Photo Of The Month

As we continue to work our way through our archive of photos, we run across some that are a bit out of the ordinary. They may be humorous or unique but they stand out from the other photos. We post new photos here monthly with the previous photos in the slideshow.

Our November Photo of the Month is a Tektronix oscilloscope which you might not be familiar with. The Type 507 first appeared in the 1959 catalog and was offered there until 1975. Here is the description for the 507 from the 1959 catalog:

The Tektronix Type 507 is a specialized oscilloscope designed primarily for high-voltage surge testing as applied to power transformers, high-voltage insulators, lightning arrestors, and their associated design and acceptance tests.

Chuck Nolan was the development project leader.

The 507 was derived from the 517 and similarly had a separate power supply. It was sold with a Type 500A Scope Mobile.

This photo shows the camera rotated away and the unique CRT bezel.

There was no vertical amplifier. The input signal was sent to a voltage divider chain of ten equal resistors connected to a tap switch. The ratio of signal applied to the CRT deflection plates could be selected from 10% to 100% in 10% steps. Risetime is specified at “approximately 5 millimicroseconds” (nS). As expected, sensitivity is low at 50V/cm.

The price in 1959 was $3000 (about $33,500 today).

This Electronics May 19, 1961 advertisement highlights a high voltage application.