- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

by sieler＠allegro.com

Interesting question ... brings back good and bad memories :) Probably $5,800 for an HP 3000 Corporate Business System (a 12-processor HP 3000/997). it was a million dollar machine when new. I bought it for $300, paid about $500 for delivery, and $5000 to get the three-phase power installed for it. I reinstalled MPE/iX (the disks had been scrubbed), and discovered that MPE wouldn't boot with more than 10 CPUs active ... due to licensing constraints. All of the HP documentation I could find said that the 3000 version of the hardware was limited to 10 CPUs (the 9000 version, running HP-UX, allowed up to 12). Turns out HP had apparently done an under-the-table sale of a 12-CPU system to someone, and patched (probably one byte of code change) the original copy of the OS to disregard the 10 CPU limit. (Under the table sales, and support, wasn't unusual with HP near the end of the HP 3000's lifetime.) The machine was in a spare room at our office in Cupertino. When we had to move, I donated it to Paul Allen's Living Computers Museum, in Seattle. Stan

9 years, 5 months

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Microscope for Soldering and Inspection Work

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

Has anyone had experience of using an item like this for soldering and PCB inspection work? https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmScope-Widefield-Binocular-Inspection-Microscope/d p/B005C75IVM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8 <https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmScope-Widefield-Binocular-Inspection-Microscope/ dp/B005C75IVM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484294314&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords= AmScope+sm-3bx> &qid=1484294314&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=AmScope+sm-3bx At the moment I have one of these: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/22w-fluorescent-magnifying-craft-lamp-a29ff which I find OK, but sometimes it gets in the way of the soldering iron and it isn't that easy to move it to a position and have it actually stay there. Regards Rob

9 years, 5 months

8
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What is the most prized possession in your collection?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Alan! Neat! I like this arm you have! I also have an articulating monster B & L arm and it is amazing.... but it takes up space on the desk with a monster base. Ed# In a message dated 1/14/2017 10:58:57 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, alan at alanlee.org writes: I have high 5 figures invested into a home soldering lab. I use a digital video scope now, however for 5-6 years before that, I used this scope nearly every day for mostly 0402/.5 mm pitch soldering and repair: http://www.amscope.com/3-5x-90x-simul-focal-articulating-zoom-stereo-microsc ope-with-3mp-digital-camera.html?gclid=CI6Dxb_D4sECFc1Z7AodUx8AiQ [1] Along with these eye pieces: http://www.amscope.com/pair-of-super-widefield-20x-microscope-eyepieces-30mm .html?gclid=CNr-3bXD4sECFQ0Q7AodzjsAeQ [2] The combination with swing arm allows me to move the scope anywhere on my work bench and gives a use-able work height of up to 18 inches underneath. I highly recommend it. -Alan P.S. Disregard the camera. I thought it would be useful when I bought it, but never once used it. On 2017-01-13 06:02, Alexandre Souza wrote: > We've talked about the most expensive, the most rare, the less usual... > > Now lets talk about what you love most <3 > > For me is the Apple IIe signed by Woz :D > > What is your most prized and loved possession? :) Links: ------ [1] http://www.amscope.com/3-5x-90x-simul-focal-articulating-zoom-stereo-microsc ope-with-3mp-digital-camera.html?gclid=CI6Dxb_D4sECFc1Z7AodUx8AiQ [2] http://www.amscope.com/pair-of-super-widefield-20x-microscope-eyepieces-30mm .html?gclid=CNr-3bXD4sECFQ0Q7AodzjsAeQ

9 years, 5 months

1
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What is the most prized possession in your collection?

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

That's a hard one. ?I feel like the answer should be 'my Mark-8 boards!', because they are so rare. ?But they're just boards.. they don't do anything. ?I find the computer I keep coming back to is my Digital Group z80. ?Digital Group just has that personality factor. ?

