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What is This?

06/04/2021 1:42 PM

Can you help identify what this device is? A friend bought it at a garage sale and doesn't have any info on it. The seller didn't know either. It's 16" x 11" at the base and is 10-1/4" high to the top of the plexiglass dome.

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#1

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 1:56 PM

That's the guidance system from my spaceship, been looking for it for years....I'll need that back....What ever you do don't plug it in....

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 2:41 PM

Good one!

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#2

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 1:58 PM

I would say that it is a very interesting piece of junk that at one time cost more money than 99% of the people will earn in their lifetime.

Any data plates on this device? Part numbers?

It looks like the azimuth might be adjustable. Perhaps its bearing was set by a rotating base underneath it?

Are there any RF coaxial connections? It sort of resembles an antenna array.

The mil-circular connectors and the lacing cord on the wire harness suggest military or space origins.

What is behind those black disks?

Are those synchros on the left side?

Can we get any pictures from the back?

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#4
In reply to #2

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 3:17 PM

There is a barely readable label on the back that looks more recent than the device. It says Visual Methods Inc. 5 Wortendyke Avenue, Montvale, NJ. It shows a model number that looks like HC454 Ser. No. 0357.

It looks like that business doesn't exist there anymore. There is company with that name that owns some patents.

The four discs appear to be clear plastic that rotate via wires wrapped around capstans. Each two diagonally opposed discs seem like they would spin together.

Yes, there seems to be several synchros or position transducers involved. Back picture below.

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#9
In reply to #4

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 8:11 PM

The cooling fan looks familiar. I would say this was used aboard an aircraft because I believe that is a 400 Hz tubeaxial fan. Those run over 20,000 rpm and are loud as hell. Super annoying to be around when they're running.

Synchros would suggest that this was controlled by something else further away or it was controlling something else further away.

If you can read the labels on the fan or synchros, they may indicate if they are 400 hz, because if so, it was definitely used aboard an aircraft.

The existing plexiglass cover might be something to keep it clean while in maintenance or something. That cover does not look like it would be been used operationally. The gasketed flange with all the mounting holes suggest some other type of dome was screwed down over it. The lack of RF coaxial connectors takes radio communications or radar applications off the table, unless some of those contacts in the three mil-circular connectors have coax contacts in them.

I'm thinking it was some sort of navigation equipment that resided in a pod on the top of the fuselage, perhaps for celestial navigation perhaps or a sun tracker or something like that.

I agree with Gringogreg, the vintage is somewhere between late 60's to early 80's military hardware. You may find datecode information on some of the labels of the installed parts.

It is an interesting piece nonetheless and an intriguing mystery. Does it appear to have any optics in there? Maybe Hooker knows?

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#11
In reply to #9

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 9:14 PM

The fan looks similar to this Rotron.

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#22
In reply to #4

Re: What is This?

06/05/2021 7:35 AM

I looked at their patents. None look related.


Searching US Patent Collection...

Results of Search in US Patent Collection db for:
AN/"Visual Methods"
: 4 patents.
Hits 1 through 4 out of 4

PAT. NO.Title
1

4,963,962

Optical surveillance assembly and camera

2

4,222,662

Access control system

3

4,175,775

Access control system

4

3,997,723

Compact unit for optical security system

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#5

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 5:08 PM

The design and construction appears to be robust and professional. Possibly this was for light shows for a disco or rock concerts. The construction appears to be consistent for the 1970's era.

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 5:19 PM

Yes, very robust design. Looks like it can handle a lot of shock and vibration. It does appear to have some kind of light source behind the spinning discs. I'm thinking a type of early heads-up display for aircraft or something. The chassis is painted a military green color.

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#8
In reply to #6

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 6:03 PM

I thought of this because many years ago a girl friend took me to a popular disco on Copacabana beach. Besides the very loud music (maybe that is why i now need a hearing aid) the disco featured an extravagant light show, synchronized with the music. Your device looks like something that could be used for this application. Of course, it is missing the power supply and the electronic drivers necessary to operate it.

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#30
In reply to #8

Re: What is This?

06/06/2021 11:58 PM

Was her name Lola? And was she a showgirl with yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there?

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#31
In reply to #30

Re: What is This?

06/07/2021 12:13 AM

That answer was definitely on the kinky side

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#32
In reply to #31

Re: What is This?

06/07/2021 12:22 AM

Not Kinky at all, but very Manily.

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#33
In reply to #32

Re: What is This?

06/07/2021 12:35 AM

Nup....
https://youtu.be/LemG0cvc4oU?t=4

First came out back in the day's that I wore an extremely short military hair cut and a uniform at the Academy...late '60s

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#35
In reply to #33

Re: What is This?

06/07/2021 5:29 PM

Hey! That's the Coca Cola version, not the 'cherry cola' version.

That's almost as hard to find as the original "Money For Nothing" song.

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#34
In reply to #32

Re: What is This?

06/07/2021 10:05 AM

Ruffles and chest hair. The best of both worlds. LoL

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#40
In reply to #32

Re: What is This?

01/19/2025 10:36 AM

Nice pirate shirt…

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#7

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 6:00 PM

Maybe a prop for a sci-fi movie.

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#10

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 8:26 PM

Definitely something military.

Way too many goes intos and goes out ofs for stage lights. Silicone rubber foam gaskets and OD paint look MIL also. Wire routing and ties look more like flight stuff.

Maybe the acrylic (polycarbonate?) dome is for demo's? The Al frame looks like it was treated with Alodine 1200 or some such.

Turn it upside down on a base and put some fish in it.

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#12

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 9:40 PM

They moved to Westwood, New Jersey. Established in 1978. Their CAGE Code information is below:

Details back

2R054 VISUAL METHODS INC CAGE Information CAGE 2R054 DUNS 069300986 StatusActive TypeU.S./Canada Manufacturer Established 07/03/1978 CAGE Update Date07/20/2007 CAGE Expiration SAM Expiration05/27/1998 Contact Information POC HERMAN KRUEGLE Phone 201-666-3950 Fax International Address 35 CHARLES ST P.O. Box City WESTWOOD County BERGEN State/Province NJ Country UNITED STATES Zip/Postal 07675 3106 Corporate URL

Also found this:

https://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/fii_query_detail.disp_program_facility?p_registry_id=110031935360

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#13
In reply to #12

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 9:40 PM

They might be interested in seeing some of their heritage.

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#14
In reply to #13

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 9:48 PM

Not at 35 Charles St. anymore. Probably out of business.

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#20
In reply to #16

Re: What is This?

06/05/2021 12:51 AM

This guy seems to be all about camera stuff, so maybe a camera guidance device that keeps a mounted camera pointed at one set spot while traveling in an airplane...

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#18
In reply to #12

Re: What is This?

06/04/2021 11:18 PM

Sonic Packaging Industries now