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A gentleman on the GRF board posted a "What is this thing?" and, so far, it has not been identified.

I hope the Boardsort experts can help out . . . what is it and who (when) were they made?

The dots within the gold circles are through holes. Because of this, some think the object is some sort of IC test bed.

Come on, Los, I know you can identify it.

Thanks,
James

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An answer to a problem that is correct and efficient yet pleasing to behold is that problem's elegant solution.

It’s definitely NOT a chip test board, not on its own like this. The pin shift is way too long. Unless it’s from 196X and it’s macro prototyping. Uh...no.

Option one:
large drawing tablet. CAD/CAD/CAE
The through holes being for tiny sensors.
I don’t recognise this design specifically but I’ve seen others like this before.
A series of sensor clusters (bump arrays) would socket into the holes, a palladium photo etching goes over that (like the Mylar in keyboards). Then a pressure sensitive layer that measures force for thin vs bold lines etc. Followed by an electrically conductive nickel-tin layer and roped off with a thick nylon layer (on relatively, inexpensive ones) or a thin electrically conductive glass sheet.
Early 1980s - late 1990s. Often huge, the size of a coffee table or larger.

Option 2:
Industrial push button interface.
because the design is nearly identical and the application not all that different.
But the input being pressure sensor buttons, not a stylus. Think of a jumbo version of a register at a fast food place.
1950s - today
Both Like the posted pictures below.

The first two photos are similar to what I’m referring too, but I cannot find an exact example of an input unit. Something mounted like this though could easily be for client interaction, such as a museum or a demo unit as well.

The second two are common digital drafting tables.[

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If it IS a CAD table one, it’s worth MUCH MORE on ebay for what it is. Even dead. Small inexpensive ones on the range of 1-3 feet of useable “pad” started in the high $XXXXs. Anything over 20 inches could be an easy 10 grand if it is working or fixable.

As a side (for the GRF), yes there’s a very high recovery in PM in these. No, Boardsort is not going to be able to make a reasonable offer on something like this. Telco is my guess, maybe air card class or cell phone class once the board is removed from the (marble?) table. Way under valued.
A day one amateur could pull a few hundred dollars in gold in a month or two of an acid bath. A professional refinery can get much more.
This isn’t a do it yourself gold moment.this is a get the hammer and chisel and find a refinery board.
(That’s a guess based on experience with CAD tables, I’ve never actually scrapped one though. I’ve never had anyone crazy enough to scrap one and I’m not crazy enough to buy one for scrap. But they are a gold film, not flashing.).

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Los,

You're still the "go-to" man.

Do you recognize this manufacturer's logo? I did a Google image search with no result.

Thanks for your help . . .

James

_________________
An answer to a problem that is correct and efficient yet pleasing to behold is that problem's elegant solution.

I’m playing with the odds on my memory but I believe that’s a thin Formica laminated press wood base. Furthering my dead set beliefs that this is/was a table tablet of some sort.
The emblem is definitely something I’ve seen before; I debated asking for a better shot earlier.
I just cannot place it at the moment. With your (and the original GRF poster’s) permission I’d like to steal that photograph and send it to a few old friends in more exotic industries under computer science.
I think it may have been one of those old computer shopper bible magazines that were thicker than phone books; that I saw an advert in.
Ask if I can gank that photo for me please.

This is one of my rare nostalgia moments. Where a post results in dozens of memories and the anger at thy self for not remembering.
I almost need to find this now. For my own piece of mind!

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Fellowes?
Anyone else in the 30-50 age bracket? This logo is definitely familiar.

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Lost,

Run with it . . . we all want to know.

Personally, without any top cover over the pad, the lack of bump arrays showing through the circle's holes, but with it's finished and assembled appearance, I'm voting for the digitizer tablet theory but also adding that it might have been an engineering "sales" tool for use at customer's "show n' tells". A visual aid to explain the working of a new type of contraption.

Or . . . .

Maybe ET left it on their last visit. It's part of a very advanced camp stove with the holes providing drainage for the cooking oil.

Need more coffee.

James

_________________
An answer to a problem that is correct and efficient yet pleasing to behold is that problem's elegant solution.