This battery (2 x PP9) powered oscillator was made by the Venner
Electronics Ltd, New Malden, Surrey. This model number TSA 625/2
was first made in 1964. The earlier model 625 has a blue front panel
and some have a slide switch to select sine or square wave output
rather than pushbuttons. The same instrument was also marketed as the
Marconi TF2103 who continued to market it until the late 1970's. The
latter does not have a "push to test supply" button which in this
instrument operates a small incandescent lamp but has an LED in series
with a resistor connected across the supply.
The frequency range is
10Hz to 1 MHz in 5 switched ranges with a calibration
accuracy of +/- 3% of the scale reading and the output can be adjusted
from 1mV to 2.5V using the voltage selector
1mV, 10 mV, 100mV, 1V and a 0 - 2.5 potentiometer. The instrument
employs eight transistors three of which together with a thermistor
form a Wien bridge oscillator and two form part of a Schmitt trigger
circuit which is used to produce a square wave. An optional power
supply was made to take the place of the batteries if required.
This nice little oscillator together with instruction manuals
was given to me in 2014 by Richard
Harvey who remembered using one back in the days when he
was a lab technician in the 1970's. He had replace two electrolytic
capacitors and put in standard silicon pnp BC178 ‘s to replace the
original germanium devices (which were blown). It's working and gives a
nice sine wave over it's stated range of
frequencies, 10 Hz to 1 MHz, using the very smooth feeling adjustment
dial. The oscilloscope trace shown below is from the instrument at
50kHz.
.Dimensions.
The case measures 212(w) x 127(h) x 120(d) mm, (not including the
handle, controls, and feet).
Weight without batteries is 1.1kg.
Two views of the interior, note the modern much smaller
replacement electrolytic capacitors
Venner which was founded in 1906 is more
commonly known for the
manufacture of time switches for street lighting columns and central
heating control, they branched out into the manufacture electronic
controls and measurement in the 1960's. It seems that Venner
Electronics ceased and became Malden Electronics, a UK company founded
in 1976 which continues to manufacture electronic measuring, testing
etc. equipment