Blackpool/Longleat Console Restoration (Part 2)

[BioDoctor900]

Hi guys, So I probably should have made this thread a bit sooner, but this is linked to Peter Trott's original thread on the http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=1874

My friend Thomas bought it, 14th August 2016, when we had to make the long journey round the M25 to Peter's, those who know the M25 know it's a pain to get round occasionally. We knew Peter previously to buying the console, and it was good to see him and catch up and he was glad that the console was going to a good home. He showed us how to take it all apart and then had the fun job of moving it into the van....



After getting it through the door and in the van, we then drove back and had the fun job of taking it up the stairs...which let me assure you was no easy job, we nearly dropped the top section several times trying to get it up and round the top banister....but after a lot of perseverance, we got it up and put it together. It looked good, but there was all the wires to connect so that the lights would work. This took a few attempts as I ended up crossing a couple of wires, but eventually I got them all wired up and it looked like this....



It looked pretty good, here it is with its new owner....



That was a while ago, and he is now moving house. So today we had to dismantle it ready to be moved to the new house. One thing we had been wanting to do with it was to get the time rotor moving again, but since we had got it, I thought the draw runners the rotor sits on were jammed, but it appears not, they move! So contrary to what Peter believed, all the rotor needs is a new motor and swing arm to hopefully restore it to its former glory. I also found out that the reason the LED's in the middle weren't working was due to one of the LED's not being properly connected to the two rods, nothing a bit of simple soldering won't fix and that the transformer box wasn't connected to the electrics....so it should just be a case of wiring it into the electrics and they should work again.

Here are some pictures of the way the console is constructed and where the old motor used to sit, and the mechanism.....













In the last picture you can see where the old motor sat. The four pulley wheels are part of that mechanism, but how it all went is a bit of a mystery, so any advise would be appreciated. I have been talking to David Nagel and me and him have been talking about getting it working again, but he's been rather busy recently

Hopefully there will be some more news soon

BioDoctor900

[russellsuthern]

That's a great console, brings back some very happy memories!

Russell

[galacticprobe]

I have to agree with Russell. I remember seeing that console in several of the old Doctor Who Weekly mags before they became Doctor Who Monthly and then Doctor Who Magazine (and also in some Fantasy Empire mags), as well as our 'Doctor Who Fan Club of America' newsletters (before they went defunct only weeks after I'd renewed for three years - they still owe me for that! ). Okay, so maybe one sour memory, but not of that console; only of Chad and Ron for just quitting without warning, or refund.

I'm glad to see the old girl is still in the hands of someone that cares enough to keep her in good operating condition. Too bad Peter had to sell her. I remember when he won her in that auction and then restored her. I wish I could have bought her, but even if I could have afforded her, I think shipping her across the pond would have been more than the asking price!

Thanks for posting all of those great photos, BioDoc! And to her new owner I have only one word: (you guessed it)


Dino.