Vintage Stroboscope Fix or Fail?

[@Ricopolico]

I can hear my buddy, John (too) laughing his ass off. ALL those miniature fuses, and you STILL end up at The Shack. Keep it up, Scout, you're on the right track.

[@wallyarent6548]

Great show 60 years ago,I would go to army navy surplus stores to check out old military electronics It's this kind of thing that started alot of my life long hobby

[@1D10CRACY]

Wow! You made that shine like a new penny! There is just something about older equipment like that makes me smile! I think it's knowing there was a lot of pride that went into the design and build quality.

[@ScoutCrafter]

They don’t make stuff like this today just the quality alone just seem like it was made to last a lifetime or through a nuclear war. 🫣😂👍

[@jackthompson2132]

Interesting show. You only fail if you quit. I don’t believe you are a quitter. Thank You for sharing John.

[@michaellindsay8934]

Beautiful clean-up I'm sure you will get it going. Someone will know what to look for. Thanks for sharing your expertise John.

[@ko2fjb]

Hey John, appreciate the shout out. I never realized they had such an intricate circuit. I would love to tear into it, very interesting. I will now be searching for stroboscope info, send me the model and I'll see what I can find to help get it working.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Fred- Honestly I’ve never seen such clean and organized wiring. The quality of these units were amazing. 😃👍

[@ko2fjb]

​@@ScoutCraftertwice I've tried sending the link here and it gets deleted. I'll see if I can find your email.

[@drivesalot0063]

Whether you get it working or not, it will still be neat to hear about it. Boy, those old electronic units were sure classy looking. Workmanship counted in that era. You did a great job on it. Thanks Scout. 😉👍

[@AricBolf]

I haven’t been a fan of blueing on tools, not saying it’s bad or anything, just not a fan. However, that blueing on the handle of the stroboscope is an amazing idea. I could use that same idea on bike repairs. Now you got me thinking.

[@richardross7219]

Radio Shack went out of business in my area. In the 1980s, I had a Radio Shack tube tester kit(like Heathkits). I couldn't get it to work right so I gave it to a friend. Good Luck, Rick

[@beerdrinker6452]

I am shocked that you are not a dues paying member of the Society for Fuse Engineers. As always a very educational video.

[@andyc972]

Thanks John, what a fascinating piece of equipment, your level of electronics seems to be around the same level as mine, hopefully someone out there will have the answer for you, it would be great to get it working again, the case came up beautifully, great work !

[@johnkelley9877]

It is amazing how well it cleaned up and I am sure you will get it working soon. Thanks for sharing this.

[@troyb1733]

I hope you get it working John. I printed labels for years and we all used really cool strobe lights to make the web that was flying by look like it was standing still. We turned our press lights off and used our strobes and when you looked across the shop it was a site to see with them all blinking.

[@pabloantelo2946]

Amigo a mí me alcanza con que se vea limpio y brillante por fuera. Tu tienes mucha paciencia para hacer tantas pruebas, yo ya hubiera tirado la toalla hace rato. Saludos desde Uruguay

[@bobhart1155]

Beautiful clean up on the case. And with all the talent here, someone will come forward with helpful advice to get it operating again. Looking forward to it.

[@lotsatrains]

Case sure came out great I wonder if some of those old capacitors are causing problems because they are known for going bad over time and usually need replacement

[@13thworker45]

John the 3 prong plug twist might need to be covered. It could be a photo cell. Cover it with black tape and try again. They turn lights on at night. It looks similar to a photocell for the mercury vapor fixtures. Good luck

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jess! Very good!! Thanks!!!

[@ryannash9582]

Another great video, ScoutCrafter! 👍🏻 The Stroboscope turned out very nicely post cleanup. Will be interested to see if you can get it working again. I know you’re really not an electronics guy but I loved seeing you tear into this piece in an attempt to diagnose and repair whatever is not functioning.

[@stevenwitt4028]

Great video 👍 The vintage stroboscope video was very interesting and great to see. The wire harness was really cool to see how neat they bundle them together and all the Components neatly Soldered in place. They did a fantastic job back then 👍. The strobe light 💡 could be burnt out?? Or a open capacitor which may have caused the fuse to blow?? You did a awesome job with the clean up on this unit, it turned out Fantastic 👍👍. Well again great video and can’t wait to see how it turns out on Friday. 😃👍👍

[@ScoutCrafter]

Steven- I’ve never seen such clean wiring! 😃👍

[@rawbacon]

I like when old electronics have the schematics label on the inside of the case.....For hobbyist like us electronics can be challenging for sure.....Last couple projects (Computer Speaker System & Heat Gun) I came out as the victor but not always the case when I mess with electronics.⚡💥

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

You cleaned that up like new Scout so I really hope you get it working. We get “The Pink Stuff” here in Australia too and it’s my favourite cleaner. Cheers, Stuart 🇦🇺

[@madamecampsalot6384]

Wow!! It looks brand new...but better!

