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by lukeparkerson1＠gmail.com

Hi all, I recently got my hands on what I believe is a 9-track tape, dated 1986, which has some old survey data stored on it from a university research project several decades ago. I'm hoping to be able to extract the information from the tape and convert it to a more modern data file accessible to the public, but I don't know very much about these tapes nor do I have 9-track tape equipment. I'm wondering if anyone who is more familiar with this technology can tell me it's even still possible to extract this data, and if so, is there's anyone here who can try and run the tape, or knows someone with a working 9-track tape drive? The frame is not in the best shape, but the tape is hopefully fine. Here's a photo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PrdBnIWUO4-317ZSwqvY-TD6dHr2CxC8/view?usp=… Thanks, Luke

1 year, 1 month

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Re: Lee Felsenstein at VCF West August 1 at 4:30PM

by John Foust

At 04:22 PM 7/10/2025, you wrote: >Lee Felsenstein at VCF West Friday, August 1 at 4:30PM. >He will talk about the 50th Anniversary of The Homebrew Computer Club. Here's the line-up: https://vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-west/vcf-west-speakers/v… Not just Lee... but also Bob Marsh of Processor Tech, and Harry Garland of Cromenco, and Dan Sokol of Apple... And then for the Amiga 40th events, Dale, RJ, Trevor, Perry, Willie, Marco, Bill, Aaron, Brad, and me, too! And Sellam is there! - John

1 year, 1 month

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Comstar System 4 Intel 4004 based Industrial Computer Documentation

by Christian Liendo

I was able to obtain a number of documents that pertain to the Comstar System 4. I spoke about this computer in the past but I have scanned some documentation that should help explain this unique computer People who have been interested in the Intel 4004 might find this interesting The Comstar System 4 Reference Manual is rather detailed on the computer itself and it's applications This is the Complete Comstar System 4 Reference Manual https://archive.org/details/comstar-system-4-reference-manual_202507 Warner & Swasey Reference Manual https://archive.org/details/warner-swasey-comstar-star-system-reference Comstar System 4 Programming Manual https://archive.org/details/comstar-system-4-programming-manual Comstar System 4 Tester Manual https://archive.org/details/wscomstar-system-4-test-manual Comstar System 4 CPU Module Schematic https://archive.org/details/comstar-system-4-cpumodule Comstar System 4 Serial Communications Schematic https://archive.org/details/comstar-system-4-serial-communications Comstar Star System 4 RAM Module Schematic https://archive.org/details/comstar-star-system-4-rammodversion Comstar Star System 4 HTL I/O DATA Module Schematic https://archive.org/details/comstar-star-system-4-iodatamodule Comstar Star System 4 PROM Module Schematic https://archive.org/details/comstar-star-system-4-prommodule Comstar Star System 4 PROM 1k 2k Module Schematic https://archive.org/details/comstar-star-system-4-prom-1k-2k-module Warner & Swasey Comstar System 4 Process Control Language https://archive.org/details/wscomstar-system-4-pclref-manual Warner & Swasey Computer Division Comstar System 4 Machine Language / Assembly Language Reference Manual https://archive.org/details/wscomstar-system-4-assembly-language Comstar System 4 Program Analyzer Reference Manual https://archive.org/details/comstar-system-4-reference-manual Computer History Museum's Archive of the Manual https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102686568 Comstar Computer Systems Process Control Language Data Sheet https://archive.org/details/comstar-star-pclcompiler-data-sheet

1 year, 1 month

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Video: Introduction to Chiptunes by Inversephase @ VCF East2025

by Jeffrey Brace

Introduction to Chiptunes by @inversephase video released today (7/14/2025): https://youtu.be/i0v712l2RWE Enjoy! Jeff Brace

1 year, 1 month

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Interact One Message Center

by Steve Lewis

Hey all, I'm trying to track down a manual or instructions for the Message Center program on the Interact One (from 1978). I've run this in the MAME emulator, and it seems the program has a "partial" BASIC-like interpreter. You can do line numbers, like 10 HELLO 20 WORLD Then issue the command SCROLL, and it will start scrolling text in the numeric sequence they were specified. Then you can also do commands like FLASH, BUZZ, BEEP in its equivalent of "immediate mode" -but I don't know yet how to specify these commands in the numeric program. And in the emulator, I can't yet parse the commands PLOT, SOUND, SIZE - these "message center" program specific commands,not BASIC (BASIC on this system is loaded from tape). Anyway, a manual on a program for the Interact One called "Message Center" is what I'm trying to track down. Thanks, Steve

