1980's 1990's neon disco tube help..
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Category: Other Chat
Forum Name: Lighting Talk
Forum Description: All your lampy, laser and 'other' special FX needs....
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=56257
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Topic: 1980's 1990's neon disco tube help..
Posted By: Punchy
Subject: 1980's 1990's neon disco tube help..
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 5:17pm
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I`ve just aquired some of this , well i`ve got to strip a load off a roof of a night club, long since closed down. I really cannot find a lot of info on it. looking at the pictures, which are pretty vague, it seems like the size of your little finger, some of it is shaped some of it is in straight lengths that look connected by rubber caps and a bit of 2.5mm round cable. It looks like it has been connected to the roof truss with cable clip type connectors, I assume this stuff is very brittle, even moreso having been gathering dust and nicotine for 20 years was all this stuff just plain 240v or was it driven via transformers? any help or ideas about what it entails to spark this stuff up i`d appreciate it. First things first is to go get it and I`ll post some proper pictures. also a few retro lights, which i am really looking forward to having a tinkle with  ------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |
Replies:
Posted By: audiomik
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 5:38pm
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Neon is driven by high voltage through transformers. Be very careful removing the tubes as they are fragile and make certain that you save the insulated fixings for the tubes. Find the Transformers and if you want to run the tubes make certain that you use the insulated supports for the tubes and be well clear before you apply any power to the transformers! hope this assists Mik ------------- Warning! May contain Nuts plus springs, washers, screws, etc, etc. |
Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 8:34pm
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So there is more to these than meets the eyes then?!? It seems like there are about 4 one piece spring type spirals that are 2ft wide by 4ft deep hanging off the roof, also there are some straights that have slight bends around some corners which are all attached to some trilte.. I am going to take a load of photos of what is attached to what and then take it down as carefully as I can. Sat on the wall is a pile of pink-purple dimmer packs and controllers, the guy said they had mode written on them. I have not seen them as yet. I`ve bought this lot blind. If memory serves me' I thought mode electronics controller were black when I was a wee lad. A mate says he thinks he remembers purple dimmer packs, some of you lot on here are getting on, can any of you remember? What there is on the roof is a clay paky astrospider  they are a real museum piece. Cant wait to have a tinkle with that.There will be a few bits that i`ll be flogging so i`ll give them a clean up and stick them on here, but I`d like to have a play with the neon stuff and the old harvesters. I know it sounds daft but when i get a garden big enough i`ll be building a bloody great barn and i`ll have all that sort of tackle on the roof just for the craic. ------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |
Posted By: shagnasty
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 9:03pm
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The good news is Mode are one of teh most helpfull and approachable companies in the industry, that said neon can be fun to deal with so heed all the advice above re insulation etc, if any of the tube feed or jump cables look "crumbly" or dodgy just use normal EHT tv wiring cable (RS do from memory as I sure most place do), most neon I've seen has a controller (often 0-10V input, so may need a DMX > analog converter) and then a transformer per section for the actual neons.... If you install it anywhere be aware a lot of local authorities require a "fireman's" switch in the instalation for it... |
Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 6:30pm
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just took all this down and its in the van. the controllers are anytronics and most of the insulators are intact, it was strapped to some trilite and is caked in dust and crap. the transformers are here, about 15 of them along witrh 15 controllers Should be fun sorting it all out. ------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |
Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 6:31pm
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Is it worth much? I might just move it on. I`m not clever enough to not blow myself up. ------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |
Posted By: colint
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 8:20pm
And it could be deadly! if you don't know what your doing with neon (which after reading your above posts you don't) don't even think to try to connect this stuff up, The voltages used with proper old type neon are extremely high and will seriously mess your social life up if you get it wrong. As to value, not a lot! although neon looks really cool no one really uses it anymore because there are low voltage alternatives available now. The wurly stuff now that's a different matter some of the older lighting (like harvistor's sorry if I've spelt that wrong) are worth a bit if you can find the right site for them. I sold a 4 foot wide helicopter not so long ago for 150 quid, I don't think it cost that much when it was new 30 years ago! I came across a web site for vintage lighting not so long ago that hire the stuff out so I'll have a look and see if I can find it. ------------- Never criticise another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Once you have, call him what you like, you're a mile away and you've got his shoes! |
