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Color Classic issues

Hi everybody!
While I still haven't had time to fix my 128k, I managed to grab a Color Classic the other day. The opportunity was too good to pass up, because these things don't show up that often in Italy. 

To the point: the machine was sold as non-working because the owner didn't actually know how to turn it on. As soon as it arrived, I plugged in the keyboard and I managed to turn it on. However, it has a few issues (unsurprisingly). 

The most critical one is this: when I turn it on, the screen becomes white (a solid white/grey color) and just sits there. It doesn't chime, though I believe I can hear something very very faint. It also doesn't show the mouse pointer nor the blinking floppy. The hard drive is probably toasted because it makes strange noises, but to avoid problems I just unplugged it. 

The battery was in good condition - not a maxwell one, and it hadn't exploded. Suspecting bad caps, I've already had a go at washing the logic board with a solution of water and ammonia and then drying it with hair dryer + compressed air. It didn't quite help (symptoms didn't change); the logic board came out much cleaner than before, but there are still places that look like they'd need a more thorough cleaning.

Also, I can see there is a very faint black/grey line that can be recognized on the monitor: I'm not sure whether that's normal, or if that's an indicator of an open trace somewhere. I'm attaching the picture but I admit it's not really easy to spot (from the picture it looks like it's bending, but in fact it's just because I took the picture diagonally - in reality the line is horizontal). I'm also attaching the before-and-after pictures of the logic board. 

I guess it's probably needing a recap and maybe a good check for open traces... What would you say? 

20160315134220.jpg

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That line is "an Apple Monitor thing..." LOL! It's a wire that supports the Phosphorus Mask inside the CRT. Nearly every Apple Monitor with a Trinitron Tube has it.

It sounds like it needs a recapping. Since I see its a 68030EF16B, its a 16MHz Color Classic (not the Color Classic II). Nice Mac to get up and running... Good luck with it.

EDIT: This line only appears on Apple Color Monitors and only those that use the Sony Trinitron Tubes, not B/W Monitors. The Color Phosphorous Mask is heavier and needs extra support, which this wire does and you can see its shadow as a result.

 
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It holds up the shadow mask, which only occurs in colour CRTs, not greyscale ones.  And as techknight says, literally every Trinitron ever made has one. (and, IIRC, Mitsubishi Diamondtrons, which were similar in design to Sony's Trinitron tube)

idk what a "phosphorus mask" is, but I don't advise wearing one.

 
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Oh and I forgot to mention. 

the Trinitron tube has an Aperture Grille instead of a shadow mask, because of this, the trinitron CRTs need that wire to stabilize the fine tiny little vertical run wires from vibrating, which would cause a severe color shift. 

Edit: sympathetic resonance is why those stabilizing wires are there.. .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_grille

 
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Trinitrons are an obscure fascination of mine.  I was pretty obsessed with them back in the day, I just think they are such a cool invention.  They are the reason I like the Color Classic/LC5xx family so much.

If you are interested this Wikipedia article is really good:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitron

And now if I may, the most beautiful picture tube and one of my favorite pieces of electronics that I have ever owned.  This is NOT my picture, but I had one just like this (minus the cool stand and audio equipment).  This bad girl weighed almost 200lbs and had a built-in subwoofer.  I had to sell her when I moved away for school, and I still miss her sometimes.  Gentlemen, I present the Sony Trinitron XBR960:

SonyXBR960standAfterRefinishing-2.jpg

 
Wow, you never stop learning... I didn't know such a thing even existed! I guess I always thought monitors worked like magic (:

So as far as the video goes, nothing to worry about. I'll have a full recap of the board and keep you updated!

 
One of my many fascinations is the history and evolution of display technology, and various "obsolete" methods that were developed along the way.  I still have it in my head to build a mechanical-scan television one day.

Trinitron was a truly beautiful piece of engineering.  The basic method stayed valid from the late 60s all the way through to the end of analog / CRT TV in the 21st century.

I can't recall the name right now, but Sony developed another colour display architecture - possibly an offshoot or side-development from the Trinitron research - that was so bright a single CRT could be used in a projection television, rather than the three-tube behemoths you used to see hanging from the ceiling of lecture halls and sports bars back in the day.  Course they only used it in exactly one domestic TV, and those are jealously guarded ($$$) items in the TV collecting scene.

 

 
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I really loved my Trinitron monitor (really wish I had kept it now...) but, in all honesty, I really f***ing hated that little wire that ran across the center of the screen. Why they could never eliminate that is beyond me. Was the issue with physical jitter such a fundamental problem that it just couldn't be remedied any other way?

 
The Trinitron was magical for it's time, and that is probably why the Color Classic is so memorable. When Sony left the monitor market, things got a little duller. 

It is a shame Sony has been lost in the wilderness in the past decade, but if you like to reminisce about their golden era, the Sony Design book is really good. 

Good luck to the OP in restoring the CC. 

 
the only recognition sony gets these days from todays generation, is the playstation. 

ugh... 

Honestly, when it comes to vintage, I am a fan of pioneer. at least for stereo equipment. 

 
Well, these days, Sony only deserves interest in their Playstation. The rest of what they make is hardly worthwhile.

 
Well, from what I've read, they still make okay headphones for pro audio.

I just got a pair, so we'll see if they hold up to the hype!

c

 
Not meaning to hijack this thread and make it a Sony fest, but Sony's pro gear is still top notch. I am a Canon user, but I always wander to the Sony section at B&H to try their latest cameras. 

 
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