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59frite

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ok. so i haave introduced myself, and added a few photos.

now its time to see what i can stir up. hehehe

there is some sort of an "electrical device" under the dash. im not exactly sure what it is or does. i remember my pop saying something about a security system that would disable the car if it was not disarmed before driving. but it was a long time ago.

for reference, i have been working on cars and motorcycles since i was a kid but mostly harleys and dodges. i did have a triumph motorcycle for several years and did learn that things can be done a bit differently on that side of the ocean.

any thoughts?

chris
 

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Looks a lot like a gotya to me?
 
theleisure said:
i'm excited to hear about a vacuum tube security system.

just connect the white wire to the... !! wow!
Click to expand...

lol! Me too!


I was thinking the same thing about the wiring. I've seen a few homebrew jobs, but never where the wires were all the same color!

Do yourself a favor and consider buying a new harness from British Wiring.
 
John Moore said:
Do yourself a favor and consider buying a new harness from British Wiring.
Click to expand...

I agree but get it running and enjoy it as much as possible first!! Vacuum tubes are way before my time so i don't know what I'm looking at there but... is it possible that there's a hidden battery cut-off switch in driver's footwell and the picture is of a radio? Wild guess.

Welcome to the forum!
 
Looks like a Marshall 100w head I used to play through - back in the day!

Sorry, I don't have a clue.

Good luck!

Bill
 
Those things that look like vacuum tubes might not be. I had an alarm system I made for my Sprite that had a similar looking "tube" in it. It was actually a time delay relay. Once my alarm was set off a siren would be turned on. I had the time delay relay to turn it off after a preset time period so it wouldn't run the battery down. It would then re-set itself and be ready for the next occurence.
 
I think it's a radio. Take a look at the valves. they should pull out of their holders. What is the number on them? If it's EL34 then it's an amplifer.
White wires & lacing cord, I just pray you don't have an electrical problem.
 
nelson,
that would make sense to me. from what i remember, he said it was a system that if started without being disabled,would run for a couple minutes then shut down the electrics (fusible link?). i'm reasonably sure it isnt a radio. no speakers anywhere and i have never heard any music from it. other than the music coming out of the end if the exhaust. it could very well be homebuilt. i think pop had every issue of popular mechanics ever printed.

i never did understand why he wired it all white, and i'll put together a new harness when its time.
 
oh, thanks for the responses guys. im thinking there might be some serious knowledge and experience floating around in here.
 
59frite said:
i never did understand why he wired it all white, and i'll put together a new harness when its time.
Click to expand...

In those days some of us would start with an old radio or two or what ever was handy. The wire might have been what was on the bench or in a box of "electrical things". If we absolutely had to we would go to the local radio repair shop for a component or two. My first stereo amplifier was made from a pair of Delco radios complete with reverbs and powered by vibrators (no, not the ones commonly refereed to today).
 
A HA! So a siren, that would need an amplifer, that's what the valves are for (we call them valved in UK) . IS IT STILL LIVE ANYWHERE!!! there could be up to 800 volts floating about in there.
2 off EL34 valves can give up to 100W of volume.
They are desirable valves & give a lovely rounded sound in them olde amps.
 
I don't know what it is, but if you're going to snip one of the wires, make sure you let the timer click down to "007" before you make your cut.
 
Sure looks "homebrew" to me. Breadboarded vacuum tube circuitry?!?! Haven't seen that kinda stuff in a car since I was a kid. Tho I do have one of me Ol' Fella's homebrew rigs here on my desk: 500W/channel stereo amp!!! Power'd two Altec Lansing "Voice of the Theater" speakers back in th' day. Now just a remembrance item. :wink:

And Hairyone is right: the heaters may be powered with some REAL voltage. :shocked:

Judging by the ceramic isolator I can see in the one of 'em, I'd be for tenderly lookin' to find the power source wire first. :wink:
 
Hello, it looks like some PO was in aviation the wire and laceing look like they came out of a DC9 LOL.
 
DrEntropy said:
Power'd two Altec Lansing "Voice of the Theater" speakers back in th' day. Now just a remembrance item. :wink:
Click to expand...

Doc:

You have killed me again, haven't heard that one in a while, we used to have a set of dem for "special" occasions, the Poolice were never far behind.

Pat
 
hey thanks for the input! i know enough to be careful of capacitors, i dont really want to curl my hair.
the wiring while all white is actuallly done real clean and sanitary. im sure it comes from his aviation background. never had any problems with it and its still in good shape. when pop did anything, it was always done with lots of attention to detail.
i'm just not sure what this thing does or how it works. there is a toggle switch in that mess too.
 
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