EEVblog #874 - World's Oldest Electronics Hobbyist!

[EEVblog]

105yo Ted Wale still builds FM bugs in his lab, and carves his own PCB's (none of this etching rubbish!)
Dave caught up with him in his backyard workshop in Cabramatta in Sydney.

[M4trix]

This video kinda encourages me. I'm nearly 49 and I always had a feeling that I'm reaching my maximum in electronics. 

[pickle9000]

Well that literally brought a tear to my eye. Nice one Dave.

[rrinker]

I can only hope to make it to that age and still have a sharp mind. What an amazing life - the things he's seen.

[alexanderbrevig]

Faaaaaantastic! 

[SL4P]

I'm guessing no-one in his neighbourhood received VHF TV or FM radio...
But who cares - good on 'im !

[MK14]

WOW!
That is an amazing video.

The combination of living to 105 (almost 106+, by the sound of it, in August) AND knowing such accurate stuff about electronics, such as 555's, 386's, 741's, BC547's, etc etc. Is REALLY impressive, for such a long experienced person.

Almost 106, and he still climbs on his roof, and messes with Aerials on them!

So when he was born, even valves/tubes were in their infancy, and cars had not been around for that long.

He has an amazingly clear, recollection of electronics, at his age, wow!

I would LOVE to see the extended video, BUT ...

PROBLEM:
It seems to say "CLICK HERE for an extended video", towards the end of the video.
Time linked, here:
https://youtu.be/4cU7zCx_liM?t=1464

But the link, DOES NOT seem to be (currently) working. At least for me.

[calexanian]

We should all be so lucky to last that long and do what we love.

[Brumby]

Nice video.

I did like the "No such thing as a moving coil voltmeter" quip. 

[Porto]

Nice video with this old man, Dave!

Lives through WW1 and 2, has seen the evolution of automobiles, airplanes, television, analog to digital etc. and obviously as sharp as an 20 year old!

I wouldn't want to get to this age for the simple reason you experience all of your loved ones die and you keep surviving them... that would be too much for me.

GREAT RESPECT for this man! 

[AF6LJ]

That's very Cool. He has one of our local hams beat by three years.

[RobertoLG]

that is life refreshing   great video

[SNGLinks]

I hope I'm as good as that in 35 year's time!

[EEVblog]

I wouldn't want to get to this age for the simple reason you experience all of your loved ones die and you keep surviving them... that would be too much for me.

Sadly his son died the other week.

[minionkevin]

oh wow you found my grandpa's Australian twin. I remember i loved going and looking at all his stuff in the shed. thanx Dave you brought back good memories. i just wish i would have got all the stuff he made.

[Dave]

The man's mind is still incredibly sharp for that age. My grandma is 79 and she is nowhere near as sane as this guy. I think the old saying "use it or lose it" holds up pretty well here.

I would complain that you were interrupting him way too much, at least in the beginning of the video, but I know it wouldn't change anything, so I won't.

[mchamster]

I am totally impressed.

Anyone want to get in on a fund to get this man an Oscilloscope?

[RobertoLG]

oh wow you found my grandpa's Australian twin. I remember i loved going and looking at all his stuff in the shed. thanx Dave you brought back good memories. i just wish i would have got all the stuff he made.

he looks like my granpa a bit too, and showing his instruments like a pro, a true electronics person

[Dan Moos]

My favorite bit was him showing of his jars of "bits". Just yesterday my wife had said how funny it was that I collect all these "bits". I had to show her the video. She is pretty convinced she was seeing me in 50 years!

[ornea]

Plug packs, never have the right one.  He's got that right. (why i finally decided to order a DP831)

Great Video Dave. 

[engineer_in_shorts]

i hope when i am near that age i have the same taste in art work  O0

[Barny]

@mchamster:
I'm in.



Sad thing is that I found a old 20MHz oscilloscope in an dumster dive.
But the kid's didn't wanted it.
They didn't want i even for free.
This old man would put it in good use for sure.


