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Seeking Cart Carousel

N

nleibo

Guest
Yes, some of us STILL use those Carts--towards that end, I'm looking for a Cart carousel--either "FULL" (from floor about 6ft-Height)--or Desktop....

"Leibo"

[email protected]
 
Just to satisfy my own curiosity, considering how cheap computers and automation software is now why do you continue to use 30 year old, ineffecient technology?
 
Yeah, I'm being an ass here, but it may as well read "Seeking Wagon Wheels"...

I chucked a whole bunch of them out a few years ago. I'm sure there are some that still exist in the attics and basements of stations around the country.

I've got a bunch of wall mount cart racks at one station I contract for. There isn't a cart within 25 miles, so the owner wants to get rid of them. I haven't brought myself to chuck them. If anyone wants them, PM me and you can either pick them up (in central NJ) or pay to have them shipped.
 
Ever work in Radio station where it's BASICALLY Computers--and the computer (running the "Live Assist") [EDIT-profanity]? Ad it DOES happen!! Then what do you do? Therein lies the answer to your (rather judgmental) questions!
 
Ever hear of having a "backup computer" so when the main one dies (and it DOES happen) you have a standby AT THE READY to go on the air? You can probably find automation-capable computers for around $100 or less at the local Goodwill. And software is free (i.e. Zararadio, Rivendell) or you could simply install the system you're currently using on the backup computer (depending on how it's licensed).

A LOT cheaper and simpler than trying to make 30-year-old inefficient technology be your backup solution.

Therein lies the answer to YOUR (rather judgmental) reply. Sheesh.
 
Nobody's computer hits the nostalgia button like kaTHUNK kaTHUNK kaTHUNK kaTHUNK... I used to maintain something like 25 of them, 250s and 350s. I don't miss them worth a damn. Although, I guess if you had a little bending brake and a source of Pabst motors and a couple of Moulic decks, you could keep them going six foirevers. I don' think there were any nonstandard machine parts in them. I suspect the 25 position rotary switch on the back of the drum would be the hardest wear part to source in the thing. And, noisy or not, the 250s were more reliable than the newer 350 ones. Less finesse, more brute force.
 
SRP said:
Ever hear of having a "backup computer" so when the main one dies (and it DOES happen) you have a standby AT THE READY to go on the air? You can probably find automation-capable computers for around $100 or less at the local Goodwill. And software is free (i.e. Zararadio, Rivendell) or you could simply install the system you're currently using on the backup computer (depending on how it's licensed).

A LOT cheaper and simpler than trying to make 30-year-old inefficient technology be your backup solution.

Therein lies the answer to YOUR (rather judgmental) reply. Sheesh

well, YOU go tell "Clear Channel", etc to run a SECOND (Back-Up Computer) for the Live Assist--they're not called "Cheap Channel" for nothing--and there in lies my point. Your "Inefficient" comment displays your IGNORANCE--the fact is that Tape Cartridges were the "Backbone" of the Broadcast Industry for 40 years--and just a component of the audio --unlike the computers which RUN the Live ASSIST
Click to expand...
& crash--leaving one with NO Backup "options". Now can we get BACK to my ORIGINAL post about Cart Carousels without hearing from folks with counter-productive opinions?
 
What people have done, albeit perhaps not as nicely as you might like, is suggested alternatives to Carousels which are substantially more reliable and fixable. I'd ask the folks at Harris, or maybe Bob Couthen at SCMS if they know of any, or where the folks from SMC or its succesor companies are. Some of them might know of one or two of the old things which haven't been tossed yet. You should get one for the hipping and handling costs, and of you get three, you might get one to work for a while. There were a hell of a lot of them built and sold over the years. I suspect their production exceeds the total of all the other multuiplay cart systems out there.
 
nleibo said:
Ever work in Radio station where it's BASICALLY Computers--and the computer (running the "Live Assist") [EDIT-profanity]? Ad it DOES happen!! Then what do you do? Therein lies the answer to your (rather judgmental) questions!
Click to expand...

Ever work in a radio station where it's basically cart machines, and the cart machine smokes and eats your tape. And it does happen. Then what do you do? Considering carts and cart machines are no longer being manufactured or supported.

