Those round HVAC vents

[westytoploader]

Hmmmm...all of my schools' PA systems were interesting setups. I went to private school through 3rd grade and I don't think they had one (instead they used a phone system to "buzz" the teachers).

My intermediate school here (4th-5th grade) had a tabletop system which was extremely easy to use. 2 buttons could be pushed to communicate with the entire school, and separate slide switches controlled the classrooms. It had a mic on the station so it was quite clear. I think everything was made by Bogen, and it was possibly circa-1983 (when the school was renovated; originally built in 1957). The junior high and high schools have the "refrigerator-sized" Rauland PA systems; I wouldn't know how to operate it for the life of me! Tons of switches; the communication is done by a telephone-like handset connected to the machine. It simplifies it a bit since you can connect to the entire school or any classroom by entering in a code ("09" connects to the school). However, being a handset type, it is "staticky" and somewhat unclear.

 

[kenmore1978]

vents not obsolete yet

We talk about those round HVAC vents nostalgically, but they're alive and well in currrent construction. Was in an Office Depot to have some copies made. It the kind of design where all the HVAC ducting is exposed and there those vents were, in all their glory. They were obviously a new installation when the store was opened, not something left over from years before.

 

[toggleswitch]

Exra proten nuggets.

Quote: The light diffusers were also self-cleaning--any bugs that died up in them were automatically blown out from the refrigeration draft :-D LOL

Light in kitchen /dining area-
Momma- since when do we put raisins in rice? LOL

Here In NYC before electricity, apartments had gas lights in the center of each room or a wall sconce. Once electrified the buidings had an electric juntion box impaled over the gas pipe stub. Fitures were simple or elaborate metal disks with spaces for multiple bulbs.(The early bulbs were of low wattages) These were controlled by pullchains. Oh yeah and at first light-bulbs were available only from your electric company.

Parts of Manhattan island (inner-city NYC)still have (supplemental)DC [and parallel AC of course], which is useful in certain industries.

I went to change a ceiling light-bulb in the living room of my tenement apartment and almost passed out at the smell of natural gas. <GAS? In the living room???> Apparently the sealant used to seal the theads between the pipe and the cap had begun to chemically disntegate. I was shocked that the overhhead "runner" linking all the ceiling drops had not been disconnected!

Don't think that would be code today, either!!! LOL LOL LOL

I lived SLIGHTLY better than seen in the link, LOL LOL LOL

http://www.tenement.org/

 

[jasonl]

School PA system

When I went to school it was the huge Western Electric refrigerator tube amplifier model. The microphone was an old round Astatic D104. I had a powered D104 for my CB radio with a squeeze handle. The one at our middle school had a surprise as well, inside a drawer was a hidden Garrard record changer. How cool was that!!!!!

 

[scott55405]

Yes Jaune, I do see them in more current use in those types of situations where the slatted false ceilings aren't used. The grocery store I shop in, which is less than 10 years old, is like that as well, and I have seen it in other such settings.

 

[tolivac]

i can remember at one of the schools I went to they had a "Stromberg-Carlson" PA system.It was in a large desk like console.In one of the drawers was the Turntable.Can't remember what kind it was.

 

[jasonl]

In high school they had an identical one to the middle school's sound system. And they had the pull-out drawer with the handle. I yearned to pull that handle and see the turntable but never got the chance. I guessed another Garrard changer. My guess is that's probably been updated and the old stuff is all gone now.

 

[jasonl]

Austin

I notice you have some kind of knob in the middle of your round vent. Is that the control for how much air comes out? The ones I had at my parents house had a chain. You'd set the damper (usually all the way open) and stick the chain in the notch.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

I LOVE those vents....

I have a freind that just ripped them out of their home!

When I was a kid, my elementary school had HUUGGGGGGEEEEEE
ones in the auditorium, I think just four or six took up the massive ceiling. I always thought they were spooky cool. I remember as a really little kid, one of my parents friend's had a futuristic--for the time--home and they had really large ones on their high ceilings. Again, spooky wierd and cool.

Nice to know I am not wierd and someone else loves these.

How about this.....those large, golden "cone lamps", either pointing down from the ceiling or mounted on the wall...same vintage of these vents...