[cctalk] Re: Might be antique computer parts

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 9/30/2024 6:31 PM, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:

On 9/30/24 16:23, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
One application for devices like that would be vacuum tube power 
amplifiers, to delay the high voltage power supply until after the 
heater current has been on for a bit.


paul

On Sep 30, 2024, at 5:21 PM, Van Snyder via cctalk 
 wrote:



I have two SPST time delay 12-volt relays packaged like vacuum tubes
with octal bases, Amperite models 12N010 (ten seconds) and 12C5 (five
seconds).

Another place they were used (but I think 60 second delay) was in the 
IBM 2314 disk system, where these delayed loading the heads until the 
drive had been spinning for 60 seconds or so.


Jon

Now that's an actual antique computer application, though I'm surprised 
they didn't use a solid state implementation.


Bob

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[cctalk] Re: Might be antique computer parts

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Tektronix used this type of tube in some of their later vacuum tube 
scopes. Some audio amplifiers also used them. Can help improve tube life 
by keeping the plate supply off until the tubes warm up.


Bob

On 9/30/2024 2:21 PM, Van Snyder via cctalk wrote:

I have two SPST time delay 12-volt relays packaged like vacuum tubes
with octal bases, Amperite models 12N010 (ten seconds) and 12C5 (five
seconds).

They're in their original boxes.

I have no idea what devices used them.

It seems a shame to throw them in a recycle bin.

Does anybody want them?

Van Snyder




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[cctalk] Re: auction starting in 50 minutes

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 9/12/2024 7:24 PM, Glen Slick via cctalk wrote:

On Thu, Sep 12, 2024, 6:13 PM Adrian Stoness via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:


WaIt someone paid 23k for a asr33?



Price Realised USD 23,940

Does that include the 26% buyer's premium, or is that another $6,224 for a
total of $30,164 for the ASR33?

https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/firsts-history-computing-paul-g-allen-collection/teletype-asr-33-110/230048


The "price realized" does include the 26% but not any taxes.

Bob

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[cctalk] Re: Intel 4004

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 11/21/2023 4:08 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
ISTR a 4004 on one of the boards of my DTC300 Hytype I daisy wheel 
printers.

(or has unrefreshed wetware dynamic RAM lost its content?)


On Tue, 21 Nov 2023, Peter Wallace wrote:

I think thats a 4040
Peter Wallace


Sorry about that. Not sure whether to blame that on old-timers memory 
corruption, or on lysdexia.




Actually, the DTC 300-S did use the 4004. I used to have one of these.

I have the schematics for it. I can post them up on dvq.com if anyone's 
interested.


Bob

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[cctalk] Re: PDP-8/E front panels

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I can't add attachments here. I emailed them to your direct email address.

Bob

On 11/17/2023 3:11 AM, Rod Smallwood via cctalk wrote:

Hi Bob

    The attachment seems to be missing.

Rod

Also I hae some more boards available

M7856     X 2
M863     X 2
M837    X 2
M8650
M8320
M880 + H241 (MR8 EC)
M849
M3310


On 16/11/2023 20:53, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:

Do you have any more of the DEC PDP-8 e/m/f front panels?

I'm looking for one that matches the layout attached. I don't care 
what model (e/m/f etc.) it's for, but the rotary switch layout needs 
to be right and I prefer the matte finish. Color is not important 
either I have orange, green, and blue switch boards.


Thanks,

Bob




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[cctalk] Re: PDP-8/E front panels

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 11/16/2023 12:53 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:

Do you have any more of the DEC PDP-8 e/m/f front panels?

I'm looking for one that matches the layout attached. I don't care 
what model (e/m/f etc.) it's for, but the rotary switch layout needs 
to be right and I prefer the matte finish. Color is not important 
either I have orange, green, and blue switch boards.


Thanks,

Bob



Whoops, this should have been a private message to Rod. Too quick with 
the mouse...


What I'm looking for is the plastic panel for the bezel. I have the 
switch PCB with switches (at least most of them).


I have played with 3D printing switches. They work, but colors are way 
off. Someday I'm going to play with an SLA printer. There are dye sets 
(such as the Monocure CMYK) set) that should allow pretty close matching 
to the original colors. The switches will also come out smoother.



Bob

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[cctalk] PDP-8/E front panels

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Do you have any more of the DEC PDP-8 e/m/f front panels?

I'm looking for one that matches the layout attached. I don't care what 
model (e/m/f etc.) it's for, but the rotary switch layout needs to be 
right and I prefer the matte finish. Color is not important either I 
have orange, green, and blue switch boards.


Thanks,

Bob

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[cctalk] Re: Concorde cabin display technology?

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

This link mentions the Marilake displays were LCD: 
https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=194031


Most plasma displays I've seen were more red or red/orange. The Marilake 
displays look too yellow. Could be a monochrome LCD with an EL backlight.


Bob

On 9/16/2023 9:55 PM, Mark Huffstutter via cctalk wrote:

Actually, it is a "Marilake" display, built by Marilake in the UK, 
still in business.
 From what I have been able to find, they were installed in British Airways 
Concordes
Around 1985, to replace a much less attractive 7 segment LED display.  The 
French
Concordes apparently retained the earlier LED type display.

The other article is referring to a different display that replaced the 
Marilakes.
Most of the references I have found indicate the Marilakes were Plasma displays.
Nothing definitive, however.

www.marilake.com/

Mark

-Original Message-
From: ste...@malikoff.com steven--- via cctalk 
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2023 9:37 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts 
Cc: ste...@malikoff.com ste...@malikoff.com 
Subject: [cctalk] Re: Concorde cabin display technology?


Andrew said

Just found this article, and apparently the old displays were replaced
with the new ones shortly after the grounding in 2000/2001. This would
mean they are probably LCDs.

http://www.concordesst.com/returntoflight/mods.html

Also, here's a photo that very clearly shows the refresh:

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/7009833

Interesting. Searching for 'Marrilite display' (I wonder what that is) turned up this 
page, which mentions "There was a plasma display at the front of the cabin showing 
the altitude, the air temperature and the current speed in both miles per hour and Mach 
number."
https://www.heritageconcorde.com/concorde-cabin--passenger-experience



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Re: DEC AF01, open for offers

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Whoops, should have been off list...


On 12/8/2021 10:48 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:
Do you have more info on it? I can't find much on-line. Is is a stand 
alone box or board set?
I love A/D and D/A stuff so would be very interested. I have many 
PDP-8's, a PDP-12 and LINC-8.

Any idea on how much you want for it?


Thanks!

Bob

On 12/8/2021 4:11 PM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
Would anyone like to make an offer on this AF01? It's a multi-channel 
A/D converter for old pdp8 and pdp12's. I really don't think I need 
it, I just pulled it out of my closet, and I don't want to put it 
back in.


Copy me off list. Complete, multiple MUX channels (16 A121's) the 
A704 and the op amp (A200)






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Re: DEC AF01, open for offers

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Do you have more info on it? I can't find much on-line. Is is a stand 
alone box or board set?
I love A/D and D/A stuff so would be very interested. I have many 
PDP-8's, a PDP-12 and LINC-8.

Any idea on how much you want for it?


Thanks!

Bob

On 12/8/2021 4:11 PM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
Would anyone like to make an offer on this AF01? It's a multi-channel 
A/D converter for old pdp8 and pdp12's. I really don't think I need 
it, I just pulled it out of my closet, and I don't want to put it back 
in.


Copy me off list. Complete, multiple MUX channels (16 A121's) the A704 
and the op amp (A200)



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Re: Datasheet / Info for Motorola SC5330 IC?

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 9/30/2020 3:40 PM, Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:

On Wed, Sep 30, 2020 at 2:41 PM Gavin Scott via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:


Josh wrote:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqb36sqnCIfMpIVXm5draSrWHGMzJg

Would these potentially be the sense amp / comparators for the core? I
wonder if they were anything like:

https://datasheetspdf.com/pdf-file/1092342/Motorola/MC1711L/1

which might have a similar application and take +15 and -7 on L
package pins 11 and 4 respectively with ground on pin 12.

Being another Motorola design from what looks like a similar time
period, I wonder if there could be a similarity in pinouts by some
chance?


It's not an MC1711L based on that pinout.  (But I suspect as you do that
it's part of the sense amp for the core).  In particular Pin 1 of the IC is
connected to what I believe to be +15V.  (It's also hard to tell what pin 1
is, since there's no orientation marker on these... )  Ground is pin 10.  I
suspect -15V is pin 7.

- Josh
That pinout sounds like the Motorola MC1440 sense amp though the 
voltages are different.


Bob

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Re: Burroughs L-series paper tapes

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 8/1/2020 10:07 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
I've bought a small number of L-series tapes over the years that I 
finally read yesterday,

mostly pass 1 and 2 of the assembler.
Part numbers look like this. Oddly, they all seem to be wound 
backwards. The person-readable

label is at the end, which will make it annoying to scan.

1-2101-049-01
1-2101-052-07
1-1001-008-07
1-1001-009-07

Anyone have any others


I had a box of tapes for my L-5000, but unfortunately it and the tapes 
ended up at the LCM so who knows where they are now...


Bob

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Re: Bob Davis and old computer stuff

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 4/25/2020 3:27 PM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:

Ok, I've uploaded pictures to https://www.crystel.com/bob/

There are a bunch of 8 inch floppies and old hard disks down there.

We have to move fast though, this needs to be cleaned out. How can 
people help me on this?


You could contact the System Source Computer Museum. They are in MD, a 
bit north of Baltimore.


Bob



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Re: PDP-8 Straight 8 restoration - failure modes

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 3/30/2020 12:02 PM, Josh Dersch via cctech wrote:

On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 1:48 PM Brendan McNeill via cctech <
cct...@classiccmp.org> wrote:


Here in NZ and around the world many of us are in lockdown and spending
more time on our computers, if that were possible.  I have just completed
the restoration of a PDP-8 Straight 8 which I believe is the only one in
New Zealand.  You can view the restoration story and find appropriate
resources here:  https://pdp-8.nz 


Very nicely done, and an excellent write-up.  That core memory repair was
amazing. It's interesting to read about a PDP-8 with such a high failure
rate -- I've personally worked on two straight-8 systems (one at LCM+L, and
one in my personal collection) where relatively few component failures were
found.  I wonder what accounts for the difference -- batches of diodes more
prone to failure, the environment the machines were stored in, or the
number of years of service...



While it plays Chess, it would be great if someone wanted to write (say) a
Prime Number Generator, or some other application and email it to me off
list.  I have Focal-69 and can probably source other languages for this
wonderful old machine with 4K of memory.


There's a 4K LISP as well, though it's a pseudo-LISP-1.5 dialect so it's a
bit different.

- Josh


In restoring my PDP-8/s, diodes were the problem. Turns out they have 
steel leads that rust. Easy to see with a microscope.

Badly rusted ones broke the glass body.

I had to replace more than 200. Most turned into ~600 Ohm resistors, 
some open circuit. I'm sure I'm going to have to
replace all of them over time. So how (and where) the machine was stored 
probably plays a big part in it's reliability.


Bob

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Re: 4054 in Sacramento

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 2/26/2020 1:47 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:


On 2/26/20 11:56 AM, jos via cctalk wrote:

On 26.02.20 20:43, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TEKTRONIX-Model-4054A-ALL-IN-ONE-Microcomputer-Vintage/372966927909

good price, it's BIG though..


Would have loved to pick that up

I wonder who got it?


I got it. It has the color enhanced dynamic graphics option. Green 
phosphor for the stored image and orange/red for the
write-through graphics. I have a parts unit with the special CRT but 
it's missing many boards. I hope I can get this one

running.