What we are tying to get you to understand, you fool, is that you are basing your operation, your entire income and livelyhood, on equipment that's over 50 years old and not supported anymore. When your cart machines break, what do you do? It is a hell of a lot easier to repair a computer than a cart machine now. Like I said before cart machines are no longer being manufactured which means if you find a Carousel for sale and if it's currently functioning, it won't be for long. Where are you going to get parts to fix it then Einstein? Think about it, you can't find Carousels as it is. How easy do you think it's going to be finding parts for them?
 
Stand up for what you believe in. Have carts. They're fun.

I am still looking for a sound bite of the "clunk" heard on-mic when the mic mute circuit timing was "slow" or non-func.
I'd throw that randomly into my playlist every 10th element for even more "realness".


I wish I could have adopted such a system but had no time or room. I went straight to auto-mayshun on zara but insist on feeding it into vacuum tubes for xmit. And I don't have a backup transmitter.
At such teeny power, tubes last darn near forever.

I wish you the best of luck in getting all the carousels you desire.

Anything can be made to run forever, if you find a good machine shop and are really creative.
Motors can be rewound and re-bushed.
Rubber rollers can be made. Large open circuit boards invite repair.
You'll also learn how, if possible, to make less wear occur than in normal use.
I drive 40-45 year old cars exclusively back and forth to work, and did so when that was hundreds of miles away.
There is a certain trust you get when you've taken full responsibilty and can fix most common problems.
Don't let "lack of support" worry you.
Please keep using carts, but do consider a few bucks in a laptop and free auto like Zara.
 
It has occurred to me that in describing what I'm looking for--the WRONG "terminology" was used, thus creating the impression that I was seeking an alternate fom of "Programming". "Mea Culpa"-but then again, the folks who "took me to task" didn't READ what I originally posted otherwise they would have pointed out the error as well. New/Corrected post to follow.
 
I agree with Mr. Wells. If someone enjoys using something that's obsolete, go ahead. Have fun! We all only live once. I wouldn't make it part of the business model, but having something fun in one or more of the studios is fine, if it's alright with the "powers that be". I got a newly repaired cart deck in the production studio of one of the places I work, and use it to add open & close music to one weekly segment ... just for fun. Usually recording on the compter in Adobe Audition, or on one of the other digital devices, every once in a while I do a little on the reel-to-reel machine, just for fun, and just because I can. Nobody has ever noticed that it was recorded on reel, which works because the unit is in good shape.
 
Some good points here regardless of it being a bit off topic.

For me being a boardop/jock and production at the end of the cart machine era, I was at stations going to computer and all of this stuff was being tossed so I grabbed it. Consoles, carts, turntables reel to reels. It was fun to get for someone to get this stuff that spent so long working on it. I was always a fan of the unique technology when I was a kid.

Now I just play online with my internet stream and weekly radio show/pod cast. The stream runs on a "for free" old Pentium 3 1.0g PC using zararadio. It also loops through a 40 year old console with turntables and cart machines attached if I want to go live.

My production studio is the same, vintage, while incorporating PC's also. I have a lot of vintage tapes, you need something to play them on. in fact, a particular effect we do on the weekly show is best done on an endless loop cart, it's the practical way.

The disadvantage is that someone has to occasionally fix it. I'm very technically inclined however, I wired the systems, I can fix it. The service manuals I have for most of the gear is also a tremendous help. Forums like this are also a great help to suggest what maybe trouble when I start to pull my hair out after doing what I could.

I wouldn't mind having one of those old metal cart carousels myself, but as said, they tend to go quickly if you find them. Lots of people like me taking old gear and putting it on the air again, either as an LPFM or online.
 
It's nice to know that others "appreciate" the "old" technology--BUT as I mentioned earlier--someone MISCONSTRUED the phrase "Cart Carousels" to MEAN Cart Automation--when IN FACT what I am looking for are Cart Carousels for STORAGE (as in "Lazy Susans") or a REVOLVING wire/metal Cart Rack(s) which spin.
If you know of any, I'm STILL "in thje market"....

[email protected]
 
I may have a couple small desk top ones in storage. I'll look tomorrow. My boss looked at a pile of equipment I had in the corner of my workshop the other day and ask "what's that". I said just some stuff from the old location (we moved a little over a year ago and went from carts to the digital age overnight) and I haven't figured what to do with it yet. She said "perhaps donate it to a museum". To which I said " I moved you out of that museum just over a year ago".
 
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