Big Batch of Tektronix 2225, High-End Agilent etc. Scopes Coming Up on eBay-US - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 09:34:59 am
content: http://stores.ebay.com/buybest12/Business-Industrial-/_i.html?_fsub=2704353012&_sid=349410632&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322Given the source, I believe these to all be US military surplus. Only a Few hours to go as of this posting. The Teks seem to be averaging around US$65 at the moment. There are 22 Teks up for sale individually.No relationship to the seller. Just thought I would share. I stumbled onto a Hameg HM 605 the other day, so I am not in need. :-)Good luck.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 09:38:31 am
content: Wow, nice, good find, thanks for sharing.Dave.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 10:00:54 am
content: Damn sexy price and these listings have 3 hours left for those 2225 scopes, but they're all for US only !.. sigh ...Thanks though.

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 10:44:40 am
content: Yeah, sorry for the US-only shipping. :-( Frankly, having shipped internationally a good bit, I would hesitate before selling a 'scope overseas myself. Just packing them to ship around the US is tough enough, particularly those big 7000-series Teks (had a couple of those monsters once, but got rid of them during a period of unemployment).The vendor here is one of the big contractors that gets rid of electronics for the US federal government. They are located in Sally, South Carolina, about an hours drive from my house. As they do not support local pickup, their proximity buys me nothing. :-( If one ever gets the urge to buy a couple of truckloads of PCs that don't have hard drives, they can definitely hook you up.I happen to live and work within a stones throw of SC State Surplus, where the State of South Carolina disposes of their gear. Most of the 'scopes that show up there are either DOA and wont power up, are very low-speced, or both. Most of them come out of college electronics labs and are pretty basic and beat-up. A lean Tek 5110 and the Hameg have been my only scores there on the 'scope front.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 10:56:42 am
content: 22 units of Tek 2225 with current highest bid below $70 and all of these will be gone in less than 3 hours .... <sigh>....List sorted by price.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 11:19:35 am
content: For those who need a US shipping address and freight forwarder :http://www.myus.comI have been a customer with them for about 12 years - and they are good (most of the time) and the shipping rates are reasonable. (Better than most can do on their own)They do also consolidate packages... so you save on shipping on multiple items.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 11:55:20 am
content: Thanks for the link and sharing. You are in a good position to find these types of deals. From the look of the seller's entire ware it looks like a lab/school clear out; all 50-100 MHz scopes. If you're in the market for an analog scope you can't go wrong. The digital Agilent's are running up prices that are surprising, I think far more than they are worth.Quote from: bullet308 on January 13, 2012, 10:44:40 am

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 12:14:01 pm
content: Quote from: kaz911 on January 13, 2012, 11:19:35 amShipping estimate to Oz for a 10 kg package is about $200. Excluding shipping within the US and fees for the forwarder.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 12:49:35 pm
content: yes a scope is on the heavy side :-) but $200 is actually not bad for 10KG with DHL express. Sometimes I did wish for a "economy transport" option with MYUS for the very heavy gear...I just got quoted $300 to ship 3.5 kg from Canada to where I am ...

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 12:58:00 pm
content: QuoteWell, I guess the secret's out.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 01:21:54 pm
content: Just got one for $76.00 & $25.00 shipping. Time will tell if it was a good deal.

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 01:22:44 pm
content: Got one for $86 + $25 shipping.OMFG CRAZY SNIPING!! But they're selling for less than $100!!

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 01:25:46 pm
content: Sniping has slowed; one just sold for $66.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 01:28:15 pm
content: Congratz , glad to hear that this forum's fellows won it !

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 01:30:25 pm
content: Another one just sold for $66.EDIT: $65 is lowest selling price so far. 5 more units to go.

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 01:37:09 pm
content: Ok. Cheapest unit sold for $62.That HAD to have been the most intense eBay sniping I've ever witnessed.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 02:22:36 pm
content: Bullet308, Thanks for the heads up. I have been waiting for a long time for some a decent price on the 2225. Would have missed it if not for your post.

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 02:53:16 pm
content: Glad it paid off for at least one listmember. :-) Did anybody else here have a good day?I figured there would be some hardcore sniping, but also figured that there could only be so many people that would want an older analogue o'scope at the same moment. Not very smart to end them all at the same time like that. If I had suspected that any would actually sell for in the $65 range, I might have tried for one myself...not that I really need it, but I rarely let that deter me from grabbing a good deal :-)

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 03:18:27 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on January 13, 2012, 01:21:54 pmIn absolute sense: of course it isIn case someone grabs one for say $60: just remember that is one or 2 lunches in the cafetariaCongrats!

