"MA" transistor markings for ANH Obi Wan Kenobi's Llightsaber
- Thread starter ATL Kenobi
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Serenity
Master Member
Both transistors had washers at the beginning of production. Most assume the saber was repaired before the famous shots that appear in the Chronicles book.
Commonly referred to as the Tunisia configuration, this is the way it appears when they were filming there. This is the best I have.
Commonly referred to as the Tunisia configuration, this is the way it appears when they were filming there. This is the best I have.
That Tunisia shot really helps explain what I mean. The components don't rise very far up over the washers. Amplifiers are nearly identical to regular TO-5 housings, but half the height. When placed in washers...it's identical to all the photos we have of the prop.
Again, I see your point. What I don't see are gaps that would form the letter S. We're warm, but I don't think we're red hot.
Again, I see your point. What I don't see are gaps that would form the letter S. We're warm, but I don't think we're red hot.
I am of the opinion that the Tunisia image is not of good enough quality for a definitive look at the height of the washers/transistor top. Like the transistor print, the resolution has been enlarged to an extreme. The reflected hotspots are a wild card as well. Even with the shadow I would say they are floating washers. It looks like the washer underside is reflecting off the clamps chrome. Or maybe not. Know what I'm saying?
What are others' opinions about the Solitron logo?
We can only hope ATL Kenobi will return and filter this manufacturer through his excel file with ten thousand lines.
What are others' opinions about the Solitron logo?
We can only hope ATL Kenobi will return and filter this manufacturer through his excel file with ten thousand lines.
I suspect that file might be on 3 1/2" floppy disk in a shoebox in the back of a disused closet somewhere
- but really, I have no idea where it might reside.TRM - You do present a reasonable hypothesis, and if there was just one transistor scuffed-up to look like the post-prodution pictures, I'd almost have to agree with you. But since there are two transistors with very similar markings, I think I stand a better chance of winning the Powerball, than two independent devices being randomly scuffed-up in the exact same mannner. For now, I'll stand by my original post.
Off topic, I vote 2 washers per the prop pictures from the movie (Tunisia picture shown above). While post production pictures can be useful as references- there's no way of knowing how much damage was done to the prop once filming ended. Can't imagine anyone making this prop based on its post production image.
ATL
Serenity
Master Member
Well actually...
Kramstaar did a version of that particular idol here: http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=75626
But I do get your point.
I only have 12 of the "S" transistor and there is no shortage of individual variation in how the logo was printed. I would say if it is this type, we would be looking for two transistors with a less defined bottom left corner of the S logo. The view of the second transistor doesn't give a clear view of the top edge. Perhaps getting lost in the edge reflection, the two transistors could still be similar, but not identical in wear.
My thinking is that the odds are better on two S transistors being similarly misprinted, than two Motorola logos appearing with an extra splotch that does not match any existing found item.
Still have a floppy disc drive?
My thinking is that the odds are better on two S transistors being similarly misprinted, than two Motorola logos appearing with an extra splotch that does not match any existing found item.
Still have a floppy disc drive?
Well actually...
Kramstaar did a version of that particular idol here: http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=75626
But I do get your point.
Serenity - That's fantastic
- I love it. And if I was wrong about that, who's to say I haven't erred in my transistor theory??Something else to consider though. Since all the other parts of the ANH OBI saber were salvaged from other assemblies, it's very likely the transistors the prop builders used were removed from some discarded printed circuit board. One of the first tasks I performed as a bench tech at Scientific-Atlanta back in 1980 was to build a fixture to hold and power a number of LM741 Op Amps. These were then put in a Thermotron temperature chamber and hot and cold cycled for a week to weed out weak or problematic devices. After the temperature cycling, each part was individually retested, and a small dab of paint was applied to the top of the can to indicate it had passed. The "stray" markings we see on the saber transistors could be of this same nature. Since any transistors we are likely to find and/or buy nowadadays will be "new" devices, this type of OEM markings will not be found.
TheRealMcFly - Since I clearly see the two letters M and A on the can, that was a deciding factor to me. If I gain access to a vintage Solitron databook and it shows that they produced a series of transistors with "MA", I'll wholeheartedly embrace your theory. Thanks for pursuing this. Despite what some may think - it does matter.:thumbsup
ATL
ATL Kenobi- Surely a paint splotch of quality assurance would have revealed itself in the Tunisia photo? To make research even more difficult on this "S" logo... I have seen it attributed to Solitron, Semelab, and even Senko. I have no way of taking this research further online.
I will eventually create some cleaner comparisons and make an effort to match the lighting conditions of the reference material when the washers arrive. Even then we still cannot know for sure, until a found transistor matches/overlays exactly both logo and text. I know members have been content with Motorola MAs but until the original prop surfaces why not pursue this dialogue on this new possibility? And don't forget to shrink the reference back down to 1:1 scale once in a while. There is no detail too small for the RPF.
I will eventually create some cleaner comparisons and make an effort to match the lighting conditions of the reference material when the washers arrive. Even then we still cannot know for sure, until a found transistor matches/overlays exactly both logo and text. I know members have been content with Motorola MAs but until the original prop surfaces why not pursue this dialogue on this new possibility? And don't forget to shrink the reference back down to 1:1 scale once in a while. There is no detail too small for the RPF.
In case that was a reference to me, I'm sorry for shooting you down - I was open and happy to discuss the option of this being solitron, and we have. I just don't see the match and the probability of them both being that way reduces the likelihood for me that's all. I'm convinced we are missing something, as they are op amps but not on this brand.
thd- My only reference comes from the folder of images I have saved of all-original-parts replicas from here on the RPF. I have no way of attributing them to their respective owners but most are M* and MA. It was not a criticism of anyone. I cannot help you see what I see, beyond the examples I have provided. This is the second time you have mentioned the amplifier part without providing any evidence. I do not understand how this could make the "S" logo an impossibility.
My worry is I will not be able to devote the resources to pursuing this idea further and can only hope the conversation continues on the "S" theory. To me it appeared the research had stagnated in regards to the transistor markings specifically. It had been a long time since anyone had found anything new Motorola, NEC etc. I embrace all possibilties with some evidence.
I do not see identical weathering in the reference material. Indeed the tops of both Ss do appear worn in similar ways. If the Chronicles orientation is any clue, the S 'tops' both point out, perhaps increasing the chances of similar wear. For me it seems more likely that the "S" is missing it's bottom left border than a stylized "M" containing printing artifact that has yet to match any Motorola logo.
My worry is I will not be able to devote the resources to pursuing this idea further and can only hope the conversation continues on the "S" theory. To me it appeared the research had stagnated in regards to the transistor markings specifically. It had been a long time since anyone had found anything new Motorola, NEC etc. I embrace all possibilties with some evidence.
I do not see identical weathering in the reference material. Indeed the tops of both Ss do appear worn in similar ways. If the Chronicles orientation is any clue, the S 'tops' both point out, perhaps increasing the chances of similar wear. For me it seems more likely that the "S" is missing it's bottom left border than a stylized "M" containing printing artifact that has yet to match any Motorola logo.
SPLOTCH? I NEVER SAID SPLOTCH. If you wish to continue trying to discredit the work I did, please consider starting your own thread.
I'm not trying to discredit anything, just exploring all possibilities. By splotch, I only meant the delta, or "2" as it is sometimes called. It was not my intention to offend.
The op amp idea also has already been discussed elsewhere. The photo at the top of this page is partially proof, as well as all the other images I keep mentioning. I'm on an iPod so I can't hand this stuff straight to you, but the height matches. regular height transistors are too high - Google the components if you need to, and use the search function to explore other threads in the topic to see the images I'm referring to.
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