Revival of the Silent Speak and Spell: Speech Restored to Classic Learning Device
In 1978, a groundbreaking talking toy named Speak and Spell made its debut, capturing the imagination of children and adults alike. Recently, [Kevin] stumbled upon a vintage Speak and Spell toy from that year, which, unfortunately, was not functioning.
Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the toy, known for its sophisticated speech synthesizer, had undergone some modifications. Some people find Speak and Spells fascinating, while others modify them to produce sounds or perform actions differently. However, this particular toy seemed to have malfunctioned due to a combination of factors.
The malfunction appeared to be caused by the lower battery voltage compared to the AC adapter. After adjustments, the toy worked again with weaker batteries, indicating that the issue may have been due to the incorrect use of a power adapter.
Investigation further revealed that the power supply board of the Speak and Spell toy had a burnt mark and a cracked TO-92 transistor. Both the cracked and uncracked transistors on the power supply board needed replacement for safety. Interestingly, some newer models of the Speak and Spell toy have screws in their cases, unlike this one, which only had clips.
There was visible damage on the toy, suggesting previous attempts at repair. However, there was no information available about who repaired the old Speak and Spell before [Kevin] found it.
Intriguingly, it was discovered that someone had reversed a schematic for a power board used in a different version of the Speak and Spell toy. This could potentially explain some of the malfunctions the toy experienced.
The simple switching power supply in the Speak and Spell toy uses a handful of bipolar transistors. Moreover, the toy features a complex power supply to drive the vacuum fluorescent display, adding to its technological prowess.
For those who'd rather build something new than repair, there are resources available to help you create your own Speak and Spell-inspired projects.
If you're interested in exploring the Speak and Spell toy further, you can find more information in the bibliography at the end of this post. A video of the Speak and Spell toy's startup sequence can also be seen in the video below.
Bibliography: - Speak & Spell Repair Guide - Speak & Spell Technical Manual - Speak & Spell Schematics - Speak & Spell Service Manual - Speak & Spell History
Enjoy delving into the world of Speak and Spell and let your creativity flow!
Read also:
- Stock markets in Asia experience a surge following a record-breaking rally in U.S. stocks, fueled by optimism towards potential interest rate reductions.
- Joe Rogan popularized the archaeological site of Gobeklitepe as a modern-day enigma.
- Amazon expands its same-day grocery delivery service to reach 1000 cities in the U.S, and aims to deliver it to an additional 1300 locations by the year 2025's end. Query on whether your area is on the list?
- Coordinated transit agencies in South Florida unveil unified mobile platform for seamless regional transportation
