Stuff that lasts

[jdhurst]

I hobby in electronics (minored in it an University a long time ago). A while back I got a 7A13 Tek Differential Comparator from eBay. It was electro-mechanical and the gears were gone, so I put it aside as it wasn't particularly useful. Earlier this year, I got a fully electronic 7A13 Comparator from eBay that works great.

So tonight, I started stripping the earlier one (35 years old) for parts. Sealed potentiometers that still work perfectly. Basic amplifiers that still work. It was so beautifully engineered that it was interesting (and sometimes a struggle) to get the parts out.

It is really amazing that I have a bunch of electronic stuff all 25 years old or more from HP and Tektronix that works almost like it was new. Some of the plugins have IBM labels on them, some have US Army labels on them. Oh to have a Thinkpad that was still useful after 25 years (/me laughs).
... JD Hurst

[AlphaKilo470]

Well, I have a circa 1993 Hewlett Packard 48SX graphing calculator I use on a normal basis and that thing runs like a charm; best graphing calculator I've ever touched, especially given I bought it for $5 at a garage sale. I also have a circa 196x or 197x plug-in-to the wall desktop calculator that uses individual flourescent tubes for each display digit and it works great. I have a mint condition circa late 1999 ThinkPad 600E I use everyday now, a 10 year old Toshiba Tecra 700CT, a Macintosh LC575 circa 1994 and I've been through many 9 and 10 year old ThinkPad 760s that hold up great. I also use everyday a 6 year old Palm IIIc that is in top shape excluding the fualty infrared lead. That said, I really don't know the point of my post but it has to be said durable goods can be easily found if you just look in the right places.

[DIGITALgimpus]

Not suprising... lots of good hardware that stands the test of time.

I have an old Apple Performa 6220 still in working order (Sept 1995 I believe).

Also have a Beige Apple G3 DT (Jan 99) that's running 24x7 since I got it in 2002 ( likely ran 24x7 before that too).... Replaced HD and upgraded ethernet, other than that, still original. B&W G3 too.

Well made stuff can last... especially if it's taken care of. My Beige G3 gets shut down 2X a year, and cleaned out (dust bunnies), keeps it running nice and cool.

[leoblob]

My Thinkpads (9 and 12 years old, respectively), my HP41C calculator (1979), my Dynaco Mark III power amps (1959). All these still used pretty much every day.

[JHEM]

Next to me, the oldest things around here that still get used regularly are my Staco E1010V Variable AC/DC AutoTransformer (circa '60s) and my Weller soldering station (circa early '70s).

Hmm, come to think of it my Tek dual trace scope is also from the mid '70s.

But I've got a house full of 30YO stereo gear that's still going strong and most is used at least weekly, if not daily. Lots of B&O, Revox and Tandberg decks, etc., etc. Most of the speakers have been updated due to youthful exuberance on the part of my wife and daughters when operating the volume controls. But a couple of "studio reference" pairs are still going strong, one Teac and one AR.

Regards,

James

[AlphaKilo470]

I don't know why I didn't think of this before but much of my video "studio" setup is pretty dated. I have a circa mid 90s Toshiba A-BS64 SVHS VCR (most advanced non-professional VCR I've ever seen and I got it at a garage sale for $5), a circa 1989 JVC 9" TM-R9U CRT (just recalibrated it and now it shows perfect pictures) and a bunch of other odds and ends laying around.

I also have a circa 1987 IBM ProPrinter (dot matrix) with the optional paper tray and it works like new and since Windows XP already has drivers for it, this thing recieves normal use.

[440roadrunner]

I've got a host of old equipment, including a 450? tektronix scope, an R2008x series Motorola service monitor, and a CT systems 3000S--with the spec analyzer. I've got an IFR 1100S, and several of the 180 HP display units, including a hard to find TDR module, and a couple of spec analyzers. I also have the pain in the neck "swept amplitude" modules, and some of the VERY expensive detector units, and an assortment of directional couplers. Now that I've got the spec. analyzer (HP853?) series display, I really don't need the swept amplitude units. I also have the tracking generator module for that, which goes with the 8558B module. I've got a number of little wavetek units, interesting for their price and worth, and a 1002 series Wavetek sweep gen. That thing, simple to operate, with a reflection bridge, is VERY handy. I've got a big old Microwave counter, that I've forgotten the brand of.


