Hi all
There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the
switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this part
over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it (switch
bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

Thanks
J^n

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On 21/03/2025 09:16, jkn wrote:

Hi all
    There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this part
over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it (switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

Thanks
J^n

Front Panel of what?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 21/03/2025 09:49, TimW wrote:

On 21/03/2025 09:16, jkn wrote:

Hi all
     There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the
switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this
part over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it
(switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

Thanks
J^n

Front Panel of what?

err, the front panel of whatever the switch was fitted to? I am not sure
of your point...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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jkn wrote:

Hi all
    There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this part
over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it (switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

Thanks
J^n

Search for "sleepy eyes". According to Google, Schadow used to make them. Memory is distant but, unless they have an internal solenoid, they
indicate the position of the switch, rather than whether or not the
circuit is energised. A modern replacement with an internal LED would be better, but that depends on whether you're trying to restore something
that has to be historically correct, or just want the function.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 21/03/2025 10:03, jkn wrote:

On 21/03/2025 09:49, TimW wrote:

On 21/03/2025 09:16, jkn wrote:

Hi all
     There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where >>> the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of
the switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered
this part over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed
it (switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

Thanks
J^n

Front Panel of what?

err, the front panel of whatever the switch was fitted to? I am not sure
of your point...

Possibly RS part number 339-897A
centre comes in white, yellow, blue, green or orange

Found from a google that brought up https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/toggle-button-with-passive-indicator/

which gives some alternatives.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 21/03/2025 09:16, jkn wrote:

Hi all
There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this part
over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it (switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

"Magic Eye" was generally a term used for valve indicators of the EM81
or EM84 type. They were used for tuning stations when using a radio, or sometimes as amplitude indicators for the microphone input of tape
recorders.

--
Jeff

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 21/03/2025 09:16, jkn wrote:

Hi all
    There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this part
over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it (switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

The "Magic Light Button" by the sounds of it:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mapelin/Maplin-Maplin-Catalog-1979.pdf

Page 89

I looked in the two paper versions I had - the oldest was the 1995 issue
(which I keep since it was one of the last that included full pin outs
of all the ICs in the semiconductor section) but realised that might
have been too "new"!




--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \=================================================================/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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John Rumm wrote:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mapelin/Maplin-Maplin-Catalog-1979.pdf

I remember that cover ...

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On 21/03/2025 11:52, Andy Burns wrote:

John Rumm wrote:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mapelin/Maplin-Maplin-Catalog-1979.pdf

I remember that cover ...

Thanks for all the pointers, that has been a help. It is for a possible
repair of the switch on a Tek scope.

I too remember that Maplin front cover!

I am aware of the more normal use of the 'magic eye' term - I have a
Leak Troughline tuner etc. - but (mis?-)remember this term being used
for these switches.

Cheers
J^n

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On 21/03/2025 12:39, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Jeff Layman wrote:

"Magic Eye" was generally a term used for valve indicators of the EM81
or EM84 type. They were used for tuning stations when using a radio, or
sometimes as amplitude indicators for the microphone input of tape
recorders.

I can even smell the aroma of my Grundig reel-to-reel tape
recorder, with its magic eye right in the middle.

Something like this:

<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333213002217?>

I had a Grundig TK20 in 1960. To this day I don't know when or where it
went!

--
Jeff

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Jeff Layman wrote:

"Magic Eye" was generally a term used for valve indicators of the EM81
or EM84 type. They were used for tuning stations when using a radio, or >sometimes as amplitude indicators for the microphone input of tape
recorders.

I can even smell the aroma of my Grundig reel-to-reel tape
recorder, with its magic eye right in the middle.

Something like this:

<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333213002217?>

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
chris@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1

Plant amazing Acers.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 21/03/2025 11:52, Andy Burns wrote:

John Rumm wrote:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mapelin/Maplin-Maplin-
Catalog-1979.pdf

I remember that cover ...

One of their 'newer' catalogues - no prices so this was after they
switched to a separate and more often updated price list.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 21/03/2025 12:39, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Jeff Layman wrote:

"Magic Eye" was generally a term used for valve indicators of the EM81
or EM84 type. They were used for tuning stations when using a radio, or
sometimes as amplitude indicators for the microphone input of tape
recorders.

I can even smell the aroma of my Grundig reel-to-reel tape
recorder, with its magic eye right in the middle.

Something like this:

<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333213002217?>

Where's the "magic eye"? Are you sure it isn't a "magic ribbon"?

--
Max Demian

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 2025-03-21 18:23, Max Demian wrote:

On 21/03/2025 12:39, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Jeff Layman wrote:

"Magic Eye" was generally a term used for valve indicators of the EM81
or EM84 type. They were used for tuning stations when using a radio, or
sometimes as amplitude indicators for the microphone input of tape
recorders.

I can even smell the aroma of my Grundig reel-to-reel tape
recorder, with its magic eye right in the middle.

Something like this:

<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333213002217?>

Where's the "magic eye"? Are you sure it isn't a "magic ribbon"?

It's that long, thin slot below the name "TK14".

