In article AIhxe.73520$wr.20560@clgrps12,
NSM wrote:
Use a D cell if it fits and works. There used to be more radio battery
types and shapes than you can imagine - now there are 4 basic ones. It's
a PITA but that's life.

I sometimes wondered if meter makers in the old days used unusual 1.5 volt
cells to stop them being pinched for other uses. Because most old meters
were large enough to take a standard cell. And although as you say there
were many types, say 50 years ago, the most common were still AA and D, in
the UK, at least.

I have an old but good Taylor analogue meter - still useful where you
really don't want a high impedance device. The 15 volt battery is still
available, but not the 1.5. Which was IIRC, an HP11. Looking through the
cats, as you do, and checking dimensions, I discovered an ancient design
of hand lamp or cycle lamp 4.5v battery (with brass contact 'leaves')
which was the same height and thickness. So stripped one out and sure
enough inside were three HP11 sized cells. ;-)

--
*A nest isn't empty until all their stuff is out of the attic

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.