Sherwood (DRACO) Micro/CPU 100 - Pristine - Everything Works *Tested in Video*

Description

Pristine museum quality condition. Works and sounds Great. Tested in video. "the world's first computer controlled tuner"
Sherwood (DRACO) Micro/CPU 100 - Pristine - Everything Works *Tested in Video*
Sherwood (DRACO) Micro/CPU 100 - Pristine - Everything Works *Tested in Video*
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Description
Sherwood (DRACO) Micro/CPU 100 Tuner
"the world's first computer controlled tuner"
Pristine Condition; Inside & Out
Everything works. Needs a new battery for the memory. Batteries are readily available. Can be seen at Hickok Meters at a discount.
The demo in the video will give you more information
Tested in Video Below:
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Here is the complete review from the "Tuner Information Center":
Sherwood Micro/CPU 100
(1977, ,000)
The FM-only Micro/CPU 100 was designed by Larry Schotz of noise-reduction circuit fame and manufactured for Sherwood by Draco Laboratories, which also sold it for awhile under their own name after a dispute with Sherwood. Under either name, "the world's first computer controlled tuner" is a unique, powerful 30-pound beast with excellent sensitivity and very good quieting on weak stereo signals. The Micro/CPU 100 has the varactor equivalent of 6 gangs with an analog-style tuning knob and digital LED frequency readout, similar to the McIntosh MR 80, and 4 station presets. Hidden behind a front-panel door are switches for de-emphasis and the two IF bandwidth settings, among other things, and variable muting and output level knobs. The Micro/CPU 100 is programmable to automatically display station call letters in an alphanumeric readout for each frequency. The circuit board has slots for 5 ceramic filters, but in our panelist Eric's unit one of the slots was empty (and soldered closed) and appeared to have never contained a filter. Because this unit was previously "repaired" in a questionable manner, however, we can't be sure whether its performance is typical of all Micro/CPUs. Alternate channel selectivity is good, and the overall sound of the tuner is well above average, but adjacent channel selectivity is poor (perhaps that omitted filter would have come in handy).
Our contributor Bill says, "I completely rebuilt the power supply on a Micro/CPU 100. I modded the battery backup by eliminating the outdated and defective charging circuitry and simply installed a 3-cell battery box on the rear panel. I replaced all the electrolytics and several tantalum capacitors. After all that, it played and then the digital readout went intermittent. After 24 hours of labor, I gave up. That said, the rest of the unit works great and it remains one of the best, clearest, most sensitive tuners I've ever heard. The varactor-based tuning works like gangbusters, but circuitry-wise they are fragile." Bill also notes that the outdated digital tuning circuitry and "prototype-like board layout" make the tuner difficult to work on.
Stereo Review's breathless review of the tuner may have been the source of Sherwood's claim that this behemoth was "routinely viewed as the world's finest FM tuner." Brent Hilpert's website has an incredibly detailed page on the Micro/CPU 100, with a ton of good-quality photos, and plenty more interesting stuff on early digital electronics. The Micro/CPU 100 is very rare and only shows up on eBay a couple of times a year. It can sell for 0-625 in good condition, or as low as 0-300 in lesser condition or with an operating problem.
Our contributor Jay offers this background info: "Sherwood and Draco never published manuals, but there are some board diagrams in circulation which were the originals from Sherwood or Draco. You can try Rick at Allegro Sounds and there is another guy in Chicago - can't think of his name right now, but he's a Sherwood authorized repair center. Both claim to have them. At one point I thought I had convinced the Chicago guy to allow a preferred audio repair guy to get copies of boards as needed, but then he balked. The following was reported to me by a former Draco tech, John Friese (sp?), who maintained a repair shop in the Santa Barbara, California area, and was an authorized Sherwood/Draco repair facility. John has since retired and could never locate his copies of the board diagrams after he sold the business. John always claimed that the better versions of this unit were the best-sounding units he ever heard, even preferring them to his Marantz 10B and 20B. Sherwood and Draco had business issues and, as part of the settlement, Draco got the tuners and technology. John and a partner (Dick Glydewell (sp?)) bought out the leftover stock of parts, supplies and units, after Draco sold off what they wanted (having dropped the price from ,000 to ,000) and these guys were the licensed repair facility for Draco.