9 years, 5 months

1
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Microscope for Soldering and Inspection Work

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Be sure your stereo-zoom has a cover thing screwed into the front of it. always good to protect the active optics. We have a rework station with a sliding X Y table on it.... and a scope mounted on it... but... my hands are not steady as when young..( need to find technology to assist with that!) Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 1/14/2017 9:20:05 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, cclist at sydex.com writes: On 01/14/2017 12:48 AM, Rob Jarratt wrote: > Has anyone had experience of using an item like this for soldering > and PCB inspection work? I use a B&L stereo zoom microscope for inspection, but have never used it for soldering. That is, after soldering in, say, a TQFP, I'll use it to examine for misregistration and solder bridges. But I can't imagine soldering under it. For that, where normal vision doesn't suffice, I use a head-mounted binocular loupe. Seems to work just fine. --Chuck

9 years, 5 months

2
1
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Anyone have one of these? QDP-300

by jwsmail＠jwsss.com

This looks like a very nice system. I'm not sure I ever heard of it, but today's Sharktank (computerworld) has a fun story about it. Even better extra points if you have the said system in your collection. System (from link in article): http://blog.modernmechanix.com/qdp-300-the-peace-of-mind-computer/ Quasar Data Products http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=616 Shark Tank Column, 1/13/2017 (yes Friday the 13th). For future reference if the link fails. http://www.computerworld.com/article/3157097/it-industry/it-its-not-just-a-… The QDP had a hard drive and 8" floppies. Z80 x 64K memory. Thanks Jim

9 years, 5 months

1
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What is the most prized possession in your collection?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Mine is the HP-2000 ... it was a game changer for me in the used computer business as it gave me a one company direction... from dealing in parts to keep it alive to having HP-3000 systems being an indy new HP dealer on PC products in the 80s into the 90s. On a more personal level, the Classic PDP-8 with the plexi top covers we have here in the SMECC museum project I have given them. I wanted one ion 1965 and finally got one in the 80s! Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 1/13/2017 4:03:03 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, alexandre.tabajara at gmail.com writes: We've talked about the most expensive, the most rare, the less usual... Now lets talk about what you love most <3 For me is the Apple IIe signed by Woz :D What is your most prized and loved possession? :)

9 years, 5 months

1
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What's the rarest or most unusual software item do you own?

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Lars Brinkhoff > Is there a list? What's on it? I think he meant the mailing list. > I guess the PDP-11 operating system TRANTOR ... I recently found a copy > and sent it to the original authors. Oh, wow, neat. Where did you find it, if I may ask - I'm curious! Did a copy go to bitsavers, too (I hope)? Noel

9 years, 5 months

2
1
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Looking for Dr. Dobb's Developer Library DVD 6

by classiccmp＠crash.com

Greetings all, I always figured I'd order one of the compilations of Dr. Dobb's Journal on CD/DVD One Of These Days... Then they went and stopped publication. While a lot of DDJ content is still online at drdobbs.com, I'd still like to pick up that DVD. So like the Subject says, I'm looking to acquire a copy of this last version of said compilation. Thanks, --Steve.

9 years, 5 months

1
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What's the rarest or most unusual software item do you own?

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Leif Johansson > Me and peter recently discovered he saved the rest of the box. Is that the one I saw in the 'MIT-MC in Sweden' pictures a while back? > Paul Koning > A listing of RSTS-11 V0 If that's not already online in machine-readable form, we should get it scanned and OCR'd. I have a _very_ soft spot for RSTS-11 - I learned to program on a PDP-11/20 running RSTS-11. (Actually, I learned to program from reading a BASIC-PLUS language manual, borrowed from Matthew Weinstein, over my first weekend at boarding school!) Being able to run on it an actual PDP-11 (using Guy's MEM-11 card) would be so far beyond super-cool that it would be below absolute zero... Noel

9 years, 5 months

4
4
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OT: Germany: Looking for transport opportunity Cologne -> VCFe or Nuremberg or Offenburg

by Arno_1983＠gmx.de

Hello dear listmembers, sorry for the off-topic request. I have a chance to get two beautiful optomechanical Mettler lab scales from a gentleman in Cologne for a very nice price, but the seller states outright that he won't ship them (which probably wouldn't end nicely for the goods anyway!). So I'm looking for someone able to collect those (approx. 20*40*40cm and <10kg each) in Cologne sometime soonish (payment would be effected independently by bank transfer, there is one externally accessible transport safety screw on each device which would have to be checked/tightened) and deliver (timing for this step is largely uncritical) to either my home near Nuremberg BY, hand them over at VCFe in Munich BY on April 29th to May 1st, or meet me at a field day near Offenburg BW on April 7th to 9th (additional opportunities may appear). Compensation for fuel and time will be paid, please enclose your asking amount. Thanks in advance, yours sincerely Arno Kletzander // DO 4 NAK

