I found out from a person in the area that low density DB15
ports if not used for Ethernet are used for a VGA terminal. Any idea
where to find one of these things? If you have one that you don't need
I wouldn't mind having it. By the way I'm still looking for a power
supply for an Amiga A500.
Any updates?
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard A. Cini, Jr. [SMTP:rcini@msn.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 1997 4:12 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Update on Altair scans
>
> Hello, all:
>
> I got a message from my friend with the Altair scans (list
> previously posted
> here). On Monday, he mailed me a Zip disk filled with scans. It really
> makes
> me wonder if this guy has a job! Actually, he must work for a
> publishing house
> or something, somewhere where he has access to high-volume scanners.
>
> Anyway, when I get this, I'll put together a disk/tape and Fedex
> it to Bill
> Whitson {Bill: I need your physical address and telephone#} and have
> him post
> it to the ftp site.
>
> More to come...
>
> ------------------------
> Rich Cini/WUGNET
> <rcini(a)msn.com>
> - ClubWin Charter Member (6)
> - MCPS Windows 95/Networking
William Donzelli <william(a)ans.net> wrote:
> > As I recall you wanted some sort of justification and I really
> > couldn't think of anything beyond "yeah, I'd like to get a look at
> > that" -- really I figured you would find other respondents who could
> > offer it better homes.
>
> There is a reason I did that.
Don't worry, I didn't take it personally! It's just that all too
often, I can't promise much better for an artifact than that I'll look
at it, stick it in a folder and then in a file box in my storage
closet. I'm not real happy about that.
> In a previous giveaway, NSFnet stuff,
> I was flooded by lots of people simply wanting the tape drives and nothing
> else (there was one exception). This did not make me very happy, as I felt
> that many of the respondants did not care about where these drives came
> from, rather that they were free drives. Much of this old NSFnet stuff
> (there is more free stuff to come - I unearthed some of the OOB modems,
> useful when the network crashed) really does have far more historical
> value than actual value. These machines (the RS/6000s with appropriate
> other things), numbering 75 or so, were the "Internet" for some time,
> and fuelled its explosive growth thru the first part of the 1990s, until
> the other ISPs started to appear.
Yeah, I remember the RS/6000 episode, it was shortly after I subscribed to
the list.
I have to admit that I was thinking about those RS/6000s too. But what
I was thinking were the somewhat more mundane questions of how best to get
one out here to California, where I would put it once it got here, and
what I would do with it. See comment above about the storage closet;
I have way too much stuff there already.
Well, with a sufficient number I would be more inclined to put 'em in
use for their intended purpose -- moving IP datagrams around. But
there's probably newer hardware to do that sort of thing while not
needing as much space, cooling, and/or electricity.
OOB modems? Is OOB a brand name or an abbreviation for "out of band"?
> I am not saying that the Sphere papers are of real historical significance
> - the company simply did not last very long, and in my opinion, was a
> producer of junk - but anything Sphere is very rare.
Yep, and I really couldn't justify (to myself) being selfish about it.
> Speaking of NSFnet stuff, I may be able to get some of the really old
> stuff, when the network was built with RTs, token rings, and 56 K DSUs. If
> I can get one of the old RTs, would the Vintage Computer Festival people
> be interested as a door prize?
Aiyeee, token things! Those also sound interesting, both because
they're RTs (another thing I'd like to dink with, someday) and because
of what they did.
Speaking of old Internet stuff...how many copies of the BBN report
1822 (on the host-IMP interface) do you think are floating around out
there? Wollongong (the mysterious office that I have alluded to in
other posts) had at least two and was preparing to toss both of them, I
think I steered one back toward the library and snagged the other for
my collection.
Back to SS-50:
> I have seen very little as well. That says something, as the boards tend
> to really stick out in the crowd. They never reached the popularity of the
> S-100 stuff, and was probably made in quantities much smaller than just
> about every other bus.
I've found something else that sticks out in a crowd: I/O cards for the
HP 2100-family machines. (No, I haven't forgot about pulling those manuals
for you and Tony, just haven't cleared the space and time to really go
through them.) Today I picked up a TTY I/O MUXR card. The etched part number
is 12584-60136. No manual, but still in its bag. Date-codes on ICs seem
to be 7106, 7123, 7122, 7303. $0.50.
