The Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer
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Three Supreme Audolyzers from different years. I estimate the first is pre-WWII, circa 1940, the second is WWII vintage, and the third, gray unit is post-WWII.
The Audolyzer was advertised as a dynamic RF and AF signal tracer and radio analyzer. It has a vacuum tube voltmeter (VTVM), some have an ohmmeter, and there's a 5-band tuned radio frequency (TRF) receiver with built-in speaker, which is integrated with the VTVM. The model 562 was manufactured from 1939 to 1947 before being replaced by an updated model 688 Audolyzer in 1948.
The instrument's advertised capabilities allow multiple tests to be performed on a receiver:
- check for signal in any stage of a receiver using a single probe.
- measure any voltage in a receiver using the VTVM.
- determine the unknown frequency to which any receive circuit - oscillator, IF, or RF- is tuned by using the tuner in conjunction with the VTVM as a frequency meter.
-measure the gain or loss of any stage in a receiver.
- check AVC circuits for the correct applied voltages under actual operating conditions.
- check for distortation by placing the probe at any point in a receiver where audio is present and listen on the built-in speaker.
- demodulated audio signals of IF and RF circuits can be be visually checked by feeding the signal from the Audolyzer to an oscilloscope.
- the Audolyzer can test antenna efficiency by using it as a field strength meter.
- leaky, open and shorted condensors can be found without removing them from circuit.
- the Audolyzer can be electrically divided into two sections and use two probes at a time for testing.
- check for signal in any stage of a receiver using a single probe.
- measure any voltage in a receiver using the VTVM.
- determine the unknown frequency to which any receive circuit - oscillator, IF, or RF- is tuned by using the tuner in conjunction with the VTVM as a frequency meter.
-measure the gain or loss of any stage in a receiver.
- check AVC circuits for the correct applied voltages under actual operating conditions.
- check for distortation by placing the probe at any point in a receiver where audio is present and listen on the built-in speaker.
- demodulated audio signals of IF and RF circuits can be be visually checked by feeding the signal from the Audolyzer to an oscilloscope.
- the Audolyzer can test antenna efficiency by using it as a field strength meter.
- leaky, open and shorted condensors can be found without removing them from circuit.
- the Audolyzer can be electrically divided into two sections and use two probes at a time for testing.
I found two different schematics online. One dated 1939, with a note that it was updated in 1940, and another dated 1946. The 1939/40 schematic has a #80 rectifier, does not include an ohmmeter circuit as shown on the 1946 schematic, and has a bias battery in the first AF amp grid circuit. This schematic matches S/N 162, except this unit also has an AF/Scope Input jack that's only on the later schematic. S/N 619 has the #80 rectifier and audio bias battery on the early schematic, but also the second input jack and the ohm meter circuit from the later one.
The 1946 schematic says it's for units S/N 2100 and above. It shows a 5Y3 rectifier along with the ohmmeter circuit and the AF/Scope Input jack. Also, the bias battery has been eliminated. My gray Audolyzer is S/N 2443, but still has a #80 rectifier. It otherwise matches the second schematic. Obviously some later units were also made with this older rectifier tube. Supreme actually stated in their 1941 catalog that their policy was one of "continuous improvements", with later catalogs simply stating they reserved the right to make changes, and apparently they did.
The 1946 schematic says it's for units S/N 2100 and above. It shows a 5Y3 rectifier along with the ohmmeter circuit and the AF/Scope Input jack. Also, the bias battery has been eliminated. My gray Audolyzer is S/N 2443, but still has a #80 rectifier. It otherwise matches the second schematic. Obviously some later units were also made with this older rectifier tube. Supreme actually stated in their 1941 catalog that their policy was one of "continuous improvements", with later catalogs simply stating they reserved the right to make changes, and apparently they did.
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The earliest ad I found for an Audolyzer is in the September 1939 Radio Craft magazine, where it shows the black front panel in a cabinet with the handle on top, and a single 1/4" phone jack. This is the early 1939 schematic, with the 80 rectifier and bias battery in the audio circuit, but minus the ohmmeter and the AF/Scope Input jack, and was apparently limited to just the 1940 model.
There's another ad in the October 1940 Radio Service Dealer magazine, also showing a 562 with a black front panel, but this one has the handles on the sides, and has the two 1/4 jacks just as shown in the 1941 catalog. One of my favorite ads, shown above, is from January 1941, offering the Audolyzer, or the Vedolyzer, in combo with a model 561 signal generator as a complete dynamic signal analysis system. And they all have matching black panels. |
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As far as Supreme catalogs are concerned, a catalog numbered SIC 2139, which I believe was printed in 1939, is the oldest pre-war catalog with an Audolyzer listed, and shows a black 562 in a cabinet with the handle on top and it doesn't have the "A. F. Input/Scope" jack indicative of the 1940 model.
In the 1941 catalog the 562 has a black face, but now the handles are on the sides, and it has the added input jack. The next catalog available online Is the 1945 catalog in which their equipment, including the Audolyzer, is still in the black color scheme just as it looked in 1941. The 1946 catalog, for the first time, has a description of the 562 that says it has a black front panel with a ribbed background, and also clearly states the Audolyzer comes in a quarter sawn oak case. |
The gray Audolyzers first appeared in the 1947 catalog. An original 1947 Supreme catalog I purchased shows all Supreme's big instruments updated with gray wrinkle finish faces and steel cabinets. Gray was apparently the new "in" color for '47.
My gray unit is still in an oak case, and still has an 80 rectifier, so it's probably an earlier unit that got a gray paint job as Supreme began switching color schemes. Supreme apparently made changes to models throughout their production life.
The 1947 models would have typically been introduced in the Fall of 1946 and is also the first time the gray face shows up in any of the ads I found. Another clue to age is that in every 562 advertisement I've seen before 1947, except for the early 1940 design, both the Audio Output and A.F. Input/Scope jacks are 1/4" phone jacks, and the probe is wired into the unit. But in the 1947 ad, for the first time it shows the Audolyzer with three Motorola-style jacks, just like mine.
However, I did find a photo of a 562 with a black face that has the three Motorola-style jacks. It looks like the serial number is in the 1800's (difficult to read in the photo), so apparently the change to three jacks came before the change to a gray color scheme. Just one more example of Supreme making "continuous" changes.
My gray unit is still in an oak case, and still has an 80 rectifier, so it's probably an earlier unit that got a gray paint job as Supreme began switching color schemes. Supreme apparently made changes to models throughout their production life.
The 1947 models would have typically been introduced in the Fall of 1946 and is also the first time the gray face shows up in any of the ads I found. Another clue to age is that in every 562 advertisement I've seen before 1947, except for the early 1940 design, both the Audio Output and A.F. Input/Scope jacks are 1/4" phone jacks, and the probe is wired into the unit. But in the 1947 ad, for the first time it shows the Audolyzer with three Motorola-style jacks, just like mine.
However, I did find a photo of a 562 with a black face that has the three Motorola-style jacks. It looks like the serial number is in the 1800's (difficult to read in the photo), so apparently the change to three jacks came before the change to a gray color scheme. Just one more example of Supreme making "continuous" changes.
In Supreme catalog number 848, on the first page, it says Supreme has been in business for twenty-one years, making this their 1948 catalog. In it the model 562 has been replaced by an updated model 688 Audolyzer. So 1947 was technically the last year for the model 562, however it appears the model 688 was more or less just a 562 with an updated color scheme.
To check out the restoration of any of these Audolyzers, just choose a link below or browse to them through the menu.
Page created 9/23/2021
Last edited 1/12/2024
Last edited 1/12/2024
