Vintage Technology, hifis. home computers post here

[Gingerbread Demon]

Anyone have any interesting videos you like about vintage technology? I'm starting with this repair video of one of the most interesting Sony cassette decks that I have seen. This one takes 5 cassettes and spins them around on a carousel. There is one by I think phillips with a ski slope for the tapes to come down in.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[publiusr]

The only cassette players available now are awful.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

The only cassette players available now are awful.

Truly terrible. I bought something last year out of nostalgia and it lasted less then 3 months

 

[Santaman]

I've got a late 80's beginning 90's Philips Boombox, still functions except the cassette, think the belt has dried up/deteriorated beyond repair, might opemn it up someday, the CD drive still works though.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I've got a late 80's beginning 90's Philips Boombox, still functions except the cassette, think the belt has dried up/deteriorated beyond repair, might opemn it up someday, the CD drive still works though.

Your very lucky with the CD drive still going. They also rely on belts

 

[StarCruiser]

My Grandparent's 1972 RCA console stereo/phonograph is still working more than 50 years later (and two moves).

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

My Grandparent's 1972 RCA console stereo/phonograph is still working more than 50 years later (and two moves).

That's fantastic. What's the sound like?

 

[XCV330]

ok.. Icom IC-726 hf transceiver: 40 years old
Antenna tuner..20 something years old
switching power supply.. about 20 something years old
telegraph key: 70 year old? not sure
Badgey: Recent. dont ask him his age. he's sensitive
computer in background on TREKBBS.. in need of replacement
audio interface in the background connecting transceiver to computer: 3 years old.

sorry for the dust

so a nice mix of decades and all still very usable. I have a off-center-feed 40 meter dipole on my roof. Currently (in that picture) pulling in digital weak signals on 30 meter band.

 

[StarCruiser]

That's fantastic. What's the sound like?

Well - being early '70s - plenty of bass but, not great on mid or high... I don't dare even think about replacing the ancient speakers (also original).

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

View attachment 47553
ok.. Icom IC-726 hf transceiver: 40 years old
Antenna tuner..20 something years old
switching power supply.. about 20 something years old
telegraph key: 70 year old? not sure
Badgey: Recent. dont ask him his age. he's sensitive
computer in background on TREKBBS.. in need of replacement
audio interface in the background connecting transceiver to computer: 3 years old.

sorry for the dust

so a nice mix of decades and all still very usable. I have a off-center-feed 40 meter dipole on my roof. Currently (in that picture) pulling in digital weak signals on 30 meter band.

That setup looks great. Love the Icom transceiver. I keep seeing listings for similar models but they ship from countries like Israel and I've never ordered stuff from that far away but the prices were really reasonable considering it was Australian dollars. I think the last listing was from Turkey and they wanted $475 for a unit very similar to yours but with no working backlight on the display

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Found the video about the ski slope cassette player

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Induction lamps how cool is this but they never lasted that long when lower powered better options arrived.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Betamax the format that failed

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[XCV330]

That setup looks great. Love the Icom transceiver. I keep seeing listings for similar models but they ship from countries like Israel and I've never ordered stuff from that far away but the prices were really reasonable considering it was Australian dollars. I think the last listing was from Turkey and they wanted $475 for a unit very similar to yours but with no working backlight on the display

thank you. its remarkable how well those transceivers prices have held up. But there are some discreet components like the LCD, and when they fry, it's over. Long term, tube equipment might well outlast most 1980's stuff. Mine is starting to have a few problems here and there but it still works.

It's funny: I haven't owned anything tube powered in years. i understand the appeal. But what I miss most about vacuum tube amps and radios is the smell. Isn't that odd? There was this roasting-dust smell to those radios when they got hot. You didn't notice it as much with TV's as the vent were all in the back, I guess but it was still there.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

thank you. its remarkable how well those transceivers prices have held up. But there are some discreet components like the LCD, and when they fry, it's over. Long term, tube equipment might well outlast most 1980's stuff. Mine is starting to have a few problems here and there but it still works.

It's funny: I haven't owned anything tube powered in years. i understand the appeal. But what I miss most about vacuum tube amps and radios is the smell. Isn't that odd? There was this roasting-dust smell to those radios when they got hot. You didn't notice it as much with TV's as the vent were all in the back, I guess but it was still there.

I had a cream coloured Kriesler radio that did that.. Loved that thing but moved house and it had to go. It was mostly all original except for one or two tubes being replaced, very hard to find in 1986 mind you, but it had the best sound as well. It was only AM but it was really great to listen to. Everything but the lamp on the dial worked, bulb was an oddity that could not be replaced.

 

[Owain Taggart]

We still have a vacuum tube shortwave radio in our basement. Big hunky piece of equipment that still works reasonably well, and it's amazing how much it can pick up all over the world. Used to be a museum piece at our local museum. When they were finished with that exhibit, they gave it to us as my Dad was working there at the time.

 

[Santaman]

I still have a "portable" reel to reel tape recorder which has a tube amp built into it, it's from 1961 and it still works, the portable part is that it comes in a suitcase form but with 14Kg it's quite a haul.
What I loved about tube equipment like radio's and TV's etc is that they had this little square gauge which is dark grey when you switch the thing on and it slowly becomes fluorescent green, when the bar is "full" it starts to make sounds.

 

[publiusr]

I have a off-center-feed 40 meter dipole on my roof. Currently (in that picture) pulling in digital weak signals on 30 meter band.

No lightning strikes?

 

[XCV330]

No lightning strikes?

nope. still here.