Simpson 260-1 VOM/Multimeter: History, Repair, Overview, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2022-12-19 | In this video, I describe a piece of classic electrical test equipment, the original version of the venerable Simpson 260 VOM (multimeter) which dates from the early 1900's. Then I demonstrate it, give an overview of the original users manual and schematic, then describe the circuit theory using my CAD re-drawn schematic.I also present my efforts to replicate some original battery labels, and others who have needed to replace the original cells & batteries on these, using modern equivalents, might wish to apply these so their meters look more period-authentic internally.The new schematic and label PDF files may be downloaded here:serpentwebsite.com/fileshare.htmHere is a timeline table of contents for this video:00:00 History & Overview05:30 Making new batteries08:18 Internal views17:54 Retro battery labels26:08 Demonstration39:28 Beauty shot39:44 Comparison with a more recent Simpson 260 Series 8 meter44:00 Overview of the Simpson manual52:55 Schematic diagram & circuit theory
A Drive in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: Part 5, Estes Park to Loveland youtuuba 2023-10-18 | In this 5-part series of videos, what I might normally call an 'odyssey', I present scenery from my 2-day drive on highways in the north-Colorado section of the Rocky Mountains on September 23 & 24, 2023.First, I drove westbound on interstate highway 70 (I-70) from Denver to view some of the Grand Mesa area near the town of Palisade (just east of Grand Junction), passing through the spectacular Glenwood Canyon en route. Then I drove back eastbound on I-70, once again passing through Glenwood Canyon, as far as Silverthorne, then north on Colorado state highway 9 to Kremmling. From there, I drive eastbound on US highway 40, passing through scenic Byers Canyon, and on through Rocky Mountain National Park on US highway 34. I stayed overnight at Estes Park, then continued the second day on highway 34 through Bog Thompson Canyon, ending in the city of Loveland.- Part 1 is westbound on I-70 from Colorado highway 470 to the est end of Glenwood Canyon.- Part 2 is westbound on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, continuing west to the Grand Mesa area near Palisade.- Part 3 is back eastbound on I-70 (through Glenwood Canyon again) to Silverthorne, north on state highway 9 to Kremmling, then east on US 40 to the southwest entrance of the national park near Granby.- Part 4 is US 34 through Rocky Mountain National Park to my hotel in the town of Estes Park.- Part 5 is eastbound on US 34 from Estes Park to the conclusion of the drive in Loveland.Keywords: Interstate 70, I-70, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Idaho Springs, Silverthorne, Colorado, Vail, Avon, Gypsum, Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, Palisade, Grand Mesa, Beavertail Mountain, Colorado 9, Kremmling, US highway 34, Byers Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park
A Drive in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: Part 4, Rocky Mountain National Park youtuuba 2023-10-18 | In this 5-part series of videos, what I might normally call an 'odyssey', I present scenery from my 2-day drive on highways in the north-Colorado section of the Rocky Mountains on September 23 & 24, 2023.First, I drove westbound on interstate highway 70 (I-70) from Denver to view some of the Grand Mesa area near the town of Palisade (just east of Grand Junction), passing through the spectacular Glenwood Canyon en route. Then I drove back eastbound on I-70, once again passing through Glenwood Canyon, as far as Silverthorne, then north on Colorado state highway 9 to Kremmling. From there, I drive eastbound on US highway 40, passing through scenic Byers Canyon, and on through Rocky Mountain National Park on US highway 34. I stayed overnight at Estes Park, then continued the second day on highway 34 through Bog Thompson Canyon, ending in the city of Loveland.- Part 1 is westbound on I-70 from Colorado highway 470 to the est end of Glenwood Canyon.- Part 2 is westbound on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, continuing west to the Grand Mesa area near Palisade.- Part 3 is back eastbound on I-70 (through Glenwood Canyon again) to Silverthorne, north on state highway 9 to Kremmling, then east on US 40 to the southwest entrance of the national park near Granby.- Part 4 is US 34 through Rocky Mountain National Park to my hotel in the town of Estes Park.- Part 5 is eastbound on US 34 from Estes Park to the conclusion of the drive in Loveland.Keywords: Interstate 70, I-70, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Idaho Springs, Silverthorne, Colorado, Vail, Avon, Gypsum, Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, Palisade, Grand Mesa, Beavertail Mountain, Colorado 9, Kremmling, US highway 34, Byers Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park
A Drive in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: Part 3, I-70 Glenwood Canyon to Silverthorne to Granby youtuuba 2023-10-18 | In this 5-part series of videos, what I might normally call an 'odyssey', I present scenery from my 2-day drive on highways in the north-Colorado section of the Rocky Mountains on September 23 & 24, 2023.First, I drove westbound on interstate highway 70 (I-70) from Denver to view some of the Grand Mesa area near the town of Palisade (just east of Grand Junction), passing through the spectacular Glenwood Canyon en route. Then I drove back eastbound on I-70, once again passing through Glenwood Canyon, as far as Silverthorne, then north on Colorado state highway 9 to Kremmling. From there, I drive eastbound on US highway 40, passing through scenic Byers Canyon, and on through Rocky Mountain National Park on US highway 34. I stayed overnight at Estes Park, then continued the second day on highway 34 through Bog Thompson Canyon, ending in the city of Loveland.- Part 1 is westbound on I-70 from Colorado highway 470 to the est end of Glenwood Canyon.- Part 2 is westbound on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, continuing west to the Grand Mesa area near Palisade.- Part 3 is back eastbound on I-70 (through Glenwood Canyon again) to Silverthorne, north on state highway 9 to Kremmling, then east on US 40 to the southwest entrance of the national park near Granby.- Part 4 is US 34 through Rocky Mountain National Park to my hotel in the town of Estes Park.- Part 5 is eastbound on US 34 from Estes Park to the conclusion of the drive in Loveland.Keywords: Interstate 70, I-70, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Idaho Springs, Silverthorne, Colorado, Vail, Avon, Gypsum, Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, Palisade, Grand Mesa, Beavertail Mountain, Colorado 9, Kremmling, US highway 34, Byers Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park