-Frank McConnell
If you bothered to read a previous letter of mine help needed I'm
working on an old NCR machein that has thes DB15 ports that arn't
Ethernet and arn't serial but I found out from a very nolagibule person
was a port for a VGA terminal the other and most not often mentioned use
for them.
CL>VGA uses HD15, not DB15. DB15 is only used on PCs for AUI (obsolete
CL>ethernet) and game ports.
CL>Kai
CL>> -----Original Message-----
CL>> From: CharlesII(a)nwohio.nwohio.com [SMTP:CharlesII@nwohio.nwohio.com]
CL>> Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 1997 2:09 PM
CL>> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
CL>> Subject: Those pesky db15 ports
CL>>
CL>> I found out from a person in the area that low density
CL>> DB15
CL>> ports if not used for Ethernet are used for a VGA terminal. Any idea
CL>> where to find one of these things? If you have one that you don't
CL>> need
CL>> I wouldn't mind having it. By the way I'm still looking for a power
CL>> supply for an Amiga A500.
VGA uses HD15, not DB15. DB15 is only used on PCs for AUI (obsolete
ethernet) and game ports.
Kai
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CharlesII(a)nwohio.nwohio.com [SMTP:CharlesII@nwohio.nwohio.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 1997 2:09 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Those pesky db15 ports
>
> I found out from a person in the area that low density
> DB15
> ports if not used for Ethernet are used for a VGA terminal. Any idea
> where to find one of these things? If you have one that you don't
> need
> I wouldn't mind having it. By the way I'm still looking for a power
> supply for an Amiga A500.
Having just become the proud owner of a 2001, ($ 10.00 Cdn, about $ 7.00
US, delivered.) I have some questions that I hope you fellows can resolve.
1. What have I got, and did I get taken?
2. Although nothing appears to have been removed, I can't find a power
transformer in the drive unit. Does anyone know if this used a switched
power supply?
The outfit has been outside, but no rust. I will let it dry out for a few
days before I try plugging anything in.
Thanks
Charlie Fox
Thank you so much, Paul. Much appreciated!
-- Dave
==========================================================================
From hf.intel.com!prp Tue Oct 7 09:19:49 1997
From: Paul Pierce <prp(a)hf.intel.com>
To: Dave Fafarman <davef(a)wesco.com>, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Question -- IBM 704
Dave,
>Hello. I wonder if you might happen to know what the word length (bits)
>was for the IBM 704?
The IBM 700/7000 scientific computers (701, 704, 709, 7090, 7094, 7044
etc.) had a 36-bit word. Number representation is binary sign/magnitude.
From the 704 on the instruction size is 36 bits and there is hardware
floating point. It is an accumulator architecture derived from Von
Neumann's IAS machine. Programmer visible registers are an accumulator
(38 bits), multiplier/quotient register (36 bits) and 3 index registers
(15 bits.) It had 8K to 32K words of core memory. Mass storage was
magnetic tape or punched cards.
Web references:
IBM 704 Manual (selected pages) -
http://www.cs.virginia.edu/brochure/images/manuals/IBM_704/IBM_704.html
Von Neumann and the IAS - http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/VonNeumann.html
Paul Pierce
http://www.teleport.com/~prp/collect
Dave,
>Hello. I wonder if you might happen to know what the word length (bits)
>was for the IBM 704?
The IBM 700/7000 scientific computers (701, 704, 709, 7090, 7094, 7044
etc.) had a 36-bit word. Number representation is binary sign/magnitude.
Don't need the $$$ (or I shouldn't after my game hits store shelves in a
couple weeks).
I'm into trading mostly; other classic micros or console stuff I
collect.
-Matt Pritchard
Graphics Engine and Optimization Specialist
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Harbit [SMTP:krh03@csufresno.edu]
> Sent: Monday, October 06, 1997 2:12 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: RE: CC> TS 1000
>
>
> > I've got a second 2068, complete in Box, and I think maybe a
> cartridge
> > or two.
>
> How much $ are you asking?
