Peaker Pattinson Collective auction - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2018, 05:39:44 pm
content: Looks to be a lot of test gear in the upcoming collective auctionhttps://www.ppauctions.com/auction.php?id=226Bidding Opens - Thursday 15th March 2018Bidding Closes - Friday 23rd March 2018

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2018, 07:12:35 pm
content: I've bought stuff there.I've seen the stuff at their Aunby site covered with hessian sacks. I asked the person helping me load my stuff why, and he said it is to help keep it drier.Basically the Aunby storage area is a farm building. The roof, walls and floor are fine, but if it is foggy outside it is also foggy inside. I cannot make any comment about drifting snow.IIRC they were due to have this auction last month, but it was cancelled.

author: dkozel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 12:44:14 am
content: Thanks KJDS, I'll be following that auction. Hoping for an LCR then misc RF building blocks.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 09:01:58 am
content: The flysheet is available, and the hessian sacks over the equipment are clearly visible.

author: dkozel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2018, 12:18:11 pm
content: Does anyone plan on going to the Aunby site if they win an item? I'm in Wales so the drive is a bit long and I'm curious if anyone could possibly pickup a small number/volume of items and get them any closer to Wales or at least a major city. I'd be happy to compensate for the effort.

author: woodchips
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2018, 01:14:53 pm
content: I, unfortunately, live only 8 miles away, so am sure I will be visiting there next week!Bid on nearly 60 items, please outbid me!

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2018, 02:37:53 pm
content: Quote from: woodchips on March 21, 2018, 01:14:53 pmOh, you poor thing.It took a surprisingly long time before my bid of £12 for the Tek AWG was exceededBut, given the number of months the equipment has been in that shed under (presumably damp) hessian sacks, my bids are going to be lower rather than higher. e.g. see the flysheet, and lots 1, 3 and probably more.

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2018, 01:26:41 am
content: I am going to have a look to see if there is anything that might be worth bidding on in which case I would be going to pick these items up.But it would depend on which part of Wales you are in as I have to go down to Brigend in the next few weeks to pick some bits up from the last Equipnet sale (ended up with quite a bit as no one bid against me on any of the lots and there is still a load of items that did not even get a bid).

author: woodchips
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2018, 09:46:24 am
content: Not entirely certain what it is with the hessian sacks.As every auction place I have been to, it is unheated, and the sacks are used to keep the condensation off the lots. Think car port. PP are the only regular auction place I go to to take that care, seems odd to knock it.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2018, 11:30:08 am
content: I'm not "knocking" PP, nor comparing them to elsewhere. I am merely stating what I've seen, and I'm leaving others to draw their own conclusions.As I mentioned, I have bought things there - several times in fact - and expect to do so again. I have no complaints whatsoever about their service.

author: philpem
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2018, 12:54:08 pm
content: I'd definitely be interested in a radio test set (not GSM, analog 2way) like a HP 8920 Series, Marconi 2945/2955 Series or Schlumberger/Wavetek "Stabilock".Sadly sorting transport from the wilds of Lincolnshire to the "grim" North of England might be tricky for meIf they were nearer a bus or rail route, I'd trek it down myself!(Some enterprising fellow could probably net themselves a few quid by offering a pickup-and-transport service...)[EDIT - dunno where I got Wales from... the website says Aunby]

author: dkozel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 02:20:14 pm
content: Ah well, some people with good taste and deeper pockets beat me out on all the listings. I hope someone else here had better luck.

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 02:42:01 pm
content: Looks like I faired better as I got quite a few of the lots I was after.

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 04:46:40 pm
content: I got a cute CNC mill and a 15KV psu

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 04:51:59 pm
content: Quote from: dkozel on March 23, 2018, 02:20:14 pmIt is too early to tell whether I (amongst others) had "better luck". Ask again in 2 weeks!

