It is currently 20 Apr 2024, 02:04




 Page 1 of 1 [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: The LASERFiLm Video Disc Thread (LFS-4400)
PostPosted: 08 Feb 2020, 03:15 
Genuinely interested
Genuinely interested
User avatar

Joined: 02 Jul 2015, 20:29
Posts: 39
Location: The U.S. of A.
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 9 times
For those unfamiliar with LASERFiLm, go ahead and read up on all the information available about it on the Internet. It should take all of about 5 minutes.
This video shows the unit a bit but not much else. There is some information from a previous employee of McDonnell Douglas in the comments of the video.


There is a little blurb about it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laserfilm

And here:

http://www.deadmedia.org/notes/15/155.html

If you are wondering why I type it "LASERFiLm" please look at this logo and tell me I'm wrong.
Image

Since the chances of finding a disc to play on this are slim, I have taken it apart for never before seen pictures and trying to trick it to play.
You are going to have to excuse the poor quality of the pictures as I invest my money in useless A/V equipment and not in fancy cameras.

Here is the front panel:
Image

The back:
Image
Image
Image
If the transport screw is set then this message is displayed on the screen:
Image
Silly LASERFiLm, I already have screws loose.

Inside:
Video Processing:
Image
Laser sleigh, Spindle Motor, and motor driver boards:
Image
Power supply:
Image
Audio processing:
Image
Behind that little metal plate is a 15v battery and fuses for the computer processing board:
Image
Computer Processing Board:
Image
Intel Inside:
Image

Laser Assembly:
The White plastic hook on the left tells the unit a disc is inserted. The black plastic in the middle rides under the disc and has an optical reader which picks up the laser through the disc. I think anyways.
Image
The sleigh unit straddles the disc. The big circle is the laser:
Image
Image
The component to the left of the screw is what I mentioned earlier as the optical reader. The best way to get replies on this thread is by saying something wrong so I'll just stick with it being an optical reader regardless of if it is or not.
Image

The spindle hub is about the size of a cd. I tried to play several things in this player to trick it including: CD, VHD, CED, piece of cardboard, and a piece of film negative. The CD was too small as you can see in this video and the VHD/CED center hole was too large for the spindle hub to grip.


Here is a top view of the system seeing if there is a disc:


Here is what is showed on the TV screen during the process above:


And finally this is what the laser does during the process above:


In case you were wondering about the model number (LFS-4400)and power specifications:
Image

So there is the write-up on LASERFiLm you never wanted.
_________________
Self-respecting obsolete format archivist. "Yes, I need all this stuff for archiving!"
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: The LASERFiLm Video Disc Thread (LFS-4400)
PostPosted: 08 Feb 2020, 05:34 
Absolute fan
Absolute fan
User avatar

Joined: 18 Apr 2012, 18:02
Posts: 1614
Location: United States
Has thanked: 71 times
Been thanked: 88 times
There was one of these a few years ago at a thrift shop in Ventura, but I didn't bite because I knew I'd probably never find a disk for it :(
_________________
Happycube Labs: Where the past is being re-made, today. [meep!]
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: The LASERFiLm Video Disc Thread (LFS-4400)
PostPosted: 08 Feb 2020, 06:38 
Absolute fan
Absolute fan
User avatar

Joined: 01 May 2016, 06:38
Posts: 2040
Location: Australia
Has thanked: 334 times
Been thanked: 222 times
Made in Japan is surprising. You'd think McDD would be all American.
_________________
SONY MDP-355GX, DVDO iscan VP50, SONY KVHR-M36
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: The LASERFiLm Video Disc Thread (LFS-4400)
PostPosted: 08 Feb 2020, 23:47 
Hardcore fan
Hardcore fan
User avatar

Joined: 13 Sep 2012, 23:14
Posts: 1199
Location: United Kingdom
Has thanked: 265 times
Been thanked: 259 times
Really interesting, thanks for posting makmak16 :thumbup: .

.
Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
 Page 1 of 1 [ 4 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: substance and 18 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  

cron