Weston Master II needle not moving

[captainslack]

A few months back I picked up a Weston Master II light meter at the flea market for $5. I got lucky in this instance, cause it was in fairly good condition and still accurate. I've used it off and on without any trouble since.

Today, I pulled it out to take a reading and the needle didn't move. I shook it a few times, but no change. Since the selenium cell had been reading accurately beforehand (I'd used it just the other week), I don't think it's suddenly died on me. Any ideas on why it isn't working?

 

[Stu W]

I had the same problem on another meter a couple of years ago. The problem was a broken solder joint in the meter itself. There was a berylium wire that broke off the meter armature. A pencil iron fixed it quickly. Stu

 

[Biggles]

I agree; sounds like a sudden electrical continuity problem. Could be a solder joint, broken wire...

The good news, though, is that these are still supported by spares and knowledgeable service. In the US, try Quality Light-Metric in Hollywood, California. They just overhauled mine. Its cell was still okay, and it only needed cleaning, balancing, re-magnetizing and calibration. Came to about fifty bucks plus postage. The correct replacement cell is also still being manufactured, should it come to that.

Paid around nine dollars for my meter, and I believe it was totally worth the expense of getting it tuned up. Neat old thing.


If anyone needs QLM's address, here it is; I recommend them unreservedly. Truly superior service.

Quality Light-Metric Co.
7095 Hollywood Boulevard #550
Hollywood CA 90028

 

[lido]

I have a Weston Master IV which had the same problem. In my case it was a needle that was not clearing the scale bellow it. I opened it up following the instruction in repairs thread somewhere here and bent the needle up a bit. That solved the problem.