9 years, 5 months

1
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Unknown 8085 opcodes

by shadoooo＠gmail.com

Hello Adrian, not sure if 8085 is supported, but try to analyze your dump with IDA Disassembler. It's really amazing in analyzing the code, and reconstruct automatically, or with small effort, a readable trace of functions jumps, strings, symbols, etc Andrea

9 years, 5 months

11
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Aliens film set equipment identification

by barythrin＠gmail.com

http://www.starringthecomputer.com/feature.html?f=728 Not the system she seems to be looking at but one item noted by some collector out there were grid compass laptops.

9 years, 5 months

2
1
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Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

I rarely go above $1000.. I spent $1500 for my Mark-8 boards. ?And I considered that a bargain considering what they were.

9 years, 5 months

1
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Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

-------- Original message -------- From: Rick Bensene <rickb at bensene.com> Date: 2017-01-12 11:49 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you   own? A selection of some of my more unusual computer-related stuff: - A Tektronix 4132 Unix workstation? using a National 32016 CPU and a 4.2bsd port called UTek - A Digital Equipment PDP 8/e system with 2 RK05 drives, high speed paper tape reader/punch, RX01 Dual 8" floppy drives, 16K of DEC core memory(commonly runs with a 32K NVRAM board), 2 serial ports, EAE, RTC, Memory Extension/Timeshare board, Diode boot board (RK05 boot) - Wang 300-series calculator field service parts kit (two wooden briefcases) - Friden 6010 Computyper Diagnostic Console - Friden Electronics Training Course manuals (1960s) - Wyle Laboratories WS-02 punched card programmable electronic calculator (1964) - Busicom 207 punched card programmable electronic calculator - Altair 8800 with Altair dual 8" disk drives - IMSAI 8080 kit built in high school as a school project in 1976/1977 - Televideo Personal Terminal - GE transistorised current loop acoustic coupler modem (110 baud) - Hewlett Packard 9100A and 9100B programmable electronic calculators - Tektronix mini-Board Bucket computer and many boards for it (EPROM Blaster, TI TMS9918-Based Video Board w/RTC, SASI Interface, 6809 CPU, 6809 ICE CPU. 32K Static and 64K Dynamic RAM Boards, 300-Baud Modem Board, 5 1/4" Floppy Controller - SWTPC TV Typewriter - A large format (4'x5') Summagraphics digitizing tablet with GPIB interface - A Tektronix 4052 desktop computer (bit-slice implementation of Motorola 6800 CPU) with very rare RAM Disk module installed under keyboard - Wang Laboratories dual-cassette drive for 700 series calculator - An old fluorescent-lighted, two sided sign advertising Denon electronic calculators - Some original Digital Equipment System Modules (Used by DEC for making some of their early computers) --- Rick Bensene >The Old Calculator Museum >http://oldcalculatormuseum.com Nice! ?Rick is your TV Typewriter the Don Lancaster design or the CT1024?

9 years, 5 months

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What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

EAI also made drum memories too I believe... ANYTHING EAI is cool! Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 1/12/2017 2:26:08 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, cctalk at snarc.net writes: > Given the topic, I have this rather *unique* punch card reader, if you want > to call it that. It is marked EAI but that's where the trail turns cold. EAI is Electronic Associates Inc. based here on the NJ shore. They made analog computers.

9 years, 5 months

1
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Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by barythrin＠gmail.com

https://www.flickr.com/photos/85127208 at N05/7799377360/in/photostream Not sure if this URL will share properly but this is one item I'd love to hear if anyone knows about. Definitely one of my most unusual prices however I bought it from a fellow collector and he got it from a friend's pawn shop find so not much on the true origin other than speculation. I haven't had time to fix it, but even the molecular connectors for the power are a but unusual. I brought it to our VCF South/Southwest a few times for showing early Portable computers.