Punchy wrote:Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 8:35pm
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Yep,as Colin says above,neon is really to much bother to have any great value,to be honest,i personally wouldnt have even taken it all down,even if it was free. Also.be very careful when moving any of the tubes,they have mercury in them when they are sealed,so dont break them. ------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 8:54pm
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Well the neon consists of about 20 straights and 40 two feet circles got loads of transformers. 5 x 8 head helicopters and about five single havesters, a few kremesta effects and 100# pinspots. Star of the show is a big 4 wayulti head Clay paky bad boy :D
------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |
Posted By: colint
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 9:00pm
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The real shame is neon looks really good and is quite versatile, I still have a mirror ball that was in Flicks at Dartford that has 4 "Saturn rings" around it, looked really cool in the club but I busted two of the rings the first or second time I used it. What you really need is someone who's doing an install in a retro club/bar' Probably best to put it on fleabay and see what happens but make sure you mark it collection only. As for the other stuff the is a mobile disco that uses really old retro lighting it's called retro mobile disco (must have taken ages to think that one up) http://www.retromobiledisco.co.uk/" rel="nofollow - http://www.retromobiledisco.co.uk/ it may be worth mailing them so see if they want it. ------------- Never criticise another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Once you have, call him what you like, you're a mile away and you've got his shoes! |
Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 9:14pm
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I'm told there is a market for this stuff in India, and I'll get plenty of emails when I list it asking me to send it.
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Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 9:27pm
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Forgot to add five small neon triangles and about 12 anytronics controllers for the neon. Also 20 old par 36 scanners and four mode 16 touch panels. Everything is coated in a thick covering of nicotine and soot. The trilite looked like it was spayed a dull gold until I got there
it was the nicotine! Gonna get that all steamed
nice little 3m shapes on the roof covered in pinspots
its gonna take ages to clean all this. ------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |
Posted By: colint
Date Posted: 11 September 2011 at 9:36pm
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Steam the trilite by all means but the rest just soapy water (washing up liquid) will do the trick (including the touch panels) but leave it a good few days before you plug any of it in. I know this sounds nuts but it does work (I've done it load's even with mixers) and as long as there's no voltage left in any of the units all will be well. Did you get any nice old sound bits? ------------- Never criticise another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Once you have, call him what you like, you're a mile away and you've got his shoes! |
Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 12 September 2011 at 12:33am
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all the sound bits were taken out years ago. However there was a cloud limiter and an old active crossover, and also in the corner of the room was an old jbl bin, the 2x15" big fobby where the cones face away from each other and point to the side with the magnets almost touching in the middle of the cab. the cones are still in it, so fingers crossed they are ok when i fire it up, ------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |
Posted By: Muckerbarnes1
Date Posted: 12 September 2011 at 12:43am
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Neon could potentially be lethal unless you know what you are doing. Please take care. I have fitted miles of it. I would not reccomenend it for a novice with such equipment. ------------- Billy Dawg. |
Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 12 September 2011 at 8:09am
I think you mean one of those T.C.B. cabinets? If its the 15" version,should have 2225's in it.....nice drivers if they are working ok. ------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: Punchy
Date Posted: 12 September 2011 at 9:13am
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this is big lump I got....... http://vintagelightfx.lynxxx.nl/2009/06/22/clay-paky-astrospider/" rel="nofollow - http://vintagelightfx.lynxxx.nl/2009/06/22/clay-paky-astrospider/ It appears in a whole lot better condition than some of the other bits. to be honest some of the kremesa bits are rusted up quite badly. This astro-thingey looks the part tho, I trust myself to fire this up, I will put my rubber wellies on first  ------------- dont make me use UPPERCASE !! |