The sad thing is that there is no link for the full version of this blog.

i hope when i am near that age i have the same taste in art work  O0

This reminds me in the old saying of my grand father:
God, you took my "being able too".
Please take my "waning to" too.  O0

[Fungus]

This video kinda encourages me. I'm nearly 49 and I always had a feeling that I'm reaching my maximum in electronics. 

I only started at 49, so... 

[StuUK]

I wouldn't want to get to this age for the simple reason you experience all of your loved ones die and you keep surviving them... that would be too much for me.

Sadly his son died the other week.

Yeah, not great outliving your kids. That's exactly what happened to my Grandad with my Dad dying at 65, my grandad was 98 and took it hard.

[Radio Tech]

Best video ever 
Simply amazing.

[deephaven]

Great video, many thanks for making it, Dave.

[kayvee]

Still really sharp for that number of years     Really inspirational.

Indeed, thanks Dave.

[ZeTeX]

I'm 15 now, I see him and he is so nice and good and I feel like a shit person for all of the things I done, while he is such a nice old guy.
but somebody should tell him that there are auto ranging digital multi meters out there, better then using analog meters every time

[Brumby]

I'm 15 now, I see him and he is so nice and good and I feel like a shit person for all of the things I done, while he is such a nice old guy.

That's part of growing up ... and your realisation means you've taken an important step along that path.   

but somebody should tell him that there are auto ranging digital multi meters out there, better then using analog meters every time

I'm sure they have ... and I will bet he has clearly informed them of his preference.  Another thing, for somebody used to analogue meters, seeing a set of digits jumping around could be disconcerting.  What he has does what he needs to do, so I'll be the last to push the idea of a DMM onto him.

[Herr R aus B]

How very nice! This guy moved to his place when I was 2 :-) And so far I considered myself being on the elderly side ;-) I enjoyed this a lot! :-)

[elex_enthusiast]

Pretty amazing how sharp his mind is at his age. Great video dave .. That is worth watching..

[nctnico]

First thought: great! no tubes! So there is still hope for people messing with 8 bit PICs   

More serious: I hope I'll be like him -with teeth though- until I die. Some day I'll probably retire but I don't see myself stopping with electronics out of free will.

[MK14]

I sometimes wonder, how interested/good, I will be in Electronics, as I get older. He has given me much hope, that I can continue, until I am 105/6, and maybe beyond. If I even live that long.

Apparently, he was born, just about bang on, when tungsten filament light bulbs, were first, invented.

In 1910, William David Coolidge (1873-1975) invented a tungsten filament which lasted even longer than the older filaments. The incandescent bulb revolutionized the world.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/edison/lightbulb.shtml

[hammy]

Excellent! What a great guy! 

 

[6581]

This is the kind of video why I keep coming back to Eevblog. Thank you so much Dave.

[edy]

Wonderful story that brought a smile to my face!    I hope that he gets more visitors from young hobbyists who can learn from his wealth of knowledge and history. I wonder if he is an "elmer". Sadly we see too many older folks being discarded as obsolete and irrelevant when they can contribute so much more to society past that age of retirement. As well, their active involvement and "busyness" after retirement often contributes directly to their health and drive to keeping living. Very touching video.... 

[fcb]

He's only 69 in hex.

[nixxon]

I wouldn't want to get to this age for the simple reason you experience all of your loved ones die and you keep surviving them... that would be too much for me.

Sadly his son died the other week.

That is sad. I hope his son at least was a grand grandpa in his 80's.

[SeanB]

Everybody does die, just as you get older you start noticing the rate increases. Seems like everybody I know is dying or dead, mostly of cancer. Centuries ago you dies of other things, like disease, injury, war or famine. Now there are cures for many diseases, there are antibiotics and the revolution of biological life causing illness, surgery and anesthesia along with blood transfusion and such for surgery, relatively good levels of peace leaving people to get older and live longer.