9 years, 5 months

3
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LCM+L [was RE: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?]

by RichA＠livingcomputers.org

From: Lyle Bickley Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 8:30 PM > On Wed, 11 Jan 2017 17:34:51 -0800 > Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote: >> On 1/11/17 4:45 PM, Brad H wrote: >>> I wasn't even aware of the LCM until this thread I'm hurt. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) >> You mean "Living Computer: Museum + Labs" ? >> http://www.livingcomputers.org/ >> They just changed their name. > Thanks - didn't know that... > Good for them!!! Their website has really improved as well. Thanks, Lyle! I've passed that comment on to the head of the internal team that spearheaded the improvements as we worked on the rebranding, because she knows who everyone involved was and I don't. (The previous sites, both LCM and PDPplanet, were done by an expert team--they really are good--who were external and also not answerable to us.) This was part of expanding from a single floor of our three-story building onto the 1st (ground) floor, where we have educational labs, exhibits on modern developments from the vintage machines on the 2nd, a real gift shop and book store, and a small cantina. Rich Rich Alderson Vintage Computing Sr. Systems Engineer Living Computers: Museum + Labs 2245 1st Avenue S Seattle, WA 98134 mailto:RichA at LivingComputers.org http://www.LivingComputers.org/

9 years, 5 months

2
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KA-10 desirability [was RE: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?]

by RichA＠livingcomputers.org

From: Lars Brinkhoff Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 10:53 PM > Rich Alderson wrote: >> Eric's got a KL. If he had a KA, I would have tracked him down and >> beaten him to a pulp to lay hands on it--and we're friends. > This is the third time in a few weeks that I've seen people eagerly > looking for a KA10. The founder of LCM+L is Paul Allen. A KA-10 based PDP-10 is the Holy Grail, since it's the kind of system on which he and his friends (not just Bill Gates, but four others from the same school) all learned serious programming. (They started, of course, with Dartmouth BASIC on a dialup >from GE Information Systems.) > Is someone pulling strings behind the scenes? CIA wants an upgrade for > their PDP-3? NSA, whose existence itself was classified Top Secret at the time of the PDP-3 build. Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 11:00 PM > Eric Smith wrote: >> The only part of a KA that I have is the main console switch and light >> panel. The leadperson for the film Swordfish wanted to rent it from me, >> but we weren't able to reach an agreement. I have yet to see the film. > I think there's only about ten seconds worth of PDP-10 goodness. Some of the funniest dialog written, though. "Cal Tech", forsooth! :-) > For a greater boost, check out the "Arpanet" episode of The Americans. Hmm. I'll have to look for that. Rich Rich Alderson Vintage Computing Sr. Systems Engineer Living Computers: Museum + Labs 2245 1st Avenue S Seattle, WA 98134 mailto:RichA at LivingComputers.org http://www.LivingComputers.org/

9 years, 5 months

1
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Sol Terminal Color Photo, and PROMs

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

-------- Original message -------- From: Corey Cohen <AppleCorey at optonline.net> Date: 2017-01-12 3:25 AM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts" <cctech at classiccmp.org> Cc: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: Sol Terminal Color Photo, and PROMs The keyboard looks like a variant of the keyboard on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London right now attached to the Apple-1.?? It was a giant pain to get it working correctly.? I didn't have good schematics so had to create a ton of notes and pseudo schematics using a ohm meter, scope and logic analyzer.? It was very satisfying to get it working :-) The V&A keyboard is KTC-065-01466. There is a story on the sol-20 prototype proms, if I recall correctly, in the book "Fire in the valley".??? Cheers, Corey corey cohen u??o? ???o? > On Jan 12, 2017, at 12:50 AM, Brad H <vintagecomputer at bettercomputing.net> wrote: > > Hey guys, > > > > Does anyone know if any color photos exist of the Sol 'Intelligent Terminal' > that appeared on the cover of Popular Electronics, July 1976?? I just > discovered that that Keytronics keyboard I bought on ebay (the one parted > out from a mystery 8080 terminal of some sort) is the same one they used for > the PE cover unit.? I found the artwork tonight on sol20.org for the > original PCB.? If I could find a color photo it'd at least be possible to > build a replica of that unit someday. > > > > I was curious too if anyone knew the story behind the four optional PROM ICs > that could be installed on the board.? The article only says 'Optional, > write in for details'.? Can't find any more info than that anywhere.? I > understand Processor Technology sort of dodged around PE's reluctance to > publish any more computer articles, and I'm wondering if the terminal could > be turned into a full blown computer with the aid of those PROMs. > > > > To refresh - this is the keyboard I bought. > https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4pq0-BHd2x6eHNhTWVGZkhxRFk/view?usp=sharin > g > > > > Definitely seems to be the same one - just different colors and legends on > the keys themselves. > > > > Brad > Thanks Corey! >From what I've read around about this terminal.. PE didn't want to do any more articles on computers so Processor Tech sort of stripped down what was to become their Terminal Computer, calling it just a terminal for the article, although apparently the motherboard design changed to what's in the Sol 20. ?I'll look for that book. ?It's interesting that this first terminal isn't better documented. ?Or that PE didn't take one color photo of the first unit. Was the output on the keyboard you worked on ASCII at least?

