Bike electronic accessory? What is this?
 

Hi, can anyone help me identify this? It looks to be home made. Thanks
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...585dd7ba59.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7c132385cc.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...926b6abac7.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5cb04a3f0d.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...20ad9cf936.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...af7a6fc0f4.jpg

Old school wire wrapping. Homemade could be anything.

It might be a vintage electronic pacing or tracking accessory from the 70s, likely designed for use with a stationary bike, treadmill, or possibly even a vehicle. The branding “PM” and the labeled buttons like “MILES,” “SPEED,” “TRIP,” “SLOW,” “FAST,” and “CLEAR”, suggest it was used to monitor or simulate distance and speed, possibly for training or exercise purposes. P stood for Pacer, and M was either Module or Monitor.

On the rear of the box there might be another label that is marked PM100 or maybe PM1

Hi, here is some additional information on the unknown electronic item - Yes, it was used to monitor distance and speed. The P did not stand for Pacer and the M did not stand for Module or Monitor. There is no label on the rear of the box. I see that you are from North East Indiana. This item came from north central Indiana (northwest of Indianapolis). Lets keep this conversation going.

What did the P and M stand for, you left us all hanging off a cliff!

ok, it is confession time. Since there is very little conversation going on with my post, I doubt that there will be much more. So, I know exactly what this item is. I was just hoping to start a conversation about it to see if anyone else would bite. I am sorry if I ticked anyone off. I did not intend too. I just wanted to see if anyone would recognize it 46 years later. Anyway, when I was an Electrical Engineering Technology student at Purdue University in 1979 and 1980, I designed (from scratch) and built this bicycle computer as my Junior/Senior design project. I still have all my original design notes, schematics, and some spare parts. Everyone in the class had to design and build (with supervision from the faculty) a project in order to graduate. It also had to work (mostly). So the P and M are my first and last initials. I used the computer on a fair number of rides until such time as other companies (Avocet, Cateye, etc) came out with much less bulkier items. I road tested it on the 1980 TOSRV bike ride in Ohio. Attached is a photo of one of my dormitory mates testing the unit on an indoor set of rollers in my Purdue University dormitory room (Harrison Hall).https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...73c0ad67b1.jpg

I was not angry whatsoever; I just wanted to know what PM stood for!

That was quite a complicated device you built back then, amazing. Did you pursue a career in the electronics industry?

Why yes, thanks for asking. I went on to be a Senior Radar systems test engineer at Emerson Electric company in St. Louis. Then I worked for Honeywell Military Avionics division in St. Louis, and then as a Senior test Engineer and instructor at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company in St. Louis. After that ended in 1991 due to the end of the cold war and massive layoffs nationwide, I changed my career and opened my own bicycle shop (for 34 years - Recycled Cycles & Service (Quality Bicycle / Bike Repairs: Recycled Cycles & Service - St. Louis)) in St. Louis. I am now retired and am a volunteer at a local bicycle ministry where I am a bike mechanic and instructor. My bike shop is still open but only on a limited basis. I am finally getting to some bicycle projects that I have put off for almost 30 years. I hope that you are doing well and again, thanks for asking.
Paul - Owner, Recycled Cycles & Service

VERY NICE!!! Thanks for sharing.

If I wasn't (and I wasn't) annoyed by the 20 questions style of o.p. Unless ticking people off was the intent?? I am annoyed now by the coy reveal. WTH? Why should anyone recognize a one off class project except it's designer/fabricator? It's like 46 years later, o.p. is still as socially clumsy as they were back in Engineering School. This could have gone so differently. A life well lived is impressive only to a point. Billions do it. Next time you feel the need to share, do it like a mature person without all the intrigue.

And spegler nailed it in post #2. ("Homemade could be anything.")