Oil Can Delay?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 20 Apr 2001 8:37 pm

I ran across this article. Never heard of such a thing before. I guess if you want a really "wet" sound...

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 20 Apr 2001 9:28 pm

There is a guitar/steel player in LA named Woody who rebuilds these things

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 20 Apr 2001 9:28 pm

Bobby, years ago I had an oil reverb that did not live up to expectations as we were all desperate to get a sound when nothing was available, then along came a box with a coil spring that was curved around a circle with a dial that you turned to get a different length of verb and it was cheezy.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 21 Apr 2001 5:24 am

I still own a Morley EDL. I bought it new in 1979. It still works, but is stored in the closet. It works on this principle. An oil can on an axis powered by a small electric motor with a rubber belt around the can to the motor. The EDL is (Electrostatic Delay). Much like an analog...if you set too many repeats is gets dirty. But it is clean and fat with 3 repeats. I wonder if it is a collector's item yet?

Dennis

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 21 Apr 2001 12:43 pm

Dennis, it is probably a collector's item. In my post on Bucket Brigade Devices, I posted a site that deals in old effect units. They have lists of items and prices. You can find out what it is worth from their lists. I would simply love to look at it. What would you charge me to look at it? I would gladly pay all the shipping, and promise not to tear up anything. Bobby, the site I am talking about has electronic diagrams for all these old devices, and they are for sale. Dennis, what is the exact name of your device?

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 21 Apr 2001 3:30 pm

If I remember correctly, Standel made an oil can delay back in the 60's. It was very dirty sounding, similar to tape delay when the tapes are worn or dragging. Biggest problem was you had to change oil every 5000 chords. (Just kidding)

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 21 Apr 2001 5:39 pm

Stay away from the oil in those things, it's extremely toxic!

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 21 Apr 2001 6:18 pm

Chris, are you sure they used the same "PCB" oil that was used in older transformers? According to the EPA the old transformer oil is very toxic stuff, and requires very special handling. I think we need to find out what type of oil was used.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Keith Hilton on 21 April 2001 at 07:20 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Apr 2001 3:25 am

The PCB oil was not really phased out until the late 80's. Where I worked I had a large Elgar UPS system, installed about 1984 or 5, that had (PCB) oil filled capacitors in it and it wasn't until about 1990 or 91 that they were changed out with non PCB types. I had to do an EPA disposal of the old ones (they wound up at the toxic disposal dump in Alabama).

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 22 Apr 2001 6:16 am

Yup, that's PCB oil in that drum in old Fender Dimension IV and other units. Procede with caution. Actually, run real fast in the opposite direction!

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 22 Apr 2001 6:48 am

Hi Keith...The Morley is just called model EDL (Electrostatic Delay Line)
Serial #0721 The unit is about the size of an Echoplex.
If you have that web site address at hand with the prices let me know.
In the mean time I won't change the oil on it

Dennis

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 22 Apr 2001 7:13 am

Never mind Keith, I found it. They don't have any EDLs listed so I emailed them for a price.

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 22 Apr 2001 7:13 pm

Jack, I think you are correct about the dates when the EPA came down on the PCB oil.
I think it was around 1986-87-88. Everyone should remember Times Beach, Missouri, near St. Louis. A guy had dumped transformer PCB oil on the gravel streets. The Government wound up buying the town and moving everyone away. It is a abandoned ghost town, grown up in brush.