RF Connectors gold plated?

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Tried to download a couple of pictures of this board, but only see this one. Not very good with camera or download? Will try in the morning (sleep/coffee). These are large plug in type PCB'S (11 1/2" x 14") with gold fingers. They are loaded with IC's and for the most part, easy to remove (not soldered). Question: Grade of board? How many IC's should I remove? RF connectors gold plated? These came out of Medical Testing devices (Magnetic Imaging?) 1970's and early 80's. So far I have only removed the larger IC's that are ceramic and with gold pins. I have lots of these boards (150 Lbs. +), the one pictured is just one of many different types. Most have these RF connectors, all with gold fingers and same size. Would appreciate any recommendations and advice. Sorry about poor picture!

IC chips and transistors mixed are definitely old boards, connectors are gold, as are the fingers. Those are some very special boards, and you'll have a hard time getting the prices they likely deserve. If you're active on Ebay, and know how to best list these, that may be your best route, and as always on special items, I recommend the ten days format, and I'll emphasize again this is IF you know how to best list auctions in this way.
I'd also recommend leaving them relatively undisturbed (chips left on) until you find/know/learn the best way to proceed with them
If you do chose the auction route, I'd also suggest breaking it into 20-25 pound lots, maybe even smaller, like something that would comfortably fit into a medium flat rate box etc

About 40 or 50 years ago Radio Shack, as it was becoming well known apart from it's affiliation with Tandy, would advertise early circuit boards in a type of surplus "grab bag" format. They'd put photos in the ads of the boards in a bunch, as you'd see in Stamp or coin ads, and it was enough to make most of em drool over the thought of digging through them looking for "treasures". Kids in school then would love the opportunity to sort through those boards, looking for certain transistors etc to use in their little garage projects, building a radio or something. You could possibly do the very same with these with the same basic effect, if you're not too hasty in getting some pocket change

Even with that, you could still cut the fingers and RF connectors and sell those separately ; )

Bear thank you for your replies! I'm in no hurry with selling boards, as I want to know more about them. Found this equipment earlier in the year (June). One of the warehouses was vacated by a company that repaired electronic devices, not your normal consumer items. I was amazed at what they left behind, filled two 14' stake bed trucks. I had to reduce this pretty fast, as needed space in my shop. I did all metal first (steel, stainless, aluminum, copper, brass). I then did the wire, removing connectors, lugs, plugs and receptacles. This has already been my best scrap endeavor. Was paid to remove it for starters, and maybe $800 on metal/wire. I still have (4 out of 6) lens/emitter assemblies, minus the plastic shrouds. I have all of the boards, hardware, connectors, pins to still process. The company that built this equipment, was Ohio Nuclear Inc. They changed name of company to Technicare in the 70's. This company pioneered some of the first whole body scanners. Not sure but, I think these were some of the first CT scanners (Computer Aided Tomography) ever built. A lot of the boards appear to be prototypes, with others being production boards. I have removed all of the plastic locking clips (bottom right of picture). Did this for ease of storage, placed in boxes and shevled for now (wanted protected). Also already removed any "plug in type" (not soldered) device, that had gold pins. Did this wearing anti-static ground strap, sorted IC's for now by number of pins and package type. The transistor's you see in picture all have gold pins and have been removed as of last week. Don't think they are transistors, as they have 8 pins? In picture I removed one of them, you can see 8 socket mounting base. These sockets appear to be gold as do all IC chip mounts. So these boards have a lot of gold! I have 2 Lbs. (+) of the transistor "like" devices. There is about 8 to 10 Lbs. of gold pin IC DIPP's. All of these are ceramic, having white, purple, grey, brown and black colors. Some have gold caps, EPROM gold windows, and double gold bodies (16 pin CerDIP). I'm thinking there is more value to collectors vice gold processors! I have checked on Ebay under "vintage IC chip" (sold listings). Some of mine have been sold in the $30 to $50 range for each chip (40 and 32 pins). Others have been listed with high prices (Ridiculous $$$/my opinion) but not sold. I notice most have fixed starting price, not being auctioned, but buy or make offer. Going to have to research more, take it slow and read more postings on forum. Definitely know I have real value here no and hurry to sell. Will post more pictures as soon as I can, got to figure out what I'm doing wrong with downloads and camera (zoom focus should be better).

Here is some info on the 8 leg transistors, very likely that there is gold under the cap also. The refiners really like them,
Gold Refining Forum.com &bull; View topic - 3golden legs transistors

I had them mixed together in 1 Lb. bags, will have to resort them. Will put the ones with the gold ring under can together and those with just gold pins in another bag. Thank you mechanic, Gold Forum looks like those guys might be best place for these transistors. I had noticed the ring before, but after reading some post in Gold Forum going to take a better look! Opened up a box of boards and have already found something I didn't see before. Some of these transistors have a gold ring, but no gold pins (tin/guessing). Also now going to look closer at crystal oscillators, some of those have gold pins. Goes to show, have to look good & read more.