9 years, 5 months

2
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Were C64's used in editing video like the Amigas - also need Amiga keyboa...

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

We will dig around for come images...ok if you have any links to good large scans let us know thx.... Ed# In a message dated 1/12/2017 8:35:35 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, sbolton at bfree.on.ca writes: > Syd! thanks,,.. is the Toaster Flyer a board inside the Amiga? it > may be > there... > > Did you save any promotional material etc? Thins like that look > good in > a display with the gear. > > We also need to scrounge a keyboard and a mouse It was a card inside, yes.....but you didn't typically have a Toaster & and Flyer in the same machine---you had one of each. I have lots of material still from the day and there is of course good examples of it online. Keyboard & mouse are tougher....we have them at the museum, but not really any extras. It is one of the most common requests I get from people - there are adapters to use PC keyboards (and mice) on the Amiga but of course that's not authentic :) eBay may be the only route for getting that - at least if you need to do so quickly. Also you can try http://www.jppbm.com/ - he carries a lot of hard to find Commodore stuff. http://www.pcmuseum.ca

9 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

DEC LCG cable...BC10K?

by useddec＠gmail.com

I found what I remember to be a DEC10 memory cable . It looks like a BC10K in the 1980 cables handbook. It looks to be a 5 footer or so. Any interest? Please contact me off list. Thanks, Paul

9 years, 5 months

3
2
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Were C64's used in editing video like the Amigas - also need Amiga keyboa...

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Syd! thanks,,.. is the Toaster Flyer a board inside the Amiga? it may be there... Did you save any promotional material etc? Thins like that look good in a display with the gear. We also need to scrounge a keyboard and a mouse . thanks Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 1/11/2017 7:38:46 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, sbolton at bfree.on.ca writes: No, C64's were too limited (8-bit) to do anything video related. However, video production was actually possible with the Amiga 1000 as you could get the Amiga 1300 Genlock, and the Amiga itself always natively produced composite video ....real true non-linear editing with the computer itself however was really only done with the Toaster Flyer unit (the Video Toaster itself just produced video effects/titling and came bundled with LightWave 3D). I used to be a Commodore dealer, and the NewTek (Video Toaster) distributor in Canada, so if you need any info hit me up! Syd Bolton Personal Computer Museum http://www.pcmuseum.ca On Wed, 11 Jan 2017 16:14:19 -0500, COURYHOUSE at aol.com wrote: > Were C64's used in editing video like the Amigas - also need Amiga > keyboard? > > Were Commodore 64's used in editing video like the Amigas were to > any > extent? > > Looking to figure if there is an overlap area in yet another > area of > our displays we can do between computing and video production. > > We have a Amiga, 2000 desk top type, with a video toaster in it that > needs a keyboard and factory mouse! > Can anyone help? > Thanks Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org)

9 years, 5 months

2
1
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Were C64's used in editing video like the Amigas - also need Amiga keyboard?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Were C64's used in editing video like the Amigas - also need Amiga keyboard? Were Commodore 64's used in editing video like the Amigas were to any extent? Looking to figure if there is an overlap area in yet another area of our displays we can do between computing and video production. We have a Amiga, 2000 desk top type, with a video toaster in it that needs a keyboard and factory mouse! Can anyone help? Thanks Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org)

9 years, 5 months

5
7
0 0

Banner Panels

by rodsmallwood52＠btinternet.com

Hi Guys I have had a quick word with the girls down at the silk screen shop. Banner panels 18 1/2 by 3 5/16 silk screened on 1mm Aluminum look to be doable I don't know how many different types there were. Regardless of if you need a replacement and you have not sent me picture a head on shot would really help Rod (Panelman) Smallwood -- PDP-8/e PDP-8/f PDP-8/m PDP-8/i Front Panels ex Stock - Order Now

