WTD: manual for GE PJ-400 light valve projector

[Opcom]

I'm revisiting my old PJ-400 GE light valve video projector.

Does anyone else have one of these pre-Talaria units?

The older 'pre-Talaria' monochrome and color PJ-xxx units are not the big tabletop units like the Talaria, but a slimmer projection 'head' mounted to the top of a heavy rack full of circuit modules with tubes and transistors IIRC. The head can be removed and positioned as necessary to shoot at the screen. Mine has about a 10FT cable.

It powers up partially and the Xenon lamp can be turned on, but it will not make an image with the light valve tube, even though I have had it powered on and pumping down for 3-4 days, as recommended by persons who worked with them. The Light Valve tube is intact. It's probably some electrical fault in one or more of the several modules.

It is much more than a CRT with a lens, the light valve operates by etching ridges into an oil film in front of Schlieren optics through which a 1KW Xenon lamp shines. On the other side a lens projects the image on a screen. The oil film is continually refreshed from a reservoir as it is carried on a magnetically driven rotating glass disk all inside the tube. The tube has a continuously operating ion pump and the scanning of the raster is electrostatic.

Its workings can all be seen through the clear light valve tube body. Because of this highly coordinated technology, there are many electrical interlocks that prevent the startup process from proceeding past any fault. It does not seem to have fault indicators.

I don't have a recent picture but will try to take some - got it before digital cameras were a thing. It's a rescue from a closed business, found near the building's dumpster in the 1980s. A miracle to find it. Maybe a miracle to fix it. It deserves to be fixed!

[Opcom]

I tried to change the title from 'WTD"..." , since this is about the projector and if anyone else has one, not the separate Clasifieds 'wanted' post where I shamelessly beg for a manual. But it seems the title here would not let me change it. Maybe a moderator could help out please? Thanks!

[markdi]

Pretty kool device
Must be completed

[KentTeffeteller]

Kool when they work, and in perfect alignment. Restore this, not many left.

[Opcom]

I know, it's really important to preserve it. I have the experience to troubleshoot this kind of thing, but not without the manual. Been looking for the manual for many years. LOL before the internet. A friend, Paul Porter, has one specimen of the color version, the PJ-700? He claims to have a manual and that the -400 can be fixed with that manual, but has never been able to find it and it's been >30 years.. but he has a 10 acre "junk farm" with many buildings and stacks of stuff all over. He worked for Sony broadcast service for many years. Has lots of TV sets of all kinds, tubes, some CRTs, etc.


These may be interesting to look at - about Paul's collecting:

1.) my pictures of a little bit of the stuff at the junk farm: http://bunkerofdoom.com/hoard1/index.html

2.) my pics and videos of the overflow stuff stashed at nearby Bomber Bait: http://bunkerofdoom.com/hoard4/index.html

3.) Paul's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqg...8TVWc6bscdNYiA

(not everything shown is still there - he has been been trying to 'cut back'.)

[markdi]

Wow looks like a gold mine to me

[Opcom]

This is near Gainesville, TX. Shopping can be arranged by appointment. audio 'pickers' have been through there but by no means scratched the surface as far as video receiver/TV parts and stuff goes. There are a couple of VHF only tube type AV receivers, Conrac, I think. That is some claaaasic stuff.

some consoles, jukebox parts/items, etc but whatever it's quite a stash. The place is so large I 'lost' a stack of 4 rackmount scopes in one barn for 8 years. I'm still missing the display unit of an old tube type RCA civil aviation aircraft radar but it's there somewhere -the rest is with me. Need the manual for that pesky thing too. haha too many grails to hunt.

BTW there's another PJ-400. Surrounded by other fine things too.
http://bunkerofdoom.com/hoard1/100_6382.JPG

[Electronic M]

One of these projectors missing the 2KV supply module and possibly another module is on ebay in Chicago for $400 right now.

[Opcom]

I am still looking for the manual. The PJ-700 manual is also applicable. I believe it's going to be needed on this beastie.