The Society’s Fifth Wednesday Show and Tell Night for 31 July was advertised this: “Prior to the microchips era, most controls were by means of mechanical interfaces. Even today’s mechanical potentiometers have been replaced by digital encoders, and on/off switches by logic switches. This evening is dedicated to the displays of simple and very complex controls that have been used in the past to vary electrical or electronic parameters. See some ideas below with links to explanation sites/videos:
– Car-radio mechanical push buttons;
– TV rotary channel selector;
– cord and gear driven controls and displays;
– clutches, potentiometers & verniers;
– pinball and slot machines;
– washing machine timer;
– compact cassette to 8 track cassette adaptor, no need to change your car to listen to your favorite music!
– Traeger Morse typewriter keyboard and pedal radio for the Royal Flying Doctor Service;
– 1960’s mechanical answer machine when you were not allowed to connect equipment to the telephone line;
– inductor mechanical tuning like the Collins R-390A/URR tuning units;
– feedback controls, governor limited speed control;
– cassette player door controls;
– Nakamichi auto-reverse cassette deck; or the Philips N2401 ski slope one;
– mechanically driven automatic antenna tuner (ATU), amazing to see them chasing the sweet spot;
– spring reverb box; tape echo box;
– motor driven tremolo organ speakers;
– mechanical remote antenna switches, like this antenna disconnect (check at 03:00);
– flight computers and slide rules.
Best display by vote, best story selected by the nominated judge.”
Here are the goodies that club members came up with on the night:
The winners were:
People’s choice: Russell VK2BYN with his Sailor Radio receiver and Vibroplex Bug.
Best Story, as judged by Dom: Phil VK2BDF for his PID controlled wood fire, and almost burning down his house.
The next month with 5 Wednesdays will be October, with the theme to be announced soon.
The total funds raised came to $105.20.
Other photos from the night:
What? No rotary phones??? Has to be one of the most used mechanical encoding keyboard in human history. Too bad I wasn’t around, I would have displayed a couple of these I still use today.