A Drive in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: Part 2, I-70 Glenwood Canyon to Palisade youtuuba 2023-10-18 | In this 5-part series of videos, what I might normally call an 'odyssey', I present scenery from my 2-day drive on highways in the north-Colorado section of the Rocky Mountains on September 23 & 24, 2023.First, I drove westbound on interstate highway 70 (I-70) from Denver to view some of the Grand Mesa area near the town of Palisade (just east of Grand Junction), passing through the spectacular Glenwood Canyon en route. Then I drove back eastbound on I-70, once again passing through Glenwood Canyon, as far as Silverthorne, then north on Colorado state highway 9 to Kremmling. From there, I drive eastbound on US highway 40, passing through scenic Byers Canyon, and on through Rocky Mountain National Park on US highway 34. I stayed overnight at Estes Park, then continued the second day on highway 34 through Bog Thompson Canyon, ending in the city of Loveland.- Part 1 is westbound on I-70 from Colorado highway 470 to the est end of Glenwood Canyon.- Part 2 is westbound on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, continuing west to the Grand Mesa area near Palisade.- Part 3 is back eastbound on I-70 (through Glenwood Canyon again) to Silverthorne, north on state highway 9 to Kremmling, then east on US 40 to the southwest entrance of the national park near Granby.- Part 4 is US 34 through Rocky Mountain National Park to my hotel in the town of Estes Park.- Part 5 is eastbound on US 34 from Estes Park to the conclusion of the drive in Loveland.Keywords: Interstate 70, I-70, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Idaho Springs, Silverthorne, Colorado, Vail, Avon, Gypsum, Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, Palisade, Grand Mesa, Beavertail Mountain, Colorado 9, Kremmling, US highway 34, Byers Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park
A Drive in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: Part 1, I-70 Denver to Glenwood Canyon youtuuba 2023-10-17 | In this 5-part series of videos, what I might normally call an 'odyssey', I present scenery from my 2-day drive on highways in the north-Colorado section of the Rocky Mountains on September 23 & 24, 2023.First, I drove westbound on interstate highway 70 (I-70) from Denver to view some of the Grand Mesa area near the town of Palisade (just east of Grand Junction), passing through the spectacular Glenwood Canyon en route. Then I drove back eastbound on I-70, once again passing through Glenwood Canyon, as far as Silverthorne, then north on Colorado state highway 9 to Kremmling. From there, I drive eastbound on US highway 40, passing through scenic Byers Canyon, and on through Rocky Mountain National Park on US highway 34. I stayed overnight at Estes Park, then continued the second day on highway 34 through Bog Thompson Canyon, ending in the city of Loveland.- Part 1 is westbound on I-70 from Colorado highway 470 to the est end of Glenwood Canyon.- Part 2 is westbound on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, continuing west to the Grand Mesa area near Palisade.- Part 3 is back eastbound on I-70 (through Glenwood Canyon again) to Silverthorne, north on state highway 9 to Kremmling, then east on US 40 to the southwest entrance of the national park near Granby.- Part 4 is US 34 through Rocky Mountain National Park to my hotel in the town of Estes Park.- Part 5 is eastbound on US 34 from Estes Park to the conclusion of the drive in Liveland.Keywords: Interstate 70, I-70, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Idaho Springs, Silverthorne, Colorado, Vail, Avon, Gypsum, Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, Palisade, Grand Mesa, Beavertail Mountain, Colorado 9, Kremmling, US highway 34, Byers Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park
A Walk Through the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum (aka Kalamazoo Air Zoo) youtuuba 2023-09-19 | On my way back home from the several days spend with my Wheelmen club's "Meet" (convention) at the Henry Ford Museum's Greenfield Village and the Old Car Show (see my video on all of that), I had just enough time to stop by the Air Zoo in Portage, Michigan, adjacent to the city of Kalamazoo. This video is my "walk through" of both museum buildings.I missed a third hanger, one just behind the main one, because there was no signage suggesting that I go through a door, and because two docents in the main one said there was nothing else to see and that I should next go to the remote hanger, which I did. As such, this video does NOT include some WWI and WWII aircraft and some space program related artifacts.
2023 Wheelmen Meet at Old Car Festival, Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan youtuuba 2023-09-16 | This video is an assembly of short videos I took over the four days I was at The Henry Ford Museum's "Greenfield Village", both as part of my attendance at The Wheelmen vintage bicycle club's annual "Meet" (convention) AND the village's recurring "Old Car Festival". The video sections are not entirely in chronological order.Keywords: Henry Ford, Greenfield Village, Old Car Festival, Wheelmen, highwheel bicycle, Ordinary bicycle, Penny-Farthing bicycle, Ford Homes Historic District, Buckminster Fuller, DymaxionTable of video segments:00:00 Highwheel bicycle ride around Greenfield Village11:37 Old bicycles & cars at Detroit Central Market15:05 Old bicycles "Pass-in-Review" (Saturday version)38:13 Model T ride around Greenfield Village45:14 Buckminster Fuller's "Dymaxion House" at Henry Ford Museum54:01 Armington & Sims Machine Shop, Greenfield Village56:48 The Wheelmen's "OHWT", a 10 mile ride through Ford Homes Historic District1:11:12 1908 Renault AG ride around Greenfield Village
Evil Mad Scientist 555SE & 741SE Kits: Assembly and Demonstration youtuuba 2023-08-24 | In this video, I show the assembly of two recent electronic kits produced by Evil Mad Scientist on California, their "555SE" and "741SE". These are electronically the same as their older "Three Fives" and "741XL" kits, which used discrete resistors and transistors to duplicate the internal functionality of the famous and widely used 555 timer and 741 op-amp integrated circuits (those older kits now seem to have been discontinued, although perhaps this may be temporary). The "SE" versions are physically smaller, and use surface mount components instead of through-hole components, but otherwise the two versions of each kit are the same. Finally, I demonstrate the kits in operation in real-world 555 and 741 circuits.
