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When The Holidays Went Electric - 1910 Mini Carbon Bulb

Another precious artifact from our electrical past - this time it's our Electrical Holiday past!  Here I show off a beautiful hand made carbon filament bulb from 1910 that was made for holiday decorations instead of those  old-fangled candles your parents used to use.   Enjoy!...

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The Spooky Action Of Mechanical Frequency Meters

Another forgotten and ingenious bit of tech from the glorious 20th Century!  How do you precisely detect and display a frequency without counting?  I take a look at and inside this beauty to find out.  Enjoy!

ht...

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Back In Business

Well gang, it seems like Patreon have gotten the messaging working again and I should be all caught up with thanking all of you who have come on board or upped your pledges this week.  If I have missed anybody please let me know! ☺

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No Reply At All

Hey everyone!  Just a note to say that I have not had access to messages on Patreon for about a day now, and trying to get the techs to sort out the issue.  Seems that they launched some kind of platform-wide change to the messaging system and I can no longer view or respond to messages...

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Mechanical Memory & Nixie Fun With BCD Switches!!!

Want a little nibble?  Then these BCD switches are a real treat to have around!  I bring out Big Iron and power up a Nixie to demonstrate how easy and fun these little guys are.  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/5_oUEVFN...

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Green Neon?? Now Wait A Minute!

I am very curious as to exactly what kind of gas mixture is used in these really tiny little green bulbs, but it ain't no neon!  Or ain't it?  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/7pKTlFfPaLw

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Still Amazing! 1950's Teleregister Numerical Displays

Another dive into forgotten technology - this is the Teleregister electro-mechanical display module from the 1950's.  Still very good at doing what it does after 60 some years, reliable and simple.  Why can't displays be this cool today?   Enjoy!

2020-12-07 03:17:08 +0000 UTC View Post

Another Cool Apollo Display - The Roto-Tellite

One more off my bucket list of Apollo Era displays - the cool Roto-Tellite!  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/T8drGBnPdsA

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Before You Buy An Antique Clock, Use Your Geiger Counter!

Ebay is a literal radioactive stockpile of 20th Century radium encrusted things.  In this video I talk about some of them.  Enjoy!   

https://youtu.be/xrZ0prLcV90


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Thanksgiving Lava Lamp Live!

Time to be thankful for all the lava we have in our lives, peculating like life itself, round and round, liquid hot magma of our existence....  in a bottle filled with oil.  Enjoy!  And be safe...

https://youtu....

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Edge-Lit For Fun! Mystery Fruit Machine Display

Either this came from the world's most generous slot machine or who knows what.  But I take a close look outside and inside, and it is pretty cool.  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/LvJN4Maea9I

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Could This Be The Oldest Working Light Bulb On YouTube???

The oldest electric artifact in my collection - a hand made Shelby carbon filament incandescent light bulb from the turn of the 20th Century.  Perhaps older than the famous Centennial Bulb, I take great care in bringing it back to life for you in 2020.  Enjoy!

2020-11-18 14:25:24 +0000 UTC View Post

What WD-40 Is REALLY For!

Are you really interested to know what the WD-40 on your shelf is actually intended to be used for?  Well, Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/aTD_SBudQfY

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Houston, We Have A Button!!! The Illuminated Switches Of Mission Control

Oh, I'm so happy about this one!  Taking you in close and intimate with one of the very same switches that populate the Apollo Era Mission  Control consoles.  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/DuZDcAhcTQo

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IEE Status Indicator Teardown

Another illusive IEE display device to investigate - the Status Indicator!  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/jTnjFOiEPsY

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Reaction To The NEW Pedal Movie Trailer!!!

Here's The Pedal Movie: Official Trailer -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCGNq7KjW8Q

https://youtu.be/bgzufzp46ag

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This Is Weird - Mystery Military Missile Switch

A riddle of a find.... not sure what to make of this one.  If you've got any ideas please leave a comment.  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/C73gqTP5XI4

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World's First Forgotten Electric Wonder - Chariot Race Of 1910

Lots of hours in this one and I hope you enjoy it!  Here is the forgotten tale of a long lost amazement, the Rice Electric Display Company's Fiery Roman Chariot Race animated display that debuted the night of June 18, 1910 on top of the Normandie Hotel in Herald Square on 38th Street in New ...

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How Mission Control's Big Displays Worked

Oh, I have really gone down the.... bat cave for this one!  Just how did those big displays in Mission Control really work?  Let me explore....  and Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/N2v4kH_PsN8

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1960's Incandescent Numerical Displays

Yes kids, before LEDs came along they had plenty of super cool numerical displays being used all over the place.  In this video I show some rare 7-segment incandescent displays and compare them to their more popular cousins, the one plane projection displays.   Enjoy!

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Developing The Nimo Display Tube - The Untold Story!

At last, the truth can be known!  IEE internal documents sent in by a  viewer who worked on developing the Nimo Tube tell the long and frustrating tale of its design, development, manufacture, and early promotion.  Lets get to it!

2020-10-14 04:12:01 +0000 UTC View Post

What Is Intelligence?

It is a basic law of nature that anyone who declares aloud to someone else that they themselves are very smart is definitely not.  But what is intelligence?  Let's think about it.

https://youtu.be/3W705qL-gyk

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Boss

It's been a long time since I've done an installment of Cassette Time -  but here's another short impromptu song made right into my portable cassette recorder.  Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/Ek6GkcT2P6w

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My Dad's Mysterious Sound Conditioner

Opening a family heirloom can be nerve wracking, but I will take this one in stride.  My Dad's Sound Conditioner needs a little TLC, and a little tear down - but gently!  Enjoy....

https://youtu.be/o1tD5Trm8h8 View Post

Insane Engineering: The Saturn F-1 Engine

 Not all the details, but enough to understand how this monster got going.  Enjoy!   

https://youtu.be/Z37MdvcSaFY

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128K!! Mission Accomplished!!!

We'll just keep it right here.  ☺ 

https://youtu.be/FQtBgfW7bug

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How Does A Latching Relay Work??

Ooops!  Had to fix and re-upload this one, so sorry about that first post!  Here we go for a second try....

Fresh from my parts bins, I present to you the majestic Mechanical Latching Relay!  Enjoy!   

2020-10-03 17:21:42 +0000 UTC View Post

FranLab Feedback On Green Energy, Batteries, Pedals, And More!

Time To Frant!  And answer your questions.... it's time for Feedback.  Enjoy!  

https://youtu.be/g1MTS8SO9Gs

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Replacing The Battery In A Honda Shadow 750

Time to change the battery in my 2005 Honda Shadow Spirit 750, so I thought I'd show you how it's done.  Enjoy!   

https://youtu.be/671GDfkXxh4

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Saturn V Quarterly Film Report No. 16 (1966)

This NASA film reports the progress in the Saturn V development in the last quarter of 1966.  Enjoy!    

https://youtu.be/937CktCsDW0

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