These antique pocket-watch-style electric meters were known as battery testers. The DC voltmeters and DC ammeters contain copper-wire moving coils, some with jewelled movements, and many are encased in bakelite or metal, which is typically nickel-plated. These portable meters were primarily used to check A, B, and/or C type dry-cell carbon batteries for vacuum tube radio receivers and other electrical apparatus during the time period.
| Manufacturer |
Model |
Scales |
Year |
Image |
Markings |
Accessories |
Size |
List (Date) |
Comments |
| Beede |
36W8006 |
0-50V, 0-50V and 0-5A, 0-50V and 0-50A DC |
After 1924 |
|
Beede #36W8006, Pat. Applied For |
with cord, bail, and original box |
|
|
Nickel-finished casing, combination ammeter and battery test meter for testing B batteries, 25-30A was considered a good battery |
| Ideal |
|
0-50V DC |
After 1919 |
DSCF1449.jpg |
Volts, Ideal, Made in U.S.A. |
|
2.1"W x 0.7"D |
|
Nickel-finished casing, for testing B batteries |
| Leader |
|
0-50V DC |
After 1919 |
leader-vm-50vdc.jpg |
Volts, Leader |
|
|
|
Nickel-finished casing, for testing B batteries (representative image borrowed temporarily, not actual device) |
| MESCO |
Elite |
0-50V (and 0-50A) DC |
After 1924 |
|
Elite, Manhattan Electrical Supply Co., Inc., New York, St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, Pat. Appl'd For |
with cord and bail |
|
|
Nickel-finished casing, B battery tester |
| Readrite |
|
Charge (0-60%), O.K. (60-80%), and Stop (80-100%) |
Before 1920 |
DSCF1451.jpg |
6 Volt "A" Battery Tester, Made in U.S.A., Readrite Meter Works - Bluffton, Ohio |
|
2.1"W x 0.7"D |
|
Nickel-finished casing, A battery tester |
| Reliance |
|
0-10V and 0-35A DC |
After 1924 |
|
Reliance |
with bail |
|
|
Nickel-finished casing, combination ammeter and A battery tester, 25-30A was considered a good battery |
| Sterling |
|
0-50V, 0-35A DC |
After 1924 |
|
The Sterling Mfg. Co., Cleveland, OH, Pat'd Oct 3, 1916 |
with cord, never had a bail |
|
|
Nickel-finished casing, combination ammeter and B battery tester, 25-30A was considered a good battery |
| Yankee |
|
0-50V DC |
After 1926 |
|
Volts, Yankee, Pat'd Mar 15, 1927 |
|
|
|
Nickel-finished casing, for testing B batteries |
| Yankee |
|
0-50V DC |
Before 1928 |
DSCF3405.jpg |
Volts, Yankee, Made in U.S.A., Pat. Applied For |
with cord, never had a bail, and in period gift box from The Merrill Shops |
2.1"W x 0.8"D |
|
Nickel-finished casing, for testing B batteries |
