VCF MidWest 2023 - As seen through a Camcorder CelGenStudios 2024-10-17 | VCF MidWest 2023 - As seen through a Camcorder
Pre-Paid Electricity - The Smith Coin-Operated kWh Meter CelGenStudios 2023-05-13 | As a resident of North America I never expect to pay for electricity before I use it. Other places however are a different story. In this video we will talk about one particular style meter that used to be commonplace in Great Britain and pull it apart to see how it works. Will it work on 120v?Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Development Tools for the RCA 1802: The RCA MSE-3001 CelGenStudios 2023-04-29 | While bare-metal development is always a thing, providing customers with advanced development, emulation and debugging tools is one of the other valuable (and expensive) assets that make a product successful. For RCA the MSE-3001 (or MSE3001 depending on what badge you look at) was one product they were selling to in an attempt to make development easier. While I do not have the keyboard for this unit and there is virtually no information about it online lets take a look at it and see what it does inside.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Rowe Vending Machine: Five Years Later CelGenStudios 2023-04-19 | This was a project I took on almost half a decade ago, got to a point where the metalwork was stabilized, then had to set it aside.It's still here. It's about where I left it back then but there's been a few updates in the meantime. I'm still hoping to complete this at one point but there is still a long way to go and I cannot find *anyone* with parts I can use to take shortcuts.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Homebrew Computing and the RCA 1802 CelGenStudios 2023-04-15 | There are many documented examples of early micros that were typically built as one-offs by very skilled people. Machines made by no one company and built off no standard design. This machine is my only true example of that era and has no searchable history beyond ending up at a second hand store. Lets take a look around.For more information, photos and both ROM images and a disassembly of said ROM, check out the discussion at forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/unknown-1802-based-system.1237931Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
The Dim-Bulb Tester CelGenStudios 2023-04-05 | Take an incandescent bulb and put it in series with a load.You now have a current-limiter. A Dim-Bulb Tester is exactly that. How you want to expand from that simple concept is up to you with meters, switches and sockets.Everyone has their own way. Here's mine.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
The Dodwell Super Fax Machine CelGenStudios 2023-04-01 | Tubes, gears, knobs and documents. What could it possibly be? Lets look around and come up with an idea on what it CAN and it CAN NOT do.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Ideal MagicMouse - The other Commodore Mouse you never knew existed CelGenStudios 2023-03-18 | It's massive, it's not like the Commodore 1351 and it comes with a software package with some useful applications. Lets take a look at the guts, the software and then see if it works out of the box with GEOS!Thank you to "Mike" for donating this mouse set for the purpose of making a video.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
The KLOPP Coin Counter CelGenStudios 2023-03-04 | A strange device I never knew existed. Ever wanted to count large amounts of a single coin denomination? Well this is one way to do it!In this video I'll try and figure out how it works, how to take it apart and clean it up as best as I can.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Sun Blade 100 - Unix Gets Cheap CelGenStudios 2023-02-18 | The Blade 100 from Sun Microsystems was one of their first multimedia SPARC computers for under $1000. To get it there there was a considerable amount of cost-reduction. What they forgot was how to make the rest of it more user-friendly. Lets go through this machine and see how they did it, plus lets take a quick poke at Sun's own PC compatibility card, the Sun PCi.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Cap-a-Thon - Webster Model 80 Wire Recorder CelGenStudios 2022-12-04 | The procrastination must end.Today I'll replace most of the capacitors in the unit and hopefully not mess up.
Cap-a-Thon - Webster Model 80 Wire Recorder CelGenStudios 2022-12-03 | The procrastination must end.Today I'll replace most of the capacitors in the unit and hopefully not mess up.
What is a Sol-Vac? How do I know it works? CelGenStudios 2022-11-30 | Late model AMC vehicles equipped with the CeC system will use this thingamajig attached to the carburetor to control engine idle speed during accessory load and special computer-determined conditions.While not completely a part of the computer emissions system it can very easily be misadjusted, resulting in the other idle adjustment screws being incorrectly set.This video is to hopefully clear up some questions about how it works, what it does and how to test the solenoid side and the vacuum side. It is not step-by-step adjustment. For a complete idle adjustment, refer to AMC Service Letter "IS-12e".archive.org/details/is-12-eOrhttp://amceaglesden.com/guide/November_1987_-_IS_12E_-_Idle_SpeedDefective Sol-Vac units (open coil or bad diaphragm) should be replaced. Replacement part cross-references I know of are:Mopar: 83500342Federal Mogul/Borg Warner: 213-245
Cap-a-Thon - Four-Phase Systems IV/70 CelGenStudios 2022-11-27 | After having one capacitor explode and the rest read junk I decided that since the 50uf 50v axials were all reading junk I might as well replace them all.
