Fixing Mr Dengon
This is a video that in hindsight is just a bit too simple. I've had it in my pending queue for a couple of weeks and I'm still not sure whether to release it. Of course everyone here gets an opportunity to see it.
UPDATE It seems like its better than I remembered. As a result of your positive feedback I’ll be making it public on Monday.
Comments (69)
Oops.. I somehow missed this until today. This was pretty neat. I am curious about one thing. Once you record a message, how do you make sure it is in the right position for somebody to come home and listen to the message? Do you just have to make sure you keep it recording for about 60 seconds? Or is there some sort of metal stripe on the tape that lets it know when it has completed a circle?
Yes, you’d think there would have been something like that - but it’s disappointingly unsophisticated, just a continuous 60 second loop of tape with no sensor strip. So best to record messages with a stopwatch in one hand.
I don't trust that Mr Dengon not to run off with Mr Potato Head and the contents of the christmas savings jar.
Oh I get it... you write names on the cards so that when Mr. Dengon is holding it, he's signifying for whom the bell tolls... er... the message belongs.
I liked the 'Evil Eyes' zoom in at the end!!
As always, a splendid video. (And a brutal break-up message to boot…)
There are two kinds of people in this world: those that watch tech videos to learn what to buy next, and those who like to know how things used to work. I am both. :) This video is an example of the latter. And, by the way, the last recorded message is pure dead brilliant. (fist waving in the air) Take that, late 80s!
This reminded me of the executive desk toy you reviewed ages ago, which was one of your first videos I saw. I quite enjoyed this. Glad you released it publicly.
Fun little device, but the red eyes are a little sinister.
They are. I’m glad that came across. It’s not unlike HAL.
I for one am a big fan of cheese...keep ‘me coming please
Clear sound and vision, up tempo, story that ends well, with plenty of information. Not a simple thing to make at all and youtubers should be happy to get something floating high above the average.
As good as any of your other content :)
last time i checked
Maybe in Japan, abandoned people receive a "Dear Dengon Letter". Great video as always.
Seems like a classic Techmoan video to me. Obscure old technology, some interesting yet simple maintenance and ending with some classic Mat humour! Definitely would have been something I'd have enjoyed a lot on your youtube feed after a hard day at work. Also remember the days when 10 minute youtube videos were all that was allowed for most creators and were considered long
I was looking back at my older videos and I feel like I should try to condense the current ones a bit. Snappier seems better.
Worth it! At minimum because it adds another recording format to your Life List. I'd love to see an image of all of the formats you've encountered in one image, in correct relative scale. I'd buy that as a print in a heartbeat.
I really do need to think more about coming up with some original ‘merch’. That’s sparked a couple of ideas, thanks.
You should post this. Not every video needs to be complex and cover "important" tech. As it stands, it shows something that very few of us knew existed and yet another tape format. Sometimes, you are too hard on yourself. This is a well filmed and narrated video that I found interesting.
Fun little Tech Melt. I’d suggest posting it with a title/intro/description that indicates it’s a Tech Melt, “fun little video look at something you never knew about before”. If nothing else you’ll find out if people respond to the Tech Melt idea — 5-10 minute videos made fairly quickly about obscure tech. I’d definitely watch them, particularly when they include a look inside/at how it works :-) Ewen
Mr. Dengon seems nice, but I would not want to get on his bad side. I am a little intimidated by Mr. Dengon.
Dont alway assume the capacitors are dead - certainly should be ok from that era, well before the 'dodgy electrolyte' saga!! Enjoyed the video too, you should release it Mat, go on, you know you want too!!
Post it! It's fun, about something you probably never knew existed and should get plenty of views as they'll be few videos on it (if any) The end joke will leave people smiling too! I honestly don't think anyone expects much else from a video on a toy. At least we now know what inspired Ike Broflowski on "South Park" now :-p <a href="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/southpark/images/f/f5/Ike_2.png/revision/latest?cb=20160402113234" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/southpark/images/f/f5/Ike_2.png/revision/latest?cb=20160402113234</a>
Nice video :) But again, please don't always assume that old capacitors are dead. In my experience, most often they are perfectly OK, then sometimes you come across one particular make where all of them are dead. It all depends on the quality of the manufacture, how pure the chemicals used were and how well the capacitors are sealed, among other things. Many cheapish Japanese capacitors are fine, whereas I recently got a Lenco L85 turntable where most of the electrolytics on the circuit board were completely dead.
I wouldn't have known this was a thing if I hadn't seen your video and I'm glad I did. Like all of the other commenters, perhaps label it differently. I think things like this don't really need a full-length video. Labeling it differently (and maybe using an overlay on the thumbnail) would set (most people's) expectations up front. The Youtube channel I Like to Make Stuff does this and it seems to work well for him.
That was interesting to me. And surely this is a valuable service in memorializing a toy that surely there must be only a few examples remaining. Agree with the other posters you could use the techmoan-shorts or techbits or something to brand these. I don’t care, but maybe it would help with the more casual YouTube audience.
I love these short and sweet episodes as well as the longer more involved ones. Don't worry that you're not giving us value for money. It's the interesting tech that we love to see!
