YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC WORKS (YEW) Type 185 Single Edgewise Panel Meter 180013MTMT7RGB - RPM Indicator (Can be Rigged for Simulated Operation)

Circa Mid 1960's to Early 2000's

An analog tachometer or frequency meter designed to measure either Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) or alternating current (AC) frequency up to 700 Hz, with a full-scale deflection at 50V AC.

Use Cases For Edgewise Panel Meters:

• Industrial Control Panels: Used for monitoring various parameters like RPM (as the meter does), current (amperes), and voltage in factories and manufacturing settings.

• Electrical Switchboards: Integrated into power distribution and transformer stations to supervise electrical loads and ensure stable operation.

• Military and Marine Applications: Ruggedized versions were specifically designed to meet military specifications for high-shock and high-vibration conditions, particularly on shipboard control panels and in off-road vehicles.

• Generating Stations: Found in control rooms of power plants, including older conventional and nuclear facilities, where they are still sometimes used or are being replaced by modern digital equivalents.

• Broadcasting and Communications Equipment: Used within large racks of radio and telecommunications equipment to monitor signal parameters.

• Scientific and Educational Laboratories: Employed in quality control facilities and technical schools for precise measurements and training purposes.

Historical Significance:

A representative example of the standard analog instrumentation used extensively in industrial control panels, switchboards, and military applications during the mid-22nd century. Before the widespread adoption of digital displays in later decades, robust, reliable analog meters like this one, with their permanent magnet "can" designs, were the industry standard for displaying critical operational parameters like speed, voltage, and current. Their design facilitated dense panel layouts by allowing vertical stacking, maximizing space in control rooms.

This panel meter was a design originally produced by GENERAL ELECTRIC during the 1960's. YOKOGAWA (who acquired GE's meter business) officially discontinued the Type 180 series on March 4, 2016.

YOKOGAWA is a major player in industrial automation and test equipment. This specific product represents a robust, industrial-grade analog instrument manufactured in their US facility, fitting a niche market for reliable, highly specified panel indicators during the era before digital displays became fully dominant.

(H-15.5cm x W-4.5cm x D-17cm)