1966 Alemite Strobe Light wheel balancer.

The main electronic control unit, the ECU, reflects the Sputnik era of its origin. In fact, the underside of the circuit board records the design date – 1957. This particular example was manufactured in 1966, as recorded on the circuit board face – “Inspected Jan 12, ’66”

The first and most obvious indication of what’s ahead is a visibly failed monster capacitor – split on it’s side who knows how long ago and empty of its electrolyte. The several other capacitors are visibly intact, but will be replaced.

I tested several resistors and found most to be out of spec by at least their tolerance margin of 10%. Several were way out and some exhibited a visible drift, even as the multimeter leads were attached – the experience being not entirely unlike an exercise in measuring the quantum values with the observed object variability a direct result of being observed. You can read you some Feinman for a better explain.

In any event, age, current cycling, moisture absorption and material decomposition degraded most of the resistors with the exception of one – an Ohmite “Brown Devil” a 500Ω resistor which remained perfectly in spec for nearly 60 years! This premium line is still available, evidently for good reason.