Bob

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Re: Unidentified peripheral in Tektronix PDP-11/20 system

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 1/25/2020 5:46 PM, Steve Malikoff via cctalk wrote:

I was idly browsing some old electronics magazines on archive.org and saw this
Tektronix testing system from 1972 that clearly has an 11/20 and TU-56. Just 
curious
as to what the piece of gear is sandwiched between the two. It sort of looks 
like a
paper tape reader, but for the two white buttons or whatever they are at the 
lower right
and the white bit at top right.
It seems to be in a DEC bezel(?) It doesn't seem to match the bespoke Tek gear 
at right
which looks quite different. I'm guessing it really is just a paper tape reader.

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/4173/Tektronix_S-3260_automated_test_system_PDP-11_20_Electronic_Design_23Nov1972_reduced.png

Thanks in advance.

Steve



The top right unit is a Tektronix branded Remex paper tape reader/punch, 
I have one.
The system is supposed to have a disk drive, possibly the middle unit is 
part of one?


Bob

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General Automation SPC 16 on eBay

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

There's a cheap General Automation SPC 16/45 on eBay that someone needs 
to get. It's for pickup only
in Royal Oak, MI otherwise I would go for it. Includes a disk drive. 
Looks like it needs to be gone in a week.

See:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/General-Automation-1972-SPH-45-16-Minicomputer-Console/323932770200?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Bob

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Re: So what the heck did I just pick up?

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 8/30/2019 7:24 PM, John Ames via cctech wrote:

Ran into this at the electronics-surplus store just down the way from
my workplace and grabbed it on the cheap. I don't actually know what
it *is,* but the labels on the switches make it look a *hell* of a lot
like a 16-bit general-purpose computer of some kind. Despite the
claims of being "microprocessor-controlled," I looked at every board
inside the thing and couldn't spot anything that looked like a 16-bit
or even 8-bit CPU. Genuinely curious what this is, but I can't find
much on it online - the name pops up in a few archived documents, but
Bitsavers doesn't have anything for the company. Though the design is
attributed to Stanley Kubota and Edward Corby - looks like Mr. Kubota
still has an online presence at https://www.exsellsales.com/about-us/
so I'll have to drop them a line...

Anybody heard of or encountered one of these before?

http://www.commodorejohn.com/whatsit-front.jpg
http://www.commodorejohn.com/whatsit-back.jpg



It's a piece of test equipment that generates bit patterns. The 
connectors on the back go to pods that
output different logic levels like TTL or ECL. I used one to generate 
test patterns for testing parallel

loaded video DAC's.

It could be programmed to loop through sections of data loaded into it's 
internal memory and

respond to input bits to change what it's outputting.

It's main use was for testing IEEE 488 interfaces, but could be used as 
a general purpose data

and timing generator.

Bob

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Another disk pack inspection unit on ebay

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

See:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Computer-Link-665-Series-600-Disc-Pack-Inspector-AO-American-Optical/173934678748?hash=item287f5092dc:g:GBsAAOSw~61cUegn

Bob

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Re: Anyone live near Walnut Creek, CA?

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 6/3/2019 4:10 PM, steven stengel via cctalk wrote:

There's a weird Sord M23P (I think) from the early 80's at this elderly persons 
house in Walnut Creek, CA - East of the bay.
  She can't pack and ship it - it's too big and heavy. It was actually sent to 
her by mistake, it was supposed to be sent to my house, 500 miles away.
It's nothing rare or valuable - you can actually have it if you go and pick it 
up - I really just want it out of her house.
Let me know!
Steve

Many UPS and FedEx stores will pick stuff up and pack and ship it for 
you. Just an idea...


Bob

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Re: looking for an old IBM knob from a 609 calculator panel

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

 

On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 10:36:10 AM PDT, William Donzelli via cctalk 
 wrote:  
 
 Those knobs look like they are cast pop metal or zinc or something,
not Bakelite.

--
Will
They are metal for sure. Probably cast. They are smooth, though there's a bit 
of corrosion and pitting on them now.There's a set screw at the bottom of the 
back side. 
Dwight suggest casting one. I've never done casting before but this might be a 
good thing to try it on.Would have to drill the shaft and set screw holes 
afterwards, and a bit of finish work to make them smooth.It's a cool panel so 
probably worth the effort if I can't find one out there somewhere...
Bob

On Tue, May 28, 2019 at 1:27 PM Electronics Plus via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> Looks like a standard old Bakelite type knob to me. I pulled a lot from old 
> equipment 30 years ago. I will check to see if any got salvaged.
>
> Cindy
>
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Bob 
> Rosenbloom via cctalk
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2019 10:57 AM
> To: William Donzelli; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: looking for an old IBM knob from a 609 calculator panel
>
> On 5/28/2019 6:42 AM, William Donzelli wrote:
> > I think that is an IBM specific knob. I will keep an eye out for one,
> > but do not hold your breath! It is certainly not a common knob.
> >
> > Is it for a 1/4 inch shaft?
> >
> > --
> > Will
> Yes, it's a standard 1/4" shaft. Might try and get one 3D printed if I
> can figure out how to draw it.
>
> Bob
>
> > On Mon, May 27, 2019 at 11:41 PM Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk
> >  wrote:
> >> A long shot I know, but I'm looking for an IBM knob that's missing from
> >> a 609 calculator panel I have.
> >> Photos can be seen here:
> >>
> >> http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl1.JPG
> >> http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl4.JPG
> >> http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl5.JPG
> >>
> >> I have no idea if the knob was made by IBM or was a common knob of the
> >> times.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >>
> >> Bob
> >>
> >> --
> >> Vintage computers and electronics
> >> www.dvq.com
> >> www.tekmuseum.com
> >> www.decmuseum.org
> >>
>
>
> --
> Vintage computers and electronics
> www.dvq.com
> www.tekmuseum.com
> www.decmuseum.org
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>
  

Re: looking for an old IBM knob from a 609 calculator panel

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 5/28/2019 6:42 AM, William Donzelli wrote:

I think that is an IBM specific knob. I will keep an eye out for one,
but do not hold your breath! It is certainly not a common knob.

Is it for a 1/4 inch shaft?

--
Will
Yes, it's a standard 1/4" shaft. Might try and get one 3D printed if I 
can figure out how to draw it.


Bob


On Mon, May 27, 2019 at 11:41 PM Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk
 wrote:

A long shot I know, but I'm looking for an IBM knob that's missing from
a 609 calculator panel I have.
Photos can be seen here:

http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl1.JPG
http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl4.JPG
http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl5.JPG

I have no idea if the knob was made by IBM or was a common knob of the
times.

Thanks,

Bob

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Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
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Vintage computers and electronics
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www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

looking for an old IBM knob from a 609 calculator panel

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

A long shot I know, but I'm looking for an IBM knob that's missing from 
a 609 calculator panel I have.

Photos can be seen here:

http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl1.JPG
http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl4.JPG
http://dvq.com/ibm/ibm-609-pnl5.JPG

I have no idea if the knob was made by IBM or was a common knob of the 
times.


Thanks,

Bob

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DEC disc pack inspection unit on eBay

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

There's a mis-categorized  disk pack inspection unit up on eBay. Might 
be of use to someone.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Digital-Equiment-Corp-DEC-Portable-Briefcase-Paper-Tape-Reader-Punch/303149714641?hash=item4695218cd1:g:ks8AAOSwEVZc1PQo

Bob

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Re: Old CE manuals

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Yes, Al will end up with them after I play with them.

Bob

On 5/4/2019 12:38 PM, William Donzelli via cctalk wrote:

Bob's a good home, too.

--
Will

On May 4, 2019 3:28 PM, "Donald via cctalk"  wrote:


I sent a mail to Al at a...@bitsavers.org on 4/11 regarding a bunch of IBM
manuals.



http://www.myimagecollection.com/manuals/



Never heard back so they went into the trash. These manuals are decades
older so I don't want to trash them.



If Al jumps in here, fine. He can get them.  Otherwise, based on timing,
Bob
gets them.



Donald





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Re: Old CE manuals

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 5/4/2019 11:21 AM, Donald via cctalk wrote:

Still cleaning out for Nevada move.

  


http://www.myimagecollection.com/cemanuals/

  


Last 2 are interesting. 2075 Processing Unit and some Russian machine
EC4001.  Number sounds familiar from my eBay sojourns.

  


Available for cost of Media Mail shipping. These buggers are heavy.  As last
time, all or nothing.

  


Donald


I'll take them.

Bob

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Re: Which DEC machine made use of th pre Flip-Chip board?

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 12/21/2018 2:49 AM, Mattis Lind via cctalk wrote:

There is an auction for some kind of early DEC module. It appears to be a
bit slice of MB, AR and MQ. There is also a signature by Gordon Bell on the
board.

But I cannot figure out which early machine it comes from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DEC-6205-Arithmetic-Registers-Circuit-Board-for-Vintage-Mainframe/264093791320?hash=item3d7d377458:g:U2AAAOSwpTBcGULN

The same seller has several other pre Flip-Chip modules like 4706 Teletype
Receiver. If I read correctly the transistors are dated 1963-1964.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DEC-4706C-8-Bit-Teletype-Receiver-Circuit-Board-for-Vintage-Mainframe/323607301613?hash=item4b587f8ded:g:AMcAAOSwXF5cGUH9


They are from a PDP_5. I have a 5 so am bidding on a few of the boards.

Bob

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Re: Core memory emulator using non volatile ram.

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 12/15/2018 1:22 AM, Rod G8DGR via cctalk wrote:

I have an idea to produce an MM-8  clone using RAM that acts like core when 
turned off.
Can anybody suggest a chip that will do this?

Rod Smallwood


Sent from Mail for Windows 10


I used Everspin MRAM chips for my PDP-8e memory cards. It's just like 
SRAM, fast at 35 ns, and unlimited read/write endurance.
Only drawback is it's 3.3 volts only. I just used level converters. It's 
a magnetoresistive memory, feels just like core.

$12 for a 64K x 16 chip at Digikey.

Bob

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Re: PDP-8/e

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 12/7/2018 7:01 PM, Pete Turnbull via cctalk wrote:

On 07/12/2018 17:44, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:

On 12/07/2018 11:22 AM, systems_glitch via cctalk wrote:

Indeed, unless you need character pacing.


Actually, with the correct settings of the serial port (xon/xoff or 
CTS pin) the serial port driver should do this, too, so cat would work.


A PDP-8/E doesn't have a CTS pin and the loaders don't support 
XON/XOFF, though.


The PDP-8 needs to control the serial CTS function. This was called 
reader-run when using a Teletype machine. FOCAL won't load without it.
You can modify the serial card (mine was an M8655) to support the 
function. Here's what I did:


Cleaned up from Aaron Nabil's and Lyle Bickley's write up.

 Hack the M8655 to support reader-run by mapping it to RS-232 hardware 
flow control.


1. Cut the trace leading from Pin 1 of E54 (a 7400).  This is the input 
that clears the Reader Run FF when a new character starts to come in.


2. Jumper from Pin 1/E54 to Pin 3/E38, a spare gate on a 7400 that we 
are going to use an inverter.


3. Tie Pin 1 and Pin 2 of E38 together, and run them to Pin 20 of E19, 
the UART.
    This supplies the signal to the reader-run FF that tells it that 
it's got an incoming character and to de-assert the reader-run line.
    Normally this is tied to the current loop receiver, we've just 
moved it to the UART so any received data will clear the FF.


4. Cut a ground traces on 4 of E50, a 1488 RS-232 transmitter. This is 
what would normally supply the continuously asserted RTS (and DTR) signal.


5. Jumper from pin 7 of E39, a 7474 flip-flop to pins 4 of E50. E39 is 
the "reader-run flip-flop".  Now RTS follows the reader run signal.


