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Mystery Part — Parallax Forums

Mystery Part

ercoerco Posts: 20,259
edited 2011-10-24 13:21 in General Discussion
Whippersnappers (everyone under 20): You probably know Java, HTML, C++, and machine code. But do you know what THESE are? EVERYONE had 'em.

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Old guys rule and know NOT to post the answer here. It's more fun to drive the kiddies mad. Post YOUR mystery part here.
mystery.jpg
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Comments

  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-10-22 10:13
    I'm totally guessing here - Is this some sort of insulator put between a vacuum tube and the board it was mounted on? It looks like it's designed to fit different sizes due to the curved patterns on the outside.

    Of course, I'm probably TOTALLY wrong, in which this will seem quite funny to read my reasoning. :)
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-10-22 10:13
    Try again Micro...

    I'm 45 years old, so I know what they are.

    C.W.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-10-22 10:19
    Ok, is this even related to electronics or computers in any way? (It would be mean of erco to trick us like that!)
    Assuming it is, it looks like some sort of insulator. However, seeing as some old computers were programmed in strange ways, could this be some sort of programming key? Even if it was, I have no idea how it would work.

    Maybe it's a type of wire clip, possibly to keep the wire from getting too near a high-voltage source. I've seen something like that in a tube TV coming off of the cathode ray tube.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-10-22 10:24
    I'm 69 and I haven't a clue what they are. :)
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-10-22 10:27
    Leon wrote: »
    I'm 69 and I haven't a clue what they are. :)

    They must not have had anything to do with the Transputer or the "X" chip then...

    C.W.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-10-22 10:30
    I only had them in Black. The Red one are cool!
  • stamptrolstamptrol Posts: 1,731
    edited 2011-10-22 10:33
    Nice, Erco!

    You've got a fortune there! And the high performance red ones, too!

    The store we got the the "main component" from used to charge us 5 cents each..................when I made $1 an hour.

    Must dig into the "archives" and see if I can find a similar poser.

    Cheers,
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-10-22 10:36
    stamptrol wrote: »
    You've got a fortune there! And the high performance red ones, too!

    Sort of like spark plug wires, for some reason color makes a difference...

    C.W.
  • Mike2545Mike2545 Posts: 433
    edited 2011-10-22 10:40
    Mine was solid...never had one of the new-fangled ones
  • LevLev Posts: 182
    edited 2011-10-22 10:54
    Mike2545 wrote: »
    Mine was solid...never had one of the new-fangled ones

    Wow. Nostalgia trip. Haven't seen one of those since the early 19XX's (not revealing the era). Mine were all solid too, no slots.
  • ratronicratronic Posts: 1,451
    edited 2011-10-22 11:00
    erco you could give them a clue to think about.
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-10-22 11:02
    Rat, I gave them one, Leon didn't, or maybe by way of comparison he did...

    C.W.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-10-22 11:05
    What those things did individually, my family had a mechanism for that did a bunch at once.

    -Phil
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2011-10-22 11:08
    You could even find them in white, black, or even in cast metal. I'm sure I have a couple in my basement somewhere.
  • ratronicratronic Posts: 1,451
    edited 2011-10-22 11:18
    I was going to post something like that Phil but the way I worded it gave to much away so I didn't submit it.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2011-10-22 11:18
    I think they are parts to build structures with. Sort of like Legos, but with only one component. Similar sets are usually found in the gift shop of science museums.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-10-22 11:19
    Using more than one of those things at a time also required a "balancing arm."

    -Phil
  • Mike2545Mike2545 Posts: 433
    edited 2011-10-22 11:21
    Lets not go round in circles with this.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2011-10-22 11:38
    Never needed these as the function was built into the one I had. I always thought they were part of a Communist conspiracy that started in the mid 40s.

    -- Gordon
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-10-22 12:35
    The red ones are cool.
    '
    The ones I used were all black.
    '
    Due they still make these?
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-10-22 12:38
    $WMc% wrote: »
    '
    Due they still make these?

    Not while erco has so many to put on ebay. :)

    Jim
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-10-22 12:40
    $WMc% wrote:
    Due they still make these?
    Indeed, they do. In fact there's an entire website devoted to the things, and they come in more varieties than I knew existed.

    -Phil
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-10-22 12:47
    At least tell me this: are these in any way related to electronics??
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-10-22 13:05
    Yes. When you use them, you're also using electronics. (However, the electronics aren't strictly necessary.)

    -Phil
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-10-22 13:20
    SRLM wrote: »
    I think they are parts to build structures with. Sort of like Legos, but with only one component.....

    Throw in some popsicle sticks and you were good to go.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-10-22 13:22
    OK, another hint please! What were these used as, e.g. Was this a toy of some sort? Was it something for your car? Did you use it around the house? etc.

    Seriously, I don't have a clue.
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2011-10-22 13:22
    You didn't need rotary encoders to count revolutions back then...

    HINT: One of these came in handy with erco's parts.
    Part2.jpg
    Part2.jpg
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  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2011-10-22 13:32
    At 63 I've used a great many of these!

    @
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-10-22 13:33
    The things they were used with were, like, totally groovy, man!

    -Phil
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2011-10-22 13:35
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    Never needed these as the function was built into the one I had. I always thought they were part of a Communist conspiracy that started in the mid 40s.

    -- Gordon

    The red ones look like they could the logo for some political party!

    @
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