K8096 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 (edited) I bought this item on e bay a few weeks ago and had to drive about 400 miles round trip to pick it up. The item was "pick up only" due to its size and weight. I got it for only $30. I think no one else bid on it because they didn't live close enough to drive to it to pick it up. So, I spent $30 on the item, and $100 in gas to pick it up.It's a King Electric Automobile Diagnostic Machine from the late 1920's or early 1930's. Made in Cleveland, Ohio. I met the seller to pick up the tester at his place of employment, which happened to be an old Buick dealership.On the way home, I stopped at a friends house, and he was impressed with it, so he gave me this: It's an Atlas Battery Charger/Tester from the late 1940's or early 1950's. Six volt only. My friend said every Standard Oil gas station in the early 1950's had one of these.These items will look good on display in my garage once I'm finished with it. All in all it was a productive day. Edited September 29, 2011 by K8096 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Good trip I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kingoftheroad Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 COOL stuff from the past !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bferg Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 What a deal. I am impressed and a little envious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Jason, are you going to restore it or clean it up as is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I'm liking those a lot. It was worth the gas money.I often get asked why do I want all that old stuff like that. Simple answer? "TO HAA-AAVE!"I don't really care if it works or not. I just like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Lichtfel Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I picked up Kings tester like this at Iola a few years ago. I had to change a few wires but it all works now. However I don't know how to use some of the functions and I have been looking for an operators manual for it. Did you get one with your King? If so, I would pay you to make a copy for me.Thank you, RHL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim43 Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Kings was still in business as of a few years ago when they sent me manuals for some of their test equipment from the 50s used in schools. Jim43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Jelf- southern KS Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 The Buick slogan on the garage recalls the late twenties, when Buick came out with a very Packard-looking car. Some wag said, "When better automobiles are built, Buick will copy them." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 I plan to just keep it the way it is for now. There was one of these at Hershey in about the same shape (but without the bottom cabinet) in the Chocolate Field for $350.00. But, the one at Hershey had the original operators manual with it. I gave the owner $10, and he's going to copy the manual and send it to me. I plan to look up King Electric in Cleveland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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