Bob

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Re: A very sad PDP-8/S

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

 

On Saturday, November 3, 2018 7:14 AM, Adrian Stoness via cctalk 
 wrote:
 

 get some thick plexi glass to cover it and sit it up for display to look in
but not touch ;)

On Sat, Nov 3, 2018 at 9:08 AM Guy Dunphy via cctalk 
wrote:

> At 04:34 AM 3/11/2018 -0700, Al Kossow  wrote:
> >On 11/3/18 1:00 AM, Guy Dunphy via cctalk wrote:
> >
> >> I only received this machine on Thursday, opened the box properly on
> Friday and found it was missing such
> >> such major parts. It belongs to the ACMS (Australian Computer Museum
> Society) but with the way things are
> >> going with them and their storage space ongoing misfortunes, I may be
> 'looking after it for them' indefinitely.
> >> (grins)
> >
> >The loss of a non-profit collecting institution is nothing to "grin"
> about.
> >I hope you start thinking about who it will go to when you die.
> >
> >Also, since it isn't yours, did you tell them you intend to 'restore' it?
>
>
> Al, a few points:
>
> 1. This and several other items from their collection were passed
> specificaly to me BY THE ACMS last week, on their
>    initiative, since their storage situation has deteriorated further. The
> executive of ACMS have visited my workshop,
>    and know my capabilities and intentions.
>
> 2. I'm not grinning about the tragic lack of support for tech museums in
> this country (Australia.) If you knew me at all,
>    you'd know my opinions of why that is, and what a disaster it is.
>    I'm grinning about having a chance to preserve such a nice machine,
> myself. This should be obvious to anyone who wasn't
>    predisposed to a hostile attitude, for some reason.
>
> 3. I'm currently only evaluating options for restoring it. And will
> discuss with ACMS before doing anything, apart from
>    making a screw-on protection for the wire-wrap backplane asap. (Next
> week, need to buy some aluminum sections.)
>    It will be a *long time* before I can seriously begin on it, due to the
> length of my work queue. Which doesn't mean
>    I can't start trying to locate information and parts now.
>
> 3. It seems you have time to go out of your way to criticise in a
> situation you know little about, but you don't have
>    time to find that Documation TM200 physical manual you recalled seeing
> at bitsavers, and repeatedly ignore me when
>    I ask you about where it is now, what are your plans for it, can I
> borrow or buy it from you, etc.
>    Since I'm restoring a TM200, and so far yours is the only sighted copy
> of a manual anywhere, that's disappointing.
>
> 4. 'When I die' - this is a known issue. Though thankfully not an urgent
> one. Australia is very different to the USA.
>
> Guy
>
>

My PDP-8s had an external DEC power supply. Just a simple constant voltage 
transformer, diodes and caps.DEC original. Looks like all of the cards are 
there, I/O was done externally to the 8s. The missing light boardlooks to be 
the only problem and it would not be too hard to make. No parts except the 
lamps.
Bob   

Re: source for smt probe clip

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 10/27/2018 9:50 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

On 10/27/18 9:13 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:


On 10/27/18 7:37 PM, Eric Smith wrote:

EZ-Hook XKM

thanks!

https://sigrok.org/wiki/Probe_comparison

is a breakdown. they note that Salae used to ship EZ-Hook but now ship a 
knock-off (no EZ-Hook name molded on)

They don't mention the Pomona 5790, which is pretty much a clone of the
Tek probe.

Still not cheap--about $10 each, lowest price.

--Chuck


If you search for Tektronix or HP grabbers on ebay you can usually find 
them for $1 to $2 each, sometimes less.
I bought 100 of the Tektronix ones a few years ago. They work fine but 
can be easily damaged if your not careful.


Bob

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Re: PDP-8 screws

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 10/26/2018 8:04 PM, William Donzelli wrote:

What is the thread? 6-32? 8-32?

--
Will



Thread is 6-32.

Bob



On Oct 26, 2018 8:44 PM, "Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk" 
mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org>> wrote:


On 10/26/2018 7:41 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:

On 10/26/2018 7:19 PM, Steve Malikoff via cctalk wrote:

William said

One the original PDP-8 ("Straight 8"), the front panel
has two aluminum
strips on the sides, one on the left and one on the
right. Each should have
a pair of flathead countersunk screws, likwly Phillips
head.

Can someone tell me the exact specs, basically thread,
length, head, and
material of the screws?


I have no idea what the straight eight screws are, but for
comparison the sort of screws in
the PDP-11/05 are things like #6-32 x 1/2 phillips pan
head, #10-32 x 5/16 phillips head truss,
#8-32 x 3/8 phillips pan head nyloc, #2-56 x 1/2 phillips
pan head, #4-40 x 3/8 phillips head
flat. And so on it goes.

I read somewhere DEC used a lot of stainless screws but
that may not apply to all of them.
Certainly the cheese head screws that the 11/15's 10-1/2"
chassis pivots on are stainless, I
checked that for curiosity's sake when I machined some
special adapter washers to use with
modern server slides.

At any rate, you have that wondrous (but US only) fastener
supplier's website to help you out.

Steve.


I have four straight-8 panels. All have flat head, stainless
(at least non-magnetic) screws. Three have Philips head screws
and one has slotted head screws. All are 0.38" total length
with about 0.28" thread length. Looks to be an 82 degree
countersink.

Bob

I just noticed the three Philips head panels have the plastic
front, my only glass front has the slotted screws.

Bob

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Re: PDP-8 screws

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 10/26/2018 7:41 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:

On 10/26/2018 7:19 PM, Steve Malikoff via cctalk wrote:

William said

One the original PDP-8 ("Straight 8"), the front panel has two aluminum
strips on the sides, one on the left and one on the right. Each 
should have

a pair of flathead countersunk screws, likwly Phillips head.

Can someone tell me the exact specs, basically thread, length, head, 
and

material of the screws?


I have no idea what the straight eight screws are, but for comparison 
the sort of screws in
the PDP-11/05 are things like #6-32 x 1/2 phillips pan head, #10-32 x 
5/16 phillips head truss,
#8-32 x 3/8 phillips pan head nyloc, #2-56 x 1/2 phillips pan head, 
#4-40 x 3/8 phillips head

flat. And so on it goes.

I read somewhere DEC used a lot of stainless screws but that may not 
apply to all of them.
Certainly the cheese head screws that the 11/15's 10-1/2" chassis 
pivots on are stainless, I
checked that for curiosity's sake when I machined some special 
adapter washers to use with

modern server slides.

At any rate, you have that wondrous (but US only) fastener supplier's 
website to help you out.


Steve.


I have four straight-8 panels. All have flat head, stainless (at least 
non-magnetic) screws. Three have Philips head screws
and one has slotted head screws. All are 0.38" total length with about 
0.28" thread length. Looks to be an 82 degree

countersink.

Bob

I just noticed the three Philips head panels have the plastic front, my 
only glass front has the slotted screws.


Bob

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Re: PDP-8 screws

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 10/26/2018 7:19 PM, Steve Malikoff via cctalk wrote:

William said

One the original PDP-8 ("Straight 8"), the front panel has two aluminum
strips on the sides, one on the left and one on the right. Each should have
a pair of flathead countersunk screws, likwly Phillips head.

Can someone tell me the exact specs, basically thread, length, head, and
material of the screws?


I have no idea what the straight eight screws are, but for comparison the sort 
of screws in
the PDP-11/05 are things like #6-32 x 1/2 phillips pan head, #10-32 x 5/16 
phillips head truss,
#8-32 x 3/8 phillips pan head nyloc, #2-56 x 1/2 phillips pan head, #4-40 x 3/8 
phillips head
flat. And so on it goes.

I read somewhere DEC used a lot of stainless screws but that may not apply to 
all of them.
Certainly the cheese head screws that the 11/15's 10-1/2" chassis pivots on are 
stainless, I
checked that for curiosity's sake when I machined some special adapter washers 
to use with
modern server slides.

At any rate, you have that wondrous (but US only) fastener supplier's website 
to help you out.

Steve.


I have four straight-8 panels. All have flat head, stainless (at least 
non-magnetic) screws. Three have Philips head screws
and one has slotted head screws. All are 0.38" total length with about 
0.28" thread length. Looks to be an 82 degree

countersink.

Bob

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Re: SPACEWAR! Switch Boxes for a PDP-12

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 9/23/2018 7:46 AM, Michael Thompson via cctech wrote:

Visitors to the RICM like to play SPACEWAR! in the PDP-12. Unfortunately
using the console switches is uncomfortable, not intuitive, and is tough on
the switches. We would like to recreate the switch boxes used on the PDP-1
to make playing a better experience.

We modified the source

from D.E. WREGE

to use the LINC SXL instruction to read the PDP-12 GPIO signals, and
prototyped two switch boxes using recycled toggle switches. This works
great, so now we need to make better switch boxes.

This CHM article shows what we want to recreate.

This article shows a sketch of the switch boxes.

A generous donor made these boxes for us.


The lever switches are turning our to be difficult to find at a reasonable
price. We found some NOS SwitchCraft lever switches that looked like the
sketch and the PDP-1 pictures and were a reasonable price, but our order
was rejected because they only had one in stock. eBay has Mossman and
SwitchCraft, but they are either very expensive (more than $50 each), or
they only have one available.

The switches that we are looking for need to be SPDT, three-position,
non-locking, center off. (If the switches have more than one pole we can
remove the extra poles to keep the operational force low.) Before we cave
in and buy some modern C&K toggle switches, does anyone have a source for
Mossman or SwitchCraft switches at a reasonable price?


How about these? They look close, but are still a bit expensive.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SWITCHCRAFT-60312DL-MOMENTARY-SWITCH/253586118419?epid=27018592158&hash=item3b0ae91713:g:NvcAAOSwqMRa4hGS:sc:USPSFirstClass!95051!US!-1


Bob

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Re: Fall cleaning - 9-track drives available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I can hold it but I will probably not be around on the weekends for the 
next few weeks or so.


Bob

On 9/23/2018 1:03 PM, steve shumaker via cctalk wrote:

If you can hold it until the 6th, I can pick it up either Sat or Sun.

Steve


dOn 9/22/2018 2:21 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:

No, it's still available, come get it!

Bob

On 9/22/2018 1:35 PM, steve shumaker via cctalk wrote:

Ok.. I'll bite...   Is the CDC/clone system spoken for yet?


Steve Shumaker


On 9/21/2018 7:44 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:
I have four 9-track tape drives, and a dirty DEC rack, that I need 
to get rid of.


Two of the drives are HP 7970B's. One has the door unattached. Then 
there's a Kennedy 9100 800/1600 bpi drive.
Very heavy.  As found, none tested by me. Just don't have time to 
play with them.


Last is a CDC drive complete with an AST clone PC with an Overland 
Data controller and software. This
was running a few years ago but has not been used since. Has Media 
Master format conversion software also.


There's also a smallish DEC rack. Could use the top painted but 
otherwise not too bad. Includes four sets of rack

slides.

All are located in Santa Cruz, CA and need to be gone soon, I need 
the room in my hangar. Come get them!


Photos here: http://dvq.com/fall_cleaning/











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Re: Fall cleaning - 9-track drives available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

No, it's still available, come get it!

Bob

On 9/22/2018 1:35 PM, steve shumaker via cctalk wrote:

Ok.. I'll bite...   Is the CDC/clone system spoken for yet?


Steve Shumaker


On 9/21/2018 7:44 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:
I have four 9-track tape drives, and a dirty DEC rack, that I need to 
get rid of.


Two of the drives are HP 7970B's. One has the door unattached. Then 
there's a Kennedy 9100 800/1600 bpi drive.
Very heavy.  As found, none tested by me. Just don't have time to 
play with them.


Last is a CDC drive complete with an AST clone PC with an Overland 
Data controller and software. This
was running a few years ago but has not been used since. Has Media 
Master format conversion software also.


There's also a smallish DEC rack. Could use the top painted but 
otherwise not too bad. Includes four sets of rack

slides.

All are located in Santa Cruz, CA and need to be gone soon, I need 
the room in my hangar. Come get them!


Photos here: http://dvq.com/fall_cleaning/






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Re: Fall cleaning - 9-track drives available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 9/21/2018 7:44 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:
I have four 9-track tape drives, and a dirty DEC rack, that I need to 
get rid of.


