many years of neglect. They need setting up and calibrating by a pro. I’m sure there are very few that @Lodekka has been unable to bring back to life. Once brought back to life, they should be good for many many more years
The main issue is corrosion through leaking batteries. If the casing is in a bad way then its most serious but even then i can still sometimes help.
Regards
Nigel
 

Longpod

Member
Location
Northamptonshire
As far as I know, when ISO 712 came out, the Marconi scale was re written to comply with the new standards. As a general rule, ISO 712 is 0.7% higher than the original Marconi Results. The original sliding scale was removed from the meter and reference was taken from the new ISO results sheet.
 

Lodekka

Member
Longpod is correct, the Marconi meters are still one of the standard in use today and revised charts/scales were produced for them.

they are still one of the best meters for accuracy and repeatability.
Hope that helps, if you are stuck please let me know and i will try to help.
Regards
Nigel
 

Lodekka

Member
Did I? Lodekka is the man to ask about that, not me.
I think there were/are scales for beans (at least some types) and it sounds like you unfortunately had some poor advice all those years ago.

i do know that on meters that were pre the 933A version, then the scales were limited to only a few crops. But the advantage of the later meters did mean that additional charts and scales were produced.

if i can help further then i am happy to do so, but i would say the problem here is not the fault of the actual meter but the guidance/advice you were given long ago...

The only other issue might be that the varieties of crop have changed since the scales/charts were created and it might need the advice of a farming collective or an agronomist to clarify which crop type is most relevant now.

I hope it helps and please don’t judge the Marconi too harshly for that...🙂
Regards
Nigel
 

Barleycorn

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Hampshire
Here are my meters.
20210305_153550.jpg
20210305_153649.jpg
20210305_153657.jpg
20210305_153705.jpg
 

Lodekka

Member
Hi again,

Ok, so the grey meter is a TF933A and i think that would be straightforward to restore to working order, the clamp and accessories look ok so it should clean up nicely.

It all depends on battery corrosion inside but it initially looks promising.

If required it can be converted to mains operation fairly easily if you chose not to want batteries, just to say that modern batteries can be used in them so no real issue either way other than your preference.

This meter dates from the 60’s, i can be more exact if i see it.

The other meter is an older TF842 and is also probably restorable but of limited use as it would not cope so well with crops other than the main dial scale is marked for. Usually Wheat and Barley/Oats...

Again the internal condition would dictate if it is worth doing.
This meter is a bit earlier than the 933A.

If you are interested then i am happy to give a more detailed assessment without obligation but just need to get them to me.

I would be fairly confident of resurrecting at least the later one.

PM me if you like.
Regards
Nigel


Sent from my iPhone

On 5 Mar 2021, at 16:09, The Farming Forum <[email protected]> wrote:
 

Lodekka

Member
Trouble is we don't grow any combinable crops now, but happy to be in the club! Would give the old one to a museum if any wanted it.
Yes, I would be interested in the TF842 please. I have a colllection of the various models of meters produced by Marconi, this is as a by product the servicing and repair work I do on the later meters which are more common.

As a gesture, I would be happy to provide an initial look at your later 933A meter in some form of partial exchange for the TF842 if that sounds ok to you. Can I suggest we take this conversation into a private message to avoid clogging up the forum.
Regards
Nigel
 

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