I found a 5-1/4 drive today, Part 2

by **Tdarcos** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:30 pm

AArdvark wrote:This one has a sticker that claimed it had been refurbished in 1984. I fail to see how it could have been damaged enough to need refurbishment. Face it, they are the cockroaches of the telecommunication world.

THE
OLD BEFORE ITS TIME
AARDVARK

A lot of these older phones had gel or oil fillings inside. It is possible these were leaking or had bad chemicals like PCBs in them and these needed to be removed. It could also be the wires got old, perhaps the bell didn't ring right. So they fix anything on it that's wrong and it's "refurbished". Let's say the plastic rotary dial was cracked, which it could be, so they replaced it.

by **AArdvark** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:03 pm

This one has a sticker that claimed it had been refurbished in 1984. I fail to see how it could have been damaged enough to need refurbishment. Face it, they are the cockroaches of the telecommunication world.

THE
OLD BEFORE ITS TIME
AARDVARK

by **Tdarcos** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:10 pm

I noticed the phone was Automatic Electric. That's GTE's manufacturing division, similar to Western Electric being the manufacturing division of AT&T.

I had a desktop model I bought for about $2 from a second hand store, it was the kind that if you flipped the dial around you could use it as a wall-mounted phone. They built them back in the days when if you dropped it on the floor, you inspected the floor for damage.

Opened the jack and connected the wires, it worked just fine. I opened it up, the manufacturing date was like October 11, 1955. I was like 22 or so, which meant the phone still worked and it was 27 years old.

by **AArdvark** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:31 pm

I assume everyone has seen the test video by now. Here's a quick rundown on the process:

I started with this Halo warthog. Who plays with this stuff anyway?

Ripped that sucker apart soon as I got it out of the box!

Then I pulled all the guts out of the phone. I never knew they had so much metal in them. No wonder they weigh a ton

Does the transformer really pump up the DC volts that high? Man, don't drop it in the tub!

The bells of course will be installed in the new toaster so I know when it pops up. This will be a replacement for the old dysfunctional brave-little-toaster that has been regulated to the attic.

by **Flack** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:43 pm

It was to me -- at least, one arrived for me (sent June 11).

I'm actually, I now have a surplus of working drives. If you need one ICJ, I'll ship one of them your way.

You're welcome for the phone (Aardvark), it's the least I can do. I'm still putting together a bigger, better package. I'm just slow at shipping.

by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:31 pm

Wait, you didn't send ME a drive, did you? On June 11th? Was that to Flack? Is there a floppy drive box in my bushes??

by **AArdvark** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:54 pm

THANK YOU FOR THE PHONE!

I've been looking for one of these for a few years now. Now my nefarious scheme is almost complete. Mua-hahahahah! (rubs hands together like a fly)

Seriously, We were having dinner at the National Hotel one time and I noticed that they had one of these desktop rotary phones on the hostess podium. I was THIS close to cutting the wire with a butter knife and wrapping it under my coat as we left. Best I could do was to take a picture of it, which isn't the same thing at all.

Now.... off to my brother's house and see if one of the nephews has a remote controlled car they don't want!

THE
PROJECT CLOSES
AARDVARK

by **AArdvark** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:14 pm

This one comes complete with a floppy disk! Dunno if there's anything on it tho...

It's been sitting in the shop for the past twelve years so there's probably a lot of minuscule metal chips on the magnetic reader head. Probably should clean the crap out of it with one O those cleaner discs. Do they even sell those anymore?

THE
DISCOUNT BIN AT
RADIO SHACK
AARDVARK

(Edit: It's in the mail, should be there by Monday even if you're not)

by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:08 pm

Ah, no sweat then - if you get a chance, please give it a wet, sloppy kiss from me, however!

by **AArdvark** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:15 pm

I might be able to come up with two of them. The first one I sent to Flack didn't work. I dunno about these other two, maybe good maybe not. I have no way to test them so when one shows up on your doorstep it's like Forrest Gump with a box of chocolates.

THE
RUN AARDVARK, RUN

by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:58 pm

Well, shit. If you find one that does work, let me know - I'm sort of in the lookout for one.

by **AArdvark** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:04 pm

Pix soonest, This one might work, but it might not. Since I have nothing to install it into that wouldn't laugh at me I can't tell. I'll be wrapping up up to ship in a day or so stay tuned!

I found a 5-1/4 drive today, Part 2

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