Our local Ace Hardware stores are out. Looks like there are supply issues from Rustoleum too.
Hi and welcome! Now that 1018 is about the coolest Sun gear around - a working factory prototype that was never produced. Very cool - thanks for saving it and sharing it with us!New member here. Was reminiscing about my early career working at Sun Electric at their Harlem & Avondale engineering facility (1978-84) when I stumbled on this forum and thread. Had to join. Started at Sun when they did R&D in a small facility nearby in Niles, IL, and I worked on their VAT-60 development, moving on to specialize in exhaust gas analysis (state I&M equipment such as their Inspector), and an internal low-cost IR bench design that could be used in lieu of more expensive units from IR Industries and Sensors, Inc. for exhaust analysis. From there I went to Alltest, Inc., a startup in Palatine, IL that provided small hand-held micro-controlled automotive diagnostic equipment (remember Brainmaster scan tool?) I designed a 4-gas exhaust analysis module (HC, CO, CO2, O2) sold as an optional add-on for their Alltest Advantage engine analyzer. From there moved to CA with the owner of Alltest when he sold it to start-up Alldata, provider of aftermarket automotive repair information (still going strong as a subsidiary of Autozone since they purchased it in ‘96). Left the automotive aftermarket in 2001, and through a circuitous route am now in IT management at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Have been wrenching on cars, though, since I was 15. Still own a Sun 1018 engine analyzer, which was a prototype 1011 with digital displays instead of meter movements that I saved from the crusher. I’m certain that it’s the only one in existence because they never went into production. Still works well, and use it when working on my son’s ‘69 Chevy 10 pickup. Have a full set of original schematics, and several spare boards (all electronics identical to the 1011 except for the digital display boards). It’s resting on a cabinet that sold with the 2001 Diagnostic Computer, their first fully microprocessor controlled analyzer, which was under development while I was there.
It might be of some interest to you to know that, although the bulk of the manufacturing was taking place at their much larger Crystal Lake facilities, some light manufacturing was still occurring at Harlem and Avondale (the repurposed building is still there, and can be seen in Google Street View). Along the length of the second floor facing the windows on Avondale were a series of rooms where high quality meter movements were still being made, even in the late 70s. I remember walking down that hall and observing through the glass the many women with their eye loops and magnifying lamps working away. Many of the movements were for avionics, I believe. Here is an example of what they were making:
The name is definitely familiar. Didn’t work directly with him. They had a pretty big tech pool that I worked with, wiring proto boards and stuff.
Yeah, when they shut down the Chicago facility entirely and moved engineering. Even sadder when Snap-on bought them out.
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Small portable sun pieces by Mike Terranova, on Flickr
Untitled by Mike Terranova, on FlickrThanks for the links! I worked in auto repair for over 30 years beginning in the late 60s at dealerships and later private garages. I've always had a great affinity towards the 'Big Box' scopes. An interesting note and why you don't see a modern version was that they were most useful for diagnosing mechanical problems with the engine (oscilloscopes). This started with the kensington ignition system and then included not just spark timing but valve timing, cam/distributer wear, timing chains, rod knock, detonation... The other interesting note is that they were slow - compared to my electronic scopes. Todays sensors and auto computer operate in the megahertz range correcting and adjusting to achieve efficiency and low emissions compared to the old systems that relied on mechanical operation and plodded along in the kilohertz range. Yesteryear was fun but everything runs longer, and wears better today.
My ancient "motor tester" is the same as your 6a pic. I rescued it from a long gone VW garage in Lorena ages ago. The base cabinet I found in a junk store in irving. Aubrey is not far at all from me, Argyle (I seem to live at work).
Nice thing about the early dwell/tachs is they operate on regular 1.5V batteries. Later models used now obsolete 1.35V Hg bats. Later still, 9V. You should be able to see if it operates by putting in the batteries and turning it to "calibrate".
Welcome Mike! I've never seen a distributor machine with an instrument panel like that before. I have a Sun catalog from around 1946, and the distributor machine in it has the instruments on the sides. Have you looked inside to see if there are any dates on the components? I have to wonder if that isn't pre-war. That is a real find in any event in my mind, even more so if pre-war.
Getting a 404 Not Found. Sold?
Snap On bought them in 1992. The Crystal Lake IL facility is still there with Snap On signs in front.
Sorry was in a hurry (at work) trying to post a photo of the VAT20 that I picked up at an industrial auction for $13 in the condition at the sale.
