Name the Thing Contest – 29

Congratulation to the last contest winner.

The prize this week is a 2.5″ PATA hard disk enclosure that allows you to take your data on the road. Just slide in a drive (not included) and plug into your USB port.

This contest will run for this weekend only (November 24- 25, 2007) . Ending time is based on central standard time. To enter, identify the item pictured above and give an example of what can be done with it. Please do not give the answer in the comments.

 

Send an email to contest @ hackedgadgets.com with “Name the Thing Contest” as the subject, and the message body consisting of:
* The name of the item in the above picture
* An example of what the item pictured above can be used for

The winner will be chosen at random from all of the correct entries.

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Added November 28, 2007

The item to guess was a Daven CPD-354-R Dual 25K 2dB/Step Potentiometer. Congratulation to the people who guessed it correctly.

Here is some info since the page will fade away eventually.
“Although originally designed for the control of push-pull grids, the shielded construction of the tandem potentiometer allows for unbalanced use in separate amplifier stages. That description from a 53 year old Daven catalog predates stereo.

This 20 step (no detents) pot has the taper to off feature which allows it to be used as a fader or mixer. This is an ideal gain control feeding a high impedance stereo amplifier. In order to properly match the potentiometer the load impedance should be a minimum of 10 times the 25,000 ohm resistance of the CPD-354-R or at least 250,000 ohms. Also lead length should be kept to a minimum. This will minimize high frequency attenuation due to the capacity of the wires to ground. Also make sure no DC flows in the circuit. Even a few microamps are enough to create noise as the arm is rotated from step to step.

This used unit was removed from an old custom remote broadcast mixer around 20 years ago and was in storage ever since. The contacts are not noticeably worn. It looks like the mixer had not been used on a regular basis.”

The winner is Joseph V.

Thanks to all who entered.
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Below is a pictures of the prize.

30 Comments



  1. Too easy. NEXT Please.. OK OK I looked it up but for a brief second I WAS GOD.


  2. I recognized the item, and then found the picture…


  3. ** ** ** Dual ** ** Step **


  4. I FEEL LIKE A DAMED FOOL NOT HAVING READ THE ENTIRE ENTRY OF THE BLOG, AND GIVING THE ANSWER IN THIS COMMENTS SECTION. I am trying to get it pulled and have sent the blog author a note asking him to to do. I should have RTFBE and did not.


  5. As much as I like bragging that I found the item, it is time to shut down the comment section for the contests until Monday mornings, or at least moderate it.


  6. Hey Roadkill,

    Please email in the answer to the email address mentioned in the post (not in the comments)


  7. Hi Grizzly,

    I have marked up some of your comment above. Thanks for letting me know to remove your answer from the comments.


  8. Oops sorry feel like an idiot for not reading the whole thing.


  9. Alan, I think the comments should be shut down on these contests too 🙂 We always have one or two, accident or not.


  10. its a old *** *** *** ***


  11. i am so stupid damn it sorry


  12. Maybe the contest name should be changed to:

    “DON’T Name the Thing in the Comments Contest!” 🙂

    –Phil.


  13. LOL, that’s funny Phil. I guess turning off the comments would solve the problem… Or maybe I just need to monitor them more frequently on the weekend.


  14. Alan, you have a life, you shouldn’t have to do that 🙂


  15. How about..Make the person who gives the answer in the comments pay for the prize given to the winner!


  16. Hey Eric,

    I have a life but I also want to have the option of leaving the comments on. I guess if you see the comments get turned off then that may indicate that I have more of a life? 🙂


  17. Interesting concept Craig!

    I will put a click through agreement and capture IP addresses starting next weekend. Then I will send their ISP a notices like the RIAA and demand their customers information so that I can demand payment.:)


  18. Why not also put the “Do not put the answer in the comments” in bold above the photo..?

    –Phil.


  19. Heres a suggestion why not put “Do not put the answer in the comments” in the comment box and when they start typing it disappears.


  20. > Heres a suggestion why not put “Do not put the answer in the
    > comments” in the comment box and when they start typing it
    > disappears.
    I had wondered about something similar but assumed that custom code for just the competition pages would be an extra hassle for Alan to implement.

    How about we just start a world-wide campaign to increase individual literacy, observation and comprehension levels? Might have benefits in other areas outside this competition also. 🙂

    –Phil.


  21. Follower I didn’t put the answer in my post dose that mean i get an “A” in the new, World-wide campaign to increase individual literacy, observation and comprehension levels. If so please send the certificate of completion to the moderator so they can send it to me.


  22. By the way no one who posted an answer got it right. It’s actually a Daven thingy majieger bobber that controls heavy whatchamacallits under extreme pressures from the world-wide campaign to increase individual literacy, observation and comprehension levels.


  23. How about putting “Do NOT put the answer in the comments section” on a separate line in huge, bold letters? And then put the email address on the next line in big, bold letters. Or maybe use a form like the one that gets filled out for the comments section instead of having us email the answer.

    Of course, turning off comments would be an easy (but where’s the challenge?) step, too.


  24. Wait, I’ve just realised, we’ve been approaching this all wrong! The site is Hacked *Gadgets* not Hacked *Software*!

    Distribute a key-fob USB device that generates a code that needs to be entered (by the device) before submitting a comment on the contest–if the comment contains the answer the user gets a mild electric shock in order to encourage an increase in their individual literacy, observation and comprehension levels!

    I’m a genius, I’m off to the patent office now!

    –Phil.

    P.S. A smilie seems redundant somehow… 😀


  25. I like that Follower I want a key-fob know! “”” Honey can you come hold this while i post to hacked gadgets there’s something wrong with it and it needs to be held into the USB port”””


  26. You thought it up I just did the implementation. By the way don’t mention things like this on the net next thing you know my office chair will be plug into the usb port and every time I go to hacked gadgets I will get a shock because I’m wasting time at work.

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