Jerrold Model 704 Strength Meter

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The story of the Jerrold 704 Field Strength Meter covers nearly the entire lifespan of the cable television industry. Conceived in 1951, just a few years after the industry began in Oregon, Arkansas and Pennsylvania between 1948-1950, the 704 became the industry's go-to workhorse and remained so until the 1970s. Production of the 704 started in 1953, filling a vital need for precise signal strength measurement, and continued until approximately 1967, when it was phased out in favor of the Jerrold 727 meter. During the manufacturing run of the 704/A/B meters, more than 8,000 units were produced. Today, the 704 is regarded as an iconic symbol representing the engineers and technicians whose technical achievements paved the way for today's broadband business. The 704 model name lives on in the Loyal Order of the 704, a group of industry engineers with long memories and tall tales to tell.