Weird stuff in my shed

[Cliff R]

Thought I would start a thread labelling just some of the weird stuff I have acquired over the years that is currently sitting in my shed.
Might be a fun read for some but a bore to others.
Some will be for sale but I dont know which at this stage. The IRD 890 will not be going anywhere as it is a very good machine to have around. Likewise the dual tracking power supply, the 20MHzthe minilab, the Royel station the farnell CRO, the water injection system. Not sure about the rest.
If anyone has some actual working knowledge of this gear please let me know. I have manuals for most of it but me having actually used it is usually not the case.
Most of it was rescued from the scrap heap and was extensively used in the NSW Hunter Valley power stations from the 1970 till about 5 years ago.
Note - on a serious note one of the items is a Tektronix oscilloscope and camera. These items were rescued but I also have a strong connection with this unit. It has absolutely facinated me since I first saw it in a locked room in about 1990. An absolute work of art.
It is valve driven (not transistors etc) and was used in the setting up of the Liddell Power Station Turbine Supervisory Equipment (TSE) in the early 1970's when the station was built. I have tried donating it to the Power House Museum in Sydney and the Newcastle Regional Museum in Newcastle as well as our local TAFE. No one wants it and I really want it to be kept as a complete unit for preferably a display. I have tried Power Station management but no good. Any suggestion on this appreciated.
Weird stuff in my shed -
- Paremeters Model P4303 dual tracking DC power supply
- Farnell 20MHz oscilloscope model DTV20
- bwd Model 604 mini lab
- Royel RE900-3 soldering/desoldering station with thermal cutting/stripping
- Trio electrix SafeTcheck portable appliance tester (not for double insulated)
- Trio electrix SafeTcheck portable appliance tester model MKD (does double insulated)
- AC Automatic voltage regulator model SVC-2000NA
- 2 x bore scopes with fixed shafts for internal inspeciton of small and larger pipework (I didnt pull these out as they are a bit hard to get to for details)
Weirder stuff
- IDR Mechanalysis Model 890 machinery maintenance analyzer/data collector (this thing with the right transducer will sense a feather dropping. I dont have the software so I cant store data. Can only be used for real time viewing on its screen)
- IRD Mechanalysis Model 818 machinery maintenance analyzer/data collector (this is an older machine than the 890 but its batteries have failed meaning with this unit it will not work and its software is lost. With the right software and new batteris it would be a goer again)
- IRD Mechanalysis Model 245 automatic balancer (apparently in theory if you have a car wheel set on a shaft which is set in a couple of bearings you can actually balance the car wheel - unproven)
- SPM Instuments 43A shock pulse meter for checking bearing vibrations (I think)
-Edelbrock Vari-Jection electronic water injection system
Weirder stuff still-
- Rathenow ROW metascope (What the flock does this thing do ?)
- Tektronix type 547 oscilloscope with type 1A4, 4 channel amp, type 1A5 differential amp, type 202-2 model C mobile trollety and (didnt pull this out) polaroid camera which affixes to the side of the CRO to take pictures of the display. This camera is in its original suitcase (yes it is big) and I think there is still a role of new, seal film with it.

There would be more but I thought this would bore everyone senseless as it is.

[steptoe]

a model 818 analyser went for $79 on ebay sold by one of T'subarus neighbours

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IRD-MECHANALYSI ... 0405876955

What happens if you touch the google button in the bookmarks below ? Does it make sure this text shows up on search

What the flock??

make more sense

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/g ... binoculars

Think we had better swap usernames

Now, some of us need pictures to names

I can only add that I have some heavy arsed UPS that filters spikes surges etc, think it may have dead batteries inside - if at all

picture to follow

[Silverbullet]

I know an engineer who might (read might) be interested in the bearing vibration analyzer, and who knows maybe some of the other stuff as well. He knows alot about ALOT and some of this equipment might enable him to do jobs he couldn't do otherwise. I'll write down this list and see what he says about it, don't hold your breath though he may have as little idea as any of us about it

[Cliff R]

My problem is I am a horder. I cant part with anything.
An 818 for $79 bucks is an absolute bargin. The problem with this instument is if battery power is lost you need to reload the software so if you dont have this you are stuffed. I see on ebay US there is an 890 for $900 plus but as I said I wont part with mine it is too useful for such things like identifying vibration in machinery etc. (engines too)
Regarding the ROW I am hoping the following picture comes out to show what it looks like in its box. This picture is from Google but is exactly what it is.
If anyone is interested in any of the stuff I have listed let me know and I can get pictures. As mentioned I may not be willing to part with any of it but I am interested in any information anyone may have.