It glowed green at both ends, with the gap in the middle getting less as
the incoming signal increased. Just touching in the middle was good, as
I remember.

nib

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 21/03/2025 11:52, Andy Burns wrote:

John Rumm wrote:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mapelin/Maplin-Maplin-
Catalog-1979.pdf

I remember that cover ...

That was the first catalogue I had (I think there was only one catalogue
before that - with a picture of Concord on the front)

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \=================================================================/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 21/03/2025 09:16, jkn wrote:

Hi all
    There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this part
over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it (switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

No . Magic eye is usally that fluorescent valve thingy.
TRy visual indicator switch
or something

Ah. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303889502162

Sleepy eye switch is what you want

Thanks
J^n

--
Labour - a bunch of rich people convincing poor people to vote for rich
people by telling poor people that "other" rich people are the reason
they are poor.

Peter Thompson

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:13:23 +0000, John Rumm wrote:

On 21/03/2025 11:52, Andy Burns wrote:

John Rumm wrote:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mapelin/Maplin-Maplin-
Catalog-1979.pdf

I remember that cover ...

That was the first catalogue I had (I think there was only one catalogue before that - with a picture of Concord on the front)

Concorde ?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Jethro_uk wrote:

John Rumm wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:

John Rumm wrote:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mapelin/Maplin-Maplin-
Catalog-1979.pdf

I remember that cover ...

That was the first catalogue I had (I think there was only one catalogue
before that - with a picture of Concord on the front)

Concorde ?

Apparently they had two Conchord covers, 1974 and 1976

<https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/--37225134393250561>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 21/03/2025 18:39, nib wrote:

On 2025-03-21 18:23, Max Demian wrote:

On 21/03/2025 12:39, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Jeff Layman wrote:

"Magic Eye" was generally a term used for valve indicators of the EM81 >>>> or EM84 type. They were used for tuning stations when using a radio, or >>>> sometimes as amplitude indicators for the microphone input of tape
recorders.

I can even smell the aroma of my Grundig reel-to-reel tape
recorder, with its magic eye right in the middle.

Something like this:

<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333213002217?>

Where's the "magic eye"? Are you sure it isn't a "magic ribbon"?

It's that long, thin slot below the name "TK14".

It glowed green at both ends, with the gap in the middle getting less as
the incoming signal increased. Just touching in the middle was good, as
I remember.

So it's a "magic ribbon". The original "magic eyes" were circular: you
were looking at the end of the valve (tube), and there is a black circle
like a pupil, and the fluorescent bit looked like an iris, that expanded
around the pupil. There were also "magic mountains" where you looked at
the side of the valve and the mountains rose up either side of the
centre. I think these were only used as tuning indicators for radios,
and the ribbon type for tape recorder level indicators.

When Grundig introduced their automatic level control, they called it a
"magic ear" I think.

--
Max Demian

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 2025-03-22 12:31, Max Demian wrote:

On 21/03/2025 18:39, nib wrote:

On 2025-03-21 18:23, Max Demian wrote:

On 21/03/2025 12:39, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Jeff Layman wrote:

"Magic Eye" was generally a term used for valve indicators of the EM81 >>>>> or EM84 type. They were used for tuning stations when using a
radio, or
sometimes as amplitude indicators for the microphone input of tape
recorders.

I can even smell the aroma of my Grundig reel-to-reel tape
recorder, with its magic eye right in the middle.

Something like this:

<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333213002217?>

Where's the "magic eye"? Are you sure it isn't a "magic ribbon"?

It's that long, thin slot below the name "TK14".

It glowed green at both ends, with the gap in the middle getting less
as the incoming signal increased. Just touching in the middle was
good, as I remember.

So it's a "magic ribbon". The original "magic eyes" were circular: you
were looking at the end of the valve (tube), and there is a black circle
like a pupil, and the fluorescent bit looked like an iris, that expanded around the pupil. There were also "magic mountains" where you looked at
the side of the valve and the mountains rose up either side of the
centre. I think these were only used as tuning indicators for radios,
and the ribbon type for tape recorder level indicators.

When Grundig introduced their automatic level control, they called it a "magic ear" I think.

Many years ago I was given an old tape recorder, must have been one of
the first, a "Soundmirror". It had originally used a paper tape though
it also worked with the modern plastic backed stuff. The paper tape was described as a "magic ribbon".

<https://mullard.org/products/sound-mirror-magic-ribbon-tape-recorder-1950s-leaflet>

Cheers,
nib

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 21/03/2025 19:28, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 21/03/2025 09:16, jkn wrote:

Hi all
     There used to be a style of front panel pushbutton switch, where
the 'on/off' indication was via a hi-vis fluorescent inner part of the
switch. There was a kind of 'eyelid arrangement' which covered this
part over (switch dim) when the switch was off/OUT, and revealed it
(switch bright) when the switch was on/IN.

I have a broken one of these which I would like to repair ... but I
cannot find any reference to them. I thought they were called 'magic
eye', but my google-fu is failing me. Any suggestions?

No . Magic eye is usally that fluorescent valve thingy.
TRy visual indicator switch
 or something

Ah. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303889502162

Sleepy eye switch is what you want

Thanks
J^n

Thanks - it is actually just that part (ie the indicator, not the
electrical switch) that I am after.

First time I have ever seen a 'delivery' price for collection in person
on eBay - cheeky!

J^n

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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