9 years, 5 months

3
11
0 0

Sol Terminal Color Photo, and PROMs

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

Hey guys, Does anyone know if any color photos exist of the Sol 'Intelligent Terminal' that appeared on the cover of Popular Electronics, July 1976? I just discovered that that Keytronics keyboard I bought on ebay (the one parted out from a mystery 8080 terminal of some sort) is the same one they used for the PE cover unit. I found the artwork tonight on sol20.org for the original PCB. If I could find a color photo it'd at least be possible to build a replica of that unit someday. I was curious too if anyone knew the story behind the four optional PROM ICs that could be installed on the board. The article only says 'Optional, write in for details'. Can't find any more info than that anywhere. I understand Processor Technology sort of dodged around PE's reluctance to publish any more computer articles, and I'm wondering if the terminal could be turned into a full blown computer with the aid of those PROMs. To refresh - this is the keyboard I bought. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4pq0-BHd2x6eHNhTWVGZkhxRFk/view?usp=sharin g Definitely seems to be the same one - just different colors and legends on the keys themselves. Brad

9 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Aliens film set equipment identification

by curiousmarc3＠gmail.com

Can you ID the following equipment? Melissa, a digital artist who has to reconstruct the set of the movie Aliens (a 1986 James Cameron sequel to the seminal 1979 Alien from Scott Ridley, has asked me to identify the large computer props that were used in the original set. She identified an Alto cabinet: that's how she originally contacted me, to get the exact dimensions. But for the rest shown here we came up empty. The only thing I could see is an upside down industrial CRT terminal and a keyboard that appears fake. The only clue I have is that this was filmed in the UK in 1985 and Melissa believes part of the equipment came from British Airways "Boadicea" ticket reservation system. You can browse all the pictures at once here on Goolge Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/dZHzWM5ArvHjV9AN7 Or view the original full res pictures individually from my DropBox: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32371244/Aliens%20Set%20Equipment%20ID/… Here are Melissa's original comments on the screen shots: "- Hypersleep-Ops Unkown Unit: I am unsure what exactly this is. It appears to be similar in size to the Alto cabinet. - Unknown Ops Console keyboards: I had talked to Richard Thomson who I found through a Google search and he suggested maybe this isn't really a keyboard, but blank keys stuck on a sheet of metal, as it doesn't look to him like there's travel distance for the keys. - Unknown Ops PC Terminal: Richard also suggested that to him, it looks like a monitor placed upside down. He thinks the grid and circle pattern on the "top" is where rubber feet would have been. Also paired with this monitor appears to be a flat keypanel about the size of a standard keyboard. The surface is shiny. If I can find some better images I will include them in a reply. You may be able to make it out in a couple of these clippings Pictured in these photos are large units. I've brightened them up and removed the colour from some because they had a harsh red lighting that was hard on the eyes and washed out any colour anyway. The actress running alongside the units is Sigourney Weaver who stands about 5'11 tall. That should give an approximate size. It's been stated that somewhere in this scene, the setbuilders had used British Airways' old ticketing computer system as set dressing when they upgraded and were discarding the old units. They were called "Boadicea" but when I google search that, All I get for results is one black and white photo from the 1960s and nothing in that image is recognizable. So I have no idea which units these "Boadicea" units are. In the last image attached (Ops Standing units 9) I have boxed in the best shot of the opposite sides of the units that I have. Note the other units on the right side of that image. If you can help with these as well that would be so cool. It's possible these could be part of the Boadicea units too. I have NO idea what any of these are, so anything you can tell me is appreciated!" Marc

9 years, 5 months

4
3
0 0

Unknown 8085 opcodes

by bygg＠cafax.se

> I built a disassembler years ago to pick apart captured malware. By > now it handles about a dozen ISAs. While 8080 and 8085 are not on the > list, Z-80 is; adding 8080 would be a relatively simple thing. I've > added that to my to-do list; if someone can point me to 8080/8085 > machine language documentation that would save me some searching (which > is something I'm not much good at in these days when frickin' > *everything* is shoehorned into a Web page). You mean something like this, from another disassembler project: /* ---- Intel opcode table ---- */ static dispblock inteldisp[256] = { { 0x00, 1, inst, 0, "