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 03:45:46 pm
content: Quote from: wkb on January 13, 2012, 03:18:27 pmThanks, I agree, but I meant what condition it will be in.

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 04:05:55 pm
content: A recap of auction results for the 22 govn't surplus 2225's:Raw data:33697 - $90.00, 13 bids33698 - $109.69, 12 bids33699 - $78.00, 18 bids33700 - $76.00, 12 bids <-- robrenz33701 - $78.00, 13 bids33702 - $76.00, 14 bids33703 - $86.00, 16 bids <-- slateraptor33704 - $71.00, 9 bids33705 - $86.00, 14 bids33706 - $66.00, 15 bids <-- ColinA?33707 - $66.00, 12 bids <-- ColinA?33708 - $80.00, 10 bids33709 - $70.69, 12 bids33710 - $80.00, 15 bids33711 - $81.00, 9 bids33712 - $66.00, 11 bids <-- ColinA?33713 - $65.00, 10 bids33714 - $80.00, 10 bids33715 - $63.50, 13 bids33716 - $66.00, 12 bids <-- ColinA?33717 - $62.00, 7 bids33718 - $76.50, 12 bidsPriceMean: 76.0627Min: 62Median: 76.25Max: 109.69Variance: 120.8869Standard Deviation: 10.9949BidsMean: 12.2273Min: 7Median: 12Max: 18Variance: 6.4697Standard Deviation: 2.5436EDIT: Forgot about min/max stats.

author: ColinA
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 04:11:55 pm
content: I got one of the $66. Have no use for it..plan on re-listing it.

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 04:13:57 pm
content: Quote from: ColinA on January 13, 2012, 04:11:55 pmWhat serial? I'll list it, that is, if you don't mind.EDIT: That is, on the stats post, not on eBay.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 04:28:01 pm
content: Great job, slateraptor, it should be good guide for other 2225 that make it to eBay, to get a 'reference' price. Amazingly, they areallgone!

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 04:50:28 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on January 13, 2012, 04:28:01 pmThe sheer amount of information extracted from the auctions was simply begging to be analyzed.I think it's fair to conclude that the US sell out was primarily instigated by Dave from half way across the world...really.P.S. Kinda makes you wonder how used rubidium standard sales are going on eBay.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 05:38:44 pm
content: I was #33700

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 05:48:53 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on January 13, 2012, 05:38:44 pmGot it. Thanks bud.

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 08:02:24 pm
content: Wow! Opportunities like that don't come up too often. Congrats to all buyers! Seller really should have spread out the sales more as he was competing with himself.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 08:45:17 pm
content: Got my UPS tracking number already

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 09:05:23 pm
content: i hate to not be in the US sometimes, anyway there is a seller who states he has 8 of the 2225's and they are new, interesting,anyway congrats for those who could get 1 of those

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 09:41:43 pm
content: Quote from: M. András on January 13, 2012, 09:05:23 pmhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/250958794085Yeah, I saw that too and it immediately raised an eyebrow.

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2012, 10:03:15 pm
content: Big military footprint in Georgia, including Kings's Bay, Warner Robbins AFB, Ft.Stewart, Ft. Gordon (joint services commo school)...its plausible. Sometimes the government buys spares and never gets around to using them. Your tax dollars at work :-/ :-)Based on the feedback previously received, its probably legit.

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2012, 11:08:24 am
content: Quote from: bullet308 on January 13, 2012, 10:03:15 pmbut the priceand the usual shipping cost from usa

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2012, 04:19:04 pm
content: Quote from: M. András on January 14, 2012, 11:08:24 amI would not want to buy a piece of equipment containing high value electrolytic's that hasn't been powered on in maybe 20 years or more... POW!

