test-drb

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101090 discussions

by silent700＠gmail.com

I don't know their history as regards computing before the 1980s but Motorola seems to have had a brief flirtation with data processing in the form of their MDR-1000 mark-sense and punched-card reader, a brochure for which I scanned tonight: http://chiclassiccomp.org/docs/index.php?dir=%2Fcomputing/Motorola The original had been damaged by mildew and staining, which I tried to clean up a bit without sacrificing the graphics on the covers, but the inside fared much better. If you're like me, you'll enjoy some juicy shots of telco datacomm equipment, too. I know HP made a similar desktop device but I don't believe this is a rebadge of any other company's product. Or is it? As always, feel free to add to your collections, etc. -j

9 years, 1 month

Opening up PSU for Olivetti M24

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I have just acquired an Olivetti M24. I want to inspect the PSU and I have removed it from the machine. But I am struggling to remove the only seemingly removable panel. This is the one with the mains socket and the on/off switch on it. It looks as if it might be hinged at the bottom, but it won't pivot out or come away. Does anyone know how to get inside this PSU? Thanks Rob

9 years, 1 month

Reproduction 8/e panel from Rod Smallwood

by michael.99.thompson＠gmail.com

I received my reproduction 8/e panel from Rod Smallwood (aka "panelman") this week. It looks spectacular compared to the peeling paint on the original. Rod did not drill the hole for the rotary switch because the position varies a little depending on the revision of the switch panel. I put the original panel on top of the new one, marked the rotary switch location, drilled a pilot hole and successively larger holes. I had to adjust the position of the AC power switch a little to optimize the clearance around the switches, but that was easy. The original panel had rubber bumpers between the panel and the front of the chassis that I will attach to the new panel with double sided adhesive tape. The original panel had a tapered relief at the back of the hole for the AC power switch, but the new one does not. I will use a file or Dremel tool to remove some of the panel material. Without the relief the panel will get stressed near the AC switch. Overall, the workmanship on the panel is spectacular. Now I need to repaint the 8/e front panel frame, RX01, RK05, and TU56 so they look as nice as the new front panel. -- Michael Thompson

9 years, 1 month

FS: Fulcrum IMSAI 8080 clone system

by sellam＠vintagetech.com

I'm selling this interesting off-shoot of IMSAI history. It's a Fulcrum Data Systems IMSAI 8080 clone in turnkey configuration. Fulcrum was started by Bruce Wright of WW Component Supply, who competed with Tom Fischer to buy remaining inventory at the IMSAI bankruptcy sale in the early 1980s. Fulcrum was eventually sued and had to cease and desist but not before a few of these systems were sold. Photos and more information are located here: http://vintagetech.com/sales/S-100/Fulcrum/ It powers up but I haven't tested the logic. The bus power is fused and I don't have the fuse caps right now. I can probably round some up with a little scrounging. Otherwise I tested all the voltages coming off of the power supply and they are good. I'm asking $1,200 for the complete system (CPU + dual drive unit) but I'm willing to entertain offers. Please inquire directly via private e-mail. You might also want to check out the other stuff I have for sale by starting here: http://vintagetech.com/sales/ Thanks! -- Sellam Abraham VintageTech ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintagetech.com Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. The truth is always simple. * * * NOTICE * * * Due to the insecure nature of the medium over which this message has been transmitted, no statement made in this writing may be considered reliable for any purpose either express or implied. The contents of this message are appropriate for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. The right of the people to be secure in their papers against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.

9 years, 1 month

TI Silent 743/745 question.

by Corey.Cohen＠ca.com

I'm trying to troubleshoot a TI silent 743/745. When you press the "rubout" key should it print anything like an underscore? Besides sending the rubout character, what does the actual print head do? Backup? Print an underscore? Thanks, Corey corey cohen u??o? ???o? Mobile: +1 917 747 1408<tel:+1%20917%20747%201408>

9 years, 1 month

Looking for I/O specs HP 9000/236 - 9836CU

by pete＠petelancashire.com

I just acquired one of the guys w/o a display Looking for the spec's of the display connector. I have what I believe to be the pinout but nothing on timing, scan rates, levels etc. Other identification on the thing is "1 MB Board internal set as 1st Card" Upgraded to 9836CU NO BATT / DOES NOT START / BOOT ? Model ID tag 9836C / 2210A01010 -pete

9 years, 1 month

Resistor/Fuse replacement (DEC H7104-D)

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Josh Dersch > I have no excuse, I just get nervous working on these things. I should hope you do get nervous! Anytime one is working around equipment that contains lethal voltages, one _should_ be nervous! It helps with... > I suppose eventually I'll get used to it. Don't get too used to it, one wants to always be aware and cautious! (I myself am missing half a nail - and I'm lucky that's all that's missing - because I got too "used to" working with my table saw...) Noel

9 years, 1 month

Andy Grove dies

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

Andrew Grove, co-founder of INTEL, passed away.Truly a giant of our industry. He made possible, or promoted, the brains and memory chips that drive our machines, old and new.

9 years, 1 month

Anyone want some Polymorphic 88 manuals and disks?

by ben＠bensinclair.com

I had a Poly 8813, and just found that I still have the System 88 User's Manual, including the Macro 88 manual, schematics, and 16K RAM manual/schematics. I also have some disks that came with the system, though their status is unknown. I believe many of them were just blank, but there is some system software and a general ledger program disk. Anyone want these? The manuals seem to be readily available online already. -- Ben Sinclair ben at bensinclair.com

9 years, 1 month

Restoring Nylon parts (like the card guides in a PDP-8a chassis)

by dpi＠dustyoldcomputers.com

A friend mentioned that there was a thread about the card guides in an 8a or 8e chassis but I was unable to locate it so I am posting this as a new thread as it has more relevance than just specifically those card guides. Nylon is hygroscopic. Hygroscopic means it has the ability to absorbs water. As nylon ages it drys out. When nylon dries out it shrinks and it becomes brittle. If a nylon part has not yet cracked or been damaged by UV it can be restored to almost like new simply by boiling it in water for 15 to 20 minutes. Boiling will force water back into the material and it will expand and soften. Do not use a pan with a ceramic type of non stick coating. I almost ruined a 10" skillet because it imparted a flavor to the coating which then transferred to the food cooked in the skillet. I don't know what effect microwaves would have on the Nylon matrix so I suggest you just use something like a Corning Ware ceramic glass pan on your range. I was able to restore almost all the unbroken card guides on my 8a. A couple of them had taken on a permanent bend due to excessive shrinkage. Some had broken pins. A few of the pieces expanded too much and you could plug them into the chassis but they bowed away from the edge because they had lengthened beyond original length. Waiting a few weeks allowed them to dry out a little and shrink and restored them to original size. Unfortunately there are no adhesives that will adhere to nylon long term so it is not possible to repair broken nylon parts in a usable manner. Nylon while cheap and easy to injection mold was probably not the best choice for card guides. But then who would ever have expected these machines to still be coveted 40 years after manufacture. -- Doug Ingraham PDP-8 SN 1175

9 years, 1 month

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