General Radio Company Advertisement
October 4, 1965 Electronics Magazine

October 4, 1965 Electronics [Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Electronics, published 1930 - 1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

This advertisement for General Radio Company's Recording Wave Analyzer (1965 Electronics magazine) caught my eye due to the chain-driven interface between the upper Type 1900-A Wave Analyzer and lower Type 1521-B Graphic Level Recorder chassis. Maybe that can be considered an early form of the GPIB - General [Instruments] Physical Interface Bus. I wonder how many neckties, a rigidly-enforced item of professional dress code of the era, got caught in those exposed gears? ...or fingers for that matter? OSHA would condemn such a platform these days. It is not apparent from the photograph whether there is also an electrical interface. The quality of the printed chart output is phenomenally good for 1965 equipment - and in color, no less. I also found it interesting that a reference was made to "M. Fourier," as though maybe Fourier's first name began with an "M," but in fact his full name is Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier (French), so the "M." would be an abbreviated form of "Monsieur."

General Radio Company

M. Fourier would have liked this Recording Wave Analyzer

Harmonic components of a 1-kc square wave.

Analysis of a 1-ms pulse with a 20-cycle repetition rate.

Graphic plot of modulation noise on a 1-kc tone for two different types of magnetic tape. Note that one tape has 10dB less noise. The Recording Analyzer is ideal for this type of measurement since its 80-dB dynamic range permits uninterrupted recording over wide ranges.

• Three bandwidths let you choose the best selectivity for each measurement ... 3 c/s or 10 c/s for detailed measurements, 50 c/s for rapid analysis or for measurement of drifting signals. Bandwidth skirts are better than 80-dB down at ±25 c/s, ±80 c/s, and ±500 c/s for 3-, 10-, and 50-cycle bandwidths, respectively.

• Linear frequency scale from 20 c/s to 54 kc/s.

• Two outputs for recording, 100 kc/s with 80-dB dynamic range for inputs above 0.1 V, and 1-mA dc.

• 80-dB dynamic range for recording. You can make uninterrupted recordings ... no attenuator switching in the midst of measurements.

• High input impedance (1-MΩ) on all ranges.

• Voltage range is 30μV to 300V, full scale, in 15 ranges. Accuracy, ± (3 % of reading +2% of full scale) .

• As a "Tracking Generator," instrument is both a signal source (delivering 2V across 600Ω) and a detector tuned to each other exactly.

Type 1910-A Recording Wave Analyzer comes complete with Type 1900-A Wave Analyzer, Type 1521-B Graphic Level Recorder, and all accessories.

For point-by-point measurements where the recorder is not used, these additional wave analyzer features add versatility and convenience

• Easy-to-read in-line frequency readout graduated in 10-cycle increments. ±0.5% calibration accuracy. Output for counter where extreme accuracy is desired.

• Incremental-frequency dial lets you fine-tune any component, covers ±100-cycle range independently of analyzer setting.

• AFC follows slowly drifting signals.

• Choice of 3 meter speeds - meter does the averaging.

• Excellent tunable filter. For example, the instrument can be used to produce 3-, 10-, and 50-cycle bands of noise over a tunable range from 20 c/s to 54 kc/s when a random-noise generator is connected to the analyzer.

• Price: Type 1900-A Wave Analyzer alone, $2150; Type 1910-A Recording Wave Analyzer, $3500 in U.S.A.

We believe M. Fourier's disciples will like this Analyzer, too.

Write for Complete Information.

General Radio Company

In Canada: Toronto 247-2171. Montreal (Mt. Royal) 737-3073

In Europe: Zurich, Switzerland - London, England

West Concord Massachusetts

New York, N. Y., 964-2722 (Ridgefield. N. Y.) 943·3140

Chicago (Oak Park) 848-9400

Philadelphia (Ft. Washington) 646-8030

Washington, D.C. (Rockville, Md.) 946-1600

Syracuse 454-9323

Dallas FL 7-4031

San Francisco (Los Altos) 948·8233

Los Angeles 469-6201

Orlando, Fla. 425-4671

Cleveland 886-0150