Unable to Focus: PR-7820 DiscoVision Player CelGenStudios 2022-08-03 | Almost every DiscoVision player out there unless it was in recent history overhauled and serviced has any number of issues from weak tubes to PSU problems. Getting support for them isn't easy. Finding people who will service them is near-impossible that I can tell. Mine seems to detect the presence of a laser reflecting off the disc and striking the photodiode array but will not lock the focus. I've been told caps. I'm dubious and there's a bunch of variables at play. I would absolutely love to find someone experienced with the 7820 who could help. In the meantime I'll show you how to open it to reach the major cards but NOT the PSU or the spindle motor. That's buried for reasons I'll mention.The service manual for the PR-7820 can be found here:archive.org/details/discovisionpr7820servicemanualThe "General Adjustments" manual for the PR-7820 can be found here:archive.org/details/discovisionpr7820generaladjustmentproceduresA marketing brochure can be found here:archive.org/details/discovisionpr7820generaladjustmentproceduresRemember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Cabinet Rebuild - J&T / Thomas Trading Co. Slot Machine CelGenStudios 2022-07-16 | This was a project to hold me over during the British Columbia regional COVID travel restrictions of 2021. It ended up becoming a job of discovery, improvising and repair. The machine itself seems to of once been a Bally electromechanical that was converted into an electronic machine by a seemingly unknown company. It is by no means a perfect restoration. They're rare, but I wouldn't call it valuable.While it is at this point 90% complete and working I ran out of money to finish it entirely.My thanks goes out to the Kamloops Makerspace for putting up with me for an extended period of time while the cabinet and the boxes of parts took up the far end of the Hack Room Table.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
The Steve Ballmer Crazy Eddie Parody Windows Ad CelGenStudios 2022-04-06 | This video has floated around the Internet and the various video sites before Youtube for roughly 20 years. A minute long clip of Microsoft employee Steve Ballmer in a tacky suit standing next to an IBM PC AT, listing off all the features bundled in the new Windows graphical interface at a low price and to get it today by placing an order to a bogus PO Box and phone number.For years it was speculated this might of been a late-night commercial aired on some long extinct TV station. The more likely reason was that it was part of an internal Microsoft promotional video.The secret hid for 27 years, until at the beginning of April 2022 a full-length videotape of the August 24, 1995 launch of Windows 95 was uploaded to the Internet. You have probably only ever seen a few minutes of this tape, this being one of those minutes.The truth is that this IS a fictional ad made to contrast what Microsoft felt their marketing was for Windows in 1986 compared to a then brand new Windows 95, which for the next hour and a half they were going to cover in detail and testimonials. This was never created for the purpose of being seen by anyone outside of the Redmond Campus and select press. This was never aired on television.Likewise, that same video clip from 20 years ago has been circulating for decades, repeatedly being compressed and resized over and over and over. This clip is being uploaded to act as a replacement example of the segment in far better quality, even if Youtube's handling of 480p video isn't entirely stellar. An even better quality copy is available.The video in uncompressed and unedited form can be found on the Internet Archive:archive.org/details/microsoftwindows95launchwithbillgatesandjayleno1995The same video, somewhat upscaled, has also been downloaded to Youtube by the Blue OS Museum:youtube.com/watch?v=_JzfROUDsK0A short video picking the clip apart on how it was styled and why the phone number didn't apply to people in Nebraska has also been done by Youtuber Michael MLDyoutube.com/watch?v=wqNJvMpxxco
Suns Smart Card Reader Has an Extra Feature - ChipPay support! CelGenStudios 2022-04-01 | Sun was always hot in the dot-com era with shiny new hardware loaded with cool advanced features. This Blade 100 even came with a smart card reader.Lets look at some of the features it provides...plus something extra special!Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.Wait, you're still reading this? Guess you're wondering if this was actually real.Nah, April fools! :)
NCR Class 52 - What The Heck does Draft Total Even Do?? CelGenStudios 2022-02-09 | This is an addition to this video: youtu.be/DW0F_9EjRuYThe Draft Total button is the one function I couldn't really demonstrate. It unlocks under weird circumstances and also never seems to store or display a value.Yeah, I got no idea at all. This machine has been modified so many times the button might not even have anything to do with drafts or totalling. It could be *anything*Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
NCRs Class 52 Electromechanical Cash Register: Part 2 CelGenStudios 2022-02-05 | We open up the Class 52 to install a lock and poke around a bit to get a better idea how it all works.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
NCRs Class 52 Electromechanical Cash Register: Part 1 CelGenStudios 2022-01-22 | NCR had embraced fully electronic cash registers by the 70's but before that it was purely a masterpiece of mechanical design.Here is a machine sold in the 60's The Class 52. Follow along as I discuss the machine, the history and how *I think* it works.Please note that the video I link to at 1:47 has a REALLY REALLY bad high pitch squeal in the audio. An alternate copy with better audio can be found on the Internet Archive - archive.org/details/magicwheRemember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