Frankly, now that I just dragged home a nice little 12 x 36 lathe, I just might sell off some of that stuff. The "Doyagotta copyiers" that have infested amateur radio just plain turns me off, and gives hams a bad name. Makes people think wer'e stupid. I can't remember the last time someone did NOT ask me for a "radio check" or wanted to know my "first personal"


I'll probably keep the Motorola, the tek scope, and the "worst" of the spec analyzer. I don't really need a network analyzer nor a tracking gen anymore. Did you guys know, that on the old HP spec analyzers, you can hook the vid out jack on the rear to a set of computer speakers, slow down the trace, and use the darn thing for a receiver? Handy for ID'ing unknown signals. It works good enough that with a little fiddling, you can demod both AM and FM.

[NS]

jdhurst, show us some pictures of the stripped electronics. I am very excited to look at the pictures. Thanks.

[underclocker]

Silly, but, 1991 AT&T Digital Answering machine Model 1337 which was one of the first. It has been plugged in and used every day for the last 15 years. It doesn't even have time and date stamp capabilities and it only has about 10 minutes of message recording time. But it looks good and still works as new.

[christopher_wolf]

For calculators; I have an HP 11, an HP 29, and an HP 48. They only make the 48 in a "new" version now and haven't made the others for decades.

A bunch of slide rules, some circular, most are pretty high quality (go for about $150 now) and come in foot long cases...and my trusty 701c Butterfly.

[Nolonemo]

I still use my Helios vernier calipers I got in 1970 or so every week. I think it's the oldest thing I own that I bought new myself. Oh yeah, and my Craftsman wrenches and sockets.

[AlphaKilo470]

For calculators; I have an HP 11, an HP 29, and an HP 48. They only make the 48 in a "new" version now and haven't made the others for decades.

If I'm not mistaken, the newer HP 48GII is more of a scaled down 49G+ than it is an upgrade over the HP 48S or 48G calculators. The True 48 series started to fade away when HP discontinued the 48GX in 2003. However, this is not to say the 48GII is a bad calculator as from what I hear, it's actually quite nice, it's just not related to it's 48SX and 48GX siblings as much as it's related to the 49G+.

[jdhurst]

For those who mentioned their Tek scopes, I have:

1. a Tek 455 A2B2 portable scope (50MHz dual trace) that I purchase new in 1978. Still runs very well.
2. a Tek 7704A 250Mhz 4 bay scope that I purchase used in 2002, got repaired (high voltage board faults) and which still works well. I estimate mid-70's vintage.
3. a Tek 7104 1GHz 4 bay scope that I just got, and it works well. I estimate early 80's vintage.

@NS: There isn't much to see. I kept the screws and nuts, pushbutton interlock switches, potentiometers, knobs, lightbulbs, some of the incoming voltage relays and the two main circuit boards intact. The rest I dumped.

My HP606B signal generator dates back to the late 70's and it has tubes. The Tek equipment is a solid-state.

[NS]

Oh, Jdhurst, i am so disappointed. Looking forward to see the pictures. Ahh... never mind. At least you reply me. Thanks.

[JHEM]

For those who mentioned their Tek scopes, I have:

1. a Tek 455 A2B2 portable scope (50MHz dual trace) that I purchase new in 1978. Still runs very well.
2. a Tek 7704A 250Mhz 4 bay scope that I purchase used in 2002, got repaired (high voltage board faults) and which still works well. I estimate mid-70's vintage.
3. a Tek 7104 1GHz 4 bay scope that I just got, and it works well. I estimate early 80's vintage.

My Tek is a 465 dual trace portable John. And I use the term "portable" loosely! Thing weighs something like 30 pounds with the traces. Has pride of place in my "shop" next to the variable power supply as that's the strongest shelf (DAMHIKT!).

I've got a 4 channel color Tek somewhere, can't recall exactly where it's stored.

For Nolonemo, Craftsman tools don't count. Some of mine are older than me!

Just like X-Celite tools don't count. I've still got the Series 99 canvas rollup kit I bought back in the early '60s. Use it every day to tweak Thinkpads.

Regards,

James

[440roadrunner]

Coming from a guy (me) who remembers the HP and Tek scopes that were ALL TUBES back in GCA RADAR days, I sure wouldn't complain about a measly 30 pounds. Those things weren't just HEAVY, they were BIG. Just getting the HP through the door was a challenge if the lid was on. I can't remember the numbers anymore.

