Cox Electronics Help - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Sloan1945 · 6th Oct 2022, 5:31 pm

Afternoon all,

I was hoping someone might be able to help. I've recently come in to possession of 3 bits of kit by Cox Electronics. I've tried desperately to research them on the internet, but there is absolutely no information whatsoever on these units.

I would really appreciate any advice on what the units are and what I should do with them. I did have them in my van to take to the recycling at the weekend but took them out again as thought they were worth investigating.

Please see pictures attached.

Thank you in advance!

G6Tanuki · 6th Oct 2022, 6:00 pm

Looks like some sort of matrix switch unit. Could have been used in a small TV studio of the kind you would find in colleges or universities in the 70s and 80s.

TonyDuell · 6th Oct 2022, 6:06 pm

I thnk the last photo is an analogue RGB to PAL video converter. 3 separate modules in the rack, the actual encoder, the subcarrier oscillator, and the power supply.

I have a similar (but less versatile) unit, along with a PAL decoder and a video amplifier unit that were used with a very rare thing called an I2S Model 70/E image processor/display. Mine did come from a university but was actually used to prepare signals for maor broadcast television.

ms660 · 6th Oct 2022, 6:28 pm

That could be Mike Cox, several pointers in here:

https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Wir...m_per_page=100

Interesting article in here, Electronics World, August 2004,mag. page 10:

https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Wir...chael%20cox%22

Lawrence.

TonyDuell · 6th Oct 2022, 6:30 pm

I'm pretty sure it is.

Vintage Engr · 6th Oct 2022, 6:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyDuell

I think the last photo is an analogue RGB to PAL video converter. 3 separate modules in the rack, the actual encoder, the subcarrier oscillator, and the power supply.

I have a similar (but less versatile) unit, along with a PAL decoder and a video amplifier unit that were used with a very rare thing called an I2S Model 70/E image processor/display. Mine did come from a university but was actually used to prepare signals for major broadcast television.

Correct, I think this one is similar to that which I used for a system at a University. I knew Michael Cox, he often used to make up 'special ' items for us. In particular,- & I know this sounds odd in today's hyper-technical world; he designed a unit that went in front of that coder, so that one could gen-lock any computer (at the time!) convert the signal to PAL, & then either use it to distribute a PAL comp video signal inside the University, or send it on lines to be broadcast.

In those days, you couldn't buy a cheap box from China to do the job....

David.

red16v · 6th Oct 2022, 11:30 pm

It’s all (Mike) Cox equipment.

The panel with the buttons on it is the operator panel to select the cross points on a 10 (in) by 8 (out) matrix. In other words to select any one of 10 inputs to any one of 8 independent outputs.

The two silver fronted units sitting on top of one another are each 10 (in) to 4 (out) matrix units. I’m 99.99% sure the two boxes are interconnected to make a joint single unit of 10 (in) by 8 outputs- almost certainly controlled by the panel I described above.

The final single silver fronted unit is a Cox video encoder. So, RGB inputs with coded outputs. Looks like this unit could encode to either PAL or NTSC but the module marked PAL coder 153 tells us that this is a PAL coder. These units were very commonplace in the broadcast environment in the 70s snd 80s and I wish I had a £ for everyone I tweaked.

I’m glad you haven’t chucked these. As Vintage Engr says above Cox Electronics were very much into making one off bits and pieces for customers, the ‘matrix’ described above almost certainly falls into that category but the coder was an ‘off the shelf’ item available to all and sundry and I suspect they sold a lot - as in A LOT. These items may be useful to the BECG organisation so perhaps you might like to send a private message to Paul Marshall of this parish? I’m curious to know where these items came from, but anyhow please let us know how you get on.

John Caswell · 7th Oct 2022, 9:18 am

Red16v is quite correct, we used to make a lot of custom router units as well as standard routers ie 6x1 RGB, 20x1 composite with/without audio followers, plus a range of PAL ,NTSC and PAL variation encoders as well as SECAM encoders, with associated decoders, specialised test /alignment equipment.
The there were the vision mixers - standard items being 631,641 and 841 waterfall types, and a whole host of additional items - downstream keyers, chroma keyers.
I spent 7-8 many happy years there

