Steampunk boom box – part 9
Steampunk boom box – part 9, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
I thought that this was a steel ring, but it’s nickel plated brass. It’s from a strange projector, probably from the 1940s. Using a chuck on a rotary table mounted on my Sherline micro-mill, I milled eight holes around the perimeter. I’ve given up using drill bits for this kind of operation. They just flex too much. I need to make four more holes, around the inside, for mounting the glass. Also, a hole needs to be made for the LED. So many annoying little things to do still, but it should be done for Maker Faire.
Steampunk boom box – Part 8
Steampunk boom box – Part 8, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
Almost done. Notice new conduit on lower left side. There was a problem with the electronics. The amp board had a hairline crack in it. Found it after viewing the board with a magnifying glass. The amp board is installed as are the speakers and the battery contacts. A 1/8″ phono plug and cable have been added to the auxiliary input. A plastic tube has been procured, for the MP3 player. The power switch is on the dual potentiometer. It will be mounted on the top of the six inch cube. Still need to find some hardware for the strap, and a strap. Machining and more soldering before it’s finished.
Steampunk boom box – Part 7
Steampunk boom box – Part 7, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
With the speakers and steel grills this thing weighs in excess of 40 lbs. FOURTY POUNDS! That’s without the batteries. Cutting some of the bolts short and replacing the MP3 player holder with plastic will do little to lighten this behemoth. The handle is a copper tube with nickel ends. I used steel wool to remove some of the shine, placed them in saw dust, and set it ablaze with a blowtorch. I then buffed and sealed with wax. I have to add another connector tube between the central unit and the left box. Battery connectors need to be added. Radio board needs switches and potentiometer replaced. Steel ring needs machining. Glass retainer pieces need to be made. Brackets for the LEDs and their voltage divider circuits need assembling. Amp board needs to be mounted. Plastic tube and support to hold MP3 player needs to be procured, along with an MP3 player. D-rings need to be found and added to sides along with a strap for when I want to bear my cross. Antenna binding post to top right, possibly . A collet for the tuning knob needs to be made. Final assembling should be wrought with problems. I want to finish this by Maker Faire. It’s so heavy that I’m having second thoughts of bringing it. I’ll probably chain it to the Never Was Haul, as an anchor.
Steampunk boom box – Part 6
Steampunk boom box – Part 6, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
This is the central unit. It measures 6″ x 6″ x 6″ and will house the radio and have a compartment, accessible from the rear, to hold an MP3 player. The steel ring and the blue glass are from an odd vintage projector. Eight brass nuts will be added around its perimeter to affix it to the oak. A method, not yet devised, will be employed to hold the glass. I’ve managed to get the Jeep boom box to work, so I will be using it. The offending rusted mode switch has been removed and reverse engineered. It will be replaced with a vintage toggle as will the radio band select switch. The Panasonic boom box will be used for another unit. The needle, on the radio dial, will be replaced with one spade shaped. One more conduit will be added to the left side. The tubes offer support and a way to pass wires.
Steampunk boom box – Part 5
Steampunk boom box – Part 5, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
Here are the modified speakers in their oak enclosures. Each has a battery compartment that hold four D cells. The speakers are not yet attached because the amp, handle, battery contacts, and the holes for the center unit need to be added. The speaker covers are cast steel victorian air duct covers. If you look closely, you’ll notice that they’re not identical. I still need to make two thin wooden frames to attach fabric to. They will fit between the grill and the speaker. The boxes measure 12″ x 10″ x 9″. They will be spaced apart by 10″ and will be bolted to the center unit. I will probably wire up the antenna to one of the grills. Maybe add a binding post for an external antenna.
Steampunk boom box – part 4
Steampunk Boombox part 4, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
This is a much better machine then that Jeep piece of crap. I may still use the dial, if possible. This is a Panasonic RX-FT560 ghetto blaster. Not very attractive, and a bit beat up. However it sounds good and has an external input, which will make my job easier. Next step: dismantling.
Steampunk boom box – part 3
Steampunk Boombox part 3, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
I got these at a thrift store years ago. They’ve detached from a boom box long gone. These sound quite good for their size. Notice how the two speakers are attached to the plastic frame. I’ve removed them from the plastic and made a small MDF box to house them, keeping the relative locations. I don’t want to mess with the phase or the tuned cabinet. Removing the plastic has made them smaller, but not enough. I need to add another inch to the oak boxes I’ve already made. I should have waited to make the case, but I was excited about this project. Two steps forward, one step back.
Steampunk boom box – part 2
Steampunk Boombox part 2, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
This is all that’s left of the cheap Jeep boom box. The mode selector switch is stuck, as is the AM/FM switch. The speakers are water proof, and as you might imagine, sound awful. However, when I hooked up better speakers, it didn’t sound so bad. I started construction of the main body before acquiring a boombox. It has been modified already and needs more adjustments.
Steampunk boom box – part 1
Steampunk Boombox part 1, originally uploaded by Black Heart Industries.
Clearly this isn’t a Steampunk anything, but it will be when I’m through
with it. I thought of using tubes, but I’d like to finish this before I pass on. The main reason this boom box was chosen is that the radio has a round dial. Also this is not a classic, has no battery cover, covered with cracks, and is generally a piece of crap. The switches are among the cheapest I’ve ever seen.
