Comment Rugged Hardware (Score 1) 247
When I think of the hardiest hardware, the first thing that comes to mind is the venerable Crown DC-300A amplifier. Mounted in an Anvil flight case, this staple of many rock tours was virtually indestructible, both physically and electrically. Each unit could pump out a steady 600 Watts all day long, and would be pristine after a fall from a 40' semi trailer.
Crown manufactured open-reel tape decks before they got into the amplifier business. Those were designed to travel with missionaries who went into the uncharted wilderness, looking for souls to save. But the name Nagra is synonymous with bulletproof tape decks. Go figure.
The HP calculators of the 70s were nearly indestructible, thanks to their ABS plastic cases and first-rate engineering. For example, the buttons had injection molded characters (rather than painting them on), so they would be readable until the entire button wore away.
Fluke was legendary for making field test instruments that took tremendous amounts of abuse. The first Ampex VTRs (the ones that used 2" tape) have a bulletproof reputation as well. In fact, quite a few TV stations still keep a couple around (after 40 years of constant usage) so they can play back archival footage. And of course, Nikon is well-known for making rugged 35mm SLR cameras.
OTOH, the Apollo astronauts used Hasselblad cameras to take those priceless pictures on the moon. They were also issued special wristwatches. I don't remember who made them. Anybody?
When it comes to wristwatches, the Synchronar 2000 (an early digital watch) was probably the winner in that class. The watch itself was embedded in an epoxy block, which was then fitted into a stainless steel case that provided attachment points for the bracelet, and also housed small magnets that activated tiny reed switches inside the epoxy. These were used to operate the watch. The manufacturer claimed that in testing, they put one on a railroad track, and it survived being run over by a train. That's pretty impressive!
Crown manufactured open-reel tape decks before they got into the amplifier business. Those were designed to travel with missionaries who went into the uncharted wilderness, looking for souls to save. But the name Nagra is synonymous with bulletproof tape decks. Go figure.
The HP calculators of the 70s were nearly indestructible, thanks to their ABS plastic cases and first-rate engineering. For example, the buttons had injection molded characters (rather than painting them on), so they would be readable until the entire button wore away.
Fluke was legendary for making field test instruments that took tremendous amounts of abuse. The first Ampex VTRs (the ones that used 2" tape) have a bulletproof reputation as well. In fact, quite a few TV stations still keep a couple around (after 40 years of constant usage) so they can play back archival footage. And of course, Nikon is well-known for making rugged 35mm SLR cameras.
OTOH, the Apollo astronauts used Hasselblad cameras to take those priceless pictures on the moon. They were also issued special wristwatches. I don't remember who made them. Anybody?
When it comes to wristwatches, the Synchronar 2000 (an early digital watch) was probably the winner in that class. The watch itself was embedded in an epoxy block, which was then fitted into a stainless steel case that provided attachment points for the bracelet, and also housed small magnets that activated tiny reed switches inside the epoxy. These were used to operate the watch. The manufacturer claimed that in testing, they put one on a railroad track, and it survived being run over by a train. That's pretty impressive!