John

Amtec123 · 7th Oct 2022, 9:40 am

I agree with both of the above comments, sadly Mike passed away earlier this year. He was a great character and although he left Teddington just before I started, would often drop in for a chat with his former collegues. Like 'red16v' one of the first jobs for CAR in the morning was to "Colour phase" his PAL encoders (cameras, slide scanners, and telecines) to their asigned studios. The Cox 153 was a vast improvement stability wise on the old EMI coders that preceeded them.
There is an excellent obituary on the IBC web site. RIP Mike

6th Oct 2022, 5:31 pm	#1
Sloan1945 Diode Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1	Cox Electronics Help Afternoon all, I was hoping someone might be able to help. I've recently come in to possession of 3 bits of kit by Cox Electronics. I've tried desperately to research them on the internet, but there is absolutely no information whatsoever on these units. I would really appreciate any advice on what the units are and what I should do with them. I did have them in my van to take to the recycling at the weekend but took them out again as thought they were worth investigating. Please see pictures attached. Thank you in advance! Attached Thumbnails

6th Oct 2022, 6:00 pm	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Cox Electronics Help Looks like some sort of matrix switch unit. Could have been used in a small TV studio of the kind you would find in colleges or universities in the 70s and 80s. __________________ I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk.

6th Oct 2022, 6:06 pm	#3
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Cox Electronics Help I thnk the last photo is an analogue RGB to PAL video converter. 3 separate modules in the rack, the actual encoder, the subcarrier oscillator, and the power supply. I have a similar (but less versatile) unit, along with a PAL decoder and a video amplifier unit that were used with a very rare thing called an I2S Model 70/E image processor/display. Mine did come from a university but was actually used to prepare signals for maor broadcast television.

6th Oct 2022, 6:28 pm	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Cox Electronics Help That could be Mike Cox, several pointers in here: https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Wir...m_per_page=100 Interesting article in here, Electronics World, August 2004,mag. page 10: https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Wir...chael%20cox%22 Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 6th Oct 2022 at 6:52 pm. Reason: link added

6th Oct 2022, 6:30 pm	#5
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Cox Electronics Help I'm pretty sure it is.

6th Oct 2022, 11:30 pm	#7
red16v Heptode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Winchester, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 638	Re: Cox Electronics Help It’s all (Mike) Cox equipment. The panel with the buttons on it is the operator panel to select the cross points on a 10 (in) by 8 (out) matrix. In other words to select any one of 10 inputs to any one of 8 independent outputs. The two silver fronted units sitting on top of one another are each 10 (in) to 4 (out) matrix units. I’m 99.99% sure the two boxes are interconnected to make a joint single unit of 10 (in) by 8 outputs- almost certainly controlled by the panel I described above. The final single silver fronted unit is a Cox video encoder. So, RGB inputs with coded outputs. Looks like this unit could encode to either PAL or NTSC but the module marked PAL coder 153 tells us that this is a PAL coder. These units were very commonplace in the broadcast environment in the 70s snd 80s and I wish I had a £ for everyone I tweaked. I’m glad you haven’t chucked these. As Vintage Engr says above Cox Electronics were very much into making one off bits and pieces for customers, the ‘matrix’ described above almost certainly falls into that category but the coder was an ‘off the shelf’ item available to all and sundry and I suspect they sold a lot - as in A LOT. These items may be useful to the BECG organisation so perhaps you might like to send a private message to Paul Marshall of this parish? I’m curious to know where these items came from, but anyhow please let us know how you get on.

7th Oct 2022, 9:18 am	#8
John Caswell Hexode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wokingham, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 437	Re: Cox Electronics Help Red16v is quite correct, we used to make a lot of custom router units as well as standard routers ie 6x1 RGB, 20x1 composite with/without audio followers, plus a range of PAL ,NTSC and PAL variation encoders as well as SECAM encoders, with associated decoders, specialised test /alignment equipment. The there were the vision mixers - standard items being 631,641 and 841 waterfall types, and a whole host of additional items - downstream keyers, chroma keyers. I spent 7-8 many happy years there John

7th Oct 2022, 9:40 am	#9
Amtec123 Pentode Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Reigate, Surrey, UK. Posts: 130	Re: Cox Electronics Help I agree with both of the above comments, sadly Mike passed away earlier this year. He was a great character and although he left Teddington just before I started, would often drop in for a chat with his former collegues. Like 'red16v' one of the first jobs for CAR in the morning was to "Colour phase" his PAL encoders (cameras, slide scanners, and telecines) to their asigned studios. The Cox 153 was a vast improvement stability wise on the old EMI coders that preceeded them. There is an excellent obituary on the IBC web site. RIP Mike __________________ It's alright leaving me.