What is it?

[boB]

Yeah, I vote for a satellite of some sort, too.

With all that conformal coating, Capton tape (or whatever they use) ?

maybe ?

boB

[phxmark]

Also, looking at the solar panel module, the pin with the string on it is what gets pulled to activate power to the module.  I looked at other cube-sat solar modules on Goolge and they all have the same pin with the string on them.

[onanparts]

CubeSat it is!

From AMSAT's site: http://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/FoxBrochure-6-14.pdf

Project Fox is AMSAT's answer to the satellite communities' growing interest in
CubeSats. A CubeSat is a small satellite based on a basic 4-inch (10cm) cube
shape. AMSAT is developing a family of these satellites to take advantage of
new launch opportunities that are now available for CubeSat educational and
scientific missions.
The first members of this new family are the Fox-1 satellites as shown in the
drawing below. These are currently being developed by our all-volunteer,
AMSAT engineering team. They will use 70cm for uplinks and 2 meters for
downlinks. Each satellite will be able to operate as both an FM analog repeater
and in digital data mode. The satellites are magnetically stabilized using a
permanent magnet and hysteresis rods.

Each face of the satellite has a pair of high-performance, space-rated solar
cells. These solar cells drive maximum-power-point-tracking, DC-to-DC
converters that will wring out as much power as possible from the cells. This
power is used to charge a 10 watt-hour NiCd battery. The power system can
provide a little over 2 watts continuously, even in eclipse, and quite a bit more
peak power if needed.
The antennas are spring-wire whips and the VHF one is shown in its stowed
position wrapped around the solar panel. The UHF antenna is on the opposite
face. After deployment in orbit, they will spring out in opposite directions. Each
antenna will operate as a dipole. On 70cm, the whip and the satellite body form
the dipole. On 2 meters, the whip is half of the dipole and both the satellite
body and the 70cm whip make up the other half. The whips are aligned with
the Z-axis of the satellite which is magnetically stabilized to help minimize
QSB

Although not going to the moon an orbit about 400 miles up is on the way...too the moon Alice, to the moon! As Ralph would say. My hint about Orange, June 1st and can't smell were way out in left field....."OSCAR" as in Oscar the grouch! He can't smell and was Orange his first year, then Green. June 1st is his birthday.....gotta get creative with you folks!

[onanparts]

Here we go again....

[mike90045]

The grain, the column, and tubing makes me think of a still

[onanparts]

Times up!

Bernie Haines working in his garage. Inventor of the Solar Pathfinder.

History: http://www.solarpathfinder.com/about/our-history

[onanparts]

Ready for another?

[RossW]

Probably miles off beam, but it looks like a synchronous vibrator.

[TomW]

Prehistoric RF output valve (vacume tube  for you younguns)?

[onanparts]

Nope & nope....

[mike90045]

I see contacts, coils, and flex leaf.   Some DC-AC vibrator/interrupter.  Or maybe some tuned vibrator/FQ meter to control an wild AC source ?


The on in my dad's car was encased in lead to reduce static as it created AC for tube HV supply.

[boB]

Where do you get this stuff ??!!!???

I haven't seen this before that I know of, but my guess would be part of a watt-hour meter.

Basically the innards of a utility watt-hour meter

Probably  a current input  and a voltage input and an output to drive a meter ?

OR, maybe there is a meter face on the bottom ?

boB

[onanparts]

Where do you get this stuff ??!!!???

I haven't seen this before that I know of, but my guess would be part of a watt-hour meter.

Basically the innards of a utility watt-hour meter

Probably  a current input  and a voltage input and an output to drive a meter ?

OR, maybe there is a meter face on the bottom ?

boB

Watt did you say?  Negatory on the wattmeter...

Found this at an antique store that was more like a museum with everything for sale and most of it oddball/unusual stuff.

Some clues: George, Parallel and a school bus. 

[TomW]

Where do you get this stuff ??!!!???
boB

Probably just has too much time on his hands, a LOT of storage space and is single? 

My Wife just never lets me keep much stuff that is not actually in use at least occasionally.

Its fun to see this old stuff.

I still miss my old CP/M computer and the other perfectly good but old stuff I "recycled".

[Westbranch]

You just need to convince your wife that you are genetically disposed to collecting.... anything...  and have a cousin or 2 that does the same..