A Walk Through the Volo Museum (formerly Volo Auto Museum): Part 3 youtuuba 2023-08-18 | In this three part video, I walk through the famous Volo Museum (formerly the Volo Auto Museum), located in the small town of Volo, Illinois, northwest of Chicago. This video is PART 3 of the three.The video takes you through all five of the auto barns (the museum calls them "Showrooms" since most of the cars are actually for sale, with the price posted on each car's windshield); they are also a huge buyer of antique and vintage cars. Turnover of the cars in this museum is probably fairly high, so which cars are actually in the museum from day to day is likely to change a lot. Also included herein are all of the museum's collection of TV and movie cars.In addition, this series of videos includes all of the secondary exhibits, including the Military Museum, Titanic (ship) Exhibit, the Carousel and Fairground/Band Organ exhibits, the tractor collection, motorcycles and scooters, jukeboxes, outboard motors, the early camper/RV/motorhome exhibit, trains, etc. HOWEVER, I only show the "Jurassic Gardens" from the outside, and the large set of connected antique malls are also only shown externally.
A Walk Through the Volo Museum (formerly Volo Auto Museum): Part 2 youtuuba 2023-08-18 | In this three part video, I walk through the famous Volo Museum (formerly the Volo Auto Museum), located in the small town of Volo, Illinois, northwest of Chicago. This video is PART 2 of the three.The video takes you through all five of the auto barns (the museum calls them "Showrooms" since most of the cars are actually for sale, with the price posted on each car's windshield); they are also a huge buyer of antique and vintage cars. Turnover of the cars in this museum is probably fairly high, so which cars are actually in the museum from day to day is likely to change a lot. Also included herein are all of the museum's collection of TV and movie cars.In addition, this series of videos includes all of the secondary exhibits, including the Military Museum, Titanic (ship) Exhibit, the Carousel and Fairground/Band Organ exhibits, the tractor collection, motorcycles and scooters, jukeboxes, outboard motors, the early camper/RV/motorhome exhibit, trains, etc. HOWEVER, I only show the "Jurassic Gardens" from the outside, and the large set of connected antique malls are also only shown externally.
A Walk Through the Volo Museum (formerly Volo Auto Museum): Part 1 youtuuba 2023-08-18 | In this three part video, I walk through the famous Volo Museum (formerly the Volo Auto Museum), located in the small town of Volo, Illinois, northwest of Chicago. This video is PART 1 of the three.The video takes you through all five of the auto barns (the museum calls them "Showrooms" since most of the cars are actually for sale, with the price posted on each car's windshield); they are also a huge buyer of antique and vintage cars. Turnover of the cars in this museum is probably fairly high, so which cars are actually in the museum from day to day is likely to change a lot. Also included herein are all of the museum's collection of TV and movie cars.In addition, this series of videos includes all of the secondary exhibits, including the Military Museum, Titanic (ship) Exhibit, the Carousel and Fairground/Band Organ exhibits, the tractor collection, motorcycles and scooters, jukeboxes, outboard motors, the early camper/RV/motorhome exhibit, trains, etc. HOWEVER, I only show the "Jurassic Gardens" from the outside, and the large set of connected antique malls are also only shown externally.
Solarbotics Paris Flyer CarouSol Kit: Assembly, Hack, Theory, Demonstration, Review youtuuba 2023-08-14 | ****See update at end of this description****In this video, I cover all aspects of the Solarbotics "Paris Flyer" CarouSol kit, in which you can assemble a fun, retro-tech, Steampunk-able, solar-powered mini-Zeppelin which will 'fly' around the Eiffel Tower. The kit is partially a simple electronics "solder kit" and partially a sort of 'wood maze' assembly of laser-cut pressed hardboard (NOT regular wood).I purchased this kit from Evil Mad Scientist in California, evilmadscientist.com.Besides what is included in the kit, the builder will need a suitable electronics-type soldering iron, rosin-care soldering flux, a wire stripper capable of removing insulation from 30AWG wire, 'white glue' and optionally CA glue (super glue) with suitable accelerant, something like a small X-Acto knife, and a small Phillips-head screwdriver.I ran into a snag while building this kit, since Solarbotics furnished an incorrect kind of capacitor in the bag of electronic parts; they supplied a 22uF capacitor when a 220mF (0.22F) 'supercapacitor' is required. Evil Mad Scientist was not able to help because the other kits they had on the shelf also had the same incorrect part in them. After waiting a week for Solarbotics to respond to phone messages and emails, I decided to source a different but suitable capacitor on my own, and selected the Kemet # FM0V224ZF (I bought from Digikey, their number 399-13104-ND), which fits the kit's circuit board well and works fine. I show my deliberations and experiments regarding this in this video; this is my "hack" of the kit.**** After another delay, Solarbotics sent a new 0.22F supercapacitor, the kind that was supposed to be originally in the kit. I noticed that it was only rated for 2.5V, as opposed to the 3.5V part that I sourced on my own and showed in this video.****Here is a time-directory of this video's contents:00:00 Overview08:38 Assembly part 111:46 Theory of circuit operation20:39 Assembly part 2: Eiffel Tower27:25 Capacitor issues and resulting delays29:15 Capacitor hack part 1: Voltage rating?32:18 Digression regarding the airship34:04 Capacitor hack part 2: Circuit board assembly37:56 Assembly part 3: Power station and wiring41:20 First test of power/motor circuit42:40 Assembly part 4: Power station & balance arm49:14 Assembly part 5: Motor mounting & final wiring52:05 Balancing54:19 Tests under various lighting types and conditions
ART Phantom II Pro Two Channel Phantom Power Supply: Hacking a Better Battery Holder, etc. youtuuba 2023-08-01 | This video continues where my earlier video about the ART "Phantom II Pro" dual-channel phantom power supply left off. First, I continue with the circuit theory aspect by discussing the voltage booster circuit. Then, I talk about the rather disappointing battery holder in this product, show how I developed, printed, prototyped and tested, devised the design, reprinted and then finally installed the finished new battery holder.The STL files (and instructions for their use) for printing the battery holder may be downloaded here:http://www.serpentwebsite.com/fileshare.htmHere is the timeline:0:00 Introduction0:18 Voltage booster circuit theory1:14:24 AC adapter1:16:28 Preparing a duplicate battery holder to send to manufacturer ART
ART Phantom II Pro Two Channel Phantom Power Supply: Exploration and Theory of Operation youtuuba 2023-07-27 | In this video, I show my new two-channel phantom power supply for use with balanced line microphones, the ART "Phantom II Pro". I talk about balanced lines & microphones, and what "phantom power" is an how it works, then I explore the insides of this product, discuss the circuitry, and finally I do a brief demonstration.
