Hi all.

I would like to tell you all a little about the multimeter that I reach for on a daily basis.
It is a Fluke 73 series, True R.M.S. meter. I bought this one about the time that Essendon won back-to-back grand Finals, so I guess that was around 1985-86. It is now about thirty-five years old and replaced the earlier model that I used with the multiple push buttons along the left-hand side, and the display that would fail.

I made my own magnetic holder for it, because I could not get a bank loan for the genuine Fluke accessory.
The magnet holds well onto door frames, cable tray, and to metal work inside lift shafts.

Because my meter is such an early version, it does not have a manual range select button in the middle of the range selector switch.
On occasion when I was chasing a tuning fault on a television, and measuring the stabilised voltage to the tuning system, the voltage at thirty volts would cause the meter to switch continuously between ranges, going between the thirty volt range and the three hundred volt range.

It was also borrowed by another tech if he had unexpected readings on his meter. The Fluke 73, being a true RMS meter always gave the correct reading.

My all time favourite Fluke is the 29 series 2. A bit too fragile for me. I have killed two of them. I think that the tracks are too close together in the multi layer board.

I had a 73 for about twenty years until a former work colleague stole it. My problem is that I cannot prove it yet I do believe that I know where I can get my hands back on it. The trouble in this day and age is that if I do go back and get what's mine, I become the criminal.

They were a good meter and very easy to use. The uniform dimensions on it made it easy to store too, unlike Fluke's more recent offerings which are a slight wedge shape. I don't think I will ever use another brand for a DMM.

The only Fluke I own is a model 27/FM. Made for the military, it's as tough as an old boot.

Photo uploaded.

Multimeters seem to gravitate here. Not only for me to keep but often to see if they can be repaired. An unusual one to arrive as a keeper, a couple of days ago was a Micronta 22-211 which is analogue and really is fascinating. Its one that can be used for valve radio as it does have a DC1200V range on a separate input, but is otherwise 300V DC 600V AC max.

What is nifty is that it is like a "Flip Phone" and the meter stands up and the rest is the brick. It's 20K per volt DC.
There are about five or six Analogue meters here. AVO 7x is best for dirty automotive generators: Digital just cant handle them, or brush motors. The strangest of the lot is a QM-1020; The 250V and 1000V ranges do not agree. It must be a common issue as a Radio Club member in our Club has one & its the same.

I have got another Micronta one but Digital. After several decades and a lot of glue, it finally became inaccurate & was pensioned off (still have it). One of the unusual features it has is a stand alone ON / Off switch which makes life a lot easier as you can leave it on a range and, avoid the need to change it.

One of the biggest issues is batteries as I have mentioned elsewhere. I will not buy Duracell as I have had too much experience with them leaking even when they are not flat or within storage limit. The22-211 was yet another with one & as a result work was needed to clean up the mess.

I have noted early "B" Dry batteries dissolving the wood that they sat on. So as always; One needs to keep an eye on them.