1940s Vintage PYE VU Meter

PYE VU METER
This meter started life as an SWR meter used to measure broadcast transmiter output.
The meter has been extensively refurbished and reimagined as a mono VU meter. The box has been repainted in black hammered effect paint and a chrome handle has been added to the top of the box. The front panel has been resprayed satin almond. High quality electronic buffer circuitry has been added to drive the Pye branded Sifam VU meter which has been calibrated to the Pro Audio Standard of 0VU = +4dBu, with 0VU being 40 on the upper scale and start of the red section. On the front panel the left hand knob is the on-off switch and the right hand knob now has no function but was on the original meter. Both knobs are original. New input and thru mono jack sockets have also been added. A vintage style power on lamp has also been added.The unit is powered by an external international power supply (supplied) and a socket has been added to the rear or the box. Non slip neoprene pads have been added to the base of the meter.

This vintage VU Meter is a one off using original PYE parts dating from the late1940's.
 History:

PYE started out as a technical instruments manufacturer in Cambridge, England, and eventually got into making television receivers and cameras for broadcast. After developing the earliest British transistors in the 50s, they developed one of the first Class A solid-state compressor/limiters in the 1960s. Their PYE Limiter was an essential part of the ‘British sound’ of the classic rock era.

The PYE compressor saw extensive use at London’s famed Olympic Studios during the golden era of rock recording in the late 60s, when the Rolling Stones (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed) and Led Zeppelin (debut album) were among the many artists recording there. Eddie Kramer had a stint at Olympic, and made regular use of the PYE comp on the classic early recordings of Jimi Hendrix.