[@johnroberts7280]

Looks great John lookin for Friday

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

What an amazing piece of kit. My suggestion would be a collaboration with Buzz 1151. His videos are amazing and repairing the electrics would be an amazing episode.

[@stevef8993]

That’s a great candidate for Mr. Carlson’s Lab! I’m sure the caps are bad but probably one of the tubes is bad also.

[@saigaking]

Not a failure just another challenge to fix great show John God bless take care 🇺🇸🇳🇿🇮🇱🗽🪖🦅🦔🐕🐝🐬47

[@crr8297]

There are user manuals online but I didn't find a schematic, the manuals didn't have the 3 prong plug in the back, my guess is it's a socket for remote control and the plug is a jumper. The black area on the flash tube is normal but it could still be bad, no way to test it except by substitution. If it were mine I would start by testing the tubes, you could measure the voltages on the can type electrolytic capacitors, voltage rating on the side of the can will give you an approximate voltage to expect. Be careful, strobes use high voltage to strike the flash tube, 1000 + volts or more.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes- I agree- Tubes first, then strobe, then convert to lamp. 🫣😂👍

[@rawbacon]

Forgot to mention yesterday I have flashlight bulbs in that same grey & green packaging as your old Radio Shack fuses. Not sure what year I bought them but I went and checked the package and there's no bar code or anything on them but I'm quite certain it was the 80s or 90s and they're marked 99 cents.

[@terryrogers1025]

You will find someone in your subscribers who will know, if anyone would know, you have some pretty knowledgeable subscribers young man, stay the course, it will work. Thanks for the video, enjoyed it.

[@prasadvn524]

That was s thorough cleanup job.❤

[@philparker1666]

Beautiful job on that case Scoutcrafter, every faith that you'll get it working 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇬🇧✌️

[@alexstools]

I wish I knew any electrics..did you do the wrinkle paint with pink stuff too? I'm always struggling with cleaning wrinkle paint.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Alex- Once cleaned and rinsed Johnson’s paste wax!

[@JohnSmith-yl6dn]

Mr. Carlson has got his poop in a group. That man is on point. They don’t come any smarter than that guy.

[@lwoodt1]

A colaboration with Mr Carlson would be very interesting indeed.

[@ScoutCrafter]

It’s people like him that make you feel like you slept thru half your schooling. 🫣😂👍

[@paulsworkshop4179]

What a great looking unit. You’ll get it working, but if not it will look great on a shelf.

[@icfreelynow]

I sure miss Radio Shack. Check your email, lol

[@jimronchetto8592]

Great video, John! I'm looking forward to this thing strobing!

[@stevenpressley5956]

Just reach out to Uncle Doug. This is right up his alley.

[@Blackys-Boy]

wow, that Stroboscope case looks amazing!

[@archived_turkeys6487]

Almost always the capacitors, which deteriorate over time - and leak. Especially old ones made from paper and wax. I learned this from watching the experts - who often replace all the old capacitors before even giving it a try.

[@robertphillips93]

The historical side of tube style valves shows us that particular mode of failure was common enough in radios and tvs to warrant having a big 'ol tube tester in every Rexall pharmacy -- with shelving included for stock to enable the sales clerk (!) to fulfill the indicated replacement need. Such were the barbarians of yesteryear, who couldn't just chuck the whole unit in the local landfill and have a brand new model delivered tomorrow . . .

[@ScoutCrafter]

Those old tube testers were glorious! 😃👍

[@TomGunnTools]

Looking forward to seeing you get that thing to work!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Tom- Maybe it will be a lamp? 😂👍

[@AndyM.]

You WILL be victorius, BECAUSE I believe in you!!!!!!!

[@LoStivale]

The case came out great. Hopefully you can get the unit working.

[@mumfordalien1794]

Hey I noticed that while you were looking at the underside… there is a part that has 6 prongs with wires soldered to 4 of them, the other two prongs are empty. I don’t know if that is by design or maybe a couple wires were disconnected? Could be?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Good point!

[@88ariesk]

That blue plug has a non replaceable fuse in it. It wont take a whole lot of power before they blow. Remember that if you use that cord.

[@patrickrhin9152]

Hey !John vraiment un très beau nettoyage, le stroboscop est comme neuf. A vendredi pour la suite. ❤

[@naznomad635]

All us guys in the UK looking at your mains plugs like yhhh naah.

