22 Feb 2006, 08:10
Great pic; proof positive that a good one is worth a thousand words. This is an interesting variation for two reasons. First, it's the only green movement ring I've seen on a refitted module; second, this is the first one that still has the timing crystal in its' original position at the top. Every other one I'm aware of has the crystal [same type; the little gold cylinder] sitting snugly in a custom-milled slot just above the left-hand setting switch [I assume this was done because it was easier to route the wires to the circuit board contacts from there]. However these came to exist, I think this picture demonstrates that this was a LOT of work [more than I would care to do], and in any event, since the electronics are obviously fully functioning, one had to start with a WORKING P4, in order to make this sort of transplantation possible at all. With all due respect to Time Computer, until someone can explain [within a rational framework], WHY someone would effectively scrap a perfectly working P4 to fix an older [and less valuable] P3, I will still continue to place a bit of faith in that these were done by somebody with access to a LOT of Pulsar parts, for whom the risk would therefore be minimal, financially and otherwise. There are a fair number of these around [dozens at least, I estimate], and the construction is so consistant, that it is impossible to escape the conclusion that they all come from the same source [and that slight variations represent the ascent of a "learning curve"]; [not necessarily from Mr. R., but someone with above-average technical skill] I have two of these, and the internal construction is identical [even to the changed trimmer cap]. I'm not quite ready to stamp "solved" on this mystery...