Description
BBN Instruments P16 Supply Box BNC Test ON/OFF Switch Cambridge MA USA
The BBN Instruments Model P16 is a compact supply box designed for use in electronic test and measurement applications. Built in Cambridge, MA USA, it features a front-panel TEST/ON/OFF toggle switch, a red LED indicator, and BNC-style connectors labeled IN and OUT for signal routing. The rugged blue anodized aluminum enclosure reflects the build quality typical of BBN Instruments' precision test accessories. The exact function of this unit within a larger test system is consistent with a signal conditioning or supply switching module intended to interface with other test bench instrumentation.
Specifications & What's Included
- Manufacturer: BBN Instruments, Cambridge, MA USA
- Model: P16
- Description: Supply Box
- Enclosure: Blue anodized aluminum, compact benchtop/handheld form factor
- Front panel controls: TEST / ON / OFF toggle switch
- Indicator: Red LED pilot light
- Connector — OUT: BNC (front face, panel-mount)
- Connector — IN: BNC (side face)
- Additional side connector: Small SMA-style connector visible on opposite side face
- Labeling: MODEL P16 SUPPLY, BBN Instruments logo, Cambridge MA USA
- Unit only — no accessories, cables, or documentation included
Applications
BBN Instruments (Bolt Beranek and Newman) was a Cambridge, Massachusetts research and engineering firm with deep roots in defense, acoustics, and early computing — the company played a foundational role in building ARPANET in the late 1960s and 1970s. Their instrumentation products, including supply boxes and signal accessories like the P16, were designed to support precision laboratory and test-bench environments. Units of this type typically serve as switching or power conditioning accessories within a larger test setup, routing signals or supply voltages between instruments via BNC interconnects. This is a vintage piece dating from an era when BBN Instruments produced a range of specialized test accessories for research, government, and academic laboratory use. It would be of interest to collectors of vintage American test equipment, researchers working with legacy BBN systems, or technicians sourcing parts from this era of precision instrumentation.
This BBN Instruments P16 Supply Box is being sold AS-IS due to its age and unknown operational status. The unit has not been tested or bench-verified at our facility. Cosmetically, the blue anodized aluminum enclosure shows light wear and scuffing consistent with age, but overall it presents reasonably well. The front panel labeling, BBN logo, toggle switch, red LED indicator, and BNC connectors are all intact and visible. A handwritten inspection label is present on the bottom. No guarantee of functionality is made — this unit is offered for parts, repair, or as a reference sample only. Please view our photo set and contact us if you have any questions. Please note: We have multiple units in stock — yours may not be the one shown in the photos, however, it will be similar in condition and function.
Warranty Information
Additional Information
Brand: |
BBN Instruments |
Model: |
P16 |
MPN: |
P16 |
Type: |
Supply Box / Signal Supply Unit |
SKU: |
37224 |
Condition: |
As-Is / For Parts or Not Working |
Seller Notes: |
Sold AS-IS. Unit includes toggle switch and BNC connectors as shown. |
Country/Region of Manufacture: |
United States |
Form Factor: |
Benchtop / Handheld Box |
Connector Type: |
BNC |
Switch Type: |
TEST / ON / OFF Toggle Switch |
Indicator: |
Red LED |
Connector Positions: |
IN (side), OUT (front face BNC) |
Made In: |
Cambridge, MA USA |
Condition Notes: |
BBN Instruments P16 Supply Box sold AS-IS — not tested, age unknown, no functionality guarantee. Cosmetically fair with light wear. BNC connectors and toggle switch intact. For parts or repair only. |