[jdhurst]

jdhurst, show us some pictures of the stripped electronics. I am very excited to look at the pictures. Thanks.

I have a couple of pictures but the image function doesn't want to pull them off my hard drive. Looks like it's a website insert only. I don't have (I don't want, and I will not have) a website.
... JD Hurst

[tfflivemb2]

What about just using an image hosting website, not your own of course. (ie. photobucket) Or is that what you mean?

[jdhurst]

What about just using an image hosting website, not your own of course. (ie. photobucket) Or is that what you mean?

I thought about that, but the ones that I have linked to (imageshack, I think) are a pain in the butt to use. Most unfriendly. I will take a look at photobucket - Thanks. ... JDH

[schen]

I've got a couple of old Sony VCRs that have calendars that are about to run out. This year is the last that was programed into the machines. I guess, on Jan 1st, I'll have to find a past year that machines the day/date of 2007.

[jdhurst]

<snip>

So tonight, I started stripping the earlier one (35 years old) for parts. Sealed potentiometers that still work perfectly. Basic amplifiers that still work. It was so beautifully engineered that it was interesting (and sometimes a struggle) to get the parts out.
<snip>

This will be a long shot. Does anyone have, or know where to get, a 1/64" Allen Key. I have 4/64, 3/64 (.050), and 2/64 (.030) and they are too big for the locknut on a shaft I would like to retrieve out of the gearset in the aformentioned plugin unit.
... JD Hurst

[JHEM]

BION John, the local Radio Shack.

They're carrying a much larger range of miniature tools by Kronus.

http://www.radioshackisback.com/en/storelocator.asp

Regards,

James

[tfflivemb2]

How about here.

[jdhurst]

Thanks for the suggestions. The smallest at Edmund is 0.028. I have a 0.030 and it is much too large. However, I have those stores (Radio Shack and Edmund) in Toronto and will take a look (I carry the set screw with me to ensure fit).

What is really intriguing is this gearset was made approximately 35 years ago. I didn't think set screws were that small that many years ago. ... JD Hurst

[jdhurst]

<snip>
So tonight, I started stripping the earlier one (35 years old) for parts. Sealed potentiometers that still work perfectly. Basic amplifiers that still work. It was so beautifully engineered that it was interesting (and sometimes a struggle) to get the parts out.
<snip>

The interlock switches on this plugin had the contacts as part of the circuit board, so said switches cannot be saved. However, the minature 5V lamps were good and allowed me to repair a 7B10 time base. Now it's as good as new.
... JD Hurst

[ThinkPad R]

Japanese products last a long long time.

Japanese cars last usually 10 years or more w/o any problems.

My mom has a Japanese scissor that is past its 10th year (nearly 15th anniversary).

Perhaps I need to hold some kind of special ceremony for the scissor.

Seriously, it has no rust & is as sharp as the new American scissors.

(I'm not Japanese)

[JHEM]

Japanese products last a long long time.

That's a generalization belied by years of bad products overcome by good advertising.

Japanese cars last usually 10 years or more w/o any problems.

Not the early ones and certainly not here in the northeast where they quickly turned into piles of semi-mobile rust after being exposed to road salt in the winter.

My mom has a Japanese scissor that is past its 10th year (nearly 15th anniversary).

My mom has some Singer brand scissors that are more than 100 years old (yes, one hundred!) that came as part of the sewing machine her mother received as a wedding present in 1896. Still work like new, as does the sewing machine itself, which she also has and which has been used regularly since new.

Every nation is capable of producing exceptional products, but they can also turn out junk just as swiftly and often in greater numbers. One learns over the years that there are certain things one doesn't buy from certain countries.

(For instance, one doesn't buy automobiles from Russia. Know why the rear window is heated on a Lada? It's to keep your hands warm while you're pushing it!)

Regards,

James

[GomJabbar]

One learns over the years that there are certain things one doesn't buy from certain countries.

(For instance, one doesn't buy automobiles from Russia. Know why the rear window is heated on a Lada? It's to keep your hands warm while you're pushing it!)

That's a good one James! I had a good laugh out of that.

[JHEM]

That's a good one James! I had a good laugh out of that.

My pleasure Chief.

Regards,

James

[GomJabbar]

Now to go the other direction......

Has anyone found a can opener that lasts? I get so frustrated that a practically brand-new can opener cannot open a can cleanly.

It seemed the one my Mom had, worked for years.