Laser show machine help

lasershow

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Post #5 will be an update on manufacturer/model as well as a picture...TYIA

I've got a banker friend whom I was helping clear out a distressed property (a casino/card room).

In one of the upstairs storage areas, for lack of a better description was a huge box (7 feet long, 2 feet high & about 2 1/2 feet across). it took four healthy, strong adults to even move the stupid thing!

here's where we need the help: inside, cushioned with a bunch of foam was a large contraption of some sort....had some grey, maybe 1 1/2" tubing coming out one end & then some other hoses (red, clear & blue) coming from somewhere else (we discovered this at the tail end of 2 long, full days worth of cleaning & weren't really in the mood to start pulling things out of the box). the "machine" was a tan metal & had a small "door" in the top(?) that measured approximately 1 foot by 8 or 9 inches.

now comes the interesting part, there was a tag from a somewhat local auction company with a lot number & a hand-written note: "This is a $24,000.00 laser light show machine, all parts are here & it works perfectly".

I've just searched google for about 3 hours for anything from antique laser light show machine to laser show machine & everything else I could possibly think of, but have had no luck...does anyone have any ideas about where to find information on this as well as a possible current value? my friend would like to sell it off to help reduce the amount that his bank is "upside down" on the property, but no one seems to know anything other than what was written on the note...again, we didn't search the item or even look for a manual...probably weighs in the neighborhood of 300 pounds & the machine itself seems to be about a 5 foot long octagonal or pentagonal "tube" about 18" in diameter.

Any information you might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated
 
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DM51

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Welcome to CPF, lasershow :)

It's going to be difficult for anyone to give you a verdict on this unless you can post some photos of it. It sounds a very interesting machine, but for all we can tell without some kind of visual clue, it could be a combination toenail-clipper and coffee machine, lol.

There a thread here that explains how to post photos, if you aren't sure how to do it.
 

FRITZHID

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well, it sounds to me (without seeing any pictures) that it may very likely be an older Argon (ion perhaps) laser used for concerts and such. a very nice find indeed! we may be able to tell you more with some photos to go with the info above! ;)
Welcome to CPF!
 

lasershow

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Sounds like a Coherent Innova series, maybe Innova 70 or Innova 90.

well, at least you've got an imagination..you're half right: it IS a coherent, just nothing as new as what you were surmising...would you believe a "pre-1977 ion-laser: model 50"?

again, any help with information regarding possible market & value of this would be greatly appreciated

IMG_1916.jpg
 

Ameso

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Banker dude here.

From what I could gather, it is a pre 1977 Coherent Radiation Lab's model 50 ION laser.

IMG_1916.jpg


Coherent changed their name in 1977, so that is how I based the age. Measurements are 60" long, 14" wide, and roughly 9" tall. Oh yeah, it also weighs about 250-300lbs. Gonna have to find a pretty big shark to mount this sucker on. A shark with a laser would be awesome. (Dr. Evil)

I have more pics, but from the model/serial tag, it is a 50HD, serial #561.100
IMG_4139.jpg


This is the most confounding thing I've found in a foreclosure to date. Not really portable, but I bet it has more lumens than my Streamlight Scorpion.

Any help or data would be great. Things of particular interest include:

1. Market for a 35+ year old laser.
2. Dangerous substances inside said laser.
3. Safe way to dispose of this, providing no market for it.
4. Any reclaimable metals inside, like 3lbs of gold, platinum, etc. The sucker it pretty heavy, so something has to be the source of that weight.

I'll try to get more pics up tomorrow.
 

FRITZHID

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well, i can't speak of its worth, especaly not knowing if it functions or not, but i can say i'd LOVE to add it to my collection just as a historical and unique laser piece. even if it diden't work, i'd do my damndest to make it function.
there shoulden't be any extreamly hazerdous metereals inside, aside from some older electrical compounds that may contain PCBs. if it hasent been energized recently, all the Caps should be discharged so electrical shock is of no concern.
the Argon tube itself Could pose some risk if broken (any glass + gas can be a hazard) assuming it's not ceramic and metal.
other than that, i woulden't count on finding any precious metals. the bulk of the weight it most likely due to the power transformer cores and old metal electronic components that have long since been replaced with smaller, lightweight plastic versions.
 

Ameso

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well, i can't speak of its worth, especaly not knowing if it functions or not, but i can say i'd LOVE to add it to my collection just as a historical and unique laser piece. even if it diden't work, i'd do my damndest to make it function.
there shoulden't be any extreamly hazerdous metereals inside, aside from some older electrical compounds that may contain PCBs. if it hasent been energized recently, all the Caps should be discharged so electrical shock is of no concern.
the Argon tube itself Could pose some risk if broken (any glass + gas can be a hazard) assuming it's not ceramic and metal.
other than that, i woulden't count on finding any precious metals. the bulk of the weight it most likely due to the power transformer cores and old metal electronic components that have long since been replaced with smaller, lightweight plastic versions.

Shipping would be cost prohibitive.
 

bshanahan14rulz

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Obviously there is a tube with pressurized argon gas in it. This tube is often made of Berrylium Oxide, a harmless solid ceramic that may become carcinogenic if broken and BeO dust is released into the air and inhaled.
The weight probably comes from mainly the frame. These tubes run at very high voltages and are connected with very beefy copper wires.

Usually, the main market for these is for people doing their own lasershows, since blue is a hard color to make, and argon gas lasers used to be one of the easier ways to get a lot of blue. I actually wouldn't be surprised if that were a custom piece all together, although I don't see it in the pictures anywhere.

Single phase or two phase power supply lasers often sell more easily, most people/hobbiests won't have 3p in their house or apartment.

http://www.photonlexicon.com/repairfaq/sam/laserpic/cohapics.htm#cohaarg1 < here's some basic info about a model 52.

Edit: Fritz, you say you are looking for a fixer-upper argon?
 

FRITZHID

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Edit: Fritz, you say you are looking for a fixer-upper argon?

i'm always on the look out for any lasers and/or parts. i'd Love to own an Argon tho! those babys are jewles! but usualy way Way WAY outa my price range. and i happen to have access to 3p in my house ;) so i can power alota nifty things, i'm just limited to 200A total tho :(
it is a shame the the weight of that laser is so high, i'd still love to add it to the collection!
DPSS lasers are nice and all, but nothing, and i mean NOTHING beats a Gas in beam quality! the 10mW HeNe i have, (1984) is about 5' long and heavy as well, but the beam collmunation can be beat by any laser diode! and the color is so pure!
the Argons are the same way but with beam seperation, you can get a nice spectrum of colors ;)
 

bshanahan14rulz

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CoherentModel50.png


I'd really recommend joining a specialty forum like photonlexicon and asking about it there. Several people there probably even have one of these, or at least service manuals and stuff.
 
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