Design and 3D Printing of a Jitterbug Mobile Phone Holster for a Wheelchair youtuuba 2023-07-22 | In this video, I share the entire process of conceiving and designing a custom holster for a small flip-phone used by a wheelchair-bound relative of mine, in order to keep the phone easily reachable and handy. I then show the process of doing the 3D printable design using the free web-app "Tinkercad", and then importing it into my Prusa 3D printer's slicer program and changing its settings as required. Finally, I show the actual printing and installation of the holster on the wheelchair.As I was figuring things out as I went, I share some of my trial-and-error lessons. I was not successful in getting the PrusaSlicer to add all of the removable 'support structure', so during printing of the 'roof' of the holster, the printer tried to lay down the first layers over empty space. It still worked out OK, but I had to make a sanding tool to remove any loose, unattached roof fibers after the printing was complete. I probably should have done the design as a two-piece assembly, with the roof being a separately printed panel which could be glued to the main part.
Repairing Battery Terminals on the Shure Instrument Microphone model PG-81 (and similar models) youtuuba 2023-07-15 | I this video, I show the steps used to 'jury-rig' broken (from metal fatigue) battery contacts inside Shure PG-81/PG81 condenser "instrument" microphones.These microphones are rather old, and I plan to replace them with the current PGA81 version, which are 'phantom powered' types, using Shure's program for accepting obsolete models, and then replacing them with new microphones for the cost of the normal repair.
Installing a Shindaiwa Speed-Feed Universal 400 Trimmer Head on a Stihl model FS90R String Trimmer youtuuba 2023-06-28 | In this video, I show the process I went through to figure out the correct 'solution', using parts included with the Shindaiwa "Speed-Feed Universal 400 Trimmer Head" in order to fit it to my Stihl model FS90R string trimmer.I show this because the FS90R is NOT one of the great many trimmer models listed by Shindaiwa as being compatible with their 400 trimmer head, and so there was a bit of messing around and experimenting to find the correct combination of fittings to make the match work out.
Nuvo jHorn Brass training Instrument: Demonstration, Overview, Details, Thoughts youtuuba 2023-06-08 | I decided to buy myself a birthday present, in the form of the plastic "jHorn" made by Nuvo. In this video, I play a couple of brief demos (none of them preceded by any practice), and I give a tour of the instrument, its features, how the valves work, and finally conclude with my thoughts on the usefulness of the instrument.
Making a Brass Instrument Flushing Basin youtuuba 2023-06-06 | In this video, I present a narrated slideshow of my design and fabrication of a large, raised basin designed to be used for flushing/cleaning of large brass instruments. I used a 2' x 6' (12 deep) sheep watering trough from a farm supply company (Farm & Fleet), and put it on a sturdy support table. The trough is made by Behlen ("bay-len") County's "Agrimaster" poly (polyethylene?) model "PRE216" or model number 52110067GS, which costs about $100. The plywood and 2x4 boards I made the table from cost another $68 (Home Dept), and all the deck screws, in five different lengths, used to hold it together cost another $40. Design and fabrication of the table took an afternoon. The table is designed to hold safely, and be stable against tipping, even when the trough is full of water (nearly 600 pounds), although in actual use it is unlikely to be more than half full of water.
An Overview of the (semi-vintage) Marantz PMD670 Solid State (Compact Flash) Field Recorder youtuuba 2023-05-09 | In this video, I peruse the controls and features of a new-old-stock (NOS) piece of semi-vintage high fidelity stereo audio equipment, the Marantz model PMD670 (PMD-670). All controls and interfaces are reviewed, the display is briefly viewed, and the device is given a short demonstration doing the task I bought it for.
A Walk Through Old Joliet Prison (Joliet Correctional Center) youtuuba 2023-05-05 | In this video, I take a leisurely walk around and through the Old Joliet Prison (Joliet Correctional Center), located in Joliet, Illinois.The prison was in operation from 1858 through 2002, after which it was abandoned and essentially unsupervised until just a few years ago. During that time, vandals, arsonists and time took their toll. Only recently has it become available for unsupervised personal exploration (aka self guided tours). From time to time, guided tours are also offered.Many people have seen parts of this prison during the famous opening scenes from the movie "The Blues Brothers".
