Huge stretch of images ahead.

So a friend, who will remain nameless in these chronicles unless he (that's the only hint you'll get) wishes to be named, has been keeping an eye on an equipment recycling drop point near his beaten path. Occasionally something of interest or use appears, and if we're quick it is harvested (as opposed to recycled). I stand by my position that reuse is more efficient than recycling; and, for the record, I understand we are sanctioned to harvest materials from this point - just don't ask me for my papers.

Anyhow, word of some transformers passed along the wire so I grabbed the van to do some picking. Amidst the pile of stuff was this decommissioned Rigaku something or other, which, in addition to the 5U modular frames which were admittedly the eye catching aspect is built upon a very well constructed steel frame.

Very solid and as far as I can tell, pretty precise in terms of a level plane up top. This has become my first choice in base for the languishing CNC build, effectively putting a bit of wind in my sails.

Current line of thought is to put the computer in the lower 5U rack bay (which faces the fan panel to left) and build or rehouse the 24 volt linear power supply for the stepper motors in the top bay. I believe both my large rack mount PSU are too tall to simply slide into the case as is, but measurement will be double checked before I go much further.

The 5U frames are just the icing on the cake.

Here's some of the stuff pulled from the frames...

Backplane connection buss.

Socketed solid state relays.

Headers on the back side of this.

This all hails from 1992.

Heatsink!

Curious if the liberal use of ADC means analog to digital converter, might be some fun stuff socketed in here.

Those black-dip parts claim to produce 250 Vac from 5 Vdc. Perhaps some day I'll put that claim to test.

Through hole logic central. Guess that statement can apply to most of these boards.

I'm happy a fair margin of these ICs are socketed.

Some contained switching supplies pulled from the unit (not counting the ones in the PSU box still installed in the frame as seen above). A couple 5A +5, a 2.8A +5/0.5A -5/0.5 A +12 and a 7A +24. One of the potted 250 Vac 10A mains noise filters seen to the right will wind up in my Tektronix R 556 (if it will fit), since I've been dragging my feet on procuring that part. Thinking the +5 supplies will be a workable foundation to a Lunetta type build.

Which brings me to this. Digital logic ICs from 1977.

Also amidst the wiring in the Rigaku were this cool AC mains wires.

Oh yeah, transformers. That's what lured me out in the first place.

C core power transformers, some (most) of which have multi-tapped primary windings labelled 200-210-220 volts. At least one of these will be wired up as a non isolated step down transformer providing a 115 and a 110 tap from the 120 volt mains supply for my older tubed equipment built for 110-117 volts. Such fine tuning of the wall supply will prolong tube and component life.

Let's have a look at a couple drum machine sections from the organ donor pile.


Here's the drum accompaniment section from the Wurlitzer 4373. This one stands out as being a contender for rehousing due to its compact nature. Pattern selection is achieved via rocker switch as opposed to radio buttons, so stacking up genres does not require a deft hand.

In looking at the neatly stacked PCBs at left, I believe we've got analog sounds at top and digital logic amidst the spread of ICs on the lower PCB. I dig the simple user interface on this thing, visualizing it in a dark wooden enclosure is a snap.


Here are the auto accompaniment modules for a (near as I can figure) 1969 Thomas Organ, each self contained in a stapled shut press-board enclosure.


The "Playmate" was less than forthcoming with offering up a top side gut shot, what with the staples and all, but I'm going to guess that this perspective is actually the more interesting of the two anyway. I believe the circuit board at left contains the sound module portion of things, based on the type of wire connecting. Looks like four primary sounds that are mixed into a drumset (noise and high-mid-low oscillators would be my guess).

The board at right interfaces with the radio button strip, which would probably be ousted for discrete switching in the event I get around to rehousing this unit too. This would be my candidate for pattern source.

They don't make them like that any more, who needs connectors interfacing between the circuits anyway?


And who needs a backing band when they can use one of these? The Band Box. I like this enclosure framework a lot, too bad they wrapped it in cardboard. Potential remains..

My contemplative abilities have sort of abandoned me on this one. I don't see a multi-pattern sequencer and sound source here, so logically I'm leaning toward this being a pattern sequencer. That said, as I recall organs operate via a bank of manually operated switches passing oscillator output, and being that there was not a bank of relays a simple sequencer would meet with difficulty tapping into the oscillator banks (which so far as I know do not respond to CV for instruction). When I was tearing this one down I was in more of an "I need some space" instead of an "I wonder how this works" frame of mind, more's the pity.

A heap of RCA transistors in a (presumably) functional black box. There, I feel better.

Took part in an organ grinding party last weekend.


Wurlitzer 4373, the organ donor.


Not really a whole lot to it, the disassembly that is. Most (if not all) console organs were built by hand, which is a boon to disassembly as it can be achieved with simple hand tools and minimal destruction. Pictured above are some sections of the Orbit synthesizer that was being extracted prior to tossing the rest into a rendering pot.


I picked up most of the remaining mash, including woodwork which was promptly flattened into as close an approximation of sheet stock as I could muster with minimal fuss. Included in this heap of discrete transistor constructions was the above contained circuit, sealed away from curious fingers. The ICs are marked "X", Google isn't being very helpful regarding coughing up a datasheet. I'm guessing it's a high frequency circuit based on tuning cap and that weave of wire, which probably exhibits just enough capacitance for that shape to be meaningful.


I love looking at this. I'd hate to have to work on it (more than I have to, what with some of these old mixers hanging about) so it's a lot easier to plunder guilt free.