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂. It’s true! But we only use 115v so maybe that’s why they seem so weak. 😂👍

[@setdown2]

Well the case looks good...😅🤣...that's a start.🖖

[@joeschulz7997]

Great job on the case, John. Was that Raido Shack packaging from your attic? You know that with failure comes success. Im sure someone can help. Good stuff as usual. 👍🏻😀🇺🇲

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes- that was my Dad’s fuse from the attic. 😃👍

[@bigvicsworkshop]

Feeling your aggravation..i have the same...trying to replace the tranformer on my berg display... the old one is 4000v and I bought one that 3Kv (switching from coil/core to eletric) well the 3kv only pushes light thru maybe 30 inches of neon... the 4kv ones I've seen and self adjusting ones are pricy... so thinking of getting a 5kv that has an adjustment to dim light..lol...I know nothing about eletronics....so it's all a gusinng game for me....sorry to ramble...but understand your poistion...

[@ScoutCrafter]

Vic- Yes! Driving Neon needs that punch! They still make those signs so maybe there is a less expensive alternative somewhere. 🤔😃👍

[@rollerbald]

What a beautiful piece of equipment! Paul Carlson eats that kind of stuff for breakfast!😁Contact him - he might like to do a video on that stroboscope. Buzz1151 has a great electronics restoration channel as well, although he does mostly vintage radios.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Paul is just amazing. Been watching him for years and hope to pick up a top or two although much of it just flys right over my head. 😂👍

[@5000go2]

That is a genorator twist lock 3-pin. Makes sense it would have the hook ups being something the military probably used. I would say the light itself is burned out

[@GuntersGarage]

Wow the shell came out like new!! I cant help with your issue though. Im certain a sub will have some insight.

[@andrewcollins7783]

Another way of checking which side is Hot. Continuity between one of the AC inlet pins and the fuse with the switch on. Hot (active) is fused. All of those capacitors would be dried out.

[@robfahey1349]

Im wondering if the capacitor just went on it over time, that or maybe testing the transformer there

[@tomdale1313]

thxs for sharing...

[@1lupus]

i had to laugh at the trip to the shop for a fuse. I am the same. I collect hardware and each time I need something I don't have, I always buy extra. With any given job I spend 10 minutes going through my stores, before giving up and going to the hardware shop to get what I am missing. EDIT: I think I missed some ScoutCrafter humour? RadioShack? Did you have to get in the 81 DeLorian for the trip?

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂😂😂

[@Reggyontheroad]

Get you Wednesday lol

[@MrBoom246]

BOOM 😂😂😂😂

[@grounded-b937]

Typically if it's working, you would hear a high pitch noise coming from the circuitry. There is a large capacitor, which needs to charge up and then discharge through the Zenon lamp. A lot like an electronic photo flash

[@rldunn73ify]

The fact that you touched every piece of glass in the side of that it will now be damaged. You're not supposed to touch strobed glass or tube glass.

[@MrBoom246]

To late old man 😂😂😂

[@scottwallace5180]

That unit you twist removed from the unit with the 3 blade pins. The only other time I have seen those connections was on photo cell units, one pin is neutral, one is live coming in and the other is switched live. Just a thought

[@ScoutCrafter]

Thanks Scott! This is the only Stroboscope I’ve seen with that. 🤔😃👍

[@scottwallace5180]

@@ScoutCrafter yep but you would not want it working in the daytime. Have a good day John

[@57WillysCJ]

I forgot today is Wednesday.😝 Say do those work like a timing light?

[@royreynolds108]

Yes

[@ScoutCrafter]

Yes! I will demo one on Friday.

[@marko11kram]

If you smell Ozone, stop!

[@TheKidFromYTown]

Cleaned up really well. Looks good. I can't believe you didn't have a fuse handy with all that surplus you have or, was it just easier to purchase new than search through all that? 🤓

[@ScoutCrafter]

No I did have a fuse, the radio shack thing was just a joke as they closed here years ago! 🫣😂👍

[@TheKidFromYTown]

@@ScoutCrafter I know they closed most of the Radio Shack stores down including their stores near me in Austintown and Boardman, OH but we do have one that is still open in Salem, OH. So, while I thought it was kinda weird, I just figured you still had one open near where you live too.

[@garypannone7755]

It doesn't work but it sure does look good. Like the Beach Boy songs. No Go Show Boat. LOL

[@pjb1985]

Very nice work. I learn something new with each episode 🫡

[@Reggyontheroad]

Gotcha I’ve been boomed Wach out Wednesday 👍👍🔩🔩