1 year, 2 months

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IBM System/23 Datamaster 5324 Towers and IBM 5247 HDD Tower Available

by Ali

Hello All, A long time ago I acquired a System/23 desktop unit and eventually a number of the tower units including the HDD tower unit. The plan was to setup a System/23 Muli-User system with multiple terminals connected together. Well, like many great plans real life got in the way and the units have been sitting in storage for a few years. I have accepted that this is one of the projects I will never get to and it is time to pass them on to someone else who can enjoy them. The systems are in SoCal (Upland, CA to be more exact). More info can be found at the following links: https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/ibm-system-23-datamaster-5324-towe r-model-of-the-5322-with-original-clicky-keyboard.1253651/ https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/ibm-system-23-datamaster-5324-towe r-model-of-the-5322-with-one-floppy-drive.1253652/ https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/ibm-system-23-datamaster-5322-or-5 324-hdd-tower-model-5247.1253653/ I hate to part/scrap them as the towers rarely show up so I am hoping someone local would be interested in them. Feel free to email me directly or reach out through VCF. Thanks -Ali

1 year, 2 months

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Vax boxes, parts

by Paul Anderson

I did some digging and found one 3000-400 with no lid( It could be here somewhere) and I'll have to move it to look it over to see what's there. I had 6 or so 3000s and I guess I sold them, but more digging to do. MV3100 M76 MV3100s I can't get to the model number 4000-60 5000-25 5000-125 5000-133 5000-200 I had to pull some boards and made a small list. M7621 M7622 M7624 M7625 M7626 54-21149 KN15 If you need a board I have not listed, please email me off list. If I haven't replied, bug me. I did not list qtys- some items are more than one. Thanks, Paul

1 year, 2 months

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Q-bus, PDP8, VAX items

by Paul Anderson

As many of you know I have been trying to finish organizing my Unibus parts and finish building several systems for years. Other than time and my health I don't have enough space. I would like to sell, at reasonable prices, all of my q-bus parts which include 400 - 500 boards, about a dozen boxes, and a lot of spare parts. I have BA11-M, BA11-N, BA11-S and a few BA23 boxes left. If you have an original 11/03, I have a dozen or so H780 power supplies, which are very hard to find. They are also used in the Vax 11/780 front end, the RKV11-D and possibly a few other items. I can test them if I have time, but that might take awhile. I'm also taking offers on some of my 8-E and all of my 8-A items. I will entertain offers on the VT14 and all of the PDP 14 industrial controller parts. I have a few Vax 3000, 5000, and a few others along with parts including memory. Those of you who have been here know I have a ton of DEC and DEC-compatible parts, but no one has seen everything. I have brand new disk heads, tape drive heads, alignment packs, and literally tons more. I went through over 50 backplanes a few weeks ago looking for a few specific ones. Some Unibus items are also going. Probable some 11/05s, 11/34s, 11/83 and/or 84s and a lot of options and boards. So if you need or are thinking about DEC items, feel free to send me a wish list off list. I prefer phone calls and will send my number upon request. I was never great at typing and I'm getting worse. Oh- I also trade for US and foreign coins and currency. Thank, Paul

1 year, 2 months

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More equipment available in Upland, CA

by Ali

I also have the following available for whoever is interested: Sony StorStation AIT Library LIB-162 https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/sony-storstation-ait-library-lib-1 62.1253656/ HP SureStore SC10 https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/hp-surestore-sc10.1253657/ HP Impact Line Printer 2563C (this is one nice printer and if I had the room I would keep it but alas....) https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/hp-impact-line-printer-2563c.12536 54/ -Ali

1 year, 2 months

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Lee Felsenstein at VCF West August 1 at 4:30PM

by Jeffrey Brace

Lee Felsenstein at VCF West Friday, August 1 at 4:30PM. He will talk about the 50th Anniversary of The Homebrew Computer Club. Get tickets here: https://connect.computerhistory.org/.../1ffceb98-f556... <https://connect.computerhistory.org/events/1ffceb98-f556-df49-f011-42475680…> Info here: https://vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-west/ <https://vcfed.org/events/vintage-computer-festival-west/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZ…> Jeff Brace

1 year, 2 months

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