1984 EG&G StrobeGuard SS-125/OWL S/N#596 & Flashtube Mod

This is a new old stock EG&G StrobeGuard SS-125 (OWL) from 1984. S/N#596 and is an early production unit. While it was never used, it did not have a flashtube installed, and was also missing two of the original SPDT mode relays. Fortunately, I had a couple of the original Eagle Signal 29E-1489 120VAC coil SPDT mode relays that it was missing for K3 and K4 in my parts collection.

These older SS-125s used plastic reflector assemblies, spray-painted with chrome and also a clear coat acting as a dielectric to cover the chrome. The clear coat has yellowed/browned over the years. These reflectors also used ceramic flashtube holders instead of the later clips and tabs insulated from the reflector.

Since finding a flashtube to fit in this strobe would be unobtanium, I modified one of my new spare flashtubes by soldering off the wires with connectors and also indenting the ends of the tube caps with the soldering iron, that way it will fit in place. This modification worked nearly flawlessly.

Though it is/was in rough shape being an unused unit, I'm still glad to have it on display in my collection. The interior did get quite a bit of oxidation and corrosion from moisture wherever it was stored stored all these years. About all the details that would have been wrote on the EG&G Q.C. tag are virtually illegible now from being stored that way. I believe this strobe was surplus from a power plant, as the bottom scissor brackets and heat sink on the back were extremely dirty when I got it.