I can envision Mr. Dengon playing back your message as a clue in a murder mystery ... or perhaps bursting into flame during an Mission: Impossible intro. A really cute device, and we thank you for restoring and sharing it!
I think it's great, too. I'd like to see it posted on the main page :)
Go for it, Mat. It's a nice little video. Kept me entertained, anyway! :)
ミスターでんごんはかわいい
This was great! I particularly enjoyed the morbid message coupled with the slow zoom of the sinister red glowing eyes. Well done!! I love that you stumbled upon another unique format during this as well. Thanks Mat
As always, a fascinating look at a piece of audio technology ephemera. I enjoyed seeing the repair and operation of Monsieur Dengon, and imagine others would as well.
Interesting choice of words for the message :)) Ps: are you selling any cassette recorders/players? :)
That was fun. I think you should definitely release this one to the public. There's no reason every video needs to be 20+ minutes.
I bet there are so many audio and video formats in the world, you will never run out of material to show us. <3 :D
Keep it simple! Nordic clean design... All my best to you!!
Fascinating little device! I definitely think you should release this video to the public. If you have the time, you may want to add a bit at the end on whether these types of cartridges can be found on eBay, etc.
Mr Dengon = Jigsaw from the Saw movies + Weebles + a South Park Canadian.
That’s a perfect description.
Brilliant little video, it would be a shame not to let everyone see it. I found it quite interesting..
The message you left was worth watching the entire video! Hilarious! And you repair abilities have really come along to a professional level, I fix vintage electronics for living, and you repair process is exactly what I would have done myself! That video is plenty interesting enough for the main channel, and you might even get some further information in the main channel comments from Japanese collectors.
Thanks Mat.
You're too hard on yourself as a critic. Short, sure, but fits in with the audities you've done.
Anyone translate the Japanese message(s) left behind from previous owner?
Mat, that was a lot of fun... nicely done as always. And by all means please post it for the world to enjoy... Don't forget that a lot of authors (like Stephen King) have published short stories as well as novels. BTW, did you get a chance to do any research? Were replacement / extra tapes or cards available?
It’s always difficult finding anything out about the Japan-only devices. I’ll admit to not trying very hard with this. However the back of the box when translated seems to indicate that other tapes could be purchased.
Great video. No idea why you don't think it's worthy. It's wonderful. Do release it.
That was really interesting! I love seeing odd tape cartridges, especially endless loop ones.
FWI`W, "dengon" in Japanese means message, so this is Mr. Message.
Thanks for that. I had no idea.
So to record - you talk into the hat? And I’m assuming the loudspeaker is there too (and is probably a good example of how a speaker can multitask?!)
Yes I believe the speaker in the hat is doing double duty. I didn’t disassemble it to check though.
Some dark humor in that message left on the machine. Love it!
That was neat!! It's not too simple, some simple things end up being the hardest and most rewarding. That's just the fun of it all, really. I love this channel because you pick up some of the oddest and most interesting items. That's the reason I recently started supporting you on here. Never worry about your videos. Any dip can type out something critical, but they don't create or do much themselves do they? If you want to add, maybe the translation or marketing, if any exists, or something of that nature bit other than that, it's nice to see these oddities. You get to try out all these things we may have seen but never noticed or couldn't get, and it offers a satisfaction of seeing what these things actually did. Wow, it actully gives me the the sense of wonder we lose. It's almost like being a kid again, just figuring out stuff and having a laugh! As mundane as it sounds, you actually have encouraged me to fix up my wonky record player and old tapes to enjoy them again!
That’s the feeling of wonder and memories of childhood Christmas presents I always hope to get across, but after a couple of days editing it’s sometimes hard to see from my perspective whether it’s all got lost somewhere in the process. I’m glad to hear that it hasn’t.
What is the purpose of the multiple cards, if they all seem to do the same thing?
As far as I can guess, everyone in a family gets one and keeps it secure so that they can play or record a message. Yep - it doesn’t make too much sense.
Hi Mat, Thanks for another enjoyable video. Shorter than some maybe but no less interesting.
I've added a (TM-short) identifier to the video title as suggested - that helps frame it better - thanks.
Perhaps a "(CS-cheese sandwich)"? :-)
I don't find this out of line with your "regular" uploads, release away!
Perfect - I love it when you successfully repair things! I think this a classic Techmoan 'short'. It features an old audio device that includes a novel tape cartridge which you successfully dismantle, repair and reassemble and then demonstrate it working correctly. What more can anyone ask for? Your joke message reminds me of another old classic: 'Gone to the psychiatrist; your underpants are in the oven!'
Please stop agonising about your videos! We love this kind of thing.
I was just hoping it was a bit more sophisticated when I picked it up - I would have liked it to recognised the cards somehow.
A interesting video along the lines of what you normally do. There's no reason not to release this one. I rather enjoy it when you have to troubleshoot something to repair it.
Found it interesting. Maybe start a Techmoan shorts series for these kind of sandwich videos?
Thank you. Another great video about an audio toy I never knew existed. One of the reasons that I love your channel!