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Old 5th Jan 2017, 12:31 am   #1
Skywave
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Question Marconi equipment names

As we all know, Marconi give their test equipment 'names' such as TMxxxx, TFyyyy and TKzzzz. (There may be others, but I don't recall any). Does anyone know the significance of those two letter prefixes? For example, is the 'TM' an abbreviation - such as 'Test Measurement'? Is so, what does TF and TK stand for - if anything? I'm thinking that there must be some sort of logic here, no?

I don't need to know - just curious.

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Old 5th Jan 2017, 9:10 am   #2
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

Hi Al,

Rather strangely I was wondering this myself last night, but just the T.M. designator as it often relates to accessories supplied with the main T.F. (Test Fixture) equipment.

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Old 5th Jan 2017, 9:27 am   #3
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

I worked there for 30+ years and "TM" was a mystery even then. The scheme goes right back to the beginning of Marconi Instruments in the late 30's and there wasn't anyone who could give me a definitive answer! TF was "Test Fixture", TK was "Test Kit" ( a group of instruments, cables, etc.), and we all guessed TM might be "Test Module". As Andrew says, TMs were always small accessories.
The system was scrapped in the mid 70's.
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Old 5th Jan 2017, 11:25 am   #4
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

Thanks for the info, I'd ruminated that T.M. was Test Mount or Mounting but obviously defer to you as you actually worked there!

There's also T.J. for Test Jig.

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Old 5th Jan 2017, 11:42 am   #5
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

In the RAF we knew most of the Marconi test equipment we used, by their CT reference. I seem to recall being told back in the 60's that TF probably stood for "Tester Frequency". As the majority of Marconi equipment we used were Signal Generators. e.g. the TF801B was the CT394B. Or the CT452A was the TF144G, and so on.
Like some other electronics companies, chronologically, Marconi first used the 10's series, then the 100's series, then the 1000's series, and so on, for their TF ranges.

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Old 5th Jan 2017, 12:44 pm   #6
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Gentlemen - thank you! It was particularly rewarding to read Dickie's post, since he is an ex-employee of Marconi. I've never yet met the abbreviation TJ though.

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Old 5th Jan 2017, 1:16 pm   #7
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

Thanks Al. I've never come across "TJ" either - which is not to say it never existed!
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Old 5th Jan 2017, 5:01 pm   #8
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

If you have the TF 1245 Circuit Magnifier (which I don't sadly) - TJ 230 a Series Loss test jig and a TJ 155/B1 or C/1 a Dielectric Loss test jig were part of the accessories.

There's also TB 28961 Tie Bars for Bonding (the two TF1245 units) and TC 28850 which is a small Inductor Support Platform, though where the 'C' comes from in that....

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Old 5th Jan 2017, 6:08 pm   #9
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

Well I never knew that. I've a couple of early manuals where TCxxx are circuits. Which doesn't help to clarify things at all. Maybe "B" and "C" related to the drawing sheet sizes for individual parts.
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Old 6th Jan 2017, 4:05 pm   #10
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Arrow Re: Marconi equipment names

Hmm: fascinating stuff. Based on what is written above, I (tentatively ) suggest the following:

T[letter] [number] is an abbreviation for Test (Item) with [letter] signifying what that Test Item is, e.g.:

B = Bars;
C = Circuit or Component (electronic).
F = Fixture or Frequency;
J = Jig
K = Kit;
M = Measurement.

[number] is simply a unique identifier.

Any more 'letters' to find? Such as TD xxxx denoting 'drawing', for example?

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Old 6th Jan 2017, 7:22 pm   #11
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

Marconi TF1245. Picking up Andrewaufsa's remark yesterday, post #8, I have a TF1245 Q meter and the two Test 0scillators TF1246 (40kcs to 50Mcs) and TF1247 (20Mcs to 300Mcs) with the necessary Test Jigs (TJ), Matching Units and Test Inductors (TMxx), TieBars (TBxxx), Operating and Maintenance handbook (OMxxx), Operating Instructions (EBxxx).etc. I haven't used them for some years. If you would like them, send me a PM. This suggests that TM related to measurerment accessories.
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Old 7th Jan 2017, 12:26 pm   #12
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Arrow Re: Marconi equipment names

Thanks Bill: two more abbreviations to add to the list:
OM = Operating & Maintenance handbook;
EB = Operating Instructions.

To me, sounds as though the 'EB' is a condensed form of the 'OM'.
As for the 'EB', I can see that the 'B' could stand for Booklet, but the 'E' Extract from the 'OM' ? I would have expected 'OI': at least that would have been consistent.

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Old 8th Jan 2017, 6:53 pm   #13
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

"EB" originates from Engineering Bulletin, from the days when the original engineering document was published without any top and tailling from a tech. Lit. department. You can also add "SM" = Service manual!
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Old 10th Jan 2017, 12:12 am   #14
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Thank you, Richard.

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Old 17th Jan 2017, 10:54 pm   #15
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

Don't forget The Inductor set for TF1245, they carried a TM number.
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Old 18th Jan 2017, 11:15 am   #16
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Which WME_bill mentioned in post #11.

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Old 31st Mar 2017, 8:45 pm   #17
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

No apologies for bringing this subject up again but another Marconi designator I've come across is O.A. For example,

O.A. 1071 Counter Type Frequency Meter
O.A. 118D Transmission Monitor
O.A. 1000 EHF Signal Generator
O.A 1081 Automatic Standing Wave Indicator
O.A. 1249A White Noise Test Set

These are all multiple 'T.F' items (but not necessarily explicitly) in an 'Assembly' hence the 'A.'

But what does the 'O' stand for?

Andrew
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Old 31st Mar 2017, 9:09 pm   #18
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

OA = Overall Assembly.
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Old 31st Mar 2017, 9:30 pm   #19
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

The white noise test set consists of transmitter and receiver boxes. The transmitter has a noise source and levelling loop, but a lot of its value is in a load of interchangeable filter units, which also make up the lower half of the front panel. They aren't quite plug-ins because BNC cables string the together. The receiver box has a superhet measuring receiver and a load of preselector filter, mirroring those in the transmitter.

Assembly is a good description.

David
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Old 31st Mar 2017, 10:38 pm   #20
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Default Re: Marconi equipment names

Thanks Richard! I'd been going through all the O's I imagined would fit but not Overall. My favourite was Optional Assembly but I wavered as you wouldn't have too many options if the power supply was part of the Assembly and you didn't choose it.

Yes the late '50s OA 1249A White Noise test set is three parts, TF1226A Noise Generator, TM 5774 Band Stop Filter Unit and TF 1225A Noise Receiver. From the pictures it looks rather imposing. And expensive.

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