UntR_tasks

    The desk was originally supplied to De Lane Lea's studio in Dean Street - not to be confused with their studios at Kingsway or, later, at Wembley.

    Unfortunately, I have no photos of the Dean Street desk. After a few years in the studio, they moved it into a new film dubbing suite in the same building. One on the Beetles' films was dubbed on it. (I suppose it's a great pity that it's not one of the Trident desks, as they recorded everyone famous, from the Beetles on.!)

    The studio manager was a John Wood, not to be confused with 'my' John Wood. I believe he is still alive around Manchester. I'll ask Abs (my PA) to try and find him. It was then bought by Cave Studios in Bristol. About 20 years ago, it was bought by our postman, who used it for a couple of years in his previous house. However, it's been sitting in his dry attic for the last 11 years. It's now come home!

The problems are, at this stage:

►     I have no drawings. One of each unit will have to be dis-assembled so I can trace the wiring.
►     There are some units which I know I built, but I cannot remember what they did! Luckily, the desk was 'built like a tank' so, as far as I can tell, none of the units are broken, or even bent.
►     The wooden mahogany console has been carefully taken apart, and should be easy to reassemble, though some of the veneer is flaking off.
►     The front panels are screen printed anodised aluminium. These should come up like new, so long as we are careful that the screen printing does not wash off.
►     The jack bay, patch panel, was separately wired, and is missing. But, this would have corroded and would now not be fit to use. These are still made and very easy to obtain.
►     We need to design (cos I've forgotten) a new cable loom from the desk to a new patch panel. (There will be a new 'B' guage jack bay, connected to the desk with Edac connectors.)
►     I suspect that most, if not all, the electrolyte capacitors will have to be replaced. Direct equivalents are available.
►     The TMC key switches are well obsolete, however I think a bit of ultrasonic cleaning, and some TLC, should make them OK.
►     The desk only used two types of amplifier, and all spares are available. Only two types of transistors were used, and no integrated circuits.
►     Most passive components (transformers, resistors, interior cable looms) look fine, and probably have another 20 years at least to go!
►     The Painton quadrant faders are in very good condition and need only superficial cleaning. I suspect the little red and green lights need to be replaced with LEDs.
►     There, as yet(!). appear to be no 'show stoppers' but this is early days. However, if it worked once... And, I built it!
►     The worst part is that the relay units controlling the monitoring have been 'modified' by persons unknown - before Dave bought it. Many have been broken in the process. Once I've worked out what they do (did), we may need to build new relay boards - but this is containable.
►     It is not possible, without a detailed survey, to guess how long it will take to complete. If I find, for instance, that the rotary switches cannot be cleaned, and are noisy, there will be a lot of work replacing them.

PPS Abbie needs to be congratulated on her efforts in our securing this desk.