"There were three iterations of the design. The first iteration of the units had the name 'Sherwood' on it. The two later iterations were Draco and you can almost see where the 'Sherwood' name was simply brushed out. Per John, the Sherwood version was problematic, particularly with some of the boards. He certainly knew from memory where everything was on the inside of these units. At one time I had three of these and he could tell me pretty much the location and color of most of the bigger 'cans' and boards, etc. Later versions were superior (though I have seen and heard threads where others differ on this) and less problematic. I have found that to be true. The two later versions, per John, were similar in quality and sound, and certainly more problem-free except for battery leakage issues."
Will be packed in a 22x18x12" box weighing 34 pounds 10 ounces
Several options available for shipping so choose the best one for your location.
Payment
Please contact us in advance of any delayed payment so arrangements can be made. If payment is not made in a timely manner the sale may be cancelled. If for any reason the payment is not made within 8 hours, the sale will be canceled unless you contact us in advance of the sale, and an agreement is reached. If you make an offer and it is accepted payment is expected within 4 hours unless a previous arrangement was agreed to.
Shipping
Shipping
There are no hidden charges for handling or materials. You will pay the actual shipping rate per shipper shipped from zip code 86332. We usually only use new materials with shipping, but will use recycled materials in some instances, e.g. when a large or odd size box is needed to pack the item and we have a good used one on hand. The price of boxes has risen dramatically in the last two years and a large odd size box can cost over .00 apiece. We also use new bubble wrap, packing peanuts, etc..., but we try to use recycled materials when appropriate to fill voids in the box.  We do not charge for handling or materials, but that not mean we are going to ship your purchased item in substandard materials. 90% of the items we ship are in a new box and with new packing materials and all items are shipped with no hidden fees for materials or handling.
Terms of Sale
Return Policy
This Draco micro/cpu 100
is sold as is in the same condition that you see and hear in the demo video and no guarantees or warranty of any kind. As with any vintage electronic item something could go bad at any time which is the nature with vintage electronics, as well with any electronics, thus there in an inherent risk the buyer accepts in making a purchase and the item cannot be returned. We cannot guarantee anything other than what we know at the time of sale which is it is working as shown in the demo video. Nothing else is included in the sale that may appear in the testing of this unit. Only the
Draco Micro/CPU 100
is being sold with nothing else seen in the video unless mentioned as included. This unit is all original with nothing replaced or upgraded. Holographic Security Stickers will be applied on the top and bottom covers unless you contact me in advance and request that no security stickers be used and that will be contigent upon on whether or not an agreement can be made.
We are not unreasonable and this policy is simply for the few that abuse the system. This policy is not meant to deter you from buying this, but to deter the few that forced us to write it and will be enforced if need be.
Be assured that I am the only one testing, taking pictures of the item, and know where this item came from. I do not rely on anyone else to provide me with any testing, or other information with regards to items we are selling. I test the item and take pictures of relevant information which is included in the description. If for any reason this is returned there will be a 20% reclamation charge and you will be responsible to pay for return shipping with no exceptions. It is up to you to know if this will work for your application and we do not sell items just to be tested out to see if you like them. We cannot afford, or be held responsible, to ship items exactly how described and pictured around the world, then have it returned for no fault of ours, then have to pay for return shipping on top of the cost of handling & materials used in shipping that are supplied at no cost.
If you have a problem with an item and it is legitimate, just contact us for a resolution. We are legitimate and more than happy to work with legitimate buyers when an unforeseen problem arises, but we are against being scammed.
Additional International Return Policy & Shipping
we are not unreasonable and this policy is simply for the few that abuse the system. This policy is not meant to deter you from buying this, but to deter the few that forced us to write it and will be enforced.
There is under no circumstance returns for any reason.
If you do not like this policy do not buy this item. If an international buyer forces a return, the buyer will be responsible to pay for return shipping and a 25% reclamation fee and return shipping. This policy is not negotiable and if you disagree with such a stern policy do not buy this item. If an international buyer fails to pay duty fees, vat fees, or any other customs fees, and the item is returned there is still NO REFUND. We are not responsible for international buyers? failure to pay fees, then have the item/s taking an unnecessary trip in return shipping when items often get damaged.
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