Making YouTuuba Tuna Casserole youtuuba 2023-04-23 | In this video, I describe a recipe I like for tuba casserole (I did NOT originate this recipe). This is essentially a "from scratch" recipe, and does not use things such a cream of mushroom soup that many tuna casserole recipes call for. The complete, detailed written recipe follows below:YouTuuba Tuna CasseroleUtensils:- 9” x 12” baking pan (glass better, metal OK); “baking pan”- Saucepan or frying pan “pan”- Pot to boil noodles in “pot”- Deep dish or soup bowl “bowl”- Stirring spoon- SpatulaDefinitions:- tsp = teaspoon- Tbsp = tablespoonIngredients:- PAM/non-stick spray/vegetable shortening for baking pan- 12oz egg noodles- 3 tsp butter- 1 medium/large white onion- 3 cloves minced garlic- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour- 2 cup chicken broth- 1 cup milk (2% OK)- Black pepper (optional, to taste)- 2 cans “solid white albacore tuba” (other varieties not so good)- 2 cup (12 oz bag)frozen green peas- 2 cup (8 ox bag) shredded cheddar cheese (mild, not medium sharp or sharp)- 1 cup ‘regular’ “Panko” bread crumbs- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese- 3 tsp (at least) extra virgin olive oilProcedure:- Preheat oven to 400°F- Lightly coat inside of baking pan with PAM, etc.- In pot, prepare egg noodles according to instructions on bag/box (drain when ready)- In pan (not baking pan) melt butter over low heat- Dice half of onion, and sauté in pan for 5 minutes- Stir garlic and flour into contents of pan- Stir chicken broth and milk into contents of pan- Stir in fresh ground black pepper (optional)- Raise heat slightly and simmer contents of pan, stirring every couple minutes, until thickened- Break tuna up into smaller pieces (work tuba around in your hand)- Stir tuna and peas into contents of pan- Pour cooked noodles into prepared baking pan, stirring to prevent noodles from sticking into clumps- Pour sauce from pan over noodles in baking pan- Thoroughly stir sauce into noodles- Distribute grated cheese evenly over top of contents of baking panel- In bowl, put Panko bread crumbs- Add Parmesan cheese and drizzle olive oil to bowl, and stir to get crumbly texture, adding more oil a little at a time and stirring thoroughly before deciding if more oil is needed; total oil used should not be much more than a few teaspoons- Evenly sprinkle contents of bowl over top of contents of baking pan- Place baking pan in oven for 20~25 minutes until top is ‘golden brown’- Remove baking pan from oven and place on cooling rack (etc); serve (allowing pan to cool for a couple minutes before serving will result in casserole holding together better)Freezing:- Allow unused casserole to completely cool in the baking pan- Portion the casserole into freezer bags/tubs, removing as much air as possible before sealing- Mark bags for no more than 3 months after date of preparation (it does not keep well for longer)- Place in freezerUnfreezing for consumption:- Leave freezer bag in the regular refrigerator for 24 hours (or at least overnight), remove from fridge and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes- OR, thaw in the microwave- Reheat thawed casserole in baking-safe container (no lid), using oven or large toaster oven; suggested 350°F (determine time according to size of portion
Heathkit IM-25 (also IM-16): Things I Have Learned About Restoring These To Operation youtuuba 2023-03-22 | **** See addendum at the end of this descriptionOver the last few years, I have restored several of the Heathkit IM-25 solid-state VOM's, as well as a couple of the stripped-down IM-16 version. They were all ones that I bought on eBay, and they all appeared to have once been operational and showed evidence of working for a long time, yet they all exhibited the same kinds of failures by the time I obtained them.In this video, I show the many tips, tricks and other insights I have gained from all these restorations. Hopefully these will be useful to others trying to resurrect other IM-25's (and perhaps some IM-16's).****** Addendum 4-16-23In this video, I glossed over one kind of failure that can cause problems with this meter. While I DID mention the second FET which is part of the AC Attenuator circuit, there are a handful of small electrolytic capacitors which I did not mention. One of them is connected to the wiper of the DC Bias potentiometer, and if this capacitor is too leaky, either it will be impossible to Zero the meter, or the Zeroing will be drifty, and this might also be one cause of the meter always pegging hard over to the right. Another couple such capacitors are part of the AC Bias potentiometer sub-circuit, and if one or both of these is excessively leaky, it can be impossible to properly obtain a 6V measurement that the Heathkit manual's calibration procedure calls for. Unfortunately, some of these capacitors are located in places that are very difficult (but not impossible) to reach for replacement. Personally, if their leakiness is not too bad, and I can still calibrate the IM-25 properly, I tend to leave then as-is. But if I were to be restoring one of these for actual use, I would certainly expend the extra effort and cussing to replace them.
Cornetto Comparison Project: What Kinds of Sounds Do Modern Reproduction Cornetti Make? youtuuba 2023-03-18 | After I completed my recent project to make a 3D printed "cornetto", I made a documentary on the process:youtu.be/r_e9fRNhKKIMaking a 3D Printed Cornetto (aka "Cornett", "Zink")Since I am not a cornetto player, I was not able to do the instrument justice in my brief demonstration at the end of that video. I sought out a more skilled player in the greater Chicago area, and professional trumpet player Bill Baxtresser (who also plays cornetto) responded and generously offered to help. His colleague Paul Von Hoff graciously agreed to host a brief recording session and accompany Bill on sackbut (an early type of trombone). Bill played four different cornetti: my 3D printed example, another 3D printed one made by Ricardo Simian of Switzerland, a wooden example made by Matthew Jennejohn of Montreal, Canada, and a resin cornetto made by Christopher Monk Instruments of England. All four instruments were played in a short time span so that their sounds could be most accurately compared. Besides my 3D printed cornetto, the other three are all well-regarded examples of modern reproduction cornetti, and all play well and have a good sound; viewers can judge for themselves how MY 3D printed example compares to these others.At the end of the session, I was invited to join Bill and Paul using my 3D printed "Serpent", which I also have a video about:youtu.be/pDgu9FIfCWsMaking a 3D Printed SerpentUnfortunately, I was not able to get warmed up and re-acquainted with this particular serpent, since I had not tried playing it since shortly after I had made it, and it tunes and fingers somewhat differently from my primary serpents. I was also having trouble reading the music due to glare from the window and my unfamiliarity with electronic sheet music tablets. Still, in spite of my marginal performance, I think this video gives a good idea of what my 3D printed cornetto and 3D printed serpent sound like played in ensemble.