2021 Summary: Moneys Tight, But The Show Goes On. CelGenStudios 2022-01-01 | This year was marked by several achievements. The successes of which could not of been possible without you, the viewer. Lets talk about what happened behind the scenes and answer some questions in our annual video.CORRECTION: At 47:00 I said I had an 82" plasma panel. That's nuts and wasn't right. I meant to say 58", which is still massive...just not that massive.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Powder Driving in the AMC Eagle CelGenStudios 2021-12-25 | We got a dump of snow just before Christmas so I *had* to go out and enjoy the back roads at least once before anyone else could.With a foot of ride clearance from the factory, SelectDrive All-Wheel Drive and just over 100 horses under the hood in AMC's world famous straight-six engine, deep snow like this might be pushing it, but it still gets the job done.Reuse of this footage is permitted under the conditions of Creative Commons licensing.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Christmas Repair Special - Weller WES51 Soldering Station CelGenStudios 2021-12-25 | Another day and another soldering station. I know to some its rude to give used gifts, but in this case if I can give something better than they already have, it's worth it.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Running a Vending Machine outside in the Winter CelGenStudios 2021-12-11 | Cold drinks are great, but what can you do to keep your drinks form getting *Too cold*? Well I got a solution for that.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Travelling ANYWHERE in the Winter CelGenStudios 2021-12-08 | Nothing is easy about running errands at this time of year. Snow covered car, cold engine and gravity are all working against you.Please note the audio is extremely tinny. As it turns out the microphone in a GoPro HERO2 isn't great either.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
GPS Weirdness CelGenStudios 2021-11-17 | It's predictable. This one stretch of "the Coq" almost on cue causes this older GPS to partially lock up and continue to remain like that until we are in the next town. It's weird....Protip: Please do not use a camera while driving under any conditions. For the safety of you and the people who share the road with you, please keep focused on the wheel.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
IBM Keypunch - Polishing the Metal CelGenStudios 2021-11-13 | All the aluminum surfaces in the punch are dulled and rough from not being maintained for years. Lets take some time to dismantle them a bit and clean them up. If this all cleans up nicely, we should be able to feed cards through!Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
IBM Keypunch - Power Supply Testing CelGenStudios 2021-10-30 | There isn't a lot to this that we have not already covered in testing a linear power supply and the power supply itself is nothing unique, or a case of having to replace any parts for that matter. Lets bring it up anyways on my new variac and see if its happy.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
IBM Relays - The Uncut Version CelGenStudios 2021-10-17 | To give you an idea how mundane and boring this job was, here was one of the large 24 contact relays. The whole job without pausing to describe anything takes 40 minutes.Repeat over the other 16 relays.Rate it what you want. It's raw and completely unedited and I can't be bothered to even tweak the audio.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Cleaning IBMs Wire Contact Relays CelGenStudios 2021-10-16 | One of the big jobs I was not looking forward to, but it had to be done regardless.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
IBM Keypunch - Repairing the Wiring CelGenStudios 2021-10-02 | When wires pull out and there's no way to tell where they used to go, often you are out of luck. IBM however has diagrams precisely for this situation.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
How Its Made: AMC Vehicles (1982) CelGenStudios 2021-10-01 | This is a segment from one of AMC's Product Training videodiscs they distributed through the 80's until their demise. The original topic was what level of material, build and finish quality was used on all their vehicles at that time in 1982.If you are wondering why this is not a full disc rip, that's because I don't have the disc! This is in fact video captured from a livestream over at the AutoMoments YouTube channel. They seemed uninterested in loaning the disc out for archiving, so might as well grab this segment in case the original material disappears. (again)If you wish to watch the entire disc and others my suggestion is to go watch a recording of their livestream at youtube.com/watch?v=X-zRYCBKHm8
Model 29 Print Unit Reinstallation CelGenStudios 2021-09-18 | Late to the party!Since I didn't make a video explaining how to remove it, here's a quick-ish video of how to reinstall it. That's it!
IBM Keypunch - Oiling the Printing Assembly CelGenStudios 2021-09-18 | Not something you expect to do and really not something you want to make a mistake doing either. Oh well, it's gotta be done anyways.Please note that through this video I do confusingly say not to over-oil, then say to add enough oil to completely lubricate the print horn. Basically what I meant was "don't pour the oil in and let the excess drip out".Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
New Arrival: IBM Model 29 Keypunch CelGenStudios 2021-09-04 | Certainly not in pristine condition but absolutely a fixer-upper.Lets take a look at what I've purchased.For documentation, schematics and parts catalogs, check out here: http://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/punchedCard/Keypunch/029A direct link to CuriousMarc's keypunch restoration playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-_93BVApb59yIG2RELONEYOzJ3lMXsqVRemember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
1980 Chevrolet Vans, El Camino, Series 9 LUV CelGenStudios 2021-08-18 | Year of disc mastering: 1980This disc was distributed as new product training material under the Chevrolet Productivity Network. Interactive features required the Discovision/Pioneer PR-7820 player.No effects or upscaling has been added. Overall the disc has typical disc rot artifacts and distortion.
