Any Idea Where I Could Locate a Couple Of These?

[Petseal]

Hello all,
I have a dilemma that someone out there may be able to help me with!
I am trying, among several other projects, to build a TOS Desk Top Viewer!
At present I am trying to get the measurements so it looks right and then I can start to do the sub-assembly!
Over the past year or so I have search on and off over the internet trying to locate a pair of the switches pictured below! I have been unsuccessful at every attempt! Mouser, an electrical outlet who carry the bump-ons used on Enterprise, is looking into it now! Every couple days he emails with more questions so I don't have much hope there!

So I am looking for advice on the best place to look on the internet to hopefully find a pair of these switches!
The best I have managed to find is a smaller black toggle switch which was rounder and had a bushing which sat on top of the plastic base face! I couldn't remove the bushing because it was also part of the clip arrangement that snapped in and kept it in place! Totally useless!
So any help with this would be very much appreciated as this is one of the minor stumbling blocks I am having with this project, I don't know how big to make the hole for the switch!
Just to insure the powers that be, I am not attempting to break any rules here I just want some input from people on this board who have or may have had some experience at building a TOS Desk Top Viewer and who may remember or have knowledge as to were they got there switches from!
Thanks for any help, Petseal

 

[electric jay]

Maybe here?

http://www.tubeampparts.com/Merchan...t_Code=RSWRD&Category_Code=S&Product_Count=22

 

[Darth Lars]

I think "RKR-2" on this page could be from the same manufacturer:
http://www.surplussales.com/Switches/SWRocker-1.html
The mounting frame/bracket is different, but the other details seem to match.

 

[Petseal]

Hello all,
MANY THANKS electric jay and Darth Lars! :thumbsup I have emailed both of the companies you suggested and await their responses with great anticipation!

As I feared Mouser crapped out! I received an email this morning from them in which they suggested I "check local parts suppliers", what a great idea wish I had thought of that! :confused

So thanks for the input and with any luck it will pan out and I will at least have some switches for the never starting project!!!!!!!!!!!!
Later all, Petseal

 

[ursus43]

http://www.mcgillelectrical.com/CatalogProducts.asp?nProductsID=162

 

[Petseal]

http://www.mcgillelectrical.com/CatalogProducts.asp?nProductsID=162

Well hello ursus43, you are now my new best friend! (Don't get too excited if you knew me you would know that is not a good thing!)
I came back here earlier to let the other two members know that the sites they sent me too did not work out as I had hoped!
The one has two email address, I tried the first and it was returned as "unknown address"! So I tried the second with the same results! Upon further reading I found a disclaimer that said they would no longer be doing business through the internet! So they have a web site, you can look up the products and you can call them (on your own dime) but you can't email a question!
And the one has a minimum purchase amount, before shipping! It's only $10.00 but I only need two switches, $1.50 each, not seven!
So I thank you both for the leads, the effort on your parts was very much appreciated!
I did however find that ursus43 had also posted a link for me!
Looking for an email address I discovered several all over the USA!
Then I found a section for International which I narrowed down to a city not too far from my own in Ontario!
I just received a reply instructing me to call there Windsor outlet for pricing information!
So baring any more unforeseen problems (out of stock, bought out by new ST movie, ALL melted in freak heating accident) I could have two of these switches, or at least on order, this weekend!
Thanks all for your help and I REALLY WISH I had thought of this sooner!!!!!!
Later, Petseal

 

[Petseal]

Hello all,
As I said last week I had contacted a local dealer who carries a brand of electronics that has a switch that looks very close to what I want! I called their number and ended up with the hot potato routine! Finally talked to a person who knew the person who had suggested them, their supplier, and would get back to me ASAP! Glad I wasn't bleeding as that person has yet to call back!
I called again today and explained what I wanted to the person who picked up the phone! He took my info and called back within an hour with a estimated delivery time to the store and a price!
Sometimes the type of service one gets can be so frustrating and demeaning!
Anyway it seems I am still on the hunt as the piece I want is $17.99 EACH plus tax! I have seen several switches all over the net which are not as close but not too bad! The highest one I saw was $1.50 each and less if you bought bulk! That's quite a difference and I plan to email their supplier and ask him why the major difference just as soon as I am done here!
Later, Petseal

 

[OB10]

Good luck with this! I'm sort of wanting some of these bad boys myself. I found a local supplier in Minneapolis who had some pretty darn close to the TOS rocker switches, (but with the chromed bezel) so I bought them. I asked if they would/could get more, and it pretty much sounded like, "Too bad, so sad." A lot of their stock is from equipment that gets scrapped and parted out, so some of their stuff, they didn't know where to get any more from.

It didn't matter too much for me, cuz I figured I'd just mold and cast them. I don't need them to work, since I'm planning on making the set of 7 or so that is "built into" the conference table, but I don't think the owner of the table wants a big hole in it. Flat backed resin casts will be fine. But it sure would be nice to get some working ones, just in case, and for future projects.

Obi-Bob

 

[ursus43]

Petseal, sorry it didn't pan out for you. If I'd know the price structure I would have warned you (need to have the glyceryn tablets handy.......)

 

[Petseal]

Petseal, sorry it didn't pan out for you. If I'd know the price structure I would have warned you (need to have the glyceryn tablets handy.......)

Hi ursus43,
Don't worry about it! You don't know till you try!
I did get a response from the guy at the web site you sent me and what he said did make sense!
I am a firm believer that out-sourcing is going to kill trade in North America!
I believe it is called the Wal-Mart syndrome! Why buy a pair of $10 socks, made in North America, which could last for years when you can buy a bundle of 3 pairs, made in China, for $5 that might last a year total?

A short (for me) story: I bought a elbow type lamp too long ago to remember which I use on my work bench!
Worked fine but it was all beat up so I decide to buy a new shinny one!
A few months later the on/off twist switch broke! Same for the second and the third ones I bought! (There were other quality issues but I want to keep this short)
Before the last one broke I put the old battered one out in a yard sale for $2, didn't sell! After the last shinny lamp died I took that piece of junk and for the last two years it has kept a bright light on my projects!

Any way this guy is telling me that same story! The switches I see over the web for a few bucks are mostly imported and are not going to last, could be true! And that the ones his company sells are of the finest quality, made in the USA and will last a lot longer, again could be true!
I don't mind paying extra if I am fairly sure I am getting a better quality, made at home, product! If they had been about $10 I would have jumped on it, but at almost twice that I am hesitant!
Got to go, Petseal

 

[nickytea]

If I can find the box I can help you out. I purchased 200 of these switches when Electronic Surplus was blowing them out. They are exactly as you pictured but the tabs are bent up, but can be easily bent to the pictured shape.

 

[Petseal]

If I can find the box I can help you out. I purchased 200 of these switches when Electronic Surplus was blowing them out. They are exactly as you pictured but the tabs are bent up, but can be easily bent to the pictured shape.

That would be fantastic nickytea! Thanks very much for the input!
I think a few other members have been watching this in the hopes that I lucked into some! So if you do find them and want to get rid of them I think you could be in luck!
Best of luck with your search but don't get upset on my account if you can't find them! Just remember this, when you are looking for something, no matter what it is, it's ALWAYS in the last place you look! I do not know why that works but it's true!
Many thanks and hope to hear some good news soonest, Petseal
PS: I don't care if the tabs were pretzel shaped I will make them work! :love