Anita MK8 calculator - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Roland Huisman · 10th Sep 2014, 9:06 am

Hello everyone,

For those who likes it a few pics and a movie from my Anita MK8 calculator.
I tried to contact ALANS ANITAS / Alan Chapman but he does not respond.
Does anyone know about him?

I got my machine from a former Sumlock Anita service man.
He gave me several tips to restore the machine. And I made a
few tools for the machine to work on it.

And a little youtube demonstration...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-qvtiqWens

Regards Roland

Station X · 10th Sep 2014, 10:20 am

ALANS ANITAS hasn't visited the forums since July last year. Have you tried emailing him via the forums?

mike_newcomb · 10th Sep 2014, 10:36 am

Hi Roland, Alan does have his own website and provides an email address there:-

www.alansanitas.co.uk

Nice pictures of your Anita - Thanks

Years back I used to use a Monroematic, which is a far more clunkety bonk device than the Anita.

Regards -Mike

Telleadict · 12th Sep 2014, 6:11 pm

Hello

See this thread it explains why Alan hasn't been around and might save some distress.

Roland Huisman · 12th Sep 2014, 8:37 pm

Hello,

Thanks for the replies! Really sad to hear Alan is not with us any more.

I hope all other people enjoy the pics and movie of the Anita MK8.

Regards, Roland

gingpeakin · 12th Sep 2014, 8:47 pm

I must get round to my Mk8 which is untouched after 30 years in a loft. Did you change all of the 18 meg resistors and the selenium 'diodes'? I read somewhere also that the tritium in the thyratrons will have decayed to the point where it no longer does anything. Clearly this isn't the case with your machine Roland.
Very sad news about Alan.
Ging

Roland Huisman · 12th Sep 2014, 10:02 pm

Hello Ging,

All the 19/20M resistors are replaced by 18M indeed. Also some power resistors
were drifted miles away in value and were replaced. All paper caps were bad.
Some doubled in value and had a big leaking current, others just oc.
Mains caps were oc and a few bad selenium diodes were replaced.
(A friend made new sides for my electrolytics)

There is no tritium used in the Anita trigger tubes. Tritium is used in
trigger tubes without a night light. Both have the same purpose
to make a accurate ignition level.

My Anita has been in not electronic friendly environments the last years.
I've cleaned all rotary switches and lubricated the keylines.
And here is a picture of all the components I've replaced...

I've learned a lot about Anita's from the former service man

And he hasn't seen a machine working for more than 40 years

So he really enjoyed to see this machine came back to live again!

Regards, Roland

10th Sep 2014, 9:06 am	#1
Roland Huisman Tetrode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Zwolle (Netherlands) Posts: 74	Anita MK8 calculator Hello everyone, For those who likes it a few pics and a movie from my Anita MK8 calculator. I tried to contact ALANS ANITAS / Alan Chapman but he does not respond. Does anyone know about him? I got my machine from a former Sumlock Anita service man. He gave me several tips to restore the machine. And I made a few tools for the machine to work on it. And a little youtube demonstration... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-qvtiqWens Regards Roland Attached Thumbnails

10th Sep 2014, 10:20 am	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Anita MK8 calculator ALANS ANITAS hasn't visited the forums since July last year. Have you tried emailing him via the forums? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

10th Sep 2014, 10:36 am	#3
mike_newcomb Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 665	Re: Anita MK8 calculator Hi Roland, Alan does have his own website and provides an email address there:- www.alansanitas.co.uk Nice pictures of your Anita - Thanks Years back I used to use a Monroematic, which is a far more clunkety bonk device than the Anita. Regards -Mike

12th Sep 2014, 6:11 pm	#4
Telleadict Hexode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nr. York, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 348	Re: Anita MK8 calculator Hello See this thread it explains why Alan hasn't been around and might save some distress.

12th Sep 2014, 8:37 pm	#5
Roland Huisman Tetrode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Zwolle (Netherlands) Posts: 74	Re: Anita MK8 calculator Hello, Thanks for the replies! Really sad to hear Alan is not with us any more. I hope all other people enjoy the pics and movie of the Anita MK8. Regards, Roland

12th Sep 2014, 8:47 pm	#6
gingpeakin Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Worthing, Sussex, UK. Posts: 277	Re: Anita MK8 calculator I must get round to my Mk8 which is untouched after 30 years in a loft. Did you change all of the 18 meg resistors and the selenium 'diodes'? I read somewhere also that the tritium in the thyratrons will have decayed to the point where it no longer does anything. Clearly this isn't the case with your machine Roland. Very sad news about Alan. Ging

12th Sep 2014, 10:02 pm	#7
Roland Huisman Tetrode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Zwolle (Netherlands) Posts: 74	Re: Anita MK8 calculator Hello Ging, All the 19/20M resistors are replaced by 18M indeed. Also some power resistors were drifted miles away in value and were replaced. All paper caps were bad. Some doubled in value and had a big leaking current, others just oc. Mains caps were oc and a few bad selenium diodes were replaced. (A friend made new sides for my electrolytics) There is no tritium used in the Anita trigger tubes. Tritium is used in trigger tubes without a night light. Both have the same purpose to make a accurate ignition level. My Anita has been in not electronic friendly environments the last years. I've cleaned all rotary switches and lubricated the keylines. And here is a picture of all the components I've replaced... I've learned a lot about Anita's from the former service man And he hasn't seen a machine working for more than 40 years So he really enjoyed to see this machine came back to live again! Regards, Roland Attached Thumbnails