Simpson 260-2 Series 2 Analog VOM Multimeter 20000 Ohms/V Vintage

Simpson 260-2 Series 2 Analog VOM Multimeter 20000 Ohms/V Vintage

The Simpson Model 260-2 is a Series 2 analog VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) — a portable, self-contained, D'Arsonval moving-coil multimeter housed in a black Bakelite case with an integrated leather carrying strap. It measures DC and AC voltage, DC current, resistance, and decibels across a wide range of ranges, with a sensitivity of 20,000 ohms per volt on DC and 1,000 ohms per volt on AC. A single large rotary selector switch steps through all measurement functions and ranges.

Specifications & What's Included

• Model: Simpson 260-2, Series 2
• Manufacturer: Simpson Electric Co., Chicago, IL, USA
• Type: Analog VOM (Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter)
• Display: D'Arsonval moving-coil analog meter
• DC Sensitivity: 20,000 ohms per volt
• AC Sensitivity: 1,000 ohms per volt
• DC Voltage Ranges: 2.5V, 10V, 50V, 250V, 1000V (5000V with external 10:1 probe)
• AC Voltage Ranges: 2.5V, 10V, 50V, 250V, 1000V (5000V with external 10:1 probe)
• DC Current Ranges: 100 µA, 10 mA, 100 mA, 500 mA, −10A / +10A
• Resistance Ranges: R×1, R×100, R×10,000
• Decibel Ranges: 0 dB, +12 dB, +26 dB, +40 dB, +52 dB
• Front panel controls: function/range selector knob, Zero Ohms adjust knob, OUTPUT AC/DC selector
• Binding posts: Common, −10A, +10A
• Housing: Black Bakelite with original leather carrying strap
• Includes: Meter only — no test leads

Applications

The Simpson 260 is one of the most recognized and long-lived analog multimeters in American electronics history. Simpson Electric introduced the Model 260 in 1938, and it remained in continuous production for decades, making it a staple on workbenches in electronics shops, radio and TV repair facilities, telephone companies, utilities, and industrial maintenance departments throughout the mid-twentieth century. The Series 2 variant dates from the late 1940s to early 1950s, identifiable by its classic Bakelite case and panel layout. Analog VOMs like the 260 are still actively used today by technicians who prefer the live needle response for tracking slowly drifting voltages, checking battery state, and tracing audio circuits — applications where a moving pointer conveys rate-of-change better than a digital readout. The Simpson 260 is also widely collected as vintage test equipment, and working or display-quality examples are sought by collectors, electronics historians, and ham radio operators. It requires no batteries for voltage and current measurements (resistance ranges require an internal battery).