Magic Eye Tuner

[7designs]

I just finished a magic eye tuner based on the design on Adding a Magic Eye to a Hallicrafters S-20R.

I used the same project box as Phil, but I made custom plastic pieces that go in the box slots and clamp around the tube where the glass meets the base. I also mounted my components on a small pcb.

The hardest part was finding where to tap the AVC. After reading a post on antiqueradios forum I was trying to find where the third IF connected to R19. But on my S-20R it does not and goes directly to 6h6. The voltage was right at that tube so I connected it there. The magic eye works great. I also painted the housing with some hammer-tone paint left over from my S-38c restore project.

 

[zz0468]

Neat! You do nice work.

 

[jackj]

Where in the world did you get a magic eye tube? I don't think they have been made for around 40 or 50 yrs.

 

[7designs]

Where in the world did you get a magic eye tube? I don't think they have been made for around 40 or 50 yrs.

They are all over the place. This ones from ebay.

 

[K9WG]

Where in the world did you get a magic eye tube? I don't think they have been made for around 40 or 50 yrs.

I have one I dug out of a piece of medical equipment 30+ years ago....

 

[n9mxq]

Clean and functional.. 5 outta 5 stars here... Nice Job!

 

[ridgescan]

I agree! Neat way to complete the visual part of the SWL tuning experience. Makes me wish I gutted the "magic bars" tuning eye from dad's old Admiral console. As you tuned in the station the green bars would approach closer to each other and depending on signal strength would even overlap each other. Fun

 

[majoco]

The EM84 has the two bars that meet in the middle and are still available quite cheaply.

It's all here...

All About Magic Eye Tubes

 

[ridgescan]

that's the one

 

[majoco]

My Blaupunkt "Sultan" has an EM84 at the left end of the dial so you don't cover it with your 'tuning' hand.

Not very clear in this pic but you can just make it out - still good and bright after 50-something years!

 

[ridgescan]

My Blaupunkt "Sultan" has an EM84 at the left end of the dial so you don't cover it with your 'tuning' hand.

Not very clear in this pic but you can just make it out - still good and bright after 50-something years!

That's a beauty Martin! That one would warm a livingroom real nicely

 

[7designs]

That is nice! My youngest daughter(8 yrs old) said the magic eye is creepy, LOL.

 

[K9DAK]

Hmmm

The EM84 has the two bars that meet in the middle and are still available quite cheaply.

It's all here...

All About Magic Eye Tubes

My Dad's old (mid-60's vintage) EDI stereo receiver had one of those in it. I wonder if I could adapt one, using the battery power supply circuit shown at that site, to my old harman/kardon 330c whose d'arsonval tuning meter died a couple years ago . . . add another project to the list!

 

[w2xq]

Very nice. In addition to those, how many here remember the slide rule dial of the 1950's EICO HFT-90 FM tuner? It had a glowing-green changing-approximate-signal-level exclamation point that was the dial indicator for the frequency tuned to? Up on a 400+ ft ridge in Hunterdon County (NJ), normal receiving range was Boston to Annapolis.

 

[kilokat7]

Very nice. In addition to those, how many here remember the slide rule dial of the 1950's EICO HFT-90 FM tuner? It had a glowing-green changing-approximate-signal-level exclamation point that was the dial indicator for the frequency tuned to? Up on a 400+ ft ridge in Hunterdon County (NJ), normal receiving range was Boston to Annapolis.

I had to look this one up. Very cool, the EICO tuner. The display tube must be a DM70.

 

[K9DAK]

Very nice. In addition to those, how many here remember the slide rule dial of the 1950's EICO HFT-90 FM tuner? It had a glowing-green changing-approximate-signal-level exclamation point that was the dial indicator for the frequency tuned to? Up on a 400+ ft ridge in Hunterdon County (NJ), normal receiving range was Boston to Annapolis.

Ha, that brings back memories . . . before I got that h/k I had my Dad's old (50's vintage) Radio Craftsman tuner, with an EM84, hooked to an EICO tube amp. All through high school that combo provided not only great sound in my bedroom but nice heat in the winter-time too!