flip-flip-flip: auto-mechanical train schedule?
August 1, 2005 9:50 PM Subscribe
I would like to obtain one of those auto-mechanical flip-flip-flip-flip train schedule signs (or leader boards).
Where can I buy one?
My google searches and ebay searches have not gone well. I imagine that a leader board (same technology as the train schedule board, used for displaying rankings at tournaments) would be less expensive and less difficult to transport.
A related question: How are these boards controlled? (I assume I would be able to figure something out if I got my hands on one).
Where can I buy one?
My google searches and ebay searches have not gone well. I imagine that a leader board (same technology as the train schedule board, used for displaying rankings at tournaments) would be less expensive and less difficult to transport.
A related question: How are these boards controlled? (I assume I would be able to figure something out if I got my hands on one).
I don't know if this will help you, but Ascom is a large manufacturer of the display systems you'll see in train stations..
posted by Rothko at 10:38 PM on August 1, 2005
posted by Rothko at 10:38 PM on August 1, 2005
The clocks Doohickie mentions were originally made by a company called Copal and are more generally known as "flip digit" clocks. As for public signage, you may want to look into a "flip dot" sign, since those seem to be a little easier to find manufacturers for (Scoretronics, AD Engineering, Luminator, McKenna). There's also large flip digit display manufacturers for scoreboards and remote number displays: Electronumerics, AICPL, FDT.
I'm guessing it'll be hard to find an "old-school" alpha-numeric mechanical flip system manufacturer. Also, any system like that (or the ones above) are going to cost a ridiculous amount of money. They're mainly made for public works and to be very reliable. That adds up to a high cost...
An aside/derail: I've been trying to source new single-digit flip assemblies used in new Copal-style clocks for a few months now with no luck. If anyone know anything about where I can get those parts please email me.
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 5:06 AM on August 2, 2005
I'm guessing it'll be hard to find an "old-school" alpha-numeric mechanical flip system manufacturer. Also, any system like that (or the ones above) are going to cost a ridiculous amount of money. They're mainly made for public works and to be very reliable. That adds up to a high cost...
An aside/derail: I've been trying to source new single-digit flip assemblies used in new Copal-style clocks for a few months now with no luck. If anyone know anything about where I can get those parts please email me.
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 5:06 AM on August 2, 2005
Response by poster: Let me rephrase a bit in light of this new information. I didn't realize that the train signs actually had separate control of each letter/number position. Was the older flip-flip-flip technology always this way? (My question about how they are controlled meant to be asking about what one uses to control/program the step motors).
Perhaps I'm mistaken here as well, but I was under the impression that the sports leader boards were controlled as full horizontal rows, into each of which are fitted/loaded the various team-names. (I'm not much of a sports fan, but saw one of these most recently in Murderball). This would be sufficient (or even better) for what I have in mind, and probably sidesteps the public-works/reliability/high-cost issue.
The flip dot signs are neat (thanks, Pants) but won't work for what I have in mind. The Ascom signs are so gleaming new (and look like they may be modernized to dot-formed fonts and not flip-flip letter selection. I'm really looking for something much simpler and older.
posted by nobody at 8:38 AM on August 2, 2005
Perhaps I'm mistaken here as well, but I was under the impression that the sports leader boards were controlled as full horizontal rows, into each of which are fitted/loaded the various team-names. (I'm not much of a sports fan, but saw one of these most recently in Murderball). This would be sufficient (or even better) for what I have in mind, and probably sidesteps the public-works/reliability/high-cost issue.
The flip dot signs are neat (thanks, Pants) but won't work for what I have in mind. The Ascom signs are so gleaming new (and look like they may be modernized to dot-formed fonts and not flip-flip letter selection. I'm really looking for something much simpler and older.
posted by nobody at 8:38 AM on August 2, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Doohickie at 9:55 PM on August 1, 2005