TV show looking for an Oscilloscope expert in the NY area

[jdm1923]

Hello all -

I am a producer on the TV show Storage Wars NY. The show follows buyers around as they purchase storage units and excavate the contents. We usually walk away with one interesting item that we take to an appraisal at the end of the show.

We recently found a Tektronix 465 oscilloscope in a unit and we are looking for an expert in the NY area to speak about the item for an appraisal segment. If anyone is interested in participating (or knows of someone who might be a good fit) please let me know. We would be looking to shoot some time in the next two weeks.

Thanks for reviewing this request.

All the best,
Jared Moshé
Producer
Storage Wars NY

[Excavatoree]

Limor Fried, of Adafruit industries.  She's in New York, is well spoken, and would be a great appraiser/expert for the show. (IMHO)



EDIT:  She has a masters degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT, and has that "touch of eccentricity" that many people involved with the "storage wars" franchise seem to have.   She owns her own business, making educational electronics, and is heavily involved in electronic education for kids.

[JonnyBoats]

A great please to find Tektronix experts is TekScopes on Yahoo Groups. I just crossposted your message there at: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/TekScopes/message/97289

[c4757p]

Limor Fried, of Adafruit industries.

Hate to volunteer other people for things, but yep, I can't argue with that suggestion!

[Corporate666]

Limor Fried, of Adafruit industries.

Hate to volunteer other people for things, but yep, I can't argue with that suggestion!

+1... bullseye with that suggestion!

[AdShea]

He's a bit farther away (Boston), but Kent Lundberg https://plus.google.com/105152129158930251272/posts who runs the Reading Jim Williams http://readingjimwilliams.blogspot.com/ blog might be a good thought as well as he knows all about the old 3-digit Tek stuff.

[TerminalJack505]

Well, if we're volunteering other people then how about Alan Wolke (W2AEW)? 

I think he lives in New Jersey.

[c4757p]

You people have a funny definition of "NY area"...

[cthree]

Limor Fried, of Adafruit industries.

+1 here too. Perfect choice, media savvy, she would audition well.

[timb]

I saw the post title and immediately thought, "Storage Wars."

Nthing the recommendation for Ms. Limor from Adafruit!

[EEVblog]

Well, if we're volunteering other people then how about Alan Wolke (W2AEW)? 
I think he lives in New Jersey.

Yes Alan Wolke W2AEW would be perfect.
He not only works for Tek but has a passion for old analog scopes.
Yes, Limor would be funkier on camera (no offense Alan!  ), but not sure how much she knows about the vintage analog scope market?
But I guess they are likely after a 10 second sound bite anyway.
Both would be equally well spoken.


There is a Tek scope museum, but they are in Portland Oregan

[AG6QR]

Well, if we're volunteering other people then how about Alan Wolke (W2AEW)? 

Agreed.  He jumped to my mind, as well.  If I had a question about an old analog Tek scope, I can't think of anyone better suited to answer it, and he has demonstrated that he enjoys sharing his depth of knowledge.

I can't say anything bad about any of the people mentioned here, as they're all very knowledgable and generous with their knowledge, but few others seem to be as expert in the specialized area of vintage analog scopes.

OTOH, a mass market show probably won't get too deep into technical details.  Availability, willingness, and other non-technical things will certainly play into the producers' choice.  And face it, though I'm unlikely to catch the show, if I do, I might be squinting at the rack of glowing test gear in the background more than the person doing the talking...

[smashedProton]

Well, if we're volunteering other people then how about Alan Wolke (W2AEW)? 

I think he lives in New Jersey.

Yes, I would vote for him.  He is definitely a guru on old scopes.  Especially Tektronix ones.

[cthree]

Establishing value is not a problem. 20 seconds on eBay and you have it: $100 +- 50%. I think they want to make a show of it. Alan is definitely an expert but he's not in NYC.

[vk6zgo]

If it's a TV show,there are probably half a dozen Techs a few paces away who can tell you all about it.

TV Production people are great at overlooking their own Engineering people & getting some half-arsed "expert" to give an opinion on something.
I used to work for a TV Network,& one of the common "coffee break" subjects was how they got it wrong again!

That said,if they have to go to an outside person,I also vote for Alan W2AEW.

[vk6zgo]

Establishing value is not a problem. 20 seconds on eBay and you have it: $100 +- 50%. I think they want to make a show of it. Alan is definitely an expert but he's not in NYC.

Are they that immobile that they can't  go a few kilometres outside the "Big Apple"?
Aussie TV Stations & Production companies would do that before lunch,any time!

[IanB]

I have nothing to add to the earlier suggestions, but I can't also help commenting on the concise and complete subject title. It gives every relevant bit of information with nothing wasted and nothing missing. It sure beats the classic "Please help me with a problem" subject titles often encountered from first time posters... 

[EEVblog]

Establishing value is not a problem. 20 seconds on eBay and you have it: $100 +- 50%. I think they want to make a show of it. Alan is definitely an expert but he's not in NYC.

Yes, of course, that's television, you can get anyone to give an opinion and appear to be an expert on anything. It's usually a matter of who looks and presents the best, and what angle they are after. And of course close, they don't want to muck around for a 30 second clip, they have dozens of those to film for one episode.
So yes, someone like Limor would nail that and pull it off nicely of course, but from a purist point of view I'd like to see someone who is actually an expert in that niche field of old scopes.

[EEVblog]

Are they that immobile that they can't  go a few kilometres outside the "Big Apple"?

Wouldn't surprise me if Tek would send him to NY just to shoot it!

[TimNJ]

Establishing value is not a problem. 20 seconds on eBay and you have it: $100 +- 50%. I think they want to make a show of it. Alan is definitely an expert but he's not in NYC.

Are they that immobile that they can't  go a few kilometres outside the "Big Apple"?
Aussie TV Stations & Production companies would do that before lunch,any time!

Alan lives about 30 minutes from me in NJ, and I live about 15 minutes from the city. I don't think that would be too much of a bother for him.

[w2aew]

Well, if we're volunteering other people then how about Alan Wolke (W2AEW)? 
I think he lives in New Jersey.

Yes Alan Wolke W2AEW would be perfect.
He not only works for Tek but has a passion for old analog scopes.
Yes, Limor would be funkier on camera (no offense Alan!  ), but not sure how much she knows about the vintage analog scope market?
But I guess they are likely after a 10 second sound bite anyway.
Both would be equally well spoken.


There is a Tek scope museum, but they are in Portland Oregan

Thanks for the votes of confidence guys!  I agree that Limor would look a lot better on camera than me, but I'd be happy to talk about it with them.  I'm less than an hour from NYC - so that's not a problem at all.  I did get a an email from the producer, so we'll see what happens...

Alan

[Bored@Work]

If they ask you to shave your legs prior to shooting you know something is wrong.

[nctnico]

A youtube link to the resulting clip would be nice. My wife watches storage wars and sometimes they find interesting things but I can't cope with the endless amount of commercials...

[timb]

*Casts Level 12 Raise Dead on Thread*

So whatever happened with this? Did you end up doing it Alan? Has anyone seen it on the show? (I haven't been up on this season.*