Two of the drives are HP 7970B's. One has the door unattached. Then 
there's a Kennedy 9100 800/1600 bpi drive.
Very heavy.  As found, none tested by me. Just don't have time to play 
with them.


Last is a CDC drive complete with an AST clone PC with an Overland 
Data controller and software. This
was running a few years ago but has not been used since. Has Media 
Master format conversion software also.


There's also a smallish DEC rack. Could use the top painted but 
otherwise not too bad. Includes four sets of rack

slides.

All are located in Santa Cruz, CA and need to be gone soon, I need the 
room in my hangar. Come get them!


Photos here: http://dvq.com/fall_cleaning/


The HP drives have been claimed.


Bob

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Fall cleaning - 9-track drives available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I have four 9-track tape drives, and a dirty DEC rack, that I need to 
get rid of.


Two of the drives are HP 7970B's. One has the door unattached. Then 
there's a Kennedy 9100 800/1600 bpi drive.
Very heavy.  As found, none tested by me. Just don't have time to play 
with them.


Last is a CDC drive complete with an AST clone PC with an Overland Data 
controller and software. This
was running a few years ago but has not been used since. Has Media 
Master format conversion software also.


There's also a smallish DEC rack. Could use the top painted but 
otherwise not too bad. Includes four sets of rack

slides.

All are located in Santa Cruz, CA and need to be gone soon, I need the 
room in my hangar. Come get them!


Photos here: http://dvq.com/fall_cleaning/

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Re: Oddball Terminals (Was: Re: VT100's)

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 9/6/2018 10:38 PM, Mark J. Blair via cctalk wrote:

A long time ago, I had the incomplete remnants of an oddball terminal which I 
retrieved from a junk pile at a small, obscure school in Pasadena. I'll try to 
describe it as best I can, based on old memory. I could have sworn that it had 
a dataplate label identifying it as a DEC VT02, but that could be way off the 
mark.

It was built around a Tektronix vector storage display, oriented in portrait 
mode. It had quite a bit of screen burn from its long life displaying text. I 
don't recall the model number of the display, but I might recognize one if I 
saw it. It was quite long, making the whole terminal quite long. It had X, Y 
and Z BNC inputs, and it had a neat test mode that drew a spiral on the screen.

The display sat on top of a long chassis with a keyboard at one end, a small 
Flip Chip backplane around the middle, and a power supply (probably linear, 
IIRC) at the rear end. I don't think that the Flip Chip boards were still in it 
when I got it, but it came along with a small box of spare Flip Chips.

After setting the big Tektronix display on top of the lower chassis, there was 
a long U-shaped sheet metal cover that sat over the top and covered the 
display, making it look somewhat like a single device rather than a stack of 
two things. The lower chassis and the top cover were painted approximately 
white as I recall.

I never did anything interesting with the display other than occasionally 
driving it with signal generators, and I got rid of the whole pile a long, long 
time ago.

Does that old beast sound remotely familiar to anybody here? How hard should I 
kick myself for not keeping it?

The display was most likely a Tektronix 611. DEC used them with their 
point plot display systems like the VC8E.



Bob

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Re: Looking for Tektronix 4052 R12 Graphics Enhancement ROM Pack and Tektronix 4014 demo files

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Al has the 4052R12 ROM dumps up on bitsavers.

Bob

On 7/15/2018 12:49 PM, Monty McGraw via cctalk wrote:

I have been recovering dozens of old Tektronix 4050 series tapes and found
one with Fast Graphics software for the 4051.  This software program jumped
into 6800 assembly code and retrieved three bytes per vector from a tape
file.  Apparently this tape is a duplicate - and it appears that all the
files bigger than 1KB have corrupt data.

Apparently from the 4014 programmers guide - they had a set of demo picture
files including a list with R2-D2.

I have found Jos Dreesen's ftp tar file with some 4014 pictures - but I'm
looking for an R2-D2 picture file that is on the tape I have but corrupt.

I also discovered that Tektronix made a 4052/4054 R12 Graphics Enhancement
ROM pack which included the Fast Graphics program in ROM.  I would love to
find one of those ROM packs - hint/hint :)

I did recover one of the shorter picture files of Snoopy - but since I
don't have a 4051, I can't run the Fast Graphics program on my 4052 or
4054.  One of my buddies threw a C program together to convert the data
file into Tek 4050 PRINT statements.

I've posted the SNOOPY basic program and screenshots of running it on vcfed
in a new thread:
http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?64726-Tektronix-4051-4052-4052A-4054-4054A-Program-Archives

I'm also still looking for a 4051/4052 Display Board.  Mike Haas posted
pictures here in Oct 2016 of lots of Tektronix boards including a Display
Board - but I don't have any direct contact info for him.

Monty



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Re: More tapes - This time all Tektronix 405x series -SERIAL PORT

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I used an GPIB to serial converter to get serial data out of my 4052. 
This allowed me to get 8 bit serial data, not just the seven the 
Tektronix serial port allowed for.
I used it to drive a paper tape punch/reader, just for fun. There are 
some on ebay. Also, an USB to GPIB converter should work.


Might help with transferring tapes.

Bob

On 6/21/2018 7:54 PM, Randy Dawson via cctalk wrote:

Hi Pete,


Send them to  Monty - my 4051 is crippled with no serial port.  I currently 
have no way to get data in and out of this, except via Micheal's RAMSTORE 
modules.


Monty, I also looked at emulating the tape drive, or the floppy disk over GPIB, 
that would be great, have the PC with a NI USB dongle.

I could not figure out how to make the National Instruments dongle act like a 
slave, its normally the master.


Randy



From: cctalk  on behalf of Pete Lancashire via cctalk 

Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2018 11:06 AM
To: mmcgra...@gmail.com; General
Subject: Re: More tapes - This time all Tektronix 405x series

a few months ago i had about 20 4051/4052 tapes. if i still do i can send
them to you

On Wed, Jun 20, 2018 at 5:53 AM Monty McGraw via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:


I was successfull at capturing all the files from a 4051 Graphics T1 tape
last weekend.

Here is the link to a couple of photos of the process:

Capturing Tektronix 4051 Graphics T1 tape files to laptop


First I replaced the disintegrated drive belt with one from a NOS 3M DC6250
cartridge.

I used my 4051 to PC serial transfer program on my recently repaired and
upgraded 4054A.

I set the comm speed of the 4054 serial interface to the maximum 9600 baud,
but as it is 7-bit, my program changes all 32 Tektronix control characters
to "~X~" where X is the ASCII character corresponding to that control
character.

This way I don't lose any of the Tektronix 405x text formatting in the
transfer.

I was using ExtraPutty on the laptop to capture the program text strings,
then copied the statements into Notepad++ and saved each file.

I am also working on a Tektronix 4051/52/54 compatible GPIB MicroSD flash
drive that will emulate the Tektronix 4924 tape drive - for all of us with
these computers to use - since both the tapes and drives are very
problematic after all these years.

This flash drive contains an Arduino with my code - based on the GPIB
flowcharts and info in a 4051 and 4052 GPIB manual.

You will be able to use the existing 405x program statements with @Y for
the drive GPIB address - since I don't know how to write a ROMPACK for any
of the series :)

I plan to organize the different captured tapes in directories on the flash
- and that may mean using a non-4924 GPIB secondary address for that
command.  It also likely means I need to change any tape commands in each
program to use the flash drive GPIB address.

That's why I wanted to capture one of the Tektronix tapes with a menu - is
to ensure I could get those files to work on my flash drive design.

Monty McGraw




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Re: eBay: Anyone need a DLV11-J? -POOR CONDITION

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 4/5/2018 5:17 AM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

This is listed under a useless title:

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/292503681011

But it's (currently) cheap (don't all bid against each other ;-).

 Noel

I bought a Tektronix 4010 interface board from this seller. It's 
basically destroyed. The boards have been sitting outside for
many years and there is a large amount of corrosion, broken chips and 
capacitors, and most important, the PCB material
is delaminating, damaging traces. I would buy them only if there's some 
very hard to get part you might need.


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: OT: Digitising collections of microfiche - Re: Looking for opinions...

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 3/28/2018 6:00 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
If you start with a fiche viewer, then a lot of the mechanical 
parts, such as the fiche holder, are well under way.  You need to 
modify the card movement mechanism to be able to automate it, but 
you could put that part off until you confirm that the optical 
portion is satisfactory.

...snip
This thread reminded me of a DYI scanner I had read about. Found it with 
google:

http://retrocmp.com/projects/scanning-micro-fiches/235-the-homebuild-automatic-micro-fiche-scanner

Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: Some fun: who can identify this ?

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 3/4/2018 10:26 AM, Adrian Stoness via cctalk wrote:

some sorta drawer doubht its a chad catcher with a hole for a handle
as for what its from  no idea

On Sun, Mar 4, 2018 at 11:54 AM, Paul Koning via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:


Chad catcher from a PC05 paper tape punch?

 paul


On Mar 4, 2018, at 12:40 PM, Pete Lancashire via cctalk <

cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ww7KPnPVexGJiqyE3


Sorta of looks like the chip (chad) box for an IBM 026 or 129 keypunch.


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: who is in this picture? (VCF 199x)

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

 

On Tuesday, January 30, 2018 1:55 PM, Bill Degnan via cctech 
 wrote:
 

 https://retropopplanet.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/vintage-computer.jpg

I was not at this particular VCF out in California in the later 90's when
this photo of a DEC exhibit was taken; the original picture from vintage.org
is no longer hosted.

Does anyone have a copy of the old vintage.org exhibit/photo archive?

Bill

Looks like Pavl Zachary.
Bob

   

4051 communications PACK

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Hi Randy.


I'm sure I have an extra com pack. I'll check storage today.


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Miss categorized DEC box on ebay

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

PDP 11/03? LSI-11?

Maybe someone can use it. Nice blue color.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-DIGITAL-INSTRUMENTS-COUNTER-HG-ELEMENTS/302392510749?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Vidar large format scanner available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I have a Vidar P-62 large format scanner available to anyone willing to 
come pick it up.


It has a SCSI interface. Drivers for Windows XP are available on the 
web, don't know about newer Windows
or other operating systems. Also, it's completely untested, I have 
nothing that's has a SCSI interface.


Located in Santa Cruz, CA

Some photos here: http://anifur.com/clist/

Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: Interest in copies of the TEK 4052/4054 diagnostic ROM pack ?

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 11:18 AM, jos via cctalk  
wrote:


 

Looking into fabricating a few (functional-only) copies of the Tektronix 
diagnostis rom pack

Seems quite a few people have non-functional units...

Any interest out there ?


Jos

Yes! I'm very interested in a few units.
Bob


   

Re: Anyone know who does 'decmuseum.org', PDP-5 pictures

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 10/28/2017 5:43 AM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

Does anyone know who does this site:

   http://decmuseum.org/index.html

I looked, and didn't see anything in the site itself, and doing a 'whois'
didn't turn up anything useful.

The site has some really nice PDP-5 photos which I was wondering if that
person could/would put in the public domain, so I can use them for a PDP-5
article I'm working on for Wikipedia and the CHWiki. So I'd like to get in
contact with them.

Noel


Hi Noel.

That's my site, part of dvq.com. You are welcome to use any of the 
photos, they were taken by me.
If you need specific photos, I should be able to take them for you as 
the PDP-5 is currently easily

accessed.

Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: Tek 4051 ROM cart box

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 10/3/2017 9:25 AM, Ian Finder via cctalk wrote:

On Tue, Oct 3, 2017 at 9:12 AM, Randy Dawson via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:


I think he has a few of these left.  The big problem is the RAMPACK
plastic cases are recycled from old ROMPACKs and these are in short supply.


He is looking for a 'Toaster' too.  Can we get a count of active 405x
users out there, and start a group effort to build, swap, restore 405x
hardware?



Were you looking to start a list? A group? A megathread?
Proud owner of a few 4051s and a basket case 4054 reporting in here.

I think Bob R. on the list had done a printable version of the ROMPACK
cases. It may be worth asking him about it, he might be willing to provide
an STL file.