1980 Chevrolet Light-Duty Trucks - Pickups, Blazer, Suburban CelGenStudios 2021-08-18 | Year of disc mastering: 1980This disc was distributed as new product training material under the Chevrolet Productivity Network. Interactive features required the Discovision/Pioneer PR-7820 player.No effects or upscaling has been added. Please note near the middle there is some audio and video reconstructive surgery to work around a laser lock issue. Overall the disc has typical disc rot artifacts and distortion.
A PS2 With a Story CelGenStudios 2021-08-11 | And this is just one box. There's hundreds of stories in this room!Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Troubleshooting a No Power situation on a Summit Autoslot PSU. CelGenStudios 2021-08-07 | Well I guess it was bound to happen one day. Lets figure out what happened.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
80 Minutes of a Bug Zapper Doing its Thing CelGenStudios 2021-07-25 | *zap*Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Computer DVD Playback Used to be Luck of the Draw CelGenStudios 2021-07-14 | We were almost there but as we see here we still had a few more things to iron out.Note: Yes the disc says"Software MPEG-II DVD Player", however there's a menu option marked "USE HARDWARE DECOMPRESSION" that lets it take advantage of any hardware that is available. That is selected and as we see on the CPU usage it is offloading the decoding from the CPU.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Backing Your Computer Up with QIC Tape CelGenStudios 2021-07-10 | Tape is now more a thing with enterprise and large archives, at one time however QIC tape was the cheap way to back your PC up. Lets do the same to this machine.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Heat Wave Special - Can I make a Window AC work as a Portable? CelGenStudios 2021-07-03 | I mean it makes sense, right? If I give it fresh air and get rid of the hot air it blows out that should work...right?Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Engine Vapor Lock and How We Deal With It CelGenStudios 2021-06-26 | Gone with the miracle of fuel injection, vapor lock was for many decades the annoyance of hot afternoons and summer vacations. Lets take a look at how it happens and how in the 1980's it was dealt with and what we did with the vapors it created.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Apple Information Center Interactive Laserdisc - Side 2: Holiday Promotion CelGenStudios 2021-06-13 | Date of disc mastering: October 27, 1983This side is for the most part the same as side one, however contains a number of promotions for software and hardware for the Christmas season.Purchased in 2003 and uploaded a number of years ago as a modified video to make use of Youtube's then popular annotations and chapter jumping.This is a raw dump from the disc I made in 2013. No effects, cuts or upscaling has been performed. There is a very small amount of disc rot starting about halfway through that starts as a line of discoloration and by the end is an untrackable line.
Apple Information Center Interactive Laserdisc - Side 1: Computer Basics CelGenStudios 2021-06-13 | Date of disc mastering: October 27, 1983This disc was sent to select Apple Computer dealerships and operated in an interactive video kiosk machine. It detailed various Apple products, financing plans, warranty and short video examples of product applications plus a basic idea on how a computer works.Purchased in 2003 and uploaded a number of years ago as a modified video to make use of Youtube's then popular annotations and chapter jumping.This is a raw dump from the disc I made in 2013. No effects, cuts or upscaling has been performed.
IBM Wheelwriter 50 Series II and Adding the Diskette Option CelGenStudios 2021-05-08 | As the typewriter stepped aside for desktop computers and word processing software, IBM and others pressed well into the 90's continuing to make typewriters with full word processing capabilities. The Wheelwriter 50 is one such product. In this video we will briefly demonstrate some of its functions, then install the 3.5" floppy disk option.I should of read the manual a bit more before making this video. ;)For a much more comprehensive video on the features of the Wheelwriter and its cousin the Quietwriter I recommend this marketing video from IBM - youtube.com/watch?v=MYkwJ3MsYJMRemember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Modern Telephony - Testing Modems and Faxes at the Makerspace CelGenStudios 2021-04-24 | One of the reasons I gifted out makerspace a Panasonix KX-TD system was that it can handle low and medium speed data communication like faxes and other modem calls. Lets try a few things to make sure I set everything up correctly.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
Can I Make a Junk Compact Fluorescent Work on a Different Ballast? CelGenStudios 2021-04-10 | This is purely for my amusement. These spiral bulbs are neat but their electronic ballasts are junk. I wonder if I can make it work with a different ballast.Remember to follow me on Twitter at @CelGenStudios to keep up to date on what I am doing and what might be happening in the next video.