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 04:57:01 pm
content: Quote from: Astrodev on March 23, 2018, 02:42:01 pmSome of the prices were astounding, e.g. £460+uplift for a Datron 1061A; I paid £20 for my 1061. The 1271 was only twice that.

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 05:36:10 pm
content: I was thinking that at the time looking at where the Datrons were going was ridiculous, again I think I only paid about £35 each for the 2 I have.Because of the low bidding or lack of interest on some lots I picked up a few of the GSM heads just for the use of the chassis for other projects as well as some lots just for the cases, which is a shame really.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 05:55:13 pm
content: Prices escallated towards the end, in most cases.Datron 1271 in unknown condition: £960HP8662A and HP8510 went quite cheap, though.In case anyone is curious about final price, here is the catalog:https://www.ppauctions.com/_assets/auctions/226/catalogue/Catalogue.pdfItem Link:https://www.ppauctions.com/lot_closed.php?l_id=x&id=226&search=&cat=all&perPage=20&sort=2&thisPage=1&account=nox=111647+Item numberThat oneQuote from: TopLoser on March 23, 2018, 04:46:40 pmThat one?:https://www.ppauctions.com/lot_closed.php?l_id=112428&id=226&search=&cat=all&perPage=20&sort=2&thisPage=1&account=no

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 06:07:45 pm
content: Quote from: MadTux on March 23, 2018, 05:55:13 pm£960+15.5%+20% There is a nice working one on eBay for £100 less...Quote from: MadTux on March 23, 2018, 05:55:13 pmAlmost desktop, only 120kg I think...I've got a Gecko G540 and an Acorn controller to stick on it in place of the existing controller.

author: woodchips
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 07:15:56 pm
content: Yes, what a strange auction. That little robot got 33GBP I think, I got one of those Tek comms testers for 10GBP, but couldn't snag the 141/8555 S/A for just over 50GBP.I thought the first couple of hundred lots were silly prices, all mine were in the middle. Fill the car up! Don't tell anyone, but it will almost all go for scrap, buy out of date test gear to play with, what do all those comms testers I bought do?Cheap entertainment!

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 07:36:31 pm
content: Sorry I was bidding on the 141 SA setup as well but dropped out at £35 as I already have other SA's to use but the 2 HP 54201A scopes could be useful as they were less than £20 each.But as you say it will probably be a case of most of it sitting in a pile until I get round to looking at it, but could be an interesting packing problem to get it all in when I collect it all.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 08:09:26 pm
content: Do you have to register to view the ended sale prices?I was watching the bidding for a short while after lunch, someone got a HP 8640B for a good price at only £10 and the HP 5340A seemed more reasonable at £40 than the ebay buy-it-now prices.I do wonder how much of it will reappear on ebay at silly prices.David

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 10:55:18 pm
content: I think you will find that it is these auctions that provide a lot of ebay fodder, some dealers will check and referb it before passing it on, but a lot will have it on straight away.The good thing is that discussions on forums like this is giving the little guy access to some of this kit at much lower prices, but you do have to factor in that there is no warranty on the condition of the equipment and this has to be factored in, I personally work on a 30% failure rate and so if there are several of the same item I will try to go for more than 1 to give me spares if required.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 11:27:20 pm
content: Quote from: MadTux on March 23, 2018, 05:55:13 pmBattery was due for replacement in 2004.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 11:33:22 pm
content: Quote from: Astrodev on March 23, 2018, 10:55:18 pmReal auctions do indeed provide a lot of ebay stuff, some of the sellers don't even remove the auction labels.I'm not too bothered if things I buy don't work or have problems, as it's the older stuff I'm interested in, also a lot of the ebay sellers can't test it fully, don't know to use it or don't bother testing it.David

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2018, 11:47:21 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 23, 2018, 11:27:20 pmThese Li-Ion batteries actually last surprisingly long, if standby current is low enough.But the lack of info on whether any options are installed (without options => nice DC voltmeter, useless for anything else) and the fact that this thing is absolutely full of custom unreplaceable parts would scare me more. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like owning equipment that can turn from $1000+ to paperweight with the demise of a single component.