You can find my STL files, and a photo of my first printed box, here:

http://dvq.com/tek/romcart/

Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Tektronix 4050E01

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I'm looking for the schematic of a Tektronix 4050E01 ROM expander 
(toaster). This is the one that works with either the
Tektronix 4051 or 4052/4054 units. Different than the 4051E01. I have a 
few to fix. Anyone have a manual for one that they

could scan?

Thanks,

Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Stuff available in Sacramento, CA

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

The following is available from Dan in Sacramento, CA. He usually will 
ship if needed.


Please contact him directly, I'm just passing the info along.

-Bob

*Equipment available:*

**

*1 **IBM 557 Interpreter **with manuals, $300*

*3 IBM 1416 Print trains, $275 each*

*2 IBM 3174-51R, $100 each*

*3 IBM 3178 with control and key board, $125 each*

*2 IBM 3178 Control module, $50 each*

*3 IBM 3178 Monitor, $40 each*

*1 IBM 3274-90, $75*

*2 IBM 3287-2 Printer, $300 each*

*1 IBM 8513 Color Display, $40*

*1 OTC 850 3 print head printer, $100*

*1 Telex 287 Printer(**IBM 3287 type), $100*

*1 Telex 8020 Model 266 Tape Drive 9 track 1600/6250 BPI**with 
Controller, manuals $250 including 1 Telex 8020 tape drive (new freight 
damage-fell off lift gate).*


*1 Memorex **4303 **line printer speed between 1200-1500 lines per 
minute, $225*


*2 Control Data 9 track tape (Keystone) drives and Overland Data PC 
controller card & cable Pertec interface, $150 each*


*1 Control Data 9 track tape drive without controller, $100*

*1 Sun Microsystems 9 track drive (Keystone), $100*

*3 Cipher 9 track tape drive, $50 each*

*1 Memorex 3693 Controller and Drive, $100*

*3 Memorex 3690 Drive (IBM 3370). $75 each*

*2 Fujitsu M2485 (IBM 3480 type) tape drive 18 Track, $300 each*

*1 **Fujitsu M2485N CA01011-B063 36 Track with auto loader, $350*

*1 Fujitsu 128 Track tape drive, $200*

*300 new BASF Extra 250 MB 3480 Tape Cartridges, $1 each*

**
Bob,

A couple of other equipment & supplies:

Moore burster,$200
Standard Register Forms Seperator, $75
8 Cases 1 part paper 14 7/8 x 11, $15 each
16 Cases 1 part paper 12 x 8.5 18# 2800 sheets, with perfs,$10 each
Few cases 2 part, 3 part, 4 part 14 7/8 x 11, $10 each

Thanks

Dan

*Dan de Long
R&D Data Corp
2425 24th Street
Sacramento Ca 95818
Phone 916 452 8233*

*
*

**

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Corona Data Systems PC available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

More spring cleaning. This time it's a Corona Data Systems PC.
Kinda like an old Compaq unit. Has floppy and hard disk, but does not 
boot up.


Pickup in Santa Cruz, CA

http://anifur.com/clist/corona1.JPG

http://anifur.com/clist/corona2.JPG

http://anifur.com/clist/corona3.JPG


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: HP 9836 systems and Fuji Pictrography 4000 printer available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 5/27/2017 3:26 PM, Josh Dersch via cctalk wrote:



On 5/27/17 1:51 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk wrote:


I looked at the three machines. Two are monochrome and the third has 
a sticker saying it's been upgraded to

an 9836C so that's the one for the color monitor.

Unfortunately, it looks like no one is interested in them so they 
might get scrapped. Oh well... I just don't have

room to keep everything.

Bob




I'm interested in the 9836C, but I won't be down to Santa Cruz for 
awhile; maybe it could be shipped up with the rest of the gear once 
the LCM meets and works the plans?  Would you be willing to hold onto 
it for a little while longer?


Thanks,
Josh




Sure, I'll pull it for you. Want any of the printers?


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: HP 9836 systems and Fuji Pictrography 4000 printer available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 5/26/2017 12:50 PM, Tony Duell wrote:

On Fri, May 26, 2017 at 8:45 PM, Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk
 wrote:

Spring cleaning time!

I have three vintage HP 9836 computers, two monochrome monitors, one color
monitor and three printers.
I'm sure they are going to need work to get running. No testing has been
done. Could probably get two out
of the three working. Somewhere I have a few various I/O cards also that
will be included.

The video boards (in the main unit, under the left disk drive) are different
between mono and colour versions of the 9836. You can't use a colour
monitor on a monochrome machine or vice versa. So if somebody
ends up taking 1 or 2 machines, make sure you get the right monitors.

An easy way to tell them apart without dismantling is that the colour
machine has a thumbwheel (contrast control) on the bottom.. Left
side, about level with the front of the drives. The mono machine
doesn't. The mono motor has a knob on the back, the colour
monitor has an IEC mains connector.

-tony



I looked at the three machines. Two are monochrome and the third has a 
sticker saying it's been upgraded to

an 9836C so that's the one for the color monitor.

Unfortunately, it looks like no one is interested in them so they might 
get scrapped. Oh well... I just don't have

room to keep everything.

Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

HP 9836 systems and Fuji Pictrography 4000 printer available

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Spring cleaning time!

I have three vintage HP 9836 computers, two monochrome monitors, one 
color monitor and three printers.
I'm sure they are going to need work to get running. No testing has been 
done. Could probably get two out
of the three working. Somewhere I have a few various I/O cards also that 
will be included.


Photos can be seen here: http://anifur.com/clist/

Pickup in Santa Cruz, CA, I just don't have time to (or the back) to 
pack and ship, though I can help load.


-Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: IBM 4331 Mainframe 3 phase converter

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I use a solid state one, an older version of this:
http://www.phasetechnologies.com/downloads/products/phase-perfect/pt330specs.pdf

Bought on ebay quite a few years ago.

I also have a small Phoenix rotary phase converter, also from ebay. This 
one seems to have unbalanced outputs.

I believe it is for motor loads only.

Bob



On 5/3/2017 1:23 PM, Curious Marc via cctalk wrote:

Let me know what you come up with for the 3 phase converter solution. I have 
the exact same problem right now to provide power for my 3 3420 tapes and the 
3803 controller. Also have 220V 50A single phase coming in the shop (er, 
garage), courtesy of the EV charger.
Marc

On Apr 30, 2017, at 9:38 PM, Guy Sotomayor Jr via cctalk 
 wrote:

Just to let folks know that I finally moved the IBM 4331 Mainframe this past 
weekend
from where it was currently stored to my shop.  Pictures are here:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/150223282@N04/NrX91K 


As can be seen in the pictures, it filled a 26’ box truck that I had rented for 
this purpose.
Right now I just have it placed somewhat in my shop.  Some early tasks will be:
   * I have to verify that I have everything.  Even if I missed some items, 
they won’t be
 scrapped.  I just need to go over what is currently in my shop and verify 
that I didn’t
 leave anything behind.  I’m mostly worried about cables at this point.
  * I have to figure out some way to produce enough “clean” 3-phase power to 
run the
peripherals (the CPU is 220v single phase) as I only have 220v single phase 
coming
into my shop.

Starting to power it up will probably be a while yet.  ;-)

TTFN - Guy





--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Items available in Sacramento, CA

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

I got this from Daniel. You can contact him directly if there's anything 
of interest.

Daniel de Long 

I will be going there on Tuesday and could bring things back to the bay 
area if they are not too large.

I will have a trailer.

Bob


___


Bob,



Equipment available:



1 IBM 557 Interpreter with manuals

1 MIA 557 Interpreter (IBM) with manuals

3 IBM 3178 with control and key board, $125

1 IBM 3274-90

2 IBM 3287-2 Printer

1 IBM 8513 Color Display

1 IBM 9518-001 Display

1 OTC 850 printer

1 Telex 287 Printer(IBM 3287 type)

1 Telex 8020 Model 266 Tape Drive 9 track 1600/6250 BPI with Controller, 
manuals $300 including 1 Telex 8020 tape drive (new freight damage-fell 
off lift gate).


1 Memorex 4303 line printer speed between 1200-1500 lines per minute

3 Control Data 9 track tape (Keystone) drives and PC controller card & 
cable, $150 each


1 Control Data 9 track tape drive without controller.

1 Sun Microsystems 9 track drive (Keystone)

2 Cipher 9 track tape drive, $250 each

1 Memorex 3693 Controller with Drive

3 Memorex 3690 Drive (IBM 3370)

2 Fujitsu M2485 (IBM 3480 type) tape drive 18 Track

1 Fujitsu M2485N CA01011-B063 36 Track with auto loader

1 Fujitsu 128 Track tape drive



Thanks


Dan


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: Trip to CHM - Hotel/Restaurant Advice

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

On 3/30/2017 8:42 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:

On Thu, 30 Mar 2017, jim stephens via cctalk wrote:
Across from the side of the road that original Frys was on was a 
TOGO's that filled the parking lot and 2 or three nicely stocked junk 
stores, which changed frequently.  The guys who did the Hard Disk 
drive guide book had their original store in there and lots of cheap 
and hard to find product.


Corporate Systems Center  Martin Bodo?  "The Hard Drive Bible"



Corporate Systems Center, and Martin, still exist, as Digital Loggers, 
on Walsh Av. I still work there, 20+ years...


Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

DEC VT520 in San Jose

[Bob Rosenbloom via cctalk]

Saw this on Craigslist so if anyone needs one it's reasonable at $35 
working.


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/sys/6060214206.html

Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: PDP-11/24 CPU later version

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 2/18/2017 10:29 AM, Paul Birkel wrote:

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Bob
Rosenbloom
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2017 1:24 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: PDP-11/24 CPU later version

On 2/18/2017 10:04 AM, Paul Birkel wrote:

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Al

Kossow

Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2017 12:50 PM
To: cctalk@classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: PDP-11/24 CPU later version

PDF-A

which is the reason it's not on bitsavers

Thank you Al.  It's not just me then who has heartburn with that format

..



I removed the /A format and put the copy up here:
http://dvq.com/docs/EK-11024-TM-003.pdf

Bob

-

Thanks!  What tool did you use to do that?

paul




Adobe Acrobat 9. Its buried down a few menus, and not obvious.
Menus:

Advanced then
Preflight (at the bottom on mine) then
PDF/A compliance then
Remove PDF/A information

Supposedly easier in Acrobat 10.

Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: PDP-11/24 CPU later version

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 2/18/2017 10:04 AM, Paul Birkel wrote:

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Al Kossow
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2017 12:50 PM
To: cctalk@classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: PDP-11/24 CPU later version

PDF-A

which is the reason it's not on bitsavers

Thank you Al.  It's not just me then who has heartburn with that format ...






I removed the /A format and put the copy up here: 
http://dvq.com/docs/EK-11024-TM-003.pdf


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: Trend HSR500 Paper Tape Reader manual

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 2/13/2017 2:06 AM, Tony Duell wrote:

  I am not sure if anyone is interested, but I've scanned the manual
for the Trend
HSR500 and HSR500P optical paper tape readers. If I've got the
permissions right,
then you can get it from my google drive on :

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5uNCTLB4VsqRU9TWDIzWnZYaU0

It's a large file, I don't think the scanner software has heard of
compression!. If anyone
can make it a more reasonable size, feel free...

This is a proper manual with schematics, parts lists, adjustment info, etc.

I've also scanned the circuit diagrams for the Trend Paper Tape Station, here

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5uNCTLB4VsqemRFMnVNb0l5WU0

The Paper Tape Station is a rack unit containing an HSR500 reader, power supply,
GNT34 punch and a driver card for the punch. Those diagrams are for
the punch driver
and power supply, you need the HSR500 manual as well.

Let me know if it all works...

-tony



Thanks Tony!


I ran them through Acrobat's optimizer and put them up here: 
http://dvq.com/docs/Trend/


Much smaller, though slightly less clear.

Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

A bunch of vintage items available

[Bob Rosenbloom]

Just passing this on. Please contact Dan directly at: Daniel de Long 


He's located in Sacramento, CA and in the past was willing to ship.

Bob



Equipment available:



1 IBM 552 Interpreter

1 IBM 557 Interpreter with manuals

1 MIA 557 Interpreter (IBM) with manuals

3 IBM 3178 with control and key board, $125

1 IBM 3274-90

1 IBM 2821 Controller

2 IBM 3278-2 with keyboard , $250

2 IBM 3287-2 Printer

1 IBM 8513 Color Display

1 IBM 9518-001 Display

1 OTC 850 printer

1 Telex 287 Printer (IBM 3287 type)

2 Telex 8020 Model 266 Tape Drive 9 track 1600/6250 BPI with Controller, 
manuals


1 Telex 8020 tape drive (new freight damage-fell off lift gate)

1 Memorex 4303 line printer speed between 1200-1500 lines per minute

3 Control Data 9 track tape (Keystone) drives and PC controller card & 
cable, $150 each


1 Control Data 9 track tape drive without controller.

1 Sun Microsystems 9 track drive (Keystone)

2 Cipher 9 track tape drive, $250 each

1 Memorex 3693 Controller with Drive

3 Memorex 3690 Drive (IBM 3370)

2 Fujitsu M2485 (IBM 3480 type) tape drive 18 Track

1 Fujitsu M2485N CA01011-B063 36 Track with auto loader

1 Fujitsu 128 Track tape drive



Thanks


Dan


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 1/14/2017 3:49 PM, Rick Bensene wrote:

--snip
I know what you mean about the DC300 carts...what a lousy design...at least from a 
longevity standpoint.  I've had numerous nightmares with those cartridges in a 
number of vintage systems that I've got.Broken tension bands, sticky tape...just 
plain bad stuff.   Plus, the tape transports in the 4051/4052 are fussy as can be.   
I have a 4907 single 8" floppy disk drive for my 4051, and it works great, but 
I don't have the proper ROMpack module to use it with the 4052, which apparently 
needs a different ROMpack than the 4051 to talk to the 4907.  So far, such a ROMpack 
has proven elusive.

-Rick


I have the Tektronix 4052/4054 File Manager ROM Packs. Can be seen here: 
http://www.tekmuseum.com/linked/tek_roms1.jpg
I should have the documentation on them also. Only problem is they are 
buried somewhere in a cargo container.


Are you still looking for one?

Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: How to refurbish plotter pens?

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 1/28/2017 6:51 AM, Mattis Lind wrote:

I am about to get our IBM1627 (rebranded Calcomp 565) going but the pens in
the case is quite dry. What is the best method to refurbish those? What is
the best solvent to get the old ink out? What ink to refill with?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-rp4vyPPYu1ZjVRbnlyczV4czQ



This may not be so easy to do. The original pens that came with my 565 
were pressurized.
It might be possible to use a Fisher Space Pen cartridge. I believe they 
made replacements for the Calcomp.


Bob

--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Varian, GA was: Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 1/17/2017 9:09 AM, Chuck Guzis wrote:

I find it curious that what seems to be collected in the minicomputer
area seems to be gear of major brands.

Does anyone collect Varian minis?
Or General Automation?
Or any one of the many non-DEC, HP, etc. minis?  Heck, I don't read much
about DG minis  on this list--and they were a major force.

--Chuck

I have a Varian 620 L and 620I but have never tried to power them up. 
Also have a GA SPC-16/80, SPC-12, and 18/30.


I would really love to play with the 18/30 but have very little 
documentation on it. No hardware docs at all. It's
compatible with the IBM 1800 and 1130, both of which I have, so would 
great to get running. Some photos of it

are on my web site. http://dvq.com/oldcomp/minis.htm

If anyone has documentation on the 18/30 please contact me (or get it to 
bitsavers).


Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

Re: dual-wide dec extender cards

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 1/15/2017 2:30 PM, Glen Slick wrote:

Was the point there that some other extender options have connectors
that are not as deep, and therefore less desirable?

I have a 6-DE-11 dual width, dual height (Height 8.43" Width 5.2")
extender from Douglas Electronics that are available for $40 with the
optional connectors (plus shipping)
http://www.douglas.com/index.php/6-de-11.html

But maybe the connectors on the extender are not as deep as the
standard card edge fingers. I forget without taking a look.

I have the Douglas extenders and it's true the connectors are not as 
deep as DEC's.

They are also harder to get the boards out of.

Bob


--
Vintage computers and electronics
www.dvq.com
www.tekmuseum.com
www.decmuseum.org

AB 7320 was: Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 1/11/2017 8:45 PM, Jon Elson wrote:
I also have an Allen-Bradley 7320, a CNC machine tool control.  The 
heart of it is a 7300 "industrial processor" 16-bit minicomputer. I 
used it for a year or so to run a retrofitted Bridgeport milling 
machine, but got tired of it breaking down, which it did fairly 
often.  Once I got EMC from NIST running, the A-B was turned off for 
good.


http://pico-systems.com/images/S_AB7320D.jpg

Jon



I have one of the AB processor units from a 7320 system. The 3264 
Industrial Processor. I have spare boards and front panels also.
Was there ever any general purpose software available for it? BASIC, 
FORTRAN, assembler/editor/linker stuff? It would be fun to

get it running if there was something fun it could be used for.

Bob


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Re: Some scrapper in NC has an old machine Labled TRIAD he is scrapping

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 11/20/2016 11:42 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote:

 > From: Josh Dersch

 > Someone should try to rescue that; they're very rare...

I personally don't want to get into this (I'm already knee-deep in PDP-11
stuff), but I can help with the logistics; I'm down in SE Virginia, very
close to the NC line. So if someone wants to do this, but is e.g. on the West
Coast, I can wrangle getting it, and getting it shipped out.

Noel



I'm thinking about. I'm in California so shipping won't be cheap, and so 
far, I have not been able to contact the owner.
I really don't need any more systems, but it was my first job our of 
college and I have a soft spot for Triad.


Bob

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Re: Some scrapper in NC has an old machine Labled TRIAD he is scrapping

[Bob Rosenbloom]

It could be a 7/32 or 8/32. There will be some custom Triad boards 
inside. Their systems were used in auto parts and hardware stores.
Disk drives may be Hawks. The terminals were plasma screens designed in 
house. The printers are TI Omni 800's rebadged Triad.
It looks like there are some CRT terminals on the floor. They are what I 
designed for them. It was my first Job out of college.

I worked at Triad from 1970-1981.

It would be wonderful if someone could save this stuff.

Bob

On 11/19/2016 9:12 PM, Josh Dersch wrote:
Looks like a rebadged Interdata 7/32 (or similar) to me.  Someone 
should try to rescue that; they're very rare...



- Josh


On 11/19/16 8:35 PM, TeoZ wrote:
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/general-electronics-recycling/30872-old-computer-peripherals-main-frame-etc-should-i.html 





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Re: Gould 32/77 (was: NWA auctions)

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 10/14/2016 7:29 PM, Tony Aiuto wrote:

I used most of the SEL/Gould/Encore machines.  The 32/77 was an original
SEL design, from before Gould bought them. It ran MPX-32, their real-time
OS. TTL based. The 32/87 was ECL, in a much bigger cabinet. They made
slight hardware changes to the 32/77 and 32/75 and released them as the
PowerNode PN7000 and PN5000, which ran UTX-32, their Unix port. IIRC, we
took a few 77's and changed one board in the chassis to turn them into
PowerNodes.

The instruction set was more RISC-y than CISC-y. The floating point was
base 16 exponent rather than base 2. Because of the way they did
normalization, there were a lot of bit patterns which were impossible
results. I made a lot of use of those to represent special values.

I'm glad it was saved.

Bob: I may have a lot of software for it, if I can find the tapes and they
are still readable. I even got hold of their secret C compiler port.


That's great! Might actually end up being a useful system. It will be 
interesting to see if any
peripherals are in the cabinets. Are they multiprocessor capable? The 
photos had two
control panels on one of the cabinets implying two systems, or two CPU's 
in the cabinet.


Bob

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Re: Gould 32/77 (was: NWA auctions)

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 10/13/2016 9:01 AM, Rick Bensene wrote:

I'm curious what the Systems 32/77 is..
Wasn't Gould SEL?  maybe an SEL system?


The 32/77-series was a 32-bit machine implemented in ECL, based on
earlier SEL designs, but is definitely Gould in design/manufacture.

Some of the machines in the series had a very powerful (for the time)
floating point unit (known as the IPU) that operated in tandem with the
main CPU that vastly increased the number-crunching power available

The machines were mainly intended for real-time control applications (as
used in the flight sim applications in the auction)

The machine ran a real-time executive called MPX-32.

More information: http://www.encore-support.com/htmls/32_77.htm

Years ago, I had some experience with these machines.  They were quite
powerful for their time, and were also workhorses that just ran and ran.
Very robust design.

These are neat machines, and I hope that they end up in the hands of
someone that can care for them rather than ending up scrap.

--
Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Museum
http://oldcalculatormuseum.com




Well... with a momentary lapse of reason, I bought the Gould / SEL 
system. It won't go to scrap.
No idea how I'm going to get it, and what I'm going to do with it, but 
after reading about it last night,

I thought it might be fun to play with. We'll see...


Bob



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Re: NWA auctions

[Bob Rosenbloom]

Sent, poorly, from my iPad.

> On Oct 12, 2016, at 10:08 PM, jim stephens  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>> On 10/12/2016 9:37 PM, Josh Dersch wrote:
>> 
>>> On 10/12/16 9:13 PM, Al Kossow wrote:
>>> https://grafeauction.proxibid.com/asp/catalog.asp?aid=117590&gl=288#288
>>> 
>>> someone needs to grab those 11/45's!
>> 
>> Thanks for the tip!  Against my better judgement I put in a bid on the one 
>> without the trim on the faceplate...
>> 
>> - Josh
> Will you help get one of the 747 full motion boxes back to my house?  they 
> have several of those, plus several DC-9 simulators. :-)
> 
> Anyone interested in Gould or in Evans & Sutherland should look thru all the 
> listings.  There is one tall cabinet that appears full of E&S equipment.
> 
> thanks
> Jim

How about the General Precision Link simulator computer? I have the front 
panel, but here is the whole computer. Too bad it would cost a fortune to ship 
otherwise I'd go for it.

Bob

ADM 3A in Sunnyvale, CA

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On Craigslist. Has bad screen rot.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/5817891157.html

Bob

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IBM + misc Available in Sacramento CA

[Bob Rosenbloom]

Got the following message from Daniel de Long.

Please respond to him directly at:

del...@ulink.net

Dan de Long
R&D Data Corp
2425 24th Street
Sacramento Ca 95818

Phone 916 452 8233

He may be willing to ship stuff.


Bob,

Equipment available:

Three new IBM 9518 Color Display in factory box, $85 each.

IBM 3287-2 Printer

IBM 552 Interpreter

IBM 557 Interpreter

4 new IBM 4245 Print bands part number 1509724

2 EMC Symmetrix 16 and 24 drive

1 Telex 287 Printer (IBM 3287 type)

2 Telex 8020 Model 266 Tape Drive 9 track 1600/6250 BPI

1 Memorex line printer speed between 1200-1500 lines per minute

1 Memorex 1270Terminal  Controller addresses 20-3F

2 Storagetek 4670 tape controller with built in tape drive 1600/6250 
bpi, $125 each


11 Storagetek 4674 tape drive 9 track 1600/6250, $75 each

3 Control Data 9 track tape drives and PC controller card & cable, $275 each

2 Cipher 9 track tape drive, $250 each

1 Memorex 3693 Controller with Drive

3 Memorex 3690 Drive (IBM 3370)

2 Fujitsu M2485 (IBM 3480 type) tape drive 18 Track

1 Fujitsu M2485N CA01011-B063 36 Track with auto loader

1 Fujitsu 128 Track tape drive

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Re: UMR computer photos

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 9/26/2016 3:21 AM, jim stephens wrote:
I was looking thru one of the yearbooks from my time at University of 
Missouri, Rolla.  I found what I think is a photo of a GE-200.  I 
"liberated" this system or one of them to a lab I had, when they were 
mothballed, and I could swear that is what the systems were.