>
On Wed, 31 Dec 1969, John R. Keys Jr. wrote:
> you may have the 820-II the upgrade to the 820 which came out in July 1981.
> They could run CP/M, two versions of BASIC, and used Ethernet.
How did it "use" ethernet? (Where di it "hook up", etc.)
LeS
>From: Dave Fafarman <davef(a)wesco.com>
>Subject: Question -- IBM 704
>
>Hello. I wonder if you might happen to know what the word length (bits)
>was for the IBM 704? This was a machine used in the 50s. (Please don't
>confuse with a more recent IBM 704 -- apparently the model name has been
>recycled after 40 years.)
TIA,
I've got a second 2068, complete in Box, and I think maybe a cartridge
or two.
-Matt Pritchard
Graphics Engine and Optimization Specialist
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Harbit [SMTP:krh03@csufresno.edu]
> Sent: Monday, October 06, 1997 9:30 AM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: CC> TS 1000
>
> Count me in on this too, especially a TS1000 or 2068.
>
> > If you find one that cheap, I'd like one. I only have a
> > TS1500. Any other sinclair you can find for that price or
> > accesories, and I would gladly reimurse you for shipping as
> > well. zx81, TS100, TS2048, TS2068, 2050 modem with case, or
> > just case, {have the modem already} Any printer that works....
> >
> >
>
> Ken Harbit
> krh03(a)cvip.fresno.com
> My other computer is a ZX
I have received a phone call from a guy in San Luis Obispo CA (no e-mail)
who wants to sell a Timex Sinclair 1000 -- complete including the 16K
expansion module -- at a swap meet. Like many people who are peripheral to
the community, he has a somewhat inflated idea of what this treasure is
worth, so I figure the best education is to just send him to the swap meet.
Anybody know of any close to him?
TIA
__________________________________________
Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
http://www.chac.org/index.html
Computer History Association of California
> Passing on Sun optical mouse pads for type 3 or 4 mice is a crime
> punishable by death. They are unique _two_ color pads (the horizontal
> stripes are a different color from the verticle ones) that Sun does not
> make anymore (contrary to Sun Direct's sales people, the pads they sell
> are for the normal type 5 mice).
What's unique about the sun mousemats? Two-colour ones were made by
several people. I need one for my IBM 5277 mouse :-( I was going to
use one off a Silicon Graphics Iris, which appears to be the same two
colours I remember from IBM, but it has vanished somewhere in my house.
I have seen others with different colours (red and blue instead of
yellow and blue) on a coarser resolution. These may have been near Sun
machines, I can't remember.
I ask merely from curiosity...
Philip.
John R. Keys Jr. Wrote:
> Well today made up for a slow week, got the following items:
[...]
> IBM 3274-31C with 8" diskettes sofeware
I'm sure you'll have fun with all your finds, but this is the one that
caught my eye.
Last week (?) someone was asking questions along the lines of what the
heck does one do with an IBM 3278?
The answer is, plug it into this. Neither is much use without the
other! I suggest the two of you get together over this...
The 3274 is called a "terminal controller". It is not per se a
computer, although I think it may have had microprocessors and things in
it. The floppy drives were for saving and loading configuration data
(along the lines of Port 1 a 3278, port 2 is a 3299 with 8 3278s hung
off it, port 3 is a printer etc...) It multiplexes terminals and things
to an IBM mainframe channel. While the 3278 and its relatives use the
IBM SNA protocol over 93 ohm co-ax, the 3274 can AFAIK connect over an
ordinary serial line. In which case all you need to do is write drivers
for whatever machine you choose as the host...
Happy hacking!
William Donzelli <william(a)ans.net> writes:
> Apparently there is not much call for ancient M6800 micro stuff, as I only
> got one response. I suppose if they were from the 8080 side of the fence,
> things would be different.
As I recall you wanted some sort of justification and I really
couldn't think of anything beyond "yeah, I'd like to get a look at
that" -- really I figured you would find other respondents who could
offer it better homes. I do have some 6800 stuff (not Sphere, Smoke
Signal Broadcasting) but also have the manuals for it and probably have
a book or two around somewhere with the 6800 instruction set.
