MOTM

I've dissected a few joysticks that I recently purchased.  One was quite 
nice; four center-tapped 50K-ohm pots.  $4.50 each.  Unfortunately I got the 
last two.  Ah well.  Another was a little odd; 40K on one axis, 46k on the 
other.  $4.95.  Both of these were "raw" joysticks - no package or wiring 
around them.

This next one is a "packaged" joystick and is intruiging, and to make the 
deal even better, when I opened the boxes (I purchased two) each box had two 
units:

CONTROL JOYSTICK has two 150K ohm vari-resistors and "FIRE" button. 1.3"H 
metal control stick; no spring "return". 8\ufffd cord w/ DB-9 connector 
2.5x1.4x3.5. #MA8699, NEW. $5.00

http://www.fairradio.com/monroe.htm

There are five pins on the DB9.  Two of the pins are the switch on the "Fire" 
button, there is a common between the two 150k pots, and then a separate wire 
to each pot wiper (also wired to the other terminal of the pot).  Very easy 
to open up and modify.

Another "packaged" joystick is a CH Products Mach II.  These are common PC 
joysticks from a few years back and can be found on eBay and at swap meets 
for not much money.  The Mach III is the same thing with a "fire" button on 
the joystick itself.  I prefer the Mach II which has two buttons on the 
housing.  The one that I got has a weird connector on the cable since it is 
for a PC Jr.  An interesting feature is that there are center-return on/off 
switches for each axis; very cool.  There are also trim pots for each axis.  
Another plus.  A little more care is needed opening up this package, but easy 
to work inside once upon.  One pot measured 148K, the other 160K.  There is a 
separate wire to each pot, and then a third common connecting the two.  There 
is a wire to each switch and then a third common between those.  This one 
looks like a winner; the PC version with a DB9 would be great.

Ok, that's all I could find for small, inexpensive joysticks.  Let me know 
what you find!

Ivan