If anyone recognizes them, let me know.  This is the first hint of any 
sort as to what I had.  And my memory could be wrong.  The square 
indicator and switch style is very much like what I recall for this 
particular system.


I had gotten handed a couple of very heavy trays of Lambda power 
supplies which clearly were for some purpose due to how they were 
mounted.  I later found the system I think was a GE-200 neglected in a 
stockroom in the EE building and recognized that the interconnnect 
would fit the power supply trays I had.


The system was transistorized, not IC I might add.  That was why it 
took 4 or 5 large Lambda supplies.  Luckily we had not broken the 
supply tray up and i was able to play with it.


The other thing i think might be of interest are several photos of an 
analog computer that the EE dept had.  I know there was another much 
larger system in the Physics department as well, and maybe I'll luck 
out and find a photo of it later.


Oh, and the blond at the keypunch.  I might add that she is probably 
retired now.

thanks
Jim

http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/jws1971/library/UMR%20computer%20photos




I think the analog computer is a Systron Donner 80, like the one I have 
here: http://dvq.com/oldcomp/analog/Donner/medium/d80-1.JPG



Bob

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Re: Tektronix 4051 repair.

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 9/22/2016 1:17 AM, Mattis Lind wrote:

I cannot find anything mentioned about character blanking in the circuit
description.

I read this on the topic "Alphanumeric Display":

"Refer to the display control block diagram (Fig 6-13). The display
coordinate position is generated through the digital-to-analog converters
(X DAC and Y DAC) and fed through the filter circuitry with the filtering
disabled. A short time later, either SOT is activated to print a cursor
refresh dot or ADOT is activated to print a character dot. The timers for
cursor intensity and character intensity are adjustable by potentiometers
accessible through the bottom of the assembled instrument."

Maybe this is the "A short time later" that it is not working since seems
to draw instantly. But as far as In understand that timer is generated in
the digital parts.

Note that this is not a computer or terminal. It is an instrument per
Tektronix definition...

Unfortunately the detailedness of the circuit description is not up to the
DEC standards in my opinion. There are no scope diagrams describing the
pulses going to the Z-axis as far as I can see which is unfortunate.

/Mattis



Snip..

The beam is required to stay at one location for a certain time and 
intensity to be stored in the CRT. If it's moved, or if the intensity is 
too low, it will not be stored.
The cursor is set to a lower intensity so it can be seen on the CRT, 
flashing, but will not store. Characters are brighter and left on long 
enough to be stored. Only
the cursor is refreshed, the characters are stored once, then the beam 
is moved to the next position.


It looks like something is moving the beam around when it shouldn't, 
drawing on the screen.


Bob


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Re: Components available

[Bob Rosenbloom]

.

> On Sep 6, 2016, at 6:16 PM, Al Kossow  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>> On 9/6/16 4:18 PM, Tom Gardner wrote:
>> 
>> A friend of mine died recently; he was amongst many things an electronics 
>> tinkerer and has a closet full of small parts in bin cabinets (resistors, 
>> capacitors, ICs, transistors, hardware, etc.).
> 
> 
> There is also a Unicomp 18 bit minicomputer, paper tape reader, and FFT 
> processor circa 1972 in the garage (6ft rack)
> with full documentation.
> 
> I walked out of the donations meeting with the other curators today who 
> thought it was a piece of s**t and didn't want
> to take it, calling it a 'dumpster fire'
> 
> Art was a friend of mine.
> 
> Hopefully it can go someplace where it can be appreciated.
> Talk to Tom about it, unfortunately, time is short.
> 

I have room for it. I emailed and called Tom so at least it should not get 
scrapped.
Wish it had a real front panel though.

Bob

Sent, poorly, from my iPad

Re: Complete DisplayWriter on eBay

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 9/6/2016 9:27 PM, Mike wrote:

On Tuesday, August 30, 2016 19:26:26 Ali wrote:

Well, looks like the seller cancelled the bids and suddenly item is no
longer available. Would like to believe it is a mistake but we all know
better...

-Ali


I have a compete unit in Ottawa if there's interest.




Looks like it's up again:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-Display-Writer-/201663310218?hash=item2ef411e98a:g:McUAAOSwv2JXwaQw

-Bob

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DCS 2400 or System 2400?

[Bob Rosenbloom]

I found a simple manual for a "System 2400" 24 bit computer. Can be 
downloaded here: http://dvq.com/docs/dcs2400o.pdf


There's a reference to "dcs 2400" and on the title page, "Digital 
Computer" from the rep. Gene Baumgardner.


Does anyone have more info on this computer, or the company who made it? 
It looks like an interesting system.


-Bob

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Re: IBM 4361 + StorageTek 4674's

[Bob Rosenbloom]

His email address is:

del...@ulink.net

Also, the 4361 is now tested! Got this from him:

**/I had the IBM 4361-5 running//
//today for history files, accounts receivables, month end statements, 
sales tax//
//register, ran a few invoices on the Telex (IBM 3287) printer. Backed 
up files on the//

//IBM 3480 tape drive. //
//There are 2 IBM 4331 units that still have some good parts. One backup 
IBM 4361-5//
//With out some cards and diskette drives. I also have a third IBM 
3203-5 missing some//
//parts. I think there is 2 Telex 1600/6250 tape drives with controller 
built into one drive.//
//One IBM 3279 display and one IBM 3287 printer. One IBM 3705 Controller 
missing//

//Front panel but the rest is there including the four covers.

/Bob--

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IBM 4361 + StorageTek 4674's

[Bob Rosenbloom]

Want a smallish mainframe? Dan de Long (info at bottom, contact him 
directly) has an IBM 4361 system available.
Also a bunch of peripherals and more modems than I've ever seen in one 
place. I bought an IBM 2540 card read punch
from him and picked it up in person. I have some photos of the trip 
dumped from my camera here:


http://dvq.com/2540/

Stuff's in Sacramento, CA. It's all buried under piles of modems, and I 
do mean buried. It will take some work to get to
the interesting stuff, but he's willing to help extricate items of 
interest. He actually climbed up and over a 6' high wall
of modems to get some 3178 terminal displays. Also, you have to crawl 
through holes in shelving units to get to some stuff.

I did to see some unit record stuff (552, 557 I think).

The 4361 and EMC disk arrays, tape systems attached to it are not too 
hard to get to. It's not free, or even cheap, he's asking
$6000 but I'm sure he's willing to negotiate. It's supposed to be up and 
running and demonstrable.


The guy has many more IBM peripherals.
129's 029's 3178's 3278's 3203's 3370, 3741, 3742, more EMC disk 
systems, 3880 controller...


Contact him directly, he loves to talk about the system.

Bob

__
Bob,

I have 12 StorageTek 4674 tape drives available at $75 each. They are 
1600/6250 9 track.

Also 2 StorageTek 4670 control units, $125 each.
Four IBM 3480 tape drive, $300 each.
Also available IBM 3370 FBA drives and controller.

Thanks

Dan de Long
R&D Data Corp
2425 24th Street
Sacramento Ca 95818
Phone 916 452 8233


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Re: HP 2100A Restoration

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 8/1/2016 6:29 PM, Hayden Kroepfl wrote:

Hi,


I recently acquired a pair of HP 2100A minicomputers locally for very
cheap. Don't think I could get much more local that a guy literally at the
end of my street. He bought them at an auction over ten years ago, never
powered them on, and left them in his garage since. They've likely never
been powered up since they were last in regular use. The units seem to be
complete, apart from missing a few I/O cards that are written onto the top
of the power supply. I don't plan to power them up until I've taken them
apart, cleaned all the dirt and debris from them, and inspected the power
supply.

With regards to the power supply, I'm thinking my best bet would be to do a
power on with no cards in the system. Though I'm not sure if all the power
rails would even come up without a load on it, since it sounds like it may
do some power sequencing from what I've read. I was wondering if anyone has
some experience with testing a similar power supply that hasn't been run in
at least 10 years?

I'm not sure if using a variac to slowly warm up the supply and the caps
would be wise on one of these power supplies. I'm not sure how the
switching supplies would handle the low voltage at the start.

The only I/O card that was installed in both machines, besides a terminator
board in only one of them, is a serial interface made by some company with
the logo CMC. It uses a COM2502 UART which I was surprised to find a
datasheet for, however I haven't found any information on the card itself.
I have a photo of the card in the album linked below if anyone has any
information on it.

I know this email is getting a bit long, but with regards to the memory
both machines have a ID(16K) driver board, and two core modules. However
one machine has both core modules marked 02100-60052 on the bridge, and the
other has one marked 02100-60052 and the other 02100-60054. Is there any
difference between these modules? I'd assume by the 16K driver in both,
that all of the core modules are 8KW modules. Would that just be a later
revision or is one a different size?

I've taken some photos of the machines and put them here:
https://goo.gl/photos/z2tGBbNvekwrxS5L9

I'll be taking more after I make some space to start taking the units apart
for cleaning and inspection. I've also included photos of the serial
numbers and other badges on the backs if anyone knows of a resource to
decode them.

I'd very much appreciate any help or suggestions that people have. I really
want to get at least one of these machines back into full working order to
have some fun programming with.


Thanks,

Hayden K.



It's a low frequency, 800Hz IIRC, switcher so don't use a Variac and do 
have a load.


There's a separate manual for the power supply: 
02100-60053_PowerSupplyFor2100And2155A_OperatingAndServiceManual_5951-3038_199pages_Apr74.pdf

(from bitsavers). It has everything you need.

There's a bunch of small electrolytic capacitors on the Inhibit Driver 
Load Card, A106, that needed to be reformed before my memory would work 
reliably.
They reformed themselves in one of my units. I had memory errors for an 
hour or so then they went away. On other units, I reformed the caps 
(took the board
out and slowly brought it up on a bench supply), and had no memory 
errors at first power up of the system.


Bob

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Re: Why classiccmp is awesome [junk spots to visit]

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 7/31/2016 9:33 PM, jim stephens wrote:



On 7/31/2016 6:42 PM, Erik Klein wrote:

On Wed, Jul 27, 2016 at 8:24 PM, Fred Cisin  wrote:


Is it too late to also set up an E-waste recycling even next to VCF?




Weird Stuff Warehouse is practically right around the corner...

.-)

Can someone in the know add to this thread, or somewhere what places 
are still around.  I assume the vultures will have been over Weird 
stuff by the time I get there, but hope there are some bits of meat 
left on the bone there.


I heard that Halted is closed?  other places worth going to?
thanks
Jim



Halted was open as of last Thursday.


Bob

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Re: Facit 4070 to PC interface

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 5/4/2016 5:52 PM, Charles Dickman wrote:

Has anyone ever worked up a PC parallel port to Facit 4070 paper tape
punch interface?

I found one on a Swedish website. The punch parallel input looks like
it is TTL compatible, but I can't find anything in the documentation
that describes the input voltage specifications.

Chuck



Check this link out:

http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~pmaydell/misc/cardpunch/dongle.htm

It shows how to build a PC to 4070 interface. Basically inverting a few 
signals.


Bob

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Re: Nice LAB11 brochure.

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On Monday, May 2, 2016 1:21 PM, Paul Koning  wrote:
 
 

 
> On May 2, 2016, at 3:59 PM, Mattis Lind  wrote:
> 
> Yet another nice color brochure.
> 
> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/96935524/Datormusuem/lab11.pdf
> 
> Has anyone seen a VR20 in real? Rather interesting to be able to do a red
> and green X/Y screen based on different energy levels. Someone care to
> explain how that works?

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penetron.  The idea is that there are two 
layers, and a high voltage beam pokes through the first to activate the second.