Heathkit IG-18 (IG-5218) Sine-Square Audio Generator: History, Overview, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2023-03-03 | In this video documentary, I show the Heathkit model IG-18 Sine-Square (wave) Audio Generator, a function generator dating from 1969. This also applies to the later IG-5218, which had the same circuit and case, but with a more modern looking paint scheme and knob style.In this rare instance, I do not include a 'restoration' or 'repair' section, since the example shown was already restored by the person I bought it from on eBay. All I did was repaint the top and bottom case clamshell halves, as the restorer had painted then off-white and used odd looking screws; I used a more authentic paint color and more original looking screws.This model is of nostalgic importance to me, as it is one of three pieces of equipment that I had originally built as a teenager, as part of the summer project to build a bunch of Heathkit test equipment items to equip the high school's new electronics lab/classroom, which I was signed up to start attending the following Fall semester. I already have YouTube videos on the other two models, and mention them specifically in this video.Here is a timeline table of contents:00:00 History18:33 About this artifact21:30 Overview26:50 Internal views35:04 Demonstration46:53 Beauty shot47:11 Manual56:52 Schematic & theory of circuit operationI am working on a new CAD drawn version of the schematic, including extra information on calibration and operation, When complete, it will be published on my fileshare webpage:http://www.serpentwebsite.com/fileshare.htm
Heathkit C-3 Condenser (Capacitor) Checker: History, Restoration, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2023-02-21 | In this video, I describe a piece of vintage electronic test equipment, the Heathkit C-3 'Condenser' checker, which is really a capacitor/resistor 'value finder' plus a capacitor leakage tester, dating from 1952.I talk about the history of this 'checker' in the context of all of Heathkit's other capacitor checker/testers, I describe the process of restoring it to full functionality. I demonstrate its operation in all modes and ranges. Then I give a brief tour of the Heathkit manual, and end with a review of the schematic diagram and a detailed description of the theory of circuit operation.Here is a timeline table of contents:00:00 History03:35 Restoration21:03 Demonstration33:54 Final interior view34:09 Beauty shot40:15 Schematic and theory of operationI have redrawn the original C-3 schematic in CAD, and added theory of operation, operating instructions, calibration details and other information. the resulting PDF file may be downloaded here: http://www.serpentwebsite.com/fileshare.htm
Making a 3D Printed Cornetto (aka Cornett, Zink) youtuuba 2023-02-18 | This instrument gets a proper demonstration in this video:youtu.be/CLGjUIl1S4EIn this video, I talk about the renaissance soprano brass instrument known as the "cornett", "cornetto" or "zink", and show how I made one using my 3D printer. This is a narrated slide slow, with a bit of video at the end.
Heathkit IP-17 (also IP-2717) High Voltage Power Supply: History, Restoration, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2023-02-17 | In this video, I explore the Heathkit IP-17 (and by extension, the later IP-2717 which is the same except for paint color and style of knobs) high voltage power supply.I talk about the history of the Heathkit high voltage power supply series, show my IP-17 and give a tour of it, describe the cleanup, repairs and my modification of some earlier modifications made by others. I demonstrate the supply in operation, give an overview of the Heathkit manual, and finally go over the schematic diagram and talk about the circuit theory of operation.Here is a timeline table of contents:00:00 History04:20 Restoration and re-modifications30:24 Making a new case half33:35 Restoration complete33:46 Internal tour41:55 Demonstration55:27 Beauty shot55:40 Manual overview1:04:49 Schematic diagram & theory of operation
Achtung! Watschen Das Blinkenlights! A Minimum Parts Count 1802 LED Flasher youtuuba 2023-02-14 | In this video, I demonstrate how to build a simple and flexible LED flasher circuit using an old RCA 1802 microprocessor. The 1802 is actually providing the clock which determines how fast the LEDs will flash, and it is controlling the flashing in a totally random pattern, and it is also functioning as the driver for all of the LEDs. The circuit can be used with anywhere from one to eighteen LEDs. The parts count (not including the 1802 itself, the power source, and the LEDs) totals four components, none of which are IC's.I also have a circuit description/application notes/schematic document in PDF form which can be downloaded here:http://www.serpentwebsite.com/fileshare.htm
Making a Tuba Hand-grip Wrap youtuuba 2023-02-09 | Many players of the "German Rotary" design tubas have wished for a suitable hand-grip wrapping to protect their instrument(s) where they grip it. This can make for a more comfortable grip, and protect the instrument's finish from the effects of skin oils/acids.In this video, I demonstrate how I have made a couple such grip wraps for two of my own tubas.I have contacted Neotech (a division of the Op/Tech company), which already makes something similar for smaller brass instruments, to see if they might be interested in adding something like this to their product lineup .
Making a Custom Wire Spool/Reel/Roll Rack: A narrated slide show youtuuba 2023-01-26 | In this video, I show how I designed and fabricated a simple rack to hold all of my spools/reels/rolls of hookup wire in my little home electronics laboratory. The trick was to have it fit in a space already occupied, without relocating that stuff yet still getting all those spools up off the floor, better organized, and accessible. And, making it as much as possible from scraps I had laying around in my wood shop.
