I'm working on documenting these supplies, since there seems to be almost nothing on them on
the web of use. There is a list of what is on the 9 pin molex on the SM, but no actual pinout.
Same for the 15 pin D on the MMA, but at least there are enough pictures around to be able to
assume the sense lines are on 1 and 2.
The general form of the part numbers for them starts with 2 or 3 letters (TM,MM,MMA,SM) a rough
power rating code (1-7) and the number of outputs (1-5) a dash, then model number probably encoding
supply outputs/amps. This is based on looking at a bunch of eBay pictures.
They want waaaay too much money for them on there.
This all started because I need to fix the MM72s for the Alto. I got the four I took a look at
fixed by replacing all of the 19000uF/7.5v caps. All of them were dried out. Not a huge surprise
since they were from around 1978. Measured the rest of the caps in them with an in circuit
capacitance/ESR meter and they were all reasonable, even the 1400uf/200v ones, which I had some
spares for, but are much harder to find in the right size than the 19mF ones.
Switching supplies from the mid 70's are NOISY (10-20mV on all four supplies)
I was wondering if this item would attract much attention.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/262642624725
Sold for $787 this evening.
I don't know anything about these systems. Looks interesting, but this
bit of text didn't sound too encouraging: "The 550s have not held up
particularly well over time. As of 2013, the museum had two units.
Both units have non-functioning power supplies. The system control
boards are also subject to damage from battery corrosion."
http://www.hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?hw=581
Also this bit of text about the HP-UX 5.0 Operating System:
"The downloadable file is an image of the system software tape for
HP-UX on 500 Series computers. It was made from a 150ft tape. We
obtained 47 read errors while imaging the tape, so it's probably not
entirely intact, and we don't have a working 500 Series machine to
check. However, the file contents of the tape are readable by issuing
the BASIC CAT command from a 300 Series computer."
http://hpmuseum.net/display_item.php?sw=534
Just curious if anyone knows much about these systems and if anyone
has one in working condition. What might the chances be for whoever
bought this system to get it into any sort of working setup? Does
anyone else have software for these squirreled away in their
collections?
I have been keeping a registry of key machines.. Apple IIs and Altairs and such.. whenever a serial number is available I try to record it. ?Ive only seen one or two come up twice.. and I think one was the vintagecomputermuseum guy. ?I'll keep keeping tabs and see just for fun if stuff is in fac recycling. :)
Sent from my Samsung device
-------- Original message --------
From: william degnan <billdegnan at gmail.com>
Date: 2016-10-02 1:37 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: ka... ching!
On Sun, Oct 2, 2016 at 4:29 PM, TeoZ <teoz at neo.rr.com> wrote:
> There are also the type of people who get into a hobby and buy all kinds
> of gear then get bored and ditch it a few years later.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Jon Elson
> Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2016 3:32 PM
> To: General at classiccmp.org ; Discussion at classiccmp.org:On-Topic and
> Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: ka... ching!
>
>
> On 10/02/2016 12:50 PM, Al Kossow wrote:
>
>>
>> On 10/2/16 10:15 AM, Jay West wrote:
>>
>>> I have a new theory. No new machines are ever
>>> found, we all just keep trading ownership of them amongst ourselves,
>>> sometimes with the same machine coming back years later!
>>>
>>> Thats been a joke at hamfests for decades :-)
>>
>>
>>
>> It is NOT a joke, it really happens.? The old gear outlasts
> the owners, and people use it for a while, upgrade, move to
> a retirement home or whatever, and it goes to someone else.
> Then, the cycle repeats.
>
> Jon
>
I have noticed a lot of "new" items coming into availability. People have
been horders of computers since companies first started letting employees
to take them home after depreciation.? Plenty is still out there.
I still want to got to Cuba to find a Univac there.? I have this feeling
that some thought-lost vintage machines are to be found there.
b
So there's another 11/35 up on eBait:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/142135416325
10-1/2 'desktop' cabinet. It does have the semi-mythical KE11-F, from what I
can see. Not sure what the group of 4 quad cards is (none of the pictures
show the numbers clearly) - maybe an RK11-D, if we can believe the tape along
the edge? Does have a couple of DL11's, and one 16KB core memory group.
Noel
thanks for the info....
I will now have to find where I put it!
It was not like the mac mouse and I do not or
I did not think I had one for our Lisa but I guess I do now!
our SMECC Lisa has a floppy and a hard drive.
hard to say what is wrong with it... just a screen full of letters
(any info on this is good to hear from you-)
Ed# www.smecc.org
In a message dated 10/1/2016 7:13:55 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
cisin at xenosoft.com writes:
On Sat, 1 Oct 2016, COURYHOUSE at aol.com wrote:
> In reality, what do you feel the mouse is worth?
