I frequently attend Estate Auctions and flea markets and occasionally find various pieces of vintage test equipment for sale, but invariably they are missing the test probes. Anyone know a scource for such things or perhaps know how to fabricate usable substitutes? Thanks, Carl

I bought both my Tektronix 475 O'scope probes right on ebay by first looking up the scope model and determining which probes were appropriate. Then put those probe numbers in ebay.. and bid.

If equipment takes a BNC connector, then I've always just used cheapo oscilloscope leads that are readily available from electronics surplus sources on the internet. The frequencies involved with old radios doesn't require very high quality, matched leads.

Some vintage test equipment, e.g. EICO, used amphenol "microphone" style connectors that are now obsolete. These are still available from Mouser for you to make up replacement leads. Another option, which I prefer, is to replace the microphone connectors on the vintage equipment with BNC jacks. A BNC jack will fit in the same sized hole originally used for the mic connector. You can hang the old mic connector somewhere inside the cabinet in case somebody in the future wishes to restore the test equipment to original condition.

Good idea, Doug.

I did the same with my Heath SG-8 Sig Generator. With the BNC connector, I can use leads and probes from my other test equipment. I didn't bother doing that with my VTVM (it has a 1/4" phone jack), as I don't use it that much any more. DVMs are so cheap these days and have more functions.
Rich

:If equipment takes a BNC connector, then I've always just used cheapo oscilloscope leads that are readily available from electronics surplus sources on the internet. The frequencies involved with old radios doesn't require very high quality, matched leads.
:
:Some vintage test equipment, e.g. EICO, used amphenol "microphone" style connectors that are now obsolete. These are still available from Mouser for you to make up replacement leads. Another option, which I prefer, is to replace the microphone connectors on the vintage equipment with BNC jacks. A BNC jack will fit in the same sized hole originally used for the mic connector. You can hang the old mic connector somewhere inside the cabinet in case somebody in the future wishes to restore the test equipment to original condition.