Heathkit IT-22 Capaci-Tester: History, Cleanup, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2023-01-23 | In this video, I present the Heathkit IT-22 "Capaci-Tester", a basic in-circuit "good or bad" capacitor tester whose design dates from 1957. Of particular interest is the main indicator used, a specialized type 1629 vacuum tube, commonly referred to as the "magic eye".I talk briefly about the instrument's history, then show the steps I went through to make the rough-looking device more presentable, then I demonstrate it in operation, followed by a brief overview of the Heathkit manual, and finally I go through the schematic diagram and several sketches I made to clarify how the device works.Here is a timeline table of contents:00:00 History02:20 Cleanup08:53 Demonstration12:06 Manual overview16:54 Schematic & Theory of operation
A Deep Dive Into Heathkit VTVMs, Using the IM-18 As An Example youtuuba 2023-01-20 | I have been restoring vintage VTVMs (most of them being by Heathkit) over the last several years, and have gathered a fair amount of experience and knowledge about them and their workings. I decided to put most of that into this single video documentary in order to share it with others. I also include complete details on how to make a suitable battery eliminator that works well with the Heathkit lineup of VTVMs.The latter 2/3 of the video features my newly CAD drawn schematic/documentation package, and the PDF of that may be downloaded here:serpentwebsite.com/fileshare.htmwith the IM-18 link near the bottom of the pageHere is a timeline table of contents for this video:00:00 Introduction & history05:48 Opening the typical Heathkit VTVM case06:21 Internal overview12:06 Restoration (things that commonly need attention or replacement)19:09 Battery eliminator29:58 Vacuum tubes33:34 Test leads35:05 Calibration46:35 Schematic diagram & circuit theory
A Method for Winding/Wrapping Mouthpiece Shanks (especially for Serpent mouthpieces) youtuuba 2023-01-12 | In this video, I show the technique that I most often use to wrap sealing thread around the shanks of vintage brass instrument mouthpieces, specifically those of the Renaissance bass brass instrument called the "serpent". This is definitely a niche video, but hopefully it will be useful to a few folks.......
Heathkit AA-18 Solid-State Amplifier: Restoration, demonstration, theory (& making a speaker for it) youtuuba 2023-01-09 | In this video, I talk about a piece of vintage electronic audio equipment, the model AA-18 by Heathkit, which was their most popular and long-produced audio product; "The little Amplifier that could". I cover my history with this model, my restoration of one example, and demonstrate my tests on the unit and give a brief demonstration of it in use. I also go through the Heathkit assembly and owner's manual, and present the schematic diagram while discussing the circuit theory.But that is only part of this long video. At least half of the video details my design and fabrication of a custom speaker/line-level audio mixer and its wooden cabinet, using almost entirely only things I had laying around.Here is the index using timeline markers:00:00 Introduction05:42 History15:26 Overview23:57 Restoration29:28 Testing37:26 Speaker cabinet design51:07 Speaker cabinet fabrication1:59:59 Sound demonstration of amplifier & speaker2:02:17 Manual overview2:04:48 Schematic diagram & circuit theory
TEC/TCC/JEC model TC-780LC Stereo Line Level Booster: Overview, internal views, schematic, theory youtuuba 2022-12-28 | In this video, I describe and show the small stereo line-level adjuster (attenuator/preamplifier/booster) that I use in my home theater to allow easy volume adjustment from next to my recliner chair in my home theater. I mentioned, but did not show, this preamp in my earlier video about the Parasound Zpre3 stereo line-level preamplifier. Since there seems to be essentially no real documentation online about this preamp, I decided to study its circuitry , take detailed external and interior photos, trace the printed circuit board, create a new CAD schematic, measure its audio performance, discuss various claims about its power supply, and make this video documentary.The new schematic, in PDF format, may be downloaded from this webpage:www.serpentwebsite.com/fileshare.htmHere is the timeline table of contents for this video:00:00 Overview05:14 Internal views10:23 Schematic overview (new)11:20 Circuit theory and development of empirical specifications
Parasound Zpre3 Stereo Preamplifier, and Making a Ventilated Riser For It youtuuba 2022-12-22 | In this video, I talk about my new stereo preamplifier, the Parasound Zpre3, which I bought to replace the preamp front-end of my 35+ year old Rotel RA-9808X integrated stereo amplifier. While this is a seemingly expensive product, it was still less expensive than buying a new integrated amp with sufficient power to drive my large Magnepan speakers in my home theater.I discuss my reasons for selecting this model, I talk about its features, and show external and internal views.Finally, I include a woodworking project, designing and building a 'riser' to hold the new preamp up above the warm top of the power amplifier, while still providing lots of convection/air-circulation ventilation between power amp and preamp.