author: woodchips
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2018, 10:57:39 am
content: Well, dropping from useful to paperweight with one dead component just about covers every piece of test gear since the mid-70's, unfortunately. What about all the whizzy chips in HP stuff, the similar in the Tek 2465 series, both of mine which have now died, back to the 7613!I got the 8640, amazingly. But it is like my Marconi 2019, all of a sudden non-synthesised generators are worthless.Some of those old DVMs, and counters, are worth more for the Panaplex displays they use.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2018, 11:36:48 am
content: Quote from: woodchips on March 24, 2018, 10:57:39 amOf course, but it does limit the price I'm prepared to pay.If/when that 42V chip in my 2465 dies, I'll find a way to replace it with a modern device, probably an MCU programmed with the existing cal data.QuoteThat thought has crossed my mind for my Solatron 7075.

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2018, 02:23:24 pm
content: This is why if I can get old equipment at the right price it is worth getting hold of and putting to one side as sources of parts for repairs on equipment I want to get back into working condition.One additional source I have found for donor parts is old high end lab equipment as certain items did use the no expense spared approach in terms of the components used and there are a lot of useful bits in the analog sections that had to be ultra stable over long periods of time.The great thing about this is that a lot of this kit can almost be picked up for scrap value, as an example I recently got hold of a Perkin Elmer spectrometer for £20 which has so far yielded about 40 low tempco precision resistors from the detector boards that were mounted in an environmentally sealed chamber that even had a compartment filled with desiccant packs to avoid any moisture build up.Still looking at the rest of it as there are a lot of very nice Burr Brown and Analog devices elements that are all socketed as well as about 20 precision 2G ohm resistors on one of the boards.

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2018, 03:26:04 pm
content: Quote from: Astrodev on March 24, 2018, 02:23:24 pmWow, you snatched some really interesting items at this auction (wavelength meter and the tunable lasers...) If only I had lived in the UK...

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2018, 05:27:48 pm
content: Yes I thought they would go nicely with an Anritsu optical spectrum analyser I picked up from a recycling place for£30 last year.They actually had the older version made by Ando in this auction but it went for quite a bit, which may be a disappointment to whoever got it as these things as they have be handled with kid gloves as any knocks or even moving it in any orientation other than level can cause the optical bench inside the instrument to go out of alignment rendering the instrument useless.

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2018, 10:13:37 pm
content: Quote from: Astrodev on March 24, 2018, 05:27:48 pmWow, I should buy my optical gear trough you. I will gladly pay double! I also have an Anritsu MS9710C spectrum analyzer and MF91A wavelength meter which I restored to working condition, but I paid quite a bit more for these in non working condition. In this case you have at least a chance they work ok...

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2018, 11:55:33 pm
content: That one I got was only an MS9720A

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2018, 06:31:34 am
content: Quote from: Astrodev on March 24, 2018, 11:55:33 pmYes, but paid "quite" a bit more means increasing your number AND adding an addional zero to the price...

author: zii
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 10:37:42 pm
content: Huge thanks to KJDS for posting this!I managed to score 3 frequency counters & some other items totalling in 35kg (8 units).Sadly, the (unrealistic) dream of a spectrum analyser for a wallet of my size went by though.Will reveal more of what I got, when I sort delivery things out.As I am from abroad (Latvia), I am (stressfully) trying to get someone to pick them up for me before the 6th of April.I found a great deal for delivering it to my country, but they can pick it up only on Sunday (ppauctions non-working hours). Maybe someone locally is going there (to Ausby) for their stuff and could take mine with them until Sunday?Tomorrow will talk to DHL to see if they can offer something reasonable. Any courier suggestions?Cheers,ZigmarsP.S. What did You score?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 08:17:56 am
content: Have a look at other threads about previous PPAuctions. I've previously posted PPAuction's suggestions for pack-and-send operators, but have never used them.