It is a Decor, we have one exactly like it here in Winter Haven, Florida.
I have installed and used many of the Ariel Davis "Quick connects", later to become Electro Control.
While the Decor and the Ariel Davis patchs are similar in design, The Decor has much larger slider knobs. Oh and by the way, I have worked with the same type of patch by a third manufacture, located in Provo, Utah. I have been told, but can't verify, that it was by a company started by Ariel Davis, after he sold his company, in Salt Lake, to Electro Control. If so, it must have very sort lived, as I have only ever seen one product from that company. It was in the library auditorium in Williamsburg, Virginia.
George Van Buren. See Memory Lighting Control Systems, History - ControlBooth . Van Buren Industries where David Cunningham happened to get his start.Decor as did Major and several other repackaged the Sweet Sixteen Memory system which I think was a Van Buyrn design but am not sure
For more see, ESTA Protocol Spring 2010.pdf, page 50 ff.Mr. Leffew... thank you for the inquiry to George. He had been very ill for the last few years with a very rare disease that caused memory loss. Last April we did go thru interviews with Ed Raymond for the ESTA History of Theatre and I believe that if you contact him at: Local #16 in San Francsico, he will be able to give you more info.
I am able to assist you in the earlier history of Van Buren Industries (The first 16 Memory controlled dimmer board) as I was a part of that company, but am not conversed in techncal terms. We do have copies of the patent George was awarded for the first memory controlled board, but that too, is part of the Theatre History book that is presently being complied.
If I may be of further assistance please do let me know...
Most sincerely,
Myrna Van Buren
Sicodim was sold to Century Lighting in 1971, without a noncompete
clause. George immediately founded Van Buren Industries
which invented and manufactured the Sweet Sixteen, the first real
computer lighting control system. (George used the then new Intel
processor chip and received the patent for his board before Intel
had the patent for the chip!) They followed shortly thereafter with
System 128 (a 128 channel computer lighting control system) and
the Compuset 2000 Board. ...
George sold Van Buren Industries in 1976 and decided to leave
show business. He spent a number of years helping to design and
install the first Global Positioning System. He worked on and off
at the North Pole erecting and installing the relay stations. But
George’s heart was always in the theatre.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.