RCA Laser Rangefinder

[JohnDSutter]

It's been a few years since I last asked, so here goes.

I picked up this RCA laser rangefinder about 30 years back and have
been trying to find information on it ever since.

http://www.sutters.com/RangeFinder/

It's a q-switched NdYAG I believe (the color looks right).
I powered it up once (24V I think, it's been a while..)
and was able to hear the spinning mirror q-switch spinning,
but that's about it.

I've asked around RCA history folks but no luck.

I'm not ready to sell it quiet yet...
Any new leads would be great.

John

[mixedgas]

Suggest you start here:

https://worldradiohistory.com/RCA_Review_Issue_Key.htm

and Here:

https://worldradiohistory.com/RCA_En..._Issue_Key.htm

And Here:

https://discover.dtic.mil/

In reading one of the RCA publications I remember a similar device. Sorry for the needle in the haystack, best I can do...

Steve

[MrNIFty923]

John,

I have one just like it. Its a bigger variant AN/GVS-1 (XE-10). I powered mine up with a 12v dc supply, and everything came on, but I sure it is a 24 volt setup. The one I have weighs about 35 pounds. I couldn't find any documentation. They could be prototype units? Impressive oil filled optic sight though!

-Josh

. . . .

[JohnDSutter]

Thanks, I hadn't thought to check those out.
Definitely worth poking around.

John

[ultimatekaiser]

Reminds me of my RCA Ruby Laser Range pole for the park services to do boundary and waypoint layouts. Similar type of construction on just eyeballing it, though smaller since it was portable....It was featured in an issue of RCA engineer, I think they had rangefinder featured in the same issue. I'll take a look.

Mine needs realignment, but it runs on a pair of 12V batteries. it originally used a battery that consisted of 2 banks of 10 C size NiCd cells.

[JohnDSutter]

I'll have to open it up and take some more pictures.
That big one, wow, that's something!

I picked mine up at a Fort Devens, MA army surplus auction.
I miss those, though my wife would probably have kicked me out of the house
by now if I went to them here. I got some great equipment back then and made
enough $$ to pay for a year of college.