The VCD subsystem of our 12 year old, Thomson brand, integrated audio / video music system broke down some three years ago. It could not read any Discs, and it gave a simple READ ERROR.
For many months I had run around trying various options to get it back working. Thomson service center, other local service centers in different areas in Bangalore, no one could take it up since it was outdated.
I had tried to find out if someone can do a retrofit or patch upgrade to make it into a DVD player. One repair shop told me that it would cost as high as buying a new DVD player, which would actually work much better and would come with more features along with it. So I had to give up that option too.
It was our first music system we had purchased in Bangalore, spending almost Rs 8.5k in December 2002. It was very expensive for me at that point in time! The 500W PMPO Thomson system, model VCD-1250, had multiple subsystems integrated all in one: A CD player system for audio and video CDs, a cassette player system for the old type audio magnetic tapes, and a radio for AM and FM stations. And, the two wooden box speakers were the high(est)lights. It was a fond gadget at our home and was working fine for over 9 years without any issue but suddenly failed one day, just on the CD player alone.
Containing its audio cassette tape player, it was almost like an antique piece, but remained idle, collecting dust.
Two years ago I had also tried to sell it in 'as is' condition through many different modes. Many months passed but there was no success. No body was willing to take it even free of charge. I tried carrying with me all the way to a few shops. And then brought it back with no success to give it off. It lied idle at home occupying space for nearly three years.
Recently, during a lot of clean up of old stuffs at home, this system was kept aside ready to be thrown in garbage.
Throw in to garbage? That was not feeling good. Even today, I still have the original carton box (see pic) of this system that is also 12 years old. So I was thinking about what I could potentially do better with it, instead of throwing in garbage.
I decided to do two things. One, to dispose all micro level detailed parts in a careful manner. Two, to recover all that I can use or reuse for any purpose.
Over a week-end I sat and split open the main unit into its tiniest pieces of plastic, metal, rubber, wires, gears, rods, bolts, nuts, screws, washers, springs, printed circuit boards, fuses, etc. and sorted them all separately.
I disposed off the unwanted e-waste parts into the e-waste disposal system in our apartment complex. And then disposed off the plastic, rubber, and metal wastes also into their respective disposal system.
I saved all the wires, screws and washers that would be of some use somewhere, in my small home-inventory that I keep building.
Finally I was left with the two nice wooden box speakers: It lied in a corner for a few weeks. Untouched. With no use.
One fine day suddenly I thought of this idea: I decided to personally modify it in to a small seat!
I kept thinking for a few weeks developing the thought further.
After a few weeks I bought a few of a special type of punched-metal strips, some rubber feet bushes, washers and screws of a few sizes, and so on, from a hardware shop in Madiwala.
Finally, I also ordered a laminated wooden top of a custom size that I required, from the local furniture shop near our apartment. They were kind enough to make it for me at Rs 100.
I sat and did this carpentry work on a week-end. I put the two speakers together tied with the special punched-metal strips, fitted the strong plastic bush feet, and mounted the top firmly, all to handle the weight of an adult sitting on it.
The mini seat came out nicely, and my wife and son use it now for most of their low-height seated day-to-day operations at home.
Here are some pictures BEFORE and AFTER.
BEFORE
AFTER
THE GRAND FINAL OUTPUT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For many months I had run around trying various options to get it back working. Thomson service center, other local service centers in different areas in Bangalore, no one could take it up since it was outdated.I had tried to find out if someone can do a retrofit or patch upgrade to make it into a DVD player. One repair shop told me that it would cost as high as buying a new DVD player, which would actually work much better and would come with more features along with it. So I had to give up that option too.
It was our first music system we had purchased in Bangalore, spending almost Rs 8.5k in December 2002. It was very expensive for me at that point in time! The 500W PMPO Thomson system, model VCD-1250, had multiple subsystems integrated all in one: A CD player system for audio and video CDs, a cassette player system for the old type audio magnetic tapes, and a radio for AM and FM stations. And, the two wooden box speakers were the high(est)lights. It was a fond gadget at our home and was working fine for over 9 years without any issue but suddenly failed one day, just on the CD player alone.
Containing its audio cassette tape player, it was almost like an antique piece, but remained idle, collecting dust.
Two years ago I had also tried to sell it in 'as is' condition through many different modes. Many months passed but there was no success. No body was willing to take it even free of charge. I tried carrying with me all the way to a few shops. And then brought it back with no success to give it off. It lied idle at home occupying space for nearly three years.
Recently, during a lot of clean up of old stuffs at home, this system was kept aside ready to be thrown in garbage.
Throw in to garbage? That was not feeling good. Even today, I still have the original carton box (see pic) of this system that is also 12 years old. So I was thinking about what I could potentially do better with it, instead of throwing in garbage.
I decided to do two things. One, to dispose all micro level detailed parts in a careful manner. Two, to recover all that I can use or reuse for any purpose.
Over a week-end I sat and split open the main unit into its tiniest pieces of plastic, metal, rubber, wires, gears, rods, bolts, nuts, screws, washers, springs, printed circuit boards, fuses, etc. and sorted them all separately.
I disposed off the unwanted e-waste parts into the e-waste disposal system in our apartment complex. And then disposed off the plastic, rubber, and metal wastes also into their respective disposal system.
I saved all the wires, screws and washers that would be of some use somewhere, in my small home-inventory that I keep building.
Finally I was left with the two nice wooden box speakers: It lied in a corner for a few weeks. Untouched. With no use.
One fine day suddenly I thought of this idea: I decided to personally modify it in to a small seat!
I kept thinking for a few weeks developing the thought further.
After a few weeks I bought a few of a special type of punched-metal strips, some rubber feet bushes, washers and screws of a few sizes, and so on, from a hardware shop in Madiwala.
Finally, I also ordered a laminated wooden top of a custom size that I required, from the local furniture shop near our apartment. They were kind enough to make it for me at Rs 100.
I sat and did this carpentry work on a week-end. I put the two speakers together tied with the special punched-metal strips, fitted the strong plastic bush feet, and mounted the top firmly, all to handle the weight of an adult sitting on it.
The mini seat came out nicely, and my wife and son use it now for most of their low-height seated day-to-day operations at home.
Here are some pictures BEFORE and AFTER.
BEFORE
AFTER
THE GRAND FINAL OUTPUT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post about what to do with old audio and video systems! Your tips are practical and helpful for anyone looking to recycle or repurpose their outdated tech. Thanks for sharing such valuable advice!
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