NTSC Decode?

[SavannahLion]

Late last night, I was rifling through a box of arcade stuff I happened to have (Found a Wico, apparently in decent shape. Whoohoo!) when I came across a small mystery board. It's covered in 1/4" layer of grime, but the only marking I could find on the board was "NTSC Decode." Meh, whatever, it looks in fair shape. So I cleaned off the only IC on the board and found that someone had taken a knife and scraped off all the identifying information. WTF???

Assuming this is actually for an arcade of some kind, is this pretty common to do this? I have a few boards with IC's without markings, but those look like a sticker fell off. This particular IC actually has scrape marks from a knife.

Doesn't make it easy to identify a board.

[HaRuMaN]

Sounds like a flux capacitor... 

[ChadTower]

Could be an RGB-NTSC converter.  Those are fairly common.  I know many of the 50" cabs had them.

[MaximRecoil]

Assuming this is actually for an arcade of some kind, is this pretty common to do this?

The Super Punch-Out protection board (the one that Jrok replicated the function of using MAME code) has all identifying marks scraped off the IC's.

[SavannahLion]

This is probably NTSC -> RGB from one of the laser disc games.

Neat little boards to have, I've got one I never use BUT I COULD. 

I figured it was some kind of NTSC to ? board, but I wasn't sure.

I'll have to get it cleaned off properly, photographed and identified for its pinouts. Maybe it's still useable, that'd be cool.

I was also digging through my ex's junk and I found a box of old auction stuff she never sold. An ATI Rage(?) card, watches, etc. Interestingly are three or four boxes of brand new water pix'. Wonder if I should try using it to clean the board off? Can't decide if I ought to try it or sell them all and find a junky dishwasher to wash the PCBs. 

[SavannahLion]

If you care a little bit, use everclear and a toothbrush to clean them off.