[Cliff R]

Try again for a picture ?

[Cliff R]

While I am at it (pictures)
Here is another one from Google for the SPM 43A

[steptoe]

If I start chuckin' blue stuff around wonder if the bower bird in you comes out - sounding like you are like the people American Pickers Mike and Frank have ahrd time buyin' anything off - thought you were out to raise some spendy

think I might withdraw my list in my signature...

[pitrack_1]

Hi Cliff R,

From a lab rat and another hoarder here's some info...

1) If it's come out of the Govt/heavy industry/science/engineering field, especially out of the 70's or before, the equipment usually is the best available at the time (Mercedes-Benz stuff). That's 'cos things was run by scientists/engineers and, against a (say) $100 million installation, a $30k piece of test equipment is small fry. Especially if it saves a big bit of machinery or keeps NSW online (and it probably did)! We have the same in our lab- $15k pieces that, if they save you 2 days' running at a conservative $500/hr (24 hrs running) have more than repaid themselves. But you already know this...

2) Again, a lot of this type of top-range stuff was literally turfed into skips. You did right rescuing it. Quality is quality- good stuff for the past is still good stuff today and often still very, very useful and sought after. It can be better than modern stuff.

3) As a lab rat, I have been drooling.

- Paremeters Model P4303 dual tracking DC power supply
- Farnell 20MHz oscilloscope model DTV20
- bwd Model 604 mini lab
- Royel RE900-3 soldering/desoldering station with thermal cutting/stripping

You already know about the BWD, Farnell CRO, dual tracking power supply, solder/desolder, etc. Boy did you score an electronic hobbyist's dream setup with those. I wish!!!

4) Metascope:

- Rathenow ROW metascope (What the flock does this thing do ?)

It seems this item is for viewing infrared (IR) images. What happens is the IR comes into the device which then shows visible on a fluoro screen for your eyes. So you can 'see' IR. No doubt good for heat detection. Unsure of the IR wavelength. Perhaps have a look at this link.

5)

- Tektronix type 547 oscilloscope with type 1A4, 4 channel amp, type 1A5 differential amp, type 202-2 model C mobile trollety and (didnt pull this out) polaroid camera which affixes to the side of the CRO to take pictures of the display. This camera is in its original suitcase (yes it is big) and I think there is still a role of new, seal film with it.

That's the type of stuff the US military, NASA, Lockheed, Hewlett-Packard (if they weren't producing their own competitive instruments ) etc. would have been building and calibrating stuff with. 50MHz was high speed back then. So was 20. The reason it would have been valve operated is, I suspect :
a) Design era + mature, commercially available valve technology
b) Transistors may not have been fast and/or linear enough, too expensive or even not in existence (at least types)- bleeding edge
c) Quality control and parts from mature, available valve technology
d) Tubes also had a reputation for being more electronically robust, ie surviving surges, spikes and perhaps nuclear electromagnetic pulses...

These old units were configurable, ie you could select what input types you wanted to configure the unit with.

The quote from this article says:

"Type 547 with 1A4 plug-in. Probably the greatest of the classic Tek scopes, the 547 has dual timebases with delayed sweep and a unique "alternate" function. The 547 has a very stable trigger circuit and is useful well beyond its rated 50 MHz bandwidth. This is the model to look for if you're buying a 500-series instrument. Contributed by Bruce Rogers"

and

"Type 1A4. This is also a four channel amp, and one that works very well. With the right scope (like a 547) it has a bandpass of upto 50 MHz. It can chop, alt, or add in any possible way between the four channels, and handy "ident" buttons help you identify what's what when you have four traces on screen. "

Sounds like it was the best of the best. Someone knew what they were doing/buying/using. I wonder if it was locked up for value, or technology security reasons? Perhaps both!

The comment about valve vs transistors at the time in the description of the 585A is also pertinent.

It is rather rare and expensive to find a 4 channel Oscilloscope today.

And the camera is the equivalent of today's emailed digital image- "Here, this is what it looks like." You can imagine how it went...

A- "B, you've got a Y on your X."
B- "Don't believe ya. Never seen nothin' wrong."
A- "But I tell you it's there. And it's causing Z which will K, L, M etc..."
B- "Maybe. But I can't see anything wrong with the output."
A- "Here." (Shows B photo of Y on X) "See?"
B- Grumble, grumble, grumble...

And as it was before the digital era, it was a bit more believable (and less easily fakable) than today's digital images. Photos were proof, not proof of retouching.

I know a lot if it's probably nerdy gobbledygook- so if any of you have read this far, go do the better things you've got to do!