I guess it's time for one of those questions I still don't have a good
answer for. Where the foo has all the SS-50 stuff gone? Or is it still
hiding? Or is it just not here in Sillycon Valley?
I have a couple of SS-50 systems in my collection. Depending on how
you look at it, the SSB Chieftain may be the system that started me off
collecting, though I really bought it with the idea that it was all
put together out of commonly-available parts that I could replace if
I let the magic smoke out while teaching myself hardware hackery.
(I never got the appropriate round tuit, and am still lacking a
proper appreciation of electronics.)
Oh, and it was another few years before I finally admitted to myself
that what I was about was collecting old computers. You know, the
first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem....[1]
And, well, last week I saw the first SS-50 stuff I've seen up for
grabs since I moved to Sillycon Valley seven-plus years ago. I
recognized it as SS-50 at a distance, but it had already been
stripped: all that was there was the chassis and power supply, with
the motherboard, baud rate generator, and a couple of serial cards.
All Gimix stuff but that's all that was there of it. Even the front
plate from the case was missing.
Well, I left it there.[2] When I went back for it today I got there a
little bit past closing time. I expect it's still there, and will go
back for it again on Monday.
-Frank McConnell
[1] "Well, I've filled this storage closet...I guess I'm gonna have
to rent another one." Somehow I don't think this is the sort
of "admitting I have a problem" that will lead to recovery.
[2] No, I won't write about why I did that. Suffice it to say I
felt pressed for time, and when I think about the time my
colleague in this endeavor wasted before and after I am *still*
seeing a little red.[3]
[3] Insert a smiley after every third word if you think that helps.
I have several switched power supplies from IBM clones that I would like
to try to repair, can anyone suggest a source of a book or schematics for
these things?
Thanks
Charlie Fox
Kevin McQuiggin VE7ZD wrote:
> >A friend of mine has acquired a Xerox 820. It's a CP/M machine from 1982.
> >
> >Anyone have any info on this? Any collectible value? Any interest?
> >
> >Kevin
I have an 820-II with all manuals and docs, unfortuneately it is not
working ( the
harddisk controller or harddisk has gone south!) If you need any
information from the manuals, please let me know I will be glad to
oblige. Also have a ton of CPM software that came with it, so if you
need bootdisks or the like I can help there too.
Would you friend like to sell his harddisk controller card and drive
perhaps?
Kirk Scott
scottk5(a)ibm.net
Well there is a company that sells them new for 30.00 so..... so much for
any inflation beyond that. If anyone wants that link let me know.
----------
> From: Kip Crosby <engine(a)chac.org>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: CC> TS 1000
> Date: Monday, October 06, 1997 11:04 AM
>
> I have received a phone call from a guy in San Luis Obispo CA (no e-mail)
> who wants to sell a Timex Sinclair 1000 -- complete including the 16K
> expansion module -- at a swap meet. Like many people who are peripheral
to
> the community, he has a somewhat inflated idea of what this treasure is
> worth, so I figure the best education is to just send him to the swap
meet.
> Anybody know of any close to him?
>
> TIA
> __________________________________________
> Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
> http://www.chac.org/index.html
> Computer History Association of California
>
I just got the voicemail of one of my contacts at Apple which said that the
Apple Library was "permanently closed." There was a pretty decent
collection of Apple hardware in that room, among other things. The good
side is that Jane Oros, the head librarian, is a very responsible person
(and I have a call in to her now.) The non-good side is that, as we know,
Apple is now in the hands of senior management who are convinced that the
history of their company is nothing but a drag on their energies.
I would appreciate hearing from anybody on this list who is also an Apple
employee and can say more about pertinent current events there. Any other
discussion also welcome, of course. TIA!
__________________________________________
Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org
http://www.chac.org/index.html
Computer History Association of California
If you find one that cheap, I'd like one. I only have a TS1500. Any other
sinclair you can find for that price or accesories, and I would gladly
reimurse you for shipping as well.
zx81, TS100, TS2048, TS2068, 2050 modem with case, or just case, {have the
modem already} Any printer that works....
