Historic Test Equipment Score - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Arkytype
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 07:01:21 pm
content: Are there those of you old enough to remember Julian Hirsch of Hirsch-Houck Laboratories? He (Julian) tested over 4,000 pieces of audio gear and those results were published inPopular ElectronicsandStereo Review.In 1981, he purchased new test equipment from UREI (yeah,thatUREI) to replace the General Radio gear he was using. The Model 2000 was a revolutionary piece of test gear that plugged into a modified HP X-Y plotter. It would generate, receive and plot a swept sine signal from 20-20kHz. The Model 2010 was similar but was a receive-only unit that could be synchronized with the incoming sine sweep and ignore voice announcement from a test record or tapeThe eBay auction I justwonwasthetest equipment he bought from UREI! Look at the letter he hand-typed asking about the products UREI offered. Also note the packing slip and the prices. The total was $5930.20 (in 1981 dollars). The equivalent today would be $16,600+.While I've got several of the UREI plug in modules and HP X-X mainframes, I couldn't let this opportunity pass to own a piece of test equipment history.LeeGuess I'll see if the hyper link worked when I post this. If not, I'll include the messy link in my next post.

author: Arkytype
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2020, 07:04:41 pm
content: OK, here's the link. Embedding a hyperlink not intuitive to a septuagenarian.https://www.ebay.com/itm/UREI-200-Audio-Response-Plotting-System-/184160587167?nma=true&si=qtidzBiNJAN24D1vn92uklnR0Ys%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557Lee

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2020, 12:58:01 pm
content: I still have and use my Sound Technology 1700B distortion measurement system bought new in the 70's.Also the FM Stereo generator, 1000A, not so much... Little hifi on FM nowadays.I mention this because the Ebay post said he replaced your equipment with Sound Technology stuff.Back in the day it was fun to mention I had better test equipment than audio reviewers.

author: SoundTech-LG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2020, 10:20:41 pm
content: Several ST 1700Bs, ST1000A,etc., plus much of Sound Technology's lab equipment they used to develop the line locally in Campbell, CA.

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 12:33:15 am
content: Yes, and at the time, sending my ST to campbell would have cost me $25.00 for a NIST calibration.I've informally done performance checks on mine with modern ac references on hand, and I've not needed to tweak it.Sad thing is I remember tweaking tape machines, and punching the 10KHZ to 20 khz buttons, and hearing the monitor to around 18khz buttons.Now I hear nothing above (privacy withheld).

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 12:59:06 am
content: Congrats on cool a piece of Hifi history! That letter is worth framing - both from an audio / test equipment standpoint and also to remind future generations of the era between movable type and computer-based word processorsJust have to add a footnote to the display explaining what a cartridge isSeriously, Julian Hirsch and Hirsch-Houck Laboratories were significant contributors to the golden era of Hifi.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/03/arts/julian-hirsch-81-an-engineer-who-wrote-about-audio-gear.html

author: NoisyBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2020, 07:09:20 am
content: I remember them well from my Hi-Fi days. So nice to see the equipment going to someone who understand and cherish its significance.Be a good custodian for an important part of High Fidelity history

author: Arkytype
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2020, 09:31:53 pm
content: Here's an update to my original post. I received the UREI gear today and everything looks near-mint. In addition to all the Owner/Service manuals there was a letter from Julian Hirsch to Larry Klein asking for funding to upgrade Hirsch's test equipment. It would have been nice to read Klein's reply.His request was approved within two weeks and a purchase order was sent to UREI. Guess Hirsch didn't know about Liquid Paper or White Out!Lee