As a mouse, $5 - $20
as a historic artifact, $10 - $1000, depending on prevenance (Engelbart's
mouse is worth more than mine)
In reality, what do you feel the mouse is worth?
Ed#
In a message dated 10/1/2016 4:47:10 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
js at cimmeri.com writes:
On 10/1/2016 6:38 PM, Adrian Graham wrote:
> On 01/10/2016 23:52, "Santo Nucifora"<santo.nucifora at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> For those who are bidding on the twiggy drives, you can have a Lisa 1
>> faceplate here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/222262204758 and a
matching
>> Lisa 1 mouse here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/172360487433
>>
> Hells, he's still trying to flog that mouse for $3K. We've picked that
one
> apart a few times here :)
And the incredible gall of him to have a shipping charge on top of
that. Uneffingblinkenbelievable.
- J.
Come on! there are still treasures to be found! ( probaby not the 57
chevy though)
In a message dated 10/1/2016 4:06:55 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
cisin at xenosoft.com writes:
Yes, it is easy to remember times when IBM 5150, '57 Chevy, Altair,
Isetta, functioning TTYs, could be had for the effort of carrying them
home.
Well before our time, Van Gogh paintings could be had for a bottle of
wine.
>Can
>everyone afford a Ferrari? No. Has this >seriously damaged old car collecting?
But it has seriously damaged my ability to enjoy and collect Ferraris. :D
-Ali
I second what Mike says, Chuck.
I don't enjoy fighting with these deep pocketed 'collectors', especiallu knowing a lot of this stuff is destined for a trophy case never to be used. ?But.. that's the free market. ?Plus high prices ensure I'm not able to immediately fill my basement. :)
I actually find myself more excited by reproduction.. I think as cool as it would have been to own an original TVT building one myself has really made it special. ?Along the way I keep finding new potential projects. ? ?
Sent from my Samsung device
-------- Original message --------
From: Mike Stein <mhs.stein at gmail.com>
Date: 2016-10-01 1:47 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: ka... ching!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 01, 2016 2:12 PM
Subject: Re: ka... ching!
> On 10/01/2016 08:27 AM, js at cimmeri.com wrote:
>
>> Ohhhh, I see.??? Now that makes sense -- Thanks, Al.??? But, like
>> airplanes and boats, this looks like only a rich person's game.
>
> Sigh.? There was a time when I was in this old computer stuff to help
> out people who were trying to do something or retrieve otherwise lost
> information.
>
> The game has changed, obviously.? We are in an era now when folks with
> too much money and spare time and narcissism want to buy and sell and
> display toys rather than play with them.
>
> Looks like it's time to get out of this racket.
>
> --Chuck
>
=====================
Please don't, Chuck!
You're one of the most prolific sources of information and helpful advice in this hobby, across almost all platforms, and you would be sorely missed indeed.
Obviously I don't have anything close to what you have to contribute, but my reasons for spending time on these lists & forums are more or less the same (as well as the hope of regaining some space in my house ;-).
For various reasons I've also from time to time reflected on why I waste so much time on what is just old junk to most people; someone here (Al? Fred?) once asked rhetorically how much money or lost income we spend just storing this crap, and that in particular hit home.
I did get rid of a fair bit of stuff after the unpleasantness on the Vintage Forum and have cut back a lot on the time I spend on the various lists, but when I consider 'getting out of the racket' completely the friends I've made and the occasional opportunity to actually help someone with a hard-to-find item or even a piece of advice have kept me 'in it' after all.
Please don't go!
m
I have no idea how many people this person emailed, but I did get emailed
directly about it so passing it on..
"Stuff" available (as of today for sure) in central NH. See a few pictures
at www.ezwind.net/nh <http://www.ezwind.net/nh>
The person said it includes 2 or 3 systems (altos? PDP? Vax?), and a lot of
documentation and media. Some other documentation is present for other
systems (Honeywell, etc.).
They also said some Prime manuals but not sure I buy that.
Snippets in email I received:
You would not want to see what I have go into the dump. My Dad was a
programmer from day until . His life's work is in my basement. Includes a
VAX and a Dec PC and an Altos. Also have numerous PDP and PDP material. Many
VAX/VMS manuals, multitude of software and manuals.
And.
We have some PDP=10 and somePDP11 books and manuals. Prime.
And.
Still available. Location Central NH. Come get it or call me via telephone.
Where do you want it shipped and can you pay for freight charge? Want it
gone now as soon as possible. Thank you.
And.
Here are pics of the DEC machines and an Altos. All of the documentation
goes with the computers and some is from other mid-range platforms. Some
text books as well. I need to sell all of this stuff to an interested buyer.
Moving and can't take it with me.
If you are serious (and able) to get this equipment within a week or two,
then contact me off-list and I'll send an introduction email. Whoever takes
this on should be in the NorthEastern US at least..
Best,
J