----------
> From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: CC> TS 1000
> Date: Monday, October 06, 1997 2:06 PM
>
> On Mon, 6 Oct 1997, Marvin wrote:
>
> > There is a swap meet at Nipomo (20 minutes drive from SLO) and that is
the
> > best one that I know of in that area. My guess is that he would be
lucky to
> > find someone to pay $10 for the thing at a swap meet. The new kit
price
> > (minus memory modele) is $30 plus shipping from a company in NYC. They
seem
> > to go for between $15 - $25 opn ebay.
>
> TS1000 are so fairly common (of course, in my area) that I'd say $5 for
> each is being generous. I'd say $10 for a TS1000 with a 16K RAM module
is
> a decent price. Even new, $30 is a bit steep.
>
> Sam Alternate e-mail:
dastar(a)siconic.com
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer,
Jackass
>
> Attend the First Annual Vintage Computer Festival
> See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
Manney(a)nwohio.com -
You might care to try the Apple II archive FTP site at:
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/
This site has documentation, FAQs, disk images of almost everything that
is/was available for the Apple II series of computers, including a section
for educational software.
cheers,
John
------------
A church with which I work was recently given an Apple IIGS (with "Woz"
signature on the front, I notice).
Does anyone have any children's educational software for Apple that he/she
would be willing to donate or sell cheaply? You can get tax credit if you
want.
Please e-mail me -- manney(a)nwohio.com -- or contact the church directly:
Pastor Leo Stewart
Union Avenue Alliance Church
12700 Union Ave.
Cleveland OH 44104
(216) 752-6184
Thanks -- you'll be doing inner city kids a great favor.
P Manney
"Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire."
The keyboard plugs into the back of the MegaPixel display, then the
display is attached to the cube. The A and B ports are the serial ports.
They are wierd old ones that, on the 68040 boards are compatible with
standard Mac serial cable, though I am not sure if they support hardware
flow control. check NeXT Answers at http://www.next.com/ for more
detailed info, and pinouts.
The removeable cartridge drive is most likely meant for a 230M
Magneto-Optical disks of the 5.5" variety. They are somewhat hard to
find nowadays. Try looking at http://www.deepspacetech.com/ They have
tons of old NeXT stuff, and I believe they have these disks.
Another nice feature of these machines, is that they know how to handle
removeable media and both DOS and HFS volumes. This means that you can
plug a Zip drive into the SCSI port and transfer downloaded files to the
NeXT until you get it up and running on the Net itself.
The following URL is a terrific archive of NeXT software.
ftp://ftp.peanuts.org/next/
Enjoy it. It's a great machine.
Regards,
Peter Washburn
>From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com>
>To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
>Subject: NeXT cube
>
>I finally got a NeXT cube! I got it with a MegaPixel Display for $150.
>
>I have some questions. First, I'm assuming mine is a later revision
>because the motherboard has a date of 1990 on it. The CPU is a 68040.
>All my simm slots are filled up. How much memory does this mean it has?
>
>Now, I can't get the damn thing to boot up, because I can't figure out
>where to plug the keyboard into. I know this sounds stupid and all, but
>the keyboard connector is a round mini-DIN type with a peg in the center.
>The two connectors on the back that look like it would fit in (labeled 'A'
>and 'B') don't have a hole in the center for the peg to fit into, so they
>obviously aren't for the keyboard. Where does the keyboard go?
>
>Also, this looks like it has a hard drive in it, and it also has some sort
>of removable cartridge mass storage device in the front. It looks like
>it might fit a CD-ROM cartridge. Is this the case?
>
>Any help on the NeXT cube would be appreciated.
>
>Sam Alternate e-mail:
dastar(a)siconic.com
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer,
Jackass
CharlesII(a)nwohio.nwohio.com writes:
> I have an old NCR machine that I would like to get up and running.
> [...] There are numerous amounts of low density DB15 ports
> that I think have nothing to do with Ethernet since the spot that is
> labeled Ethernet is covered up with nothing behind the cover.
I'd guess that those 15-pin connectors are the serial ports. If you
don't turn up the pinout, holler, I have an adapter cable at the
office (used to use it to hook an HP 700/22 to one) and could ohm it
out one of these days (i.e. it'll go on my copious free time list for
when I find where I packed the cable when we re-carpeted the offices
a few weeks back).
-Frank McConnell
