N2704

The N2704 is an ultrasonic concrete tester (betonoscope) with a digital display, made in the microproduction workshop of the ICE research institute in Bucharest, where it was designed [1].

ICE’s laboratory for electronic instruments for measuring non-electrical quantities designed approved prototypes for many branches of the economy: strain gauge equipment (some configurations were exported to East Germany in 1971–1974 and 1977–1989), vibration meters, dimensional gauges, ultrasonic non-destructive testers, geophysical well-logging equipment and railway equipment [1]. Its designs were made in series at IEMI (27 types) and at the Precision Mechanics Enterprise (5 types), or in ICE’s microproduction workshop (45 types) for small series and one-off models [1].

Its prospectus describes a digital instrument with a three-digit display that measures the propagation time of ultrasonic pulses through concrete, bricks, rock, wood or plastics, from which the strength and homogeneity of the material can be judged; a decimal point lights up for an over-range or a poor transducer coupling [2].