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Related

Show us your junk!

neuromodulator
neuromodulator over 6 years ago

I love junk, specially when it can be fully restored, has interesting parts or uses interesting technology. Most of the junk I get, comes from the university, its dumped because its either too old or it doesn't work anymore. I'll start this thread by showing one of my latest junk acquisitions:

 

imageimageimage

 

 

This is an autotransformer made by a company called "The Superior Electric Co" from Bristol, Connecticut. It was apparently build in the 60s (according to what I found in the net) and supports a max of 1.2 kva. The autotransformer works as expected but of course it shows its age, the rubber cable is not in the best condition and so isn't its paint. In the future I may repaint it and replace the cable but for now its good enough as it is.

 

Have you also found nice junk? Show us!

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Top Replies

  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 6 years ago in reply to neuromodulator +13
    Here is the first processor controlled instrument I designed. Intel 8748, code hand assembled on paper and entered into Intel desktop dev system by hand in hex. Not really junk, but not very useful now…
  • dougw
    dougw over 6 years ago +12
    While looking for something else deep in the "archives" I came across my favourite scientific calculator. (circa 1975) It still works fine. The LEDs were so power hungry I eventually built a power supply…
  • genebren
    genebren over 6 years ago +11
    In the spirit of your original request (show us your junk!), here is some of my junk. One of my many past jobs was working for a life sciences company that built instrumentation for various forms of testing…
  • cstanton
    cstanton over 6 years ago in reply to e14phil

    If you want a play with core memory: https://www.tindie.com/products/kilpelaj/core-memory-shield-for-arduino/

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  • clem57
    clem57 over 6 years ago in reply to cstanton

    I could not do this looking at the kit cstanton . My eyes are not what they used to beimage...

    But if someone was willing to build, I could enjoy the results.imageimage

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 6 years ago in reply to Jan Cumps

    "Yes! I didn't see it there, but it's the same project of the same guy."

     

    Perhaps you saw it here :

    Flipping Core Memory Bits Directly With a Magnetic Stylus

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  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 6 years ago in reply to e14phil

    Very interesting and educations. Things already known but it's nice to see all together, well explained and applied to a great challenge image

     

    Enrico

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  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 6 years ago

    Another nice piece of the past ready to become contemporary again image

     

    imageimage

    image

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  • clem57
    clem57 over 6 years ago in reply to balearicdynamics

    Oh my gosh. Looks like 1960's tech with the dial and rounded edges in baby blue.image

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  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 6 years ago in reply to clem57

    1959 to be precise. The friend who got me recommended not to clean it too much as there are lot of recent (about 1980) remakes that are perfect... I can't resist, I open just to a short look inside...

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  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 6 years ago in reply to clem57

    Done!

    (there is plenty of space inside, just what I need image )

     

    image

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  • neuromodulator
    neuromodulator over 6 years ago in reply to balearicdynamics

    If you want to remove the rust, try a brass brush, they work amazingly well. As brass is quite soft it doesn't scratch hard metals/alloys, but it will scratch soft stuff like aluminum, or plastic.

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  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 6 years ago in reply to neuromodulator

    Hi,

    I normally use felt with a metal clean paste and the Dremel at a low RPM. The paste includes brass and a metal cleaner, so I suppose it is very similar to your suggestion. Then I should clean the plastic too (before starting the internal upcycle) for which I use ammonia with a water dilution 50:50. Then I start putting my hands inside image LoL

     

    Enrico

     

    P.S. In this moment the radio is playing

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