UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items

Notices

Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 10th Sep 2020, 1:27 pm   #1
Gridiron
Heptode
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 659
Default What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Does anybody know what the remains pictured are of? There is a crystal mic insert, a PCB with 3 OC71 transistors and some very small transformers, a crystal which could be 77 kHz from the markings, a mercury switch and a battery holder for an unknown battery at one end, possibly part of some kind of ultrasonic alarm?
Mike.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_9933.jpg
Views:	407
Size:	110.2 KB
ID:	215364   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_9934.jpg
Views:	324
Size:	115.8 KB
ID:	215365  
Gridiron is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 2:57 pm   #2
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

A pager, perhaps?

David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is online now  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 3:49 pm   #3
broadgage
Nonode
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

The mercury switch does perhaps suggest some type of alarm.
Perhaps a break glass detector ? with both acoustic detection of partial breakage/attempted breakage, and the mercury switch to detect substantial destruction, when the glass or remains thereof is no longer upright in the frame.

I have fitted a more modern version to glass display cases holding valuable items. These detect both attacks and complete breakage.
They are bonded to the glass and cant be removed. Any breakage of the glass OR failure of the sensor required replacement of the glass and the sensor as one item.
broadgage is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 4:03 pm   #4
Heatercathodeshort
Dekatron
 
Heatercathodeshort's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING.
Posts: 9,145
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

The components appear to date from the 1958-60ish. J.
Heatercathodeshort is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 4:18 pm   #5
AC/HL
Dekatron
 
AC/HL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

What orientation switches it on, assuming that is what the mercury switch does?
AC/HL is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 5:46 pm   #6
duncanlowe
Nonode
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,529
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

The company seems to have been involved in radio comms gear. I've found reference to airport systems.
duncanlowe is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 7:01 pm   #7
Graham G3ZVT
Dekatron
 
Graham G3ZVT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 18,676
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by duncanlowe View Post
The company seems to have been involved in radio comms gear. I've found reference to airport systems.

I thought "Cosmocord" just made the transducer.

They seem to be the same company as Acos, which I know well having used their microphones and crystal pick-ups.
__________________
--
Graham.
G3ZVT
Graham G3ZVT is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 7:31 pm   #8
Gridiron
Heptode
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 659
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

When the board is vertical the mercury switch connects it to the battery.
Gridiron is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 7:45 pm   #9
duncanlowe
Nonode
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,529
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rambo1152 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by duncanlowe View Post
The company seems to have been involved in radio comms gear. I've found reference to airport systems.

I thought "Cosmocord" just made the transducer.

They seem to be the same company as Acos, which I know well having used their microphones and crystal pick-ups.
Sorry, I was referring to Brush Crystal that appears on a couple of components.
duncanlowe is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 7:54 pm   #10
Gridiron
Heptode
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 659
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

The crystal was actually made by Brookes.
Gridiron is offline  
Old 10th Sep 2020, 8:14 pm   #11
duncanlowe
Nonode
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,529
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gridiron View Post
The crystal was actually made by Brookes.
Ah, OK. My bad (as they say).
duncanlowe is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2020, 10:17 am   #12
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Brush Clevite were an early maker of piezo-electric ceramic elements. And that idiotic memory in the back of my head also threw up that Brush was a major maker of tramcars and trolley buses... but were they related to Brush Clevite?

Brookes were a well known quartz crystal supplier.


David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is online now  
Old 11th Sep 2020, 10:37 am   #13
Hartley118
Nonode
 
Hartley118's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 2,196
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
Brush Clevite were an early maker of piezo-electric ceramic elements. And that idiotic memory in the back of my head also threw up that Brush was a major maker of tramcars and trolley buses... but were they related to Brush Clevite?

Brookes were a well known quartz crystal supplier.


David
What an interesting question David. And yes, both companies are traceable back to prolific American inventor and entrepreneur Charles Francis Brush who founded his research lab in Cleveland Ohio in 1919 withe idea, believe it or not, of developing a piezo-electric phono pickup.

See https://www.brushindustries.com/abou...e.aspx?id=1396

Fascinating!

Martin
__________________
BVWS Member
Hartley118 is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2020, 2:18 pm   #14
Radio Wrangler
Moderator
 
Radio Wrangler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,801
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Fascinating!

It sounds like Charles Francis Brush was what Edison wanted to be (and worked so hard at faking it!)

Have you uncovered a still practicing maker of tape heads?

David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done
Radio Wrangler is online now  
Old 11th Sep 2020, 4:08 pm   #15
Hartley118
Nonode
 
Hartley118's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 2,196
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
Fascinating!

It sounds like Charles Francis Brush was what Edison wanted to be (and worked so hard at faking it!)

Have you uncovered a still practicing maker of tape heads?

David
Well, I guess there are many millions of magnetic stripe readers out there. I'm always surprised and impressed that they work at all considering the poor condition of many a magnetic stripe and the random speed variation as a card is pulled through the reader.

Martin

PS An entrepreneur as creative as Charles Francis Brush always makes me feel inadequate. Still, he was unfortunately rather premature with his crystal pickup.
__________________
BVWS Member
Hartley118 is offline  
Old 14th Sep 2020, 8:49 am   #16
rontech
Heptode
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 646
Default Re: What is this, some kind of Alarm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hartley118 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
Fascinating!

It sounds like Charles Francis Brush was what Edison wanted to be (and worked so hard at faking it!)

Have you uncovered a still practicing maker of tape heads?

David
Well, I guess there are many millions of magnetic stripe readers out there. I'm always surprised and impressed that they work at all considering the poor condition of many a magnetic stripe and the random speed variation as a card is pulled through the reader.

Martin


PS An entrepreneur as creative as Charles Francis Brush always makes me feel inadequate. Still, he was unfortunately rather premature with his crystal pickup.


Our old ( 1937 ish ) Garrard RC4 autochanger had a crystal pickup head. It had the name Brush - Rothermel on it. There was also a high frequency crystal "tweeter" of the same make; but I never remember it being connected up. I suspect my father had tried it and found the 78 surface noise unbearable!
__________________
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
rontech is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 1:42 am.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.