Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Other Stuff => Effects => Topic started by: Lectroid on November 27, 2023, 12:48:21 pm
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I'm hoping someone here can tell me anything more about this…
It’s a sound effects box I bought, thinking (wrongly) that it was tube-based. It’s solid state. No ICs at all, just discrete components wired onto turret boards and packed into a 19" rack cage. Its construction reminds me of the solid state boards I saw back in the 60s. It has a two-pronged cord, a 24V Stanco filament transformer, and a 4” Jensen speaker. The cap is 500uF/50V.
It has effects like door chimes, horn, buzzer, “clacker”, wailer (a growly siren), etc. I think it was made for early radio and/or tv production. A notice inside the case said the device was for rent to theaters for a whopping $25 per month.
It’s professionally engineered and assembled—this is not a prototype or someone’s one-off project. It has no maker’s label, but I can see a mark where some kind of small plate once sat on the control board. The device is built into a nice wooden case with brass corners. I’ve included shots of other markings I can see inside; maybe they’ll make sense to someone.
It's clearly outclassed by modern digital effects, but I bet it was the gold standard in its day, or close to it.
Can anyone can tell me more about what I have here? Educated guesses accepted at face value. :icon_biggrin:
Any suggestions for where I might research this further? Or more important, where I might sell/give/dispose of it?
Thanks in advance!
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More pics:
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It seems as well made at it is, it would have some outlet jacks to hook to a sound system or sound board. Don't even have a volume control that I could see. Your guess as good as any, radio/TV sound effects???? E-bay it, you might make a million$$$
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Hello,
From the documents I've found, it looks like this is an alarm system. The different alarms would be to notify the recipient of the severity and type of the alarm. Also judging by the lack of hook-ups and the box, this alarm was portable in nature.
This first link is for aircrafts. see Table 6 Aural Alert Characteristics starting on page 30:
https://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/rd76-222-1.pdf
Also from a US government Nuclear Plants Anunciator Systems. See auditory signal chapter starting page 14:
https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6168350
Take care everyone,
Paul
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RadioComm, thanks for these. I hadn't considered a military/industrial source at all so thanks for pointing me in that direction.
The second link was interesting. It led to a DOE safety report discussing various sounds that might be used as alarms to nuclear reactor operators. Many of my machine's controls are taken right off that list: high chime, low chime, electronic bell, clacker, horn, and wailer. The wailer in fact is not a typical siren. It's the deeper "30 seconds to automatic self-destruct" sound.
So great info, thanks. I am intrigued now. Maybe I can find a museum that wants it.
Here's the list from the DOE report.
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Indeed Lectroid, your flea market device is quite an interesting find. From the first document (FAA), table 6 provides the loudness and frequency specifications of the alerts (clips attached).
My best guess is that it started its life "rack mounted" on a small military craft (EP3, PT boat, etc.) to alert the crew to either hunker down, take battle stations, or abandoned ship depending on the situation. It was then excessed in favor of a smaller digital device, installed in a wooden box, and re-purposed for entertainment productions. Maybe any theater or movie production needing a military style alert system.
Now I wonder if Star Trek got their original yellow and red alerts from an actual military box... :icon_biggrin:
Thanks for the post. This was fun.
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RC:
Thanks again. Your aircraft origin sounds plausible when I look at how heavily overbuilt and solid it is. Every nut is still tight after what, 70 years? But I can't see it as an automatic aircraft system because there are no wire inputs; every sound has to be triggered by its own switch or button. If you release the control, the sound stops.
Maybe this was a military/industrialclassroom training device, a demonstration unit? The military loves training classes
If I learn any more I'll post it here.
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Would love to hear clips of the different sounds.