Yes, I bid $1600 on it...

Tom

On Tue, 12 Nov 2002 16:51:47 -0500 Jack Ivey  writes:
Hi all,
I'm debating if I want another boat anchor.  Do we know what period it
is?
Does anyone know how to tell this guy to lock the mass for shipping?
Also, is anyone bidding on it? 

Thanks,
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: meredithlamb [mailto:meredithlamb@..............
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 10:19 PM
To: psn-l@..............
Subject: Re: Sprengnether 201 Long-Period Vertical Seismometer on EBay


Hi everyone, 
If you want a vertical and more access to seeing the early 
and clearer "P" wave signals (and others), this might be the 
machine for you.  Horizontals just don't pick up the early quake 
signals quite as well. 
With a adequate vault and temperature control, such a 
instrument (at least for here experience wise), will probably 
prove to be very dependable for low drift of the mass/boom. 
The design came out in the 1950's-1960's or thereabouts. 
I'd suspect that the seller won't adequately prepare it for 
shipment, especially the boom/mass.  When I got mine 
(many years ago), the pivot hinges were snapped, the cover viewing 
glass was broken and all the thin diameter jumper signal/damping 
wires were broken.  Relatively minor items to replace/repair. 
Their could be real serious reason for it being surplus now (?). 
Potentially the most serious/difficult problem "could" lie with the 
two coils for damping/signal.  If they get thrown around and 
damaged....their isn't any possible replacements.  The 
coil wire it self can also break over time, due to a manufacturers 
sudden coil winding speed shift (a type of copper wire stress or 
stretch knot),  which I've noted on acouple coils over time. 
Luckily they were both on the outside area of the coils, which 
didn't mean too much unwinding too find. 
Even in the worst case scenario (no working coils), the frame 
and "zero length" spring would be enviable to have; let alone the 
longer period vertical configuration.  One "might" have to adopt 
other damping/signal means. 
Note the weight of the unpacked instrument (115 pounds), the 
shipping cost can be potentially higher than the winning bid price. 
On the other hand, it "might" still be worthwhile to have even with 
the tacked on costs...the massive solid aluminum frame and parts 
are usually excellent material. 
Be prepared to have to work on the brass setscrews (die), and 
retap the aluminum base setscrew holes due to oxidation, old 
dried up grease/dirt.  The tap and die could cost up to $100, 
or thereabouts. 
If you win the bid, I'd suggest that the buyer request that the 
two mass weights be removed (unscrewed); the boom lock pin 
installed, and the coil magnets assembly also be removed (gently); 
and shipped separately, even if it means more cost initially to the 
buyer.  Otherwise; if you can pick it up yourself, and prepare it 
before moving....that would be the best alternate route.  The 
risks and reward/s are with the buyer of course. 
Take care, Meredith 
Larry Cochrane wrote: 
Hi Everyone, 
Someone on EBay is selling one. See 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1785642626 
I would bid on it but I don't need another sensor right now... 
-Larry Cochrane 
Redwood City, PSN 





Yes, I bid $1600 on it...
 
Tom
 
On Tue, 12 Nov 2002 16:51:47 -0500 Jack Ivey <ivey@..........> writes:

  
Hi=20
  all,
  
I'm=20
  debating if I want another boat anchor.  Do=
 we know what=20
  period it is?
  
Does=20
  anyone know how to tell this guy to lock the mass for=20
  shipping?
  
Also, is anyone bidding on it? 
  
 
  
Thanks,
  
Jack
  

    
-----Original Message-----
From: meredithlamb=20
    [mailto:meredithlamb@..............
Sent: Saturday, November =
09,=20
    2002 10:19 PM
To: psn-l@..............
Subject: Re:=
=20
    Sprengnether 201 Long-Period Vertical Seismometer on=20
    EBay

Hi everyone,=20
    
If you want a vertical and more access to seeing the early 
and=20
    clearer "P" wave signals (and others), this might be the 
machine =
for=20
    you.  Horizontals just don't pick up the early quake 
signals =
quite=20
    as well.=20
    
With a adequate vault and temperature control, such a 
instrument=
 (at=20
    least for here experience wise), will probably 
prove to be very=20
    dependable for low drift of the mass/boom. 
The design came out in =
the=20
    1950's-1960's or thereabouts.=20
    
I'd suspect that the seller won't adequately prepare it for 
=
shipment,=20
    especially the boom/mass.  When I got mine 
(many years ago), =
the=20
    pivot hinges were snapped, the cover viewing 
glass was broken and =
all=20
    the thin diameter jumper signal/damping 
wires were broken. =20
    Relatively minor items to replace/repair. 
Their could be real =
serious=20
    reason for it being surplus now (?).=20
    
Potentially the most serious/difficult problem "could" lie with the=
=20
    
two coils for damping/signal.  If they get thrown around and=20
    
damaged....their isn't any possible replacements.  The 
=
coil=20
    wire it self can also break over time, due to a manufacturers 
=
sudden=20
    coil winding speed shift (a type of copper wire stress or 
stretch=20
    knot),  which I've noted on acouple coils over time. 
Luckily =
they=20
    were both on the outside area of the coils, which 
didn't mean too =
much=20
    unwinding too find.=20
    
Even in the worst case scenario (no working coils), the frame 
=
and=20
    "zero length" spring would be enviable to have; let alone the 
=
longer=20
    period vertical configuration.  One "might" have to adopt 
=
other=20
    damping/signal means.=20
    
Note the weight of the unpacked instrument (115 pounds), the 
=
shipping=20
    cost can be potentially higher than the winning bid price. 
On the =
other=20
    hand, it "might" still be worthwhile to have even with 
the tacked =
on=20
    costs...the massive solid aluminum frame and parts 
are usually =
excellent=20
    material.=20
    
Be prepared to have to work on the brass setscrews (die), and 
=
retap=20
    the aluminum base setscrew holes due to oxidation, old 
dried up=20
    grease/dirt.  The tap and die could cost up to $100, 
or=20
    thereabouts.=20
    
If you win the bid, I'd suggest that the buyer request that the 
=
two=20
    mass weights be removed (unscrewed); the boom lock pin 
installed, =
and=20
    the coil magnets assembly also be removed (gently); 
and shipped=20
    separately, even if it means more cost initially to the 
buyer. =
;=20
    Otherwise; if you can pick it up yourself, and prepare it 
before=20
    moving....that would be the best alternate route.  The 
risks =
and=20
    reward/s are with the buyer of course.=20
    
Take care, Meredith=20
    
Larry Cochrane wrote:=20
    
Hi Everyone,=20
      
Someone on EBay is selling one. See 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3D=
1785642626=20

      
I would bid on it but I don't need another sensor right now...=20
      
-Larry Cochrane 
Redwood City, PSN=20