I've got an old Tektronix 453 oscilloscope that needs a new home. It's one that I used at work until the late '90's. It was only a backup machine so didn't do a lot of work but was still fired up about once a month or so. It was always a very good performer. According to its service log it had a new CRT fitted by Tektronix in the early '70's. Interestingly its got a couple of those incredibly tiny Nuvista valves in it, not much bigger than a transistor of the same vintage.

That's the good! Now for the bad, it isn't working at the moment. Last time I used it a couple of years ago I noticed the fan was noisy and then stopped. I thought I'll only be a couple of minutes and then switch it off. Too late, it stopped all by its self. It still triggers and at the time I traced the fault to the HT (faulty Q930 and open F937 fuse) apparently a common fault on these. I replaced Q930 without success and at the time had no HV test probes or another scope to measure around the HT so didn't go any further and have since bought a 2445A. I've since read that these things are very particular about what you put in them and will only work with the OEM (Motorola?) transistors which are still available from sites in the US. I've got the service manual PDF for it.

I don't really want anything for it but my passion is for AWA mantles from the mid 1940's to mid 1950's, so someone may want to swap a restorable one excess to their needs for this. It's quite a heavy beast but should be postable and I can possibly find a lead or two to put with it. I'm sure it would be an easy fix for some so inclined but no I longer have the need for it and would like to see it go to a good home!

Cheers,

Warren