513

The Tektronix 513 is a single-channel monolithic oscilloscope with 18MHz bandwidth. It was announced in 1949 and introduced in 1950. It used a 5XP CRT initially, and then switched to a Tek-made CRT. It was the first Tektronix oscilloscope to contain a distributed amplifier. It was also the first Tek scope to contain a delay line for the vertical signal, to allow viewing the leading edge of the event that triggers the sweep. It was released at about the same time as the 514, which contains a much simpler, lower bandwidth distributed amplifier. The next scopes to use distributed amplifiers were the 517 in 1951 and then the 541 and 545 in 1955.

The initial announcement in 1949 (link below) listed the 513 at $1695, weighing 60 pounds, with a low frequency cutoff of 5 Hz. As delivered to customers in 1950, the 513 weighed an extra 15 pounds, but had flat response down to DC and cost a bit less than: $1650 with the delay line or $1600 without.

The input impedance is 1 Megohm in parallel with 40pF. The scope provides power to an optional cathode-follower probe. The 513D has a delay line; the 513 does not. The 513 and 513D contain a distributed vertical output amplifier made of 6CB6 tubes. The 513 has no thermal cutoff and uses selenium rectifiers.

Stan Griffiths says,

"The 513D used two different CRT types, depending on instrument serial number. From serial number 101-1887, the 5XP2 was used (Tek Part Number 154-066). From serial number 1888-up, the T51P2 was used (Tek pn 154-081). This one was made by Tek and you could retrofit it into the early 513Ds that came with the Dumont 5XP but it required a modification kit (040-0094-00). I have the instructions if you need them. Later, the 154-081 (also known as 154-0081-00) was replaced by the 154-0342-00 which is quite common and also used in the 530 series of scopes. If your 513D serial number is below 1888, the mod kit will have to be installed if you want to use this tube. I did not look at the mod instructions in detail, but often, with the instructions, you can put your own kit together and modify the scope just fine."

The 513 weighs 75 pounds and uses a maximum of 580 watts.

Distributed vertical amplifier.
Top internal view. Delay is at lower right.
Right internal view.
High voltage power supply
Right external view.
Left internal. 5XP CRT has three anode connections.
High voltage power supply
Bottom view.
Announcement in 1949 Sales Brochure

513

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