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Gold Forum looks like those guys might be best place for these transistors. I had noticed the ring before, but after reading some post in Gold Forum going to take a better look!

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Might be something Burt that you can find a good toll refiner and have them done on a split value. If you have enough transistors.
That's why I had been looking over the low grade boards, sometimes you can find a few gold legged ones there also.

If you still have any complete boards you might consider looking for a medical type museum for info/possible sale. "Might" possibly find some info on vintage computer forum. Sounds like some neat stuff

noblemetalworks would be good to ask about those boards, but I haven't seen him on SMF lately. I'm not sure if he has a thread in the buyers section or not

{Ohio Nuclear Inc. They changed name of company to Technicare in the 70's}
Nice writeup on the company on wiki

Technicare - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote {One characteristic of the people who worked at Technicare was that it was a fun place to work and filled with some very interesting and innovative people, who remember it to this day.}

Gotta love America, most people here hate their work & wouldn't do it if they didn't get paid for more than that they work for...

the old GP RF connectors will run 1.25-2g/Lb in gold. the spread is do to the way they are connected to the boards or wires.

Eric

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Two pictures first picture shows some of the female connectors I removed from coax wire. I connected one female plug into board (1st RF male top right). I will eventually take the male plugs apart, so it's just metal. I have all the pin removal tools left over from my days as a tech. This picture also shows one of the smaller boards (6 1/2" x 9"). There is 50+ of these boards. I'm not sure of the exact name of device, but there was six of them total. Plus spare boards, some were never used, still wrapped in bubble wrap! Bear I'm starting to regret take anything off, especially those new boards. Second picture is just a zoom of first picture (not very good one). You can see a little of coax left in female connector. Can also see where I removed transistor like device's (6 total) on this board. Board is called "SIGMA O N INTERFACE", has two sets of numbers that are under boards name. Those numbers are 609577 Rev. C and 802679 Rev.(). Still would like to know name of actual device. What I removed from warehouse was not complete units. I had monitors, cameras, computer mainframes and control consoles. Nothing with a device name, going to go look out in shop better in morning. Take some pictures of lens from camera, this thing is huge. I think lens must weigh 60 to 70 Lbs. Took only two of those apart so far, there is 37 vacuum tubes in a cast aluminum housing. Tubes are called a "Photon Multiplier Tube" and camera as a whole is called a "Gamma Scintillation Camera". That is if I'm right with research I have done so far (could be totally wrong).

the old GP RF connectors will run 1.25-2g/Lb in gold.

Eric is it your estimate after GP RE connectors are processed, removing wire, solder, dielectric and such? In other words processed so only GP metal is left. If so assuming refiner, refines to 24k gold, how much gold after refining? Are is it 1.25 - 2g per pound after refining? If it's the later and to 24k, at say 1.5g per pound, that's $62 worth. Will need more than 2 Lbs. for a meaningful transaction for refiner and self. Does anyone know what is a good working weight for refiners? What's acceptable minimum weight to refine? Has to be good for both refiner and scraper.

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Originally Posted by bigburtchino

the old GP RF connectors will run 1.25-2g/Lb in gold.

Eric is it your estimate after GP RE connectors are processed, removing wire, solder, dielectric and such? In other words processed so only GP metal is left. If so assuming refiner, refines to 24k gold, how much gold after refining? Are is it 1.25 - 2g per pound after refining? If it's the later and to 24k, at say 1.5g per pound, that's $62 worth. Will need more than 2 Lbs. for a meaningful transaction for refiner and self. Does anyone know what is a good working weight for refiners? What's acceptable minimum weight to refine? Has to be good for both refiner and scraper.

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This estament is on military, telecom, medical and old RF connectors not the connectors on the back of your VCR and such. Just to be clear.

The low estament was for dirty connectors and the higher end is for clean new connectors.

this is a pic of a forum members RF connectors I did and I got 1.55g per pound from them.

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Eric

Eric thanks for clarity and pictures. These are for sure medical high grade RF connectors. ITT Sealectro SMB military grade. Nice pictures! I definitely need a better camera.

Burt, I was quoted at 10lb of pins for a start, anything less was harder to reclaim a good percentage.

Thanks Mechanic that's what I wanted to know. A minimum in pounds for a refiner and self for a decent financial return for both! Now I'm assuming the better I process the material, makes for easier refining (no plastic, solder, wire just GP metal). Not sure if I would have 10 lbs. of RF connectors. Could have there are a lot of boards and a lot of RF connectors. Also have GP pins (male/female) from various other connectors that was attached to these machines. All of the base sockets on boards that the DIP's and TO-5's plugged into are GP as well. If I made the decision to start removing RF connectors, I might as well depopulate boards completely. I have easy 2 Lbs. of Gold Eproms and CERRDIP's going to try some of those on Ebay. If they don't produce will combine it all for refining. It's all good! need more of these problems.