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Author
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Topic: Identifying a vintage NASA control panel
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BJWest
Member Posts: 36
From: San Francisco, CA 94110
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 02-16-2010 04:06 PM
   
I picked up this panel on eBay back in 2000. The seller knew nothing of its origins except that it was "NASA surplus." I am now trying to identify where it was used.
It's labeled "Propellant & Facility Panel," and measures 19" wide and 17.5" tall. An embossed Dymo Tape label stuck on the bottom of the panel reads "3A2 PANEL." My guess is that it comes from the blockhouse of one of NASA's early launch facilities. Click on the image above to open a larger (2440 x 2270) photo of the panel in a new window, ideal for reading the individual indicator labels.  
If you would like to see more photos and details, please click here. |
BJWest
Member Posts: 36
From: San Francisco, CA 94110
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 02-16-2010 04:07 PM
There is a hand-written mark in pencil indicating that the "J-3" connector goes to the tower. In this view you can see the panel's serial number (10421697-D ASSY) stamped in ink on the right side of the first cross member behind the panel.  You can also see which switches were missing. I replaced them with nearly identical switches from a contemporary source.. The ones with black bases are original, the ones with reddish bases are new, and are not wired in to the panel. The manufacturer's labels on the custom made illuminated displays were dated from 1960 and 1961, which would make it too new to have been used for the Mercury program.  If any of you have any idea what launch facility this may have been pulled out of, or any tips on how I might be able to track it down, I'd be much obliged. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2913
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 02-16-2010 04:39 PM
It may be possible to decipher some of the wording of the electrical control light indicators to determine what their control functions are. I've tried to zoom-in on several of the panel lights from your provided scans, however, many are too blury for me to read. Can you tell me what some of their notations are on the indicators?
In doing so, sometimes, it just might be possible to determine what vehicle, pad, etc. the propellant and facility panel was used for. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 02-16-2010 04:48 PM
Very interesting! I'm restoring five Apollo era Firing Room panels at the moment, and there are several differences between mine and yours. First, every one of mine has white wires; yours are multi-colored. Second, the date on the Roto-Tellite display on yours is January 1961. The earliest one of mine is April 1965. Third, yours has a black station panel designation label on the top of the panel face; all the Apollo-era ones I have seen had stenciled designations on the bottom of the panel face. The Mercury launch panels in the blockhouse at LC-5 also had the stenciled panel designations. Do you have a close-up of the property tag? It would indicate the contract number and assist in identification. My feeling is that it may have been for early Saturn launches, but that's just a hunch. Or, it may have been from the ground support equipment at the pad. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 02-16-2010 09:08 PM
PS - I like the "MANUEL HOLD" indicator - Manuel must be related to Jose Jimenez. |
BJWest
Member Posts: 36
From: San Francisco, CA 94110
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 02-16-2010 09:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ilbasso:
Do you have a close-up of the property tag? It would indicate the contract number and assist in identification.
I do, but there's no number on it: 
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BJWest
Member Posts: 36
From: San Francisco, CA 94110
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 02-16-2010 09:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ken Havekotte:
I've tried to zoom-in on several of the panel lights from your provided scans, however, many are too blurry for me to read. Can you tell me what some of their notations are on the indicators?
Hmmm. Have you tried clicking on the first image? That should bring up a much larger image that is pretty legible. If not, try right clicking on it and saving a copy to your local disc. If that still doesn't work, let me know and I'll type up a list of the labels. |
BJWest
Member Posts: 36
From: San Francisco, CA 94110
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 02-16-2010 09:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ilbasso:
PS - I like the "MANUEL HOLD" indicator - Manuel must be related to Jose Jimenez.
That's hilarious! I never noticed the typo before! Yeah, it's got to be Jose's cousin or something. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 02-17-2010 08:59 AM
Regarding the property tag, there's nothing on your panel like this?
All my Apollo panels have this kind of tag. |
BJWest
Member Posts: 36
From: San Francisco, CA 94110
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 02-17-2010 08:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ilbasso:
Regarding the property tag, there's nothing on your panel like this?
Nope nothing even remotely like that. That would make life far too easy, yes?  |
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