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2012, 03:07:04 am
content: Quote from: wkb on January 13, 2012, 03:18:27 pmWill trade my food for scopes.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2012, 06:15:25 pm
content: Well it showed up yesterday 1/18/12 in good shape. Some very, very subtle case dents that can easily be pushed out. A few hairline cracks in the beam find and trigger push buttons. All knobs and switches are intact and functioning. A few of the pots need cleaned but all function. Screen is beautiful no burn and crisp sharp focus. All the plastic case parts are beautifull no dents scratches etc. Just needs some cleaning and calibration. so it was a very good deal after all.Now for the funny part.I spent about half an hour trying to get a trace to show up when it was delivered. I have not used a analog scope in a long time but I know the basics. Could not get a trace to show up unless I used beam find. I used all vertical and horizontal position extremes, triggering, brightness, etc. No trace. So I spend two hours last night reading the tektronix oscilliscope trouble shooting manual figuring this was going to be a project. Like the manual stresses most of the diagnosis should be done from the front panel controls, Don't open the case untill you have identified the section that is faulty. I fire it up this morning and hook it up to my rigol 1022 AWG and flick a few switches and there is the elusive trace. Both channels work fine. It just goes to show there are a lot of setting combinations on a analog scope that wont show a trace.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2012, 06:34:30 pm
content: Great to hear, and a big kudos to bullet308 who made this possible.Are there any clues from decals on it, what type of institution it was pulled from?

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2012, 07:46:22 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on January 19, 2012, 06:34:30 pmNo, the serial# sticker was pretty fresh, I think put on by the asset liquidation people. There was sticker residue right over the crt on the plastic frame but no sticker. No other signs of tags or stickers on the whole scope. It is a little dirty (especially the knobs) that looks like it may have been in storage uncovered or they were used in a fairly dirty environment even though the Inside is very clean. Wherever it was they were carefull with it and did not leave a mark on it.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2012, 12:46:04 pm
content: Quote from: slateraptor on January 13, 2012, 09:41:43 pmI was looking at these also and here is the info I got from the seller.I understand your concerns & will be happy to answer your questions. First, let me say that I know nothing about what other newer such contraptions are available today. I know only that people have been paying $500 for these, so that is my price. The last individual who purchased on of these units indicated to me that they are still desirable because 1) some people don't trust the dependability newer digital units & 2) some people prefer to continue with the familiar.The following history of these units was provided to me by my mother-in-law. My father-in-law, now deceased, purchased a large quantity of these for his business. I was told that whenever these units were placed in the "equipment dispatch facility," they were removed from the manufacturer's boxes, placed on shelves, and tagged with dispatch instructions/locations. When my father-in-law died, the business was sold, and somehow these units that were new but never dispatched to the field did not transfer to the new owner. The family placed them in boxes (6 units per box) and stored them in my mother-in-law's basement for a long time. Accessories and manuals were boxed separately and have since mysteriously disappeared. The family thinks a family member may have inadvertently included that box in with a thrift store donation. The superficial marks that some units have occurred because whoever packed them 6 per box did not place sufficient protection between each unit.I did see the original purchase order. Otherwise, I am depending on my mother-in-law's word regarding these units being new. According to her, she was an active partner in the business. She said that used equipment was never stored, even temporarily, in the place in which these units were located at the time of her husband's death.If you purchase a unit, and it arrives DOA, you may return it for a full refund, including return shipping, as long as the serial number matches the unit originally shipped.

author: Glug
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2012, 03:41:26 pm
content: I wish I had gotten in on this deal... And it chaps me in another way - I had a nice 2215 scope. I got it at a university surplus sale for $75, and it happened to be the professor's unit (so, in theory, it was not abused as much as student units). It was dropped when I moved, and the tube was broken!The part that chaps me is the cost of the scarce replacement tube - about $100-$150 - exceeds the cost of good deals on other replacement scopes, like these. I hate to trash a piece of gear like this, and I'm still hoping to find a tube (part # 154-0838-00) for the scope (and that there is no other damage).

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 01:47:46 pm
content: Quote from: Glug on January 20, 2012, 03:41:26 pmYou may be able to find a parts unit with a working tube, although the trick might be to check whether the tube is fine if the rest of the scope is thrashed. CRTs don't usually die unless physically abused.

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2012, 02:44:14 pm
content: Quote from: Glug on January 20, 2012, 03:41:26 pmIt sucks, but what can you do? I would try to find not a parts unit, but a good one of the same model and then either use the one you have as a parts donor to keep the new one running, or part out the old one and sell it on eBay. I have a pair of Tektronix 454As stuck back on that basis. Both have bad CRTs and one has been badly overheated in the past (these are where I learned my lesson on buying 'scopes off of eBay without seeing a picture of a trace) but I keep them on-hand and look for a good 454A to marry them to.BTW, the Tekscopes Yahoo Groups mailing list is invaluable if you own analogue Teks of any vintage and is a major reason that older Teks are viable to keep and use as compared to other brands that do no enjoy the same level of support:http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/TekScopes/And, not a problem, Dave. Happy to share. This community has been very helpful to me already in helping me work towards becoming a closer approximation of an amateur electronics engineer-ish person. :-)