Wont they work if you just get an PAL RF modulator? Or don't install the
modulator and just use a composite monitor.
----------
> From: e.tedeschi <e.tedeschi(a)ndirect.co.uk>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Sinclair kits
> Date: Saturday, August 30, 1997 12:42 AM
>
> Adam Jenkins wrote:
> >
> > Hi!
> >
> > You probably already know, but I just found a keen site selling
Sinclair
> > ZX81 kits in the US. Apparantly they opicked up the original kits
years
> > ago, and are only now trying to sell them. I am interested in putting
one
> > of these togeather, as the ZX81 was a fascinating computer, and highly
> > significant in the Home Computer industry - especially in the UK.
> >
> > Anyway, it's at:
> >
> > http://www.users.interport.net/~zebra/ts
> >
> > and all the standard disclaimers apply. :)
> >
> > Adam.
>
> Thank you for pointing this to me BUT.....I have tried
> e-mailing and snail mailing them and....they don't answer.
> Fullstop.
>
> Perhaps they don't supply overseas. Try and let me know.
> However their kits are American and that means that the
> machines will NOT work in UK.
>
> Good luck.
>
> enrico
> --
> ============================================================
> Enrico Tedeschi, 54, Easthill Drive, BRIGHTON BN41 2FD, U.K.
> tel/fax +(0)1273 701650 (24 hours) or 0850 104725 mobile
> website: <http://www.Brighton-UK.com>
> ============================================================
>
Ok, I picked up some keen stuff today that I'd like to hopefully get some
information for.
1. Tektronix 4041 Computer/Controller.
Now this is neat. Unfortunately it doesn't do a whole lot at the moment.
First a description: its about 8" wide by 8" high (front) by 2' long. It
has a built-in 20 column thermal printer and a DC-100 tape drive. The
front panel consists of a numeric keypad plus some other special function
keys, an LED display and some status LEDs. I opened it up and found that
it is a 68000 based system. It seems to use an S-100 bus, since the cards
have S-100 edge connectors. It has four slots, and two of the slots are
filled. One has the CPU card with the 68000 processor. The other is a
Standard I/O card. The two other slots are Read/Write Memory (RAM) and an
Option Card slot. The front panel also has a slot for a ROM pack. The
ROM pack is a tray that pulls out and has two ROM packs plugged in with
room for 4 more ROM packs. The ROM packs included allow for BASIC
programming. On the back is an RS-232C port and a GP-IB (IEEE488) port.
It is circa 1981.
When I first booted it up the printer started spitting out paper. The
next time I turned it on only the power LED came on. I then turned it
off and opened up the cover to examine its innards. I pulled each card
and checked them out then replaced them. I turned it back on and this
time got "SELF TEST" on the display. It never does anything after that.
I got two manuals with it, and of what I've read so far, the self test
should check all the controllers for the tape drive, the printer, the
front panel, and perform other diagnostics, then show the ROM version,
but it never does this. I'm wondering if a lack of a RAM card is the
culprit.
This system also came with an optional programming keyboard, which was
just a full size keyboard for entering in programs.
If anyone can shed any light on this sucker and what else it could do I
would appreciate it. I remember seeing in a book I have a picture of the
graphics output of some Tektronix computer on a screen. I can't remember
what book this was in or even where that book may be. I wonder if this
is the system that produced that output?
2. A Lynx 460 Floppy Drive Alignment Tester. It has two connectors for
8" and 5.25" floppy drives. It has all sorts of toggle switches on it for
selecting the drive (1, 2, 3 or 4), the head (1 or 0), the track address,
etc. It also has status LEDs to show, for instance, Amplitude, Radial,
Head Load, etc. Not that I know what any of this means (not yet at
least, I got it with manuals and the manuals have a nice introduction to
disk drive theory of operation). Anyway, apparently you use this in
conjunction with alignment disks. Looks like a cool box (it's very
small, the size of a notebook) that will come in handy in years to come.
Any further information on either of these would be appreciated.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
Would others on the list like to help this fellow out? Bet he'll get some
interesting recollections from this bunch. ;-)
Please respond directly to the author. Also, Bill Whitson has indicated
he'll try again, this weekend, to make it to my place. Let's all root for
him, OK? ;-)
Attachment follows.
-=-=- <snip> -=-=-
>From: andrewl(a)rd.bbc.co.uk (Andrew Lipscombe)
>Date: Fri, 29 Aug 97 12:31:54 BST
>To: kyrrin2(a)wizards.net
>Subject: Old data storage devices
>
>I am currently researching into the history of off-line and on-line storage
>as part of a project. Specifically I am looking for information regarding
>what $100 (or 100 pounds) would buy at five year intervals from 1960, 1965
>etc up to the present day. Or the price per megabyte at the same interval.