[steptoe]

I had a workmate that was near destitute due to a previous business failure (ahead of his time ) , he had one thing of value sitting in the back of the carport under wraps - an ancient weaving loom set-up , all timber, all there . He'd been told IF he could sell it for what it's worth , he could retire - just had to find the right buyer . Last time I saw him he looked like he still possessed it .

Cliff , can se you rolling in spendy soon .....

[Cliff R]

pitrack_1
Wow, excellent info. I will read about the Metascope later.
I am almost certain I have a manual for the thing somewhere and I thought it was for testing metals in regards to rust ?, thickness ? - still stuffed if I know.
I did find it interesing that I cant find any info on the Royel station. Thought there would have been heaps on the net but I cant find a thing. I dont have the desoldering attachment which sucks but I know were there is one at work. Problem is I dont see me getting it ever as it resides with our technicians who know the worth of this stuff. Oh well.
Being mechanical by trade my knowledge of the Farnell CRO and most of the bwd except its digital power supply is very limited. I have no idea about the function generator.
What I do know is I have bought (forgot about this = more weird stuff) a number of training manuals from, I think, the Navy on how to use a CRO and basic electronics theory (love ebay). May have to get back into this.
I like to dabble but I do know this stuff is very valuable even if those who owned it before do not.
I am looking at the 547 now (in the shed) and I am still in awe of this machine. For those who are having trouble visualising what I am talking about, as I have the MY wagon out of the shed for the weekend I think I can get to the CRO's camera in its suitcase so I might put the whole thing together for some pics.
No matter what, the 547 will always blow me away with its sheer "oozing" of quality and craftmanship and the way the machine is put together internally.
Steptoe
I think if I waited for someone to help me retire by buying all this stuff I would be waiting a long, long time.

[pitrack_1]

Cliff R,

- Royel RE900-3 soldering/desoldering station with thermal cutting/stripping

Have a look here and here too. You should be able to contact them for more info.

- bwd Model 604 mini lab

The BWD can still be bought, see here and here too. I think I used one whilst at Uni in the 1990's, but it may have been a different model/unit. Form what I remember it was powerful but could be a bit difficult to get your head around.

The BWD All-in-one (also a signal generator + measuring) they would have been for testing/proving the control equipment by inputting signals into electronic boards/pieces of equipment to test their response. With the BWD or signal generator you could input test signals e.g. 'normal' and 'faulty' and see how the various bits of equipment responded. Without running up a power station and subjecting it to faults. For a speculative example of use, out domestic power operates at 50Hz AC and that's tightly controlled. So let's say the output of the power station has to be 50.00Hz, +/-0.05Hz, so between 49.95 and 50.05Hz sine wave. And there's a 50Hz check circuit board at the power station. You'd set the BWD to 50Hz and input the signal to the check board and see if it says OK. You'd then vary the frequency of the signal to make sure it tripped to 'fault' at 49.95Hz and below, and 50.05Hz and above. You could then go back to 50.00Hz and vary the signal away from sinusoidal and check the fault trips then too.

I've just reread your original post and...

Note - on a serious note one of the items is a Tektronix oscilloscope and camera. These items were rescued but I also have a strong connection with this unit. It has absolutely facinated me since I first saw it in a locked room in about 1990. An absolute work of art.It is valve driven (not transistors etc) and was used in the setting up of the Liddell Power Station Turbine Supervisory Equipment (TSE) in the early 1970's when the station was built.

and

I am looking at the 547 now (in the shed) and I am still in awe of this machine. For those who are having trouble visualising what I am talking about, as I have the MY wagon out of the shed for the weekend I think I can get to the CRO's camera in its suitcase so I might put the whole thing together for some pics.
No matter what, the 547 will always blow me away with its sheer "oozing" of quality and craftmanship and the way the machine is put together internally.

Hence the camera. It would have been for quality control and proving the performance met specifications. At a guess, buried somewhere in Archives is/are documents with photos taken from the unit showing the station was OK for sign-off/delivery/handover.

You are right, they are engineering 'works of art' because (in my opinion) they are money-is-no-object types of equipment and engineers controlled the design, not accountants.

If you wish to donate the stuff, or at least put it on display, perhaps Electrical Engineering at Newcastle Uni may be interested- in their entrance/foyer for example. Esp. if you say it built the Liddell power station. Make sure it's only 'on display' and still recognised as yours if you want it back! With a bit of luck, someone may be there that was involved in the construction and can tell you more. They'll have had to be an apprentice/recent grad at the time and be approaching/at retirement now of course. Otherwise Hunter Valley TAFE?

Hope this helps,