Madcow,
I too worked with the UYK 20 by Sperry Univac as a Navy Fire Control Tech. I remember well punching in data a few bits at a time. In my application the program emulated the old analog MK 47 Gun computer; gears, synchros, servos, ball and disk integrators, resolvers, tube or...
Your answer might be using a Mercury Displacement Relay.
When I worked at the Sony CRT plant in San Diego the large CRT degaussers went through relays in about a year. A new line was installed with the same 3KV degausser with a upgaded trigger circuit that used Mercury Displacement Relays. In 4...
Check out a Antenna manufacturer in San Diego area. www.microwavespecialty.com I worked there part time in 1993-95. Good company. They built a sub component of the omni tracks system you see on tractor trailor rigs. Check out there products section.
I agree with much of what was mentioned but most of all proper commutator maintenance. Another reason for the reduced output could be shorted turns in the copper wire windings due to a breakdown of the enamel coverings. Simply put, formerly 100 turns = 100% output. Then heat, shock, vibration...
I like the Twin Line idea too. Split it and test the result. Get too long clip some off....
A little off topic, something that I witnessed in San Diego in 1989. The local TV news crew was doing a live newscast in this coastal community that was within sight of the ocean. The live shot was of a...