>
>Any information you can provide with regards to price of tape, disk,
>paper/punchcard, drum etc storage since the first RAMAC would be very useful
>indeed. There are several graphs available for predicting future trends, but
>I am looking specifically for data from the past. It doesn't have to be
comprehensive info, in fact just a few ballpark figures would do very nicely!
>
>In fact I'm after any half-remembered original prices of any hard or floppy
>drives that you may have acquired!
>
>Thanks in advance for your help,
>
>Andrew Lipscombe
>BBC R&D
>
>ps if you can't help, could you please pass this message onto someone who
might
>be able to. Cheers
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin2(a)wizards.net)
http://www.wizards.net/technoid
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
I've been in correspondence with a fellow who's got a lot of older VAXen,
Q-Bus, and disk drive goodies. He may also have some mainframe stuff. I've
already claimed a QBus-to-SA1000 disk interface board set.
Please contact him directly if you want more details. Thanks!
Attachment follows.
-=-=- <snip> -=-=-
>Reply-To: <edick(a)idcomm.com>
>From: edick(a)idcomm.com (Richard Erlacher)
>To: "Bruce Lane" <kyrrin2(a)wizards.net>
>Subject: Re: Q-bus cards.
>Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 21:44:45 -0600
>X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail 4.70.1155
>
>Nope . . . it's just junk in the basement from back when I was contemplating
>building up a Q-bus system. I quickly gave up on that one . . .
>
>You cover the freight. Probably $3 per board via USPS priority mail would
>cover it. Q-bus SCSI cards from makers like EMULEX were still very hot
when I
>got this 2-board set. I looked at the size of the project, and looked at the
>product I'd have when the work was done, and quit right there. I had some
>memory cards, and even an 11-780 (VAX) rack pair, but without drives or
memory
>cards. One trip down the stairs with that convinced me I didn't want any
more
>of that stuff. ]]
>
>I still have a few dumb terminals (not ANSI) and a few old printers. I even
>have a SASI interfaced hard drive, complete with the bridge controller
>(SA1000). Mostly, I have old 70's and 80's S-100 stuff..
>
>If you're interested in the drives which go with the controller, you need to
>consider that I'm in Denver and that the drives weigh about 25-30#.
>
>I am, incidentally, not a collector at all, just a guy who bought a lot of
>stuff which he doesn't need any more at high prices and hasn't the heart
>(sense) to junk it. I am, an electronics engineer and used to use some of
this
>stuff for one thing or another.
>
>I can attempt to make a list of what's just lying about. As I wrote before,
>much of it is in the basement because I can't carry it up by myself, else it
>would have been gone long ago.
>
>
>----------
>> From: Bruce Lane <kyrrin2(a)wizards.net>
>> To: edick(a)idcomm.com
>> Subject: Re: Q-bus cards.
>> Date: Thursday, August 28, 1997 20:56 PM
>>
>> At 18:10 28-08-97 -0600, you wrote:
>>
>> >Thanks for the WD7000 drivers, etc. I have an item you might like to
>> consider,
>> >namely a Q-bus to ST1000 (Shugart 8") hard drive adapter. Actually, it's
>two
>> >cards.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> You're most welcome, and yes, I would most definitely be interested! (for
>> the collection value if nothing else). Would you want any actual cash for
>> it or would I just need to cover the shipping?
>>
>> > Now that's an oddity if ever there was one, and, in fact, I could even
>> >send you a drive or two, (I think) though I'm not certain they haven't
been
>> >recycled, since there's a significant amount of scrap aluminum
involved. I
>> >have LOTS of late '70's through 80's computer equipment. Much of it too
>> heavy
>> >to toss, else it would already be gone. Let me know if there's something
>> >specific you want. Perhaps I have it!
>>
>> Well, I have been keeping an eye out for a QBus-to-SCSI board, though that
>> may be a little late-model for the collection it sounds like you have.
>>
>> Two questions:
>>
>> 1). Where are you located?
>>
>> 2). Since it sounds like you're a collector, would you be interested in
>> subscribing to a listserver, out of the University of Washington, with a
>> bunch of other collectors on there? If not, I can forward a list of
>> whatever you'd like to get rid of to the list.
>>
>> Thanks again!
>>
>>
>> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>> Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
>> (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin2(a)wizards.net)
>> http://www.wizards.net/technoid
>> "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
>> human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin2(a)wizards.net)
http://www.wizards.net/technoid
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
Hi,
Last weekend I was lucky enough to find a pallet of Apple II stuff (2
complete systems, and lots of cool things), and amongst everything was a
copy of a book called the "Apple II User's Guide" published back in '81 by
Osbourne/McGraw-Hill.
