- 2025
- May
- 6
AI Crap from eBay #1 - “Doubles as a tube tester!”
eBay was both a bane and a boon to the electronics world. A boon because it allowed more people to sell off equipment and and materiel (that they may not have had a venue for) to a wider audience, but a bane because it took some of those things out of the hamfest market and put them up for a much higher price. While I don’t blame people for trying to get more money out of stuff, prices on eBay can be insane.
To add to the crazy, people who have zero knowledge of what they are selling now have AI available to write them a description instead of a “Says XXXX, no idea how to test.” AI, invariably, is wrong about this stuff because no one is using this antique stuff to do what it says it does. It gives sellers a false sense of what the device does and what it’s used for, and invariably feeds the “tubes = money” attitude that the layman has. Just because it has vacuum tubes in it doesn’t mean that it’s valuable, useful, or even interesting.
This is the first in a not-often series of wacky stuff I see on eBay. This one is a “Vintage Micronta Volt DC Multi tester Milliamperes Amp Tube Tester.”
It’s obviously someone’s homebrew power supply with Micronta (Radio Shack) meters on the front. Case would date it to the 70s, most likely.
AI has written a lovely line of BS for this device:
“This vintage Micronta multi tester is a must-have for any collector or enthusiast of vintage technology. With its analog display and benchtop form factor, it’s perfect for testing DC voltage and milliamperes. It also doubles as a tube tester, making it a versatile tool for any hobbyist or professional in the test and measurement industry.
This product features the brand’s signature quality and durability, and is sure to impress with its vintage charm. Whether you’re a collector or looking for a reliable multi tester, this Micronta model is the perfect addition to any workspace.”
I’m not sure how a power supply tests DC voltage, or even how you test a milliamp. Do you give it a quiz? If you have one joule per coulomb, how many volts is that?
It then goes on to say that it doubles as a tube tester. While I guess you could technically test the filaments of a tube with this, it’s nothing of the sort - any power source will do that for you, assuming it’s the correct voltage.
And then there’s the standard boilerplate that let’s you know AI wrote this, that of how it features the brand’s quality and reliability even though someone built this from their junk box - the only thing missing is how it’s widely used in the industry. It tried, though, with the “if you’re looking for a reliable multi tester…”
I got a giggle out of this one, not because of what it is, but of how it’s being described. It’s been for sale for some time, I don’t expect it to go anywhere soon.