Sadly as you age those things that were once rare, dementias and cancer, seem to be on the rise.

[MobileWill]

This was great. I always wonder how I will be when I am older and if I will still being doing electronics. I can't image not working with them. This is great encouragement.

[mathsquid]

I'm 15 now, I see him and he is so nice and good and I feel like a shit person for all of the things I done...

Pretty much everyone feels that way about some things that they've done. Like Brumby said, it's part of growing up.  Don't beat yourself up. Just learn from your mistakes and forgive yourself.

[D3f1ant]

Nice pictures on his wall

What an amazing man, must be awesome seeing technology change over such a long lifetime.

[nctnico]

What an amazing man, must be awesome seeing technology change over such a long lifetime.

That reminds me of my grandfather (who was born later than the man in Dave's video BTW). He once noted that he drove around in the very old cars they had on display in a car museum. Same for steam powered locomotives.

[EPTech]

This man is my new idol! What a great guy. If I ever get to Australia (one of the destinations on my dream holiday list) I would go visit him and let him talk for hours. His enthousiasme is invigorating.

Also I wish to convey my condolences for the death of his son. Must have been tough on him being so sharp and fully aware of that.

Great video Dave. Brought me a lot of joy. thanks. 

[jancumps]

There's hope for my kids. My dad, now 73, is an electronics engineer.
He passed the microbe to my brother and me.

This was a great episode. Thanks.

[jnissen]

Great Video. An inspiration for sure. I know you likely got as much of a kick seeing his stuff as he did showing you! Perhaps you can volunteer to climb the roof for him to adjust the antenna in the future!

[digsys]

A follow up that would be awesome - bring him back to EEVblog labs and let him loose !!!!

[Brumby]

A follow up that would be awesome - bring him back to EEVblog labs and let him loose !!!!

Part of me is intrigued as to what his reaction would be to some modern kit.  Although another part of me would not want to make him uncomfortable.

I wonder, too, if he has an opinion about being a Youtube/internet star?

[pickle9000]

I bet he would love a frequency counter.

[M4trix]

Although another part of me would not want to make him uncomfortable.

+1

Good point. 

[bills]

Although another part of me would not want to make him uncomfortable.

+1

Good point. 

+2
I think Dave handled that part very well.
Although it would be interesting.

[cdev]

I really do think we should give him some basic, modern equipment. Nothing fancy, but we really must do this. A basic multimeter and frequency counter (my UT61e has a basic freq counter in it) and a basic used scope. Why not? if so, I'm in for $20 towards this, hows that.

This is a good example, of how electronics brings joy to people everywhere and keeps the mind sharp.

[Brumby]

I really do think we should give him some basic, modern equipment. Nothing fancy, but we really must do this. A basic multimeter and frequency counter (my UT61e has a basic freq counter in it) and a basic used scope. Why not? if so, I'm in for $20 towards this, hows that.

This is a good example, of how electronics brings joy to people everywhere and keeps the mind sharp.

I admire the sentiment and would not be against the idea at all - but I wonder how it might be received?

[RobertoLG]

that would be a real nice gesture guys   

[cdev]

More on Ted Wale- Awwwwww!
He's an artist-

Passion for art keeps 104 year-old Cabramatta artist Ted Wale young

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/south-west/passion-for-art-keeps-104-yearold-cabramatta-artist-ted-wale-young/news-story/3344971c8ec2cee4ccf3b2552ee0ad46


He was honored recently by his community:


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/news/centenarian-ted-wale-leads-the-australia-day-honours-after-being-named-fairfields-citizen-of-the-year/news-story/a476555f26b20dd82d61de0fa7a3c01d


he's a trade unionist and he's the oldest member of the Labor party,


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/south-west/cabramattas-ted-wale-the-oldest-labor-member/news-story/2749e036896d8147ba371de28f69d301


he's got a great smile!