In this book under the chapter on Drives I found that it talks about three
types of disks; Hard Disks, Winchester Disks, and Diskettes. It also has a
picture for each, and it's the picture of the "Hard Disk System" that
interests me. It appears to be a Rack Mounted enclosure for a Removable
Disk pack. I can't see how many platters the pack has (the cover is white
plastic), but I would guess between 2 and 4. It has four square push
buttons (looks like the kind that light up), and two small lights.
Basically it looks like a "Micro" version of the disk packs I used to use
on Honeywell and UNISYS Mainframes. The photo was courtesy of "Cameo
Electronics", and I can see their logo on part of the case.
The text says the disks cost about $150 each and the drives between
$3000-10000. All in all a very fascinating looking peice of hardware!
I've never seen anything like them other than on mainframes, were these
very common?
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Mac Programmer |
+----------------------------------+---------------------------+
| For Empire of the Petal Throne, and Traveller Role Playing |
| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
<From: "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com>
<In this book under the chapter on Drives I found that it talks about three
<types of disks; Hard Disks, Winchester Disks, and Diskettes. It also has
Funny most hard disks are winchester in base technology even if they are
removable!... The osborne folks tended to make strange distinctions.
<The text says the disks cost about $150 each and the drives between
<$3000-10000. All in all a very fascinating looking peice of hardware!
<I've never seen anything like them other than on mainframes, were these
<very common?
A common one was the CDC hawk drives at 10mb per pack. As they were often
more expensive than the cpu they were on they were not frequently seen on
the likes of apples and s100 systems. They were more often seen on Novas,
PDP-8s, PDP-11s and other minis. The larger multiplatter drives were even
to costly for the smaller minis and were seen at those sites that had the
larger PDP11s or even bigger machines.
Back in 1980 a Hawk (10meg) was something close to twice the price of a
complete NorthStar* Horizion with two floppies, 64k and terminal. Two years
later non removable drive would be quite cheap compared to that but
removeable platter drives would still command a premium. Now a Zip drive
compares to common IDE hard disks.
Allison
1. After getting slightly sidetracked on the way to Bruce's a couple
weeks ago - I'm back ;).
2. Apple III experts - what's the difference between an A3M01 and an
A3M02? I'm assuming 01 is the "drop-fix" motherboard and 02 is the
fixed version. Does anyone have software for a MS Softcard III?
3. Do you need Apple II parts? I have too many. I have II+s and
IIe's (working and not) lots of Monitor III's. Assorted manuals
for Apple II and III. Tons of disk drives. If you're looking for
something and I have it it's yours for the price of shipping. I have
a number of badly broken system which will ultimately be scrapped
but I'll be pulling pieces so... I'll eventually put together a
list but I need to make some room now so just ask. I'll also be
trekking down the coast 2nd week of September so if you live along
I5 in OR/WA or 101 in CA I might be able to deliver.
4. Classic Computer HOWTO's. I've been sitting at home for a week
inventing things to do and started writing a how to document detailing
drive alignment for various disk drives (not even close to ready yet).
Anyway, seems like a cool idea for those of you who know how to do things
to detail them in a howto and help improve everyone's know-how. People
keep asking, for example, how to convert TV to composite output. If
you've got nothing better to do ;).
Bill
--------------------------------------------------------
Bill Whitson Classic Computer List Operator
bw(a)booster.bothell.washington.edu
CCL Website: http://haliotis.u.washington.edu/classiccmp
Well, I got the VAX working last night. It has a melted power cable that I
had to rebuild. It seems to boot Ultrix, what seems to be a Unix variant. Time
to play...
Also, can anyone point me to any FAQs about the VAXstations?
Rich Cini/WUGNET
rcini(a)msn.com
> Anyone interested in any of the Bouroughs manuals given the lack of
> precise data on what they are? I'll probably pick up most of it anyway but
> if I know someone wants the stuff, I can be a little more liberal in what we
> take.
Yeah. I've had unhealthy relations with a B-800; if there's anything about
the B-800 I'm interested. Other things to look for are COBOL language manuals,
NDL language manuals, and manuals covering operating of MCP and CANDE.
I'm interested in all/any of these.
BTW, the B-80 is close enough to the B-800 to be interesting as far as I'm
concerned...
Roger Ivie
ivie(a)cc.usu.edu
PS: Burroughs had a really good COBOL compiler on the B-800, it just took
_forever_ to compile anything...
Anyone ever heard of "Laser Magnetic Storage Co."? They made mass storage
devices...I'm trying to find a driver.
Thanks
manney(a)nwohio.com
"How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty different
kinds of cheese?"
-- Charles de Gaulle