I think Tektronix made monitors of this type, but apparently GE invented them.  
I remember hearing about that technology in the 1970s; I never actually saw one 
in the wild (from any manufacturer).

> If I read the fine print on the back correctly (and comparing with the
> others) I would guess that this brochure is from 1971.

Assuming that 00771 is a date code, yes.  The cover photo is interesting (PDP11 
with PDP12 color scheme!) but the console looks like an LA30.  I didn't know 
those were out in 1971.  The first (and fortunately only) one I encountered was 
in 1974.

    paul

I believe they used a beam penetration tube in the VR20. I have an HP 1338A 
that uses that technology.Google it, it's interesting.
Bob 

Re: Rolm Computers: 1602, 1602A, 1602B, 1666, MSExx (was Data General Nova Star Trek)

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 4/27/2016 10:12 PM, Erik Baigar wrote:


On Wed, 27 Apr 2016, Bob Rosenbloom wrote:

I have my Rolm 1603 working. No peripherals hooked to it, but you can 
toggle in stuff from the front panel.

http://dvq.com/oldcomp/photos2/1k/rolm1603_f.jpg


Very cool, Bob - we have been in touch seom years ago and
great, that your machine is still alive! Many thanks for the
picture and two questions out of curiosity:

(1) The panel is mounted on the rear side (where memory is) of
the processor. Is it wired and powered internally or do
you have to connect the panel to the plugs of the
processor externally?
(2) The 1603 uses the same 5605 processor "sandwich" also
used by the 1602B and not the 9PCBs of the earlier 1602s?

Keep up taking care of your Rolm, its a very nice and rare
machine...

Erik

Yes, the panel is mounted near the memory and plugs into the bus.

I think it's the 5605 processor, four CPU boards + some I/O.

More photos of it can be found here:

http://www.dvq.com/rolm/

Bob

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Re: Rolm Computers: 1602, 1602A, 1602B, 1666, MSExx (was Data General Nova Star Trek)

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 4/26/2016 11:23 PM, Erik Baigar wrote:



Well - "are out there" I agree, but do you know of any PRIVATELY
owned and ALIVE machines? There is lot of PDP* discussion here, but
it is very hard to get in touch with people being working on
Rolm stuff. Of course: In contrast to a non-working PDP8 (which
still looks beautiful) a defunc Rolm processor is just a very
heavy brick of metal.

So any one out there also preserving Rolm computer hardware in
working condition?



I have my Rolm 1603 working. No peripherals hooked to it, but you can 
toggle in stuff from the front panel.

http://dvq.com/oldcomp/photos2/1k/rolm1603_f.jpg

Bob


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Re: Closeup needed

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 3/26/2016 10:53 AM, william degnan wrote:

On Sat, Mar 26, 2016 at 12:40 PM, Rod Smallwood <
rodsmallwoo...@btinternet.com> wrote:


Hi Guys
 Does anybody have an 8/i or 8/L?. I need a close up pic of
the logo area to the top left of the panel.
In particular the address text under the logo.

The font looks like a made up one and I need to create it.

Thanks

Rod (Panelman) Smallwood



May be useful, not a perfect photo, not my system
http://www.vintagecomputer.net/digital/pdp8i/

My panels can be seen here:  http://www.dvq.com/DEC-panels/

Bob

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Re: 1950s TV computers

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 3/2/2016 5:41 PM, Chuck Guzis wrote:
I've been having fun looking at TV programs that I watched when the 
family had a 17" monochrome RCA set.  At any rate, here's one such 
about a guy who gets shocked by a computer:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-pfWhehSB4

Note that, about 3:20 in, the guy doing the troubleshooting on the 
system pulls a faulty tube and gives it to his companion for 
replacement.  "12AY7" is what he says, but hands the other guy an 
octal tube--the 12AY7 is a 9-pin sub-miniature.  (TV had goofs even 
then). Other than the IBM Model B electric typewriters, there doesn't 
seem to be much to see.  From 1955.



Here's another one from 1956:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33OFJEWUgQE

This involves a mechanical translating machine that's been adapted to 
diagnose and prescribe treatment for diseases.  There, you can see the 
same IBM typewriters, as well a couple of keypunches (IBM 024/6?) and 
bunches of tape drives that I don't recognize. "Memory coils", anyone? 
 The strange thing is that years later, I met up with a fellow who had 
worked with Gerald Salton on the nascent SMART system that, I believe, 
eventually morphed into MEDLARS.


Stuff from a time when men wore hats and women wore dresses.

--Chuck


Looks like a Bendix G15 at about 2:03 in the second video.

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Re: papertape repair tape or kit wanted

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 11/28/2015 4:47 PM, william degnan wrote:

Anyone have a source to purchase the tape to repair a papertape, or a kit
such as what they have here:

http://physicsmuseum.uq.edu.au/paper-tape-repair-tool

Thanks


You could try westnc.com, they used to sell splicing kits.

Bob

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Re: Tektronix 4051 RAMPACK - new design

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 11/15/2015 9:14 PM, Jos Dreesen wrote:

On 16.11.2015 00:10, Bob Rosenbloom wrote:
I was contacted by Micheal D. Cranford from the Tektronix Museum up 
in OR about
a design for a ROM module for the Tektronix 4051 graphic computer. It 
looks to be a very
useful item. See the description below. He's looking to build up some 
of them and make them
available. Cost would be about $100 each, assembled. He needs seven 
people to make it

worthwhile, I would take two, so we need five more people.

Anyone interested? Let me know!


I could use 2, if they are also usable on a TEK4052.
( and if you are shipping outside US )

Jos




Unfortunately the 4052 / 4054 are not supported. It's a bit slice 
(2901's) design
which only emulates some of the 6800 instructions, but not all. The ROM 
packs are not

compatible. The memory structure is different also.

Bob

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Tektronix 4051 RAMPACK - new design

[Bob Rosenbloom]

I was contacted by Micheal D. Cranford from the Tektronix Museum up in 
OR about
a design for a ROM module for the Tektronix 4051 graphic computer. It 
looks to be a very
useful item. See the description below. He's looking to build up some of 
them and make them
available. Cost would be about $100 each, assembled. He needs seven 
people to make it

worthwhile, I would take two, so we need five more people.

Anyone interested? Let me know!

Bob

_

Bob:

I just saw your website today since another ex-Tek friend pointed it out 
to me.

I am currently nearing the completion of a RAMPACK for the 4051. I am making
this for the Tektronix Museum located in Oregon (http://www.vintagetek.org/)
which is totally maintained by former Tektronix employees.
The purpose of the RAMPACK is to effectively replace the mag tape drive 
since
the latter requires mag tape cartridges that are no longer made and the 
tension
bands degrade over time and fail. The lack of functional mag tape 
cartridges can
quite severely limit the usefulness of the 4051.  Since the Tek museum 
cannot
demo the 4051 very well due to the lack of reliable mag tape cartridges 
and any

user created programs disappear with powering down, I decided to create the
RAMPACK. I had actually started working on that decades ago when I was 
at Tek
but at the time it was just for speeding up file manipulations and that 
RAMPACK
was totally DRAM based.  The new version in contrast is non-volatile and 
it holds

far more data.

Note that this is a plug-in ROM PACK and it does not require altering 
the mag tape
drive or the 4051 computer in any way. The RAMPACK contains about 2MB of 
high
reliability guaranteed 100+ years of data retention time flash memory, 
which totals
to at least seven DC300A mag tape cartridges worth of data.  In actual 
practice it will
hold more than seven cartridges worth since the mag tape storage is 
inefficient with
small files. As an example a DC600 cannot hold 256 files of minimal 
length (768 bytes)
since each inter-file gap takes nearly 4 inches of tape. In contrast my 
RAMPACK can

hold 511 files of 4KB each.

You create and access RAMPACK files just like any other GBIP device on 
the 4051.

Each RAMPACK has a unique IO address and multiple RAMPACKs can be installed
at the same time. Simple examples include (the below assumes 
installation in the

right rear slot in the back of the 4051):

1.  FIND @51:1

2.  MARK @51:2,4096

   MARK 2 files that are 4KB byte long. Note that marked files will

   always be multiples of 4KB in size, and the MARK command will

   automatically pick the smallest multiple of 4KB that includes the

   user specified size.

3.  SAVE @51:

4.  FIND @51:1

5.  OLD @51:

6.  FIND @51:2

7.  PRINT @51:A, A$

8.  CLOSE

9.  FIND @51:2

10. INPUT @51:A,A$

11. Etc.

There are about 23 functions that support ASCII program and ASCII or 
BINARY data
files, write protecting arbitrary files, SAVE and OLD/APPEND for SECRET 
programs.
listing the details about all of the RAMPACK files (the equivalent of 
TLIST), checking
the current file status, naming each file (names can be up to 24 ASCII 
characters long)

and a whole bunch more.  The RAMPACK can also update its own firmware.

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Free IBM 3174 in N. CA

[Bob Rosenbloom]

Saw this on Craigslist. Anyone interested?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/zip/5311274675.html

Bob

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Re: Front panels

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 10/31/2015 2:15 PM, Jon Elson wrote:

On 10/31/2015 03:11 PM, Charles Anthony wrote:

What I don't know how to do is drive 500 or so LEDs.

I am guessing a bunch of shift registers, but I've pretty much 
reached my

design limits. I need some guidance on locating and understanding the
technology to run that many LEDs.

it really isn't that complicated.  The simplest might be a byte shift 
register, ie. a bunch of octal D-FFs like
the 74HC374.  Given a byte-wide group of GPIOs on the Beagle Bone, you 
could send out 63 8-bit words
with one additional GPIO to act as a clock for the FFs.  The LEDs 
could be driven directly from the FF outputs with a resistor. With the 
current generation of high-efficiency LEDs 10 mA would be plenty of 
current, and so the FF outputs would still be close enough the specs 
to drive the next stage.  One downside of this scheme is if the serial 
transmission was slow, you'd see a blink each time the Bone sent a new 
light pattern.


If you want to get more complicated, you could have one HC374 for the 
shift register and one HC374 as the latch.
You'd shift all 63 bytes through the byte-shift register, pulsing the 
byte clock 63 times, and then pulse the latch clock once to latch all 
the 5xx bits of light info into the latch register, which would allow 
the LEDs to be updated without any flash as the shift reg is being 
shifted.


Now, another way to do this is with multiplexing.  You could maybe 
have 8 64-bit words that loaded to a small RAM, and the RAM is scanned 
to load data to banks of 64 LEDs.  This reduces the number of drivers 
to, say, 64 cathode drivers and 8 high-current anode drivers, but 
complicates the rest of the thing a fair bit.  It will also cause the 
whole panel of LEDs to flicker at the multiplexing rate, which could 
be annoying when you flick your eyes across the panel.


Jon

The 74HC595 8 bit shift register has a storage register also. You can 
cascade them then update the displays with a single pulse. I'm using 
them with ULN2803 8 bit drivers

to drive the incandescent bulbs on my 360/30 panel.

Bob

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Re: PDP 8 panels. Feedback

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 10/26/2015 8:05 PM, rod wrote:

Hi Guys
I need to get some comments on the following.

1. Would a matt finish be better than the current glossy one?
2. Should the round holes be pre-drilled?

Regards
Rod


I would prefer the holes be drilled. It's not easy to drill the plastic 
as I found out, with small chips around the edges.

And that was with a bit made for plastic.

Bob

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Re: looking for Siemens T100 telexes in the US

[Bob Rosenbloom]

On 10/26/2015 12:56 AM, simon wrote:

(As previous post did not get through, again a repost)


Hi All,

I was contacted via the greenkeys list for my spare parts of the two 
T100 telexes, but I think it should be possible to obtain them in the 
states. Is there someone willing to part of their broken or otherwise 
non/half functional T100 in the usa.


they need the parts for a movie.


I saw this a few times so it did get through. I guess that no one knows 
of a T100 anywhere.


Bob

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