 So, this is the secret to living a long life, stay active in projects..

[pickle9000]

So I would give the guy this.

From one Electronics Hobbyist to another, Grettings from Canada.

Maybe Dave could print out this thread and take it to him with greetings from all over the world.

[RobertoLG]

So I would give the guy this.

From one Electronics Hobbyist to another, Grettings from Canada.

Maybe Dave could print out this thread and take it to him with greetings from all over the world.

that sounds like nice idea, I send greetings from brazil 

[German_EE]

I also like the idea of Ted visiting the EEV Blog lab, maybe invite Doug Ford along as well because there's not much difference between a bug and a wireless microphone. As for replacing his analog meters with digital, maybe not, analog gear has served him well over the years and maybe it's too late to change.

One more thing, Ted would have been about 1 year old when RMS Titanic set off on her maiden voyage so this moment in history would probably not be remembered. He will however have a lifetime of other stories.

[6581]

I really do think we should give him some basic, modern equipment. Nothing fancy, but we really must do this. A basic multimeter and frequency counter (my UT61e has a basic freq counter in it) and a basic used scope. Why not? if so, I'm in for $20 towards this, hows that.

And/or The Art of Electronics 3rd edition?

[chris_leyson]

What a wonderful man, thanks Dave great video it brought a tear to the eye and it made my day. Thanks Ted 

[photon]

He seemed proud of the fact that he makes and uses his own charcoal for drawing. Now that is old! AFAIK charcoal and inks made with it go back to the 23rd century BC in China. AFAIK, the first written word was made using it on a bamboo paper in China.

[joeqsmith]

Enjoyed it.  Thanks.

[switcher]

Respect. This guy has seen it all, and done it all, before any of us were born.

Proof positive, that you don't need a Fluke 87V, and five grands worth of brand-new test equipment.

There's no substitute for experience.

[amyk]

Living proof that lead is not as poisonous as the RoHS crowd make it seem.

[Fungus]

Living proof that lead is not as poisonous as the RoHS crowd make it seem.

Nor the fumes from soldering flux.

[nctnico]

Living proof that lead is not as poisonous as the RoHS crowd make it seem.

Actually lead free is about lead not ending up in land fills. During soldering none of the lead gets into the atmosphere! Melting isn't boiling.

[apis]

RoHS limits the use of mercury, cadmium lead and hexavalent chromium (and a few other chemicals like brominated flame retardant) to prevent them from accumulating in landfills and leaking out into the rest of the environment.

[fvdpol]

+1 for donating some test equipment. Looking at the current multi meters and power supply I think this should not be some (even basic) digital scope, but a really basic  cro. None of that digital rubbish :-). (Well, maybe a freq. counter would fit... albeit digital al least without a microprocessor)

[Dave]

While I admire your intentions, do you guys honestly think this guy wants to learn how to use modern day test equipment?

[digsys]

... do you guys honestly think this guy wants to learn how to use modern day test equipment? ...

You obviously haven't been a male for very long. 99% of the males here collect things for the sake of it, you can NEVER collect too much.
Like the old addage goes .. *he who collects the most stuff before he dies .. WINS  :-)

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

Yes I would like to see what he makes of a digital scope, probe around his FM Bugs, tweak the coils see what he makes of any changes.

[nolefan]

Love seeing this. So inspiring. Doing what he loves even at that age. Thanks Dave!

[tindel]

@EEVBlog

I've thrashed you on a couple videos lately for how awful they've been - so... Gotta give credit this is one of the coolest videos you've made.  105!  WOW!  I hope I'm so lucky!

[EEVblog]

I've thrashed you on a couple videos lately for how awful they've been

OK, dare I ask why they were awful?
Were they actually badly produced? or you simply didn't like the topics?

[tindel]

I've thrashed you on a couple videos lately for how awful they've been

OK, dare I ask why they were awful?
Were they actually badly produced? or you simply didn't like the topics?

