HISTORY:
Let's go back, way back in time ... the days of valves (also known as tubes, depends which country you lived in or the affectionate term was "bottles") Pre-dating semiconductors, although there was a period of transition in the 1960's as semiconductors infiltrated the world of valves and electronic equipment were of a hybrid valve/semiconductor design. This entertainment centre was one of the hybrid models.
One such hybrid "beastie" (two person lift and these units dominated the loungeroom of many homes) from those days was the mighty Philips Emperor all in one entertainment unit.
Not only could it provide glorious radio reception (AM (mono), there was no FM broadcasting at that time), but it also was your home "short wave" receiver, being designed to cover 10~26.7MHz and 3.85~10.2MHz! The family would often huddle around units like this and catch up with the world news via shortwave radio.
When the family wasn't around, young lads like myself would listen to the the myriad of foreign shortwave stations that could be heard (especially at night), including those weird communication links which used inverted audio frequencies to "encrypt" the speech (often used on radio telephone communication links) and you could also listen to Amateur radio broadcasts at the high end of the 80 metre band. It is these shortwave capabilities that sparked my interest in radio and electronics as a kid.
But wait, there's more!
The unit could also play Mum & Dad's favourite records too, not just ordinary LP's but also was capable of playing 16-2/3rpm records and 78rpm shellacs. Even better, it had a record changer built in, when one record had finished, the next in line on a central spindle would drop down on top of the previously played record and away she plays the next record, with one record (or more) sitting on top of the others ... wiz bang technology here!
Tired of listening to the radio or playing your records? Then turn on the television and watch gorgeous Black & White television, at selected times (television broadcasting did not run for 24 hours a day) or just sit and watch the television broadcast station test pattern!
These wonders of technology were designed and manufactured in Australia, in the thousands, and they were not cheap! For the princely sum of approximately A$1,100 you could own one of these Emperors in 1967 (decimal currency "Conversion Day" had just occurred one year earlier)
So, let's get back to this component, the humble octal socket or plug. Valves, particularly the output valves, had octal bases ( 8 pins with a "key") and the same type of plugs and sockets were used for the interconnection between the entertainment equipment's various "modules"
This exact octal plug was actually designed into the Philips Emperor entertainment unit and supplied power to the television section.
Normally this plug would have a "boot" fitted, I do have one advertised separately HERE. These boots were necessary as the plug often had high voltages on some of the pins (300V+ DC) and for the serviceman to accidentally come into contact with these voltages was not a pleasant experience!
So you can see this isn't "just an octal plug" it has real history behind it and let's now say "adieu" and move onto this plug description!
TELETRON - Multi-pin Plug
99% sure this is Australian made, although originally I think Teletron was a British company
Part # PS 18
Configuration: Octal (8 pin) with locating key in the base
Gender: Male pins
Materials: Nickel plated metal pins with a Brown thermo-plastic body. The body does not appear to be bakelite as it failed my "bakelite rub" test.
Terminations: Solder holes (hollow pins, "sweat" soldering required)
DIMENSIONS:
25.65mm diameter except the small flange at the rear which is 27.10mm diameter x 12.3mm height
Pin length is 9.75mm x 2.35mm diameter each
The central part of the body (with the key) is slightly longer at 13.6mm
COSMETIC CONDITION:
NEW Very old stock
Clean
Minor oxidisation to the pins but they remain clean and shiny externally (I have not given them a "cleanup" with metal polish.
I did notice that one pin (Pin 2) is just ever so slightly loose in the base. Nothing dramatic but it does move when pushed, whereas all of the other pins sit rigidly in the body. Carefully inspected for damage or cracking - nothing seen.
I have now placed this octal plug into a sealed, clear plastic packet with the pins embedded in styrofoam to protect them from damage.
