Interesting idea but I think I prefer the all electronic version (rather like the EMI system over Baird)!
Solid State Replacement for 6U5 & 6E5 Magic Eye Tubes (electronbunker.ca)
That's really clever but I would have thought it would be simpler to have a series of segment type LEDs arranged in a circle, covered by some kind of diffuser. Totally electronic, like EMI!
interesting idea, looks rather complicated to me though! When it said about electro-mechanical magic eye tubes I thought maybe it would have something like a little meter movement with a pointer made to cast a shadow in front of an led, something I might try myself! I’ve got an R1155 radio here that could do with a new magic eye, maybe time for some experimentation, when I’ve cleared a few other projects out of the way.
Regards
Lloyd
The one eye I don't think is in terribly short supply is the VI103, they're just expensive.
Now, if we were talking the pre-war Ferranti magic eye (the VFT4) with an IO base and a 4V heater...
Just come across this via the eevblog forum and thought I'd put it here in case anyone is really really desperate.
https://retronics.no/2024/08/29/diy-digital-6u5-magic-eye-replacement/
Why bother? 6U5s are not exactly rare...
It is interesting to see how different people approach this problem. There was an article in the BVWS magazine along the same lines. The author suggested using a solid state version on often used radios to preserve the remaining originals that still function. Which I think is sensible. One day no working ones will remain, Anything that prevents test equipment and radios being robbed of a working eye has to be a good idea.
I was gifted a very nice Ekco radio that had been purchased because it had a good eye, the chap had robbed it as it was a cheap way of getting a known good eye for his Pye tuner. Luckily he saved the rest of the set, some may have just scrapped it....
@slidertogrid I think I have an example of that Pye tuner - it's basically a very cut-down Pye FenMan II. There'd be a certain poetic justice in robbing it of its magic eye to go into a radio...
Anything that prevents test equipment and radios being robbed of a working eye has to be a good idea.
Well, they're already being robbed for three electrode valves and even energised speakers to satiate the southern hemisphere's audio fanatics...