Heathkit MM-1 VOM / Multimeter: History, Overview, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2022-12-09 | In this video documentary, I explore the Heathkit model MM-1 VOM (multimeter) from 1953, which is generally considered to be their first true multimeter, even though their M-1 "Handitester" from 1949 has just as many functions, albeit with lower accuracy and resolution, and fewer ranges.Here is a timeline table of contents:00:00 History03:47 Overview08:44 Internal views14:44 Demonstration25:21 Beauty shot26:06 Overview of the manual & circuit theory59:04 Schematic diagram and additional theory
Heathkit M-1 Handitester VOM: History, Overview, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2022-12-06 | In this video, I explore the Heathkit M-1 "Handitester" VOM (multimeter), which was Heathkit's first multimeter from 1949. I cover the following aspects, according to the timeline numbers:00:00 History04:48 Overview11:14 Internal views16:24 Test leads16:46 Demonstration26:35 Closing the case26:48 Beauty shot27:11 Overview of the Heathkit M-1 manual31:43 Schematic diagram (Heathkit version)39:10 Schematic diagram (my clearer, redrawn version)46:16 Circuit theory
Heathkit EK-1 Basic Electricity Course Multimeter: History, Demonstration, Theory youtuuba 2022-11-30 | In this video, I continue my recent series of documentaries on vintage volt-ohm-ammeters with the Heathkit EK-1, which was actually a basic electronics course for children, where at the end of the process they would have assembled a basic VOM and learned how to use it around the home.Here are the timeline markers for each section of the video:00:00 Introduction & History02:45 Overview05:45 Demonstration24:39 Internal views27:09 Reassembly & Beauty Shot27:57 Overview of the course book and manual39:09 Circuit theory
Adventures with Fuel Transfer, Part 4 youtuuba 2022-11-27 | In this video, I describe and review two new additions to my arsenal of fuel transfer pumps, the TeraPump TREP01-T and the TeraPump TRFA01. These are both in the form of narrated slide shows. I also tacked on a brief tear-down of the Scepter "Flo N Go" MaxFlow siphon pump, which was covered in one of my earlier Adventures with Fuel Transfer videos.00:00 TeraPump TREP01-T14:40 TeraPump TRFA0133:02 Scepter Flo N Go MaxFlo siphon pump dissection (tear-down)
Weston 341 Electrodynamometer AC/DC Voltmeter: History, repairs, theory, demonstration youtuuba 2022-11-26 | In this video, I talk about a vintage AC/DC voltmeter, specifically an electrodynamometer (aka "electrodynamic" or "dynamometer") type, made by the Weston Electrical Instrument Company of New Jersey in the early 1900's. This is a high accuracy 'laboratory' piece of equipment which is packaged to allow field use as well. It can measure voltages up to 600V, and does not 'care' whether the measured signal is DC (of either polarity) or AC; it naturally reads any of those types without requiring different terminals, or operator selections, or changes in test lead connections, and it does not need a rectifier. The only time when the user must move test leads between terminals is when changing between the voltage ranges. Here are the sections of this video according to their timeline position:00:00 History/Introduction02:35 Internals views07:28 Theory of operation21:42 Demonstration28:06 Case restoration overview32:55 Beauty shot33:16 Specifications and other details36:32 Case restoration details - narrated slide show
Making a Flexible Resistor Array (A Wild Goose Chase?) youtuuba 2022-11-19 | In this video, I show the process of trying to turn a cheap set of power resistors I got some years ago into a more easily and flexibly useful piece of equipment in my electronics laboratory. It might have gotten a bit out of hand, and I felt rather like stopping the project a few times because the cost of additional parts and my labor seemed out of proportion compared to the initial cost of the resistors and the anticipated likelihood of actually using the finished product very often. But it got to be one of those situations like the guy who dropped a quarter into the outhouse cesspool, then threw a $50 bill in after it, "Because I'm not gonna go in there for just the 25 cents!"
Avometer 8 Multimeter, Mk. III & Mk. V types: History, details, restoration, demonstration, theory youtuuba 2022-11-07 | In this video, I talk about the history of the famous & iconic Avometer, a product of England, which is considered to be the "original" multimeter. I then show my two Avometers, both of them Model 8 types, with the older one being a Mk. III from the 1960s and the other being a Mk. V from the 1970s. I then talk about the small amount of restoration work I have done with them, and finally give a presentation about the theory of circuit operation.Index of video chapters:00:00 History07:46 Mk. III views31:49 Mk. III restoration34:34 Mk. III "cut-out"36:39 Mk. III schematic diagram overview. oddities & issues48:40 Some issues with variations of models & marks49:19 Mk. III demonstration59:04 Batteries for both versions59:28 Mk. III conclusion1:01:40 Mk. V case opening1:02:51 Mk. V views1:06:57 Mk. V demonstration1:17:44 Mk. V batteries , miscellaneous & case closing1:20:06 Mk. V beauty shot1:20:25 Mk. III theory of operation1:31:03 Mk. V theory of operation1:39:34 Combined Mk. III & Mk. V beauty shot
Weston 660 Multimeter youtuuba 2022-10-28 | This video is a sequel to my earlier video on the Heathkit IM-105 volt-ohm-milliammeter, which is essentially a kit-ized version of the Weston model 660 multimeter that is the subject of this video. I attempt to describe some of the differences between the two versions of the meter, and also add a couple of notes regarding calibration.I have prepared a 4-drawing documentation package, CAD drawn, for this meter in PDF format. It also applies to the Heathkit IM-105. It includes a full schematic diagram, assembly/disassembly instructions, calibration procedure, specifications, case and printed circuit board (PCB) layouts, selector switch details, and theory of operation. It may be downloaded from:serpentwebsite.com/Heathkit_IM-105_&_Weston_660_schematic_&_servicing.pdf
Making a Custom Storage Bin Rack youtuuba 2022-10-27 | In this video, I show my design and fabrication of a custom storage bin rack for my basement workshop. I started with the U-Line # S-24001 wire mesh bins and their associated H-4681 steel wall-mount rails, then mounted that stuff on my custom plywood & 2x4 frame, then added a castered platform at the bottom to allow moving it around as needed, and the platform allows me to park my heavy Kennedy tool chest there, which also acts as a counterweight to stabilize the whole thing.
A Quick Overview of the Epson Workforce WF-7820 wide format (11x17) inkjet copycenter/fax youtuuba 2022-10-25 | In this video, I give an overview, and my initial impression, of the Epson Workforce WF-7820 'wide format' (11x17") inkjet printer/copier/scanner/fax, and demonstrate it working as a printer and as a copier.
Micro-Mark: MicroLux Mini Drill Press with Vise and X-Y Table Accessories youtuuba 2022-10-04 | In this video, viewers can follow along with me as I unbox the Micro-Mark "MicroLux 3-speed Mini Drill Press" with its Vise and X-Y Table accessories.I plan to use this for things like drilling the holes in home-made printed circuit boards and such. The X-Y table will allow me to use it for some small-scale millwork, probably using Dremel milling bits. The total outlay for what you see in this video was about $330 at the time of my purchase.
Framing a Faux-Vintage Tintype Photograph youtuuba 2022-10-02 | In this very brief video, I show how I solved the problem of fitting an odd-size 'tintype' photograph into a commercial pre-made picture frame.
