click once to enlarge. the device is about 16 tall x 16 inches wide x 7 in. deep
Related post (about another thing the purpose of which I couldn’t figure out): Anyone Know What This Thing Is?
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Posted by wickle on August 9, 2008 at 12:15 pm
For one thing, it’s just about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. If I’d had one of these as a kid, I might never have needed other toys.
It looks like an old radio set (ham radio, maybe?).
Posted by John Shore on August 9, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Yeah, that what’s I thought: that it’s a RADIO … something. This lame photo I hurredly took of it (whilst zipping by to pick up my wife from work) doesn’t do justice to how SHINY and new the thing looks. Here it looks quite dark/dingy. But it’s … engagingly new-looking. I love it. It confuses the heck out of me—but so much does. I wonder if anyone will know, really, what it is?
Posted by FreetoBe on August 9, 2008 at 2:48 pm
It’s a signal generator, made in about 1951.
What is a signal generator? (from Wiki) They are generally used in designing, testing, troubleshooting and repairing electronic or electroacoustic devices;…..
Some guy has a copy of the manual online at:
ftp://bana.sbc.edu/downloads/paco/e200c/
Wish I had time to look at the manual….I’m thinking it has to do with radio something-or-other. Measures signals? Sends signals? That part in the middle looks like something my dad used to use in designing buildings.
Posted by FreetoBe on August 9, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Actually, you would have to be an engineer in order to read it, either sending or receiving.
Posted by samwrites2 on August 9, 2008 at 7:55 pm
John,
FreetoBe got it right. Mostly used for fixing radios.
When hooked to a speaker it’s easier to think of as a “Tone” generator instead of a “Signal” generator.
Used a descendant to fix radios used to call in close air support when I was in an Air Support Operations Center, or ASOC, in the USAF.
Ah, RF signals. I remember the 60 hertz tone well as it scrambled my brain and hearing. Imagine listening to Billy Preston’s “Space Race” over and over and over and over…
You could probably use it these days to make electronica dance music, John.
You could be “DJ Sudden Christian.”
How’s that sound?
-Sam
Posted by Skerrib on August 9, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I think it came from the Bat Cave.
Posted by John Shore on August 9, 2008 at 10:55 pm
THE BAT CAVE!
Man, I wish I’d thought of that. Too funny!!!!! Excellent.
Posted by Harlan Reinders on August 10, 2008 at 4:48 am
It’s a Signal Generator. But the bigger question is what is the purpose of the quiz?
Posted by John Shore on August 10, 2008 at 5:53 am
The purpose of this quiz is threefold: 1. To give people something to kind of marvel at for a moment; 2. To give people a chuckle; and 3. For us, as a group, to discover what this thing is. Thus are we excited, entertained, and enlightened.
Posted by skerrib on August 10, 2008 at 10:14 am
I disagree; I’m amused, but not excited at all. Please send my $1000 ASAP.
Posted by John Shore on August 10, 2008 at 10:37 am
Really? You didn’t marvel at this thing at ALL?
Posted by skerrib on August 10, 2008 at 10:53 am
It was more of a quiet reverence.
Posted by John Shore on August 10, 2008 at 11:52 am
Oh, I’m sorry, but our judges have ruled that reverence—no matter its decibel level—is closer to excitement than it is to amusement. But please feel free to play our game again any time!
Posted by skerrib on August 10, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Doggone it, I really had high hopes on that one!
Posted by John Shore on August 10, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Well, it was a close call. And you tried. That’s what really matters, don’t you think? Even receiving 1,000 tax free dollars can’t compare to the satisfaction of knowing that you faced a challenge, and tried your best.
Posted by Cibola on August 11, 2008 at 4:35 am
Cool. It made me want to turn some knobs….but what I REALLY wanted to do was pull that little brass chain thingy.
Posted by John Shore on August 11, 2008 at 5:57 am
Cibola: I felt the same way! I WAS going to pull that chain: but I feared the world would explode.
Posted by arlywn on August 11, 2008 at 6:58 am
I’m sticking with time travel.
Posted by Yvette on August 11, 2008 at 7:26 am
This is a generator for radio, so says my husband!
Posted by Cibola on August 11, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Pull the chain!!! DO it!!
Posted by Forestwalkerjoe on August 13, 2008 at 10:40 am
My first impression was that it looked like an old siezmology machine.. for marking Earth Quakes.. but then i thought.. no.. maybe its a signal scrambler for radio or a moris code reciever.
I think its the middle one.. some sort of signal Jammer.