The one where you bitched about the Pickit2 for almost an hour comes to mind - #841 - awful.  I recall pointing that out on the forum as well... I thought I was maybe a bit harsh - but it was a low point for sure.

This one was great though.  Who doesn't like hanging out with an old codger with a a bunch of handmade soft-core porn on the walls while he tells you all about his FM transmitters?   

[EEVblog]

The one where you bitched about the Pickit2 for almost an hour comes to mind - #841 - awful.  I recall pointing that out on the forum as well... I thought I was maybe a bit harsh - but it was a low point for sure.

So your example is one video?
That video was a real time experience I had with the product. I do videos like that occasionally. You don't have to like the format, that's fine, but please don't trash them as "awful" just because you don't like the format or the result of a real experience. Other people do like that format.
It's not like I deliberately made that video to show how crap Microchip are or something like that, I was doing ironically what this blog was originally intended to do and that is to blog my experience with something. The way things happened in that video is just how they happened in real life as I was debugging a product.

[Brumby]

On the PickKit2 video, I felt Dave was pretty open and honest about his experience - and one that I'm sure many, if not all, of us have encountered at least once.

Yes, he had frustrations.  Yes, he had a dummy spit or two - but anyone watching who didn't have any advanced knowledge of the PickKit2 (such as myself) could understand the battle.  You might also recall that when Dave found out the 'secret' that he was quite open in sharing that.

Software version compatibility issues, such as he experienced, are a last century subject.  We really shouldn't expect this sort of thing in a modern day bit of kit.  So when these things do raise their ugly head, you get the same reaction as Dave ... He just had the pluck to publish it - whereas I would just sit quietly and reflect upon my experience in the safety of my solitude.

[tindel]

The one where you bitched about the Pickit2 for almost an hour comes to mind - #841 - awful.  I recall pointing that out on the forum as well... I thought I was maybe a bit harsh - but it was a low point for sure.

So your example is one video?
That video was a real time experience I had with the product. I do videos like that occasionally. You don't have to like the format, that's fine, but please don't trash them as "awful" just because you don't like the format or the result of a real experience. Other people do like that format.
It's not like I deliberately made that video to show how crap Microchip are or something like that, I was doing ironically what this blog was originally intended to do and that is to blog my experience with something. The way things happened in that video is just how they happened in real life as I was debugging a product.

Jesus Christ... I come here to post something good and we get off onto something bad.     Whatever - Ted rocks, microchip continues to suck - I tried to be nice and bring some stoke and was denied - again... on with my life.   

[EEVblog]

Jesus Christ... I come here to post something good and we get off onto something bad.    

You bought it up 

I tried to be nice

You bought up that my videos were awful. That's not being nice, it's taking an off-topic cheap shot, and you are surprised when you get called on it and the thread sidetracked? 

[bills]

Has any thought been given to give this awesome guy some later test gear?
Or  is well enough well enough.
Thanks Dave I hope at that age I am still going at it ( if I reach that age )
bill

[Brumby]

I am in two minds about offering him any test gear.

He is obviously very well aware of the fundamentals of the moving coil meter and has several examples of some really old school kit - and it works for him.  Giving him something could send a message that might be taken as a put-down on the gear he has known and used successfully for decades.  It might also be something so confusing or difficult to drive that he just wouldn't use it.

If it were up to me to organise a bit of kit to present to him - I'd ask him what he might like and take it from there...

[MickF]

Dave, I think you are right, modern test gear would not be wise, what about a tour through the Lab, you maybe able to arrange a community group to assist.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[EEVblog]

Sad news, Ted passed away last week, aged 107

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/tribute-for-australias-3rd-oldest-man-and-true-local-legend-ted-wale-107-following-his-death/news-story/5343c7969343fd54bc60d80e7ca346f0

[eln]

RIP