Datasheet Scan Wanted: Stanley S-5000B Incandescent 7-segment Readout

[A. Nonamus]

Hi all,

I know this isn't quite on topic (no neon), but I hope someone can help me out since it does involve obsolete numeric display tech. I'm seeking a copy of the datasheet(s) for the S-5000B 7-segment readout by Stanley Electric Co., Ltd., or any model in the S-5000 family, or a generic datasheet covering the whole family. These are similar to the Dialight 7-segment readouts where each segment is a cutout shape in a block of plastic or metal, and behind each segment shape is a round hole into which an individual incandescent or neon bulb fits. The bulbs are all wire-based and soldered to a PCB on the back of the readout module. There is a clear frosted lens on the front, so the segments almost disappear when the power is off, like a projection display.

Thanks in advance!

[David Forbes]

I have a three inch thick binder of display devices from 1970, but the
Stanley displays are not in there. Let me know if you need a Polaroid
photo of the first Hewlett Packard hex display unit.

On 4/4/15 10:54 PM, A. Nonamus wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I know this isn't quite on topic (no neon), but I hope someone can help
> me out since it does involve obsolete numeric display tech. I'm seeking
> a copy of the datasheet(s) for the S-5000B 7-segment readout by Stanley
> Electric Co., Ltd., or any model in the S-5000 family, or a generic
> datasheet covering the whole family.

--
David Forbes, Tucson AZ

[gregebert]

Looks like the datasheet is going to be difficult to find.

Are you looking for incandescent bulb info ? You can probably reverse-engineer it; just be careful to start with low voltage, maybe 1-2 volts, and slowly work your way up.

An ohmmeter wont give you accurate bulb characteristics because the filament resistance increases substantially when it's glowing.

And when you do figure out how to get the bulbs to glow, I highly recommend you use a current-limited driver, or have all bulbs slightly-on at all times to keep the filaments warm (yeah, it's wasteful...) because the bulbs are difficult to replace. Incandescent bulbs experience a current-surge when they are energized with cold filaments, and that's usually when they die.

[A. Nonamus]

Thanks for the tips. I have the basic bulb specs; they're on the labels of the readouts. What I want are design spec dimensions (as opposed to measured dimensions) of various parts of the readouts.

[David Forbes]

On 4/7/15 3:57 AM, A. Nonamus wrote:
> Thanks for the tips. I have the basic bulb specs; they're on the labels
> of the readouts. What I want are design spec dimensions (as opposed to
> measured dimensions) of various parts of the readouts.
>

Reverse engineering is par for the course on parts that old.

It may or may not be wise to guess that they used millimeters instead of
inches; does the part appear to be a copy of an American device?
Sometimes they use the nearest equivalent round metric value to the inch
measurement. For an example of this taken to extremes, look at the rear
axle threads on various brands of bikes. 24 TPI, 25 TPI, 25.4 TPI...

[gregebert]

So if I had to make a guess here, are you looking to replicate the display unit ? That would be a neat project, especially if you use neon bulbs. And they come in other colors besides orange.

[A. Nonamus]

The thought had entered my alleged mind...

[Nick]

Facebook page with photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.647095295413270.1073741848.106706976118774&type=1 

This display was used in the Back to the Future films for both the "88 Mph" speedo in the car and on Doc Brown's remote control...

Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. are still around - you could always email them and ask... http://www.stanley.co.jp/e/index.php 

Nick

[gregebert]

Oh good grief!  And all these years I thought that was an LED display.........

[Quixotic Nixotic]

I visited the Saatchi gallery today in London's King's Road and saw that in the shop they are selling individual letters, as per the pictures below, to order.

At £39 per letter, which are maybe 5" tall, the price seemed reasonable to me. HV transformers are extra.

John S

[Nick]

These are Seletti letters - they are pretty much the only company doing this - lots of places sell them - nice though.

Nick

[Quixotic Nixotic]

On 9 Apr 2015, at 18:04, Nick wrote:

These are Seletti letters - they are pretty much the only company doing this - lots of places sell them - nice though.

Cheaper elsewhere too. Thanks for the heads up. Tempting...

John S

[A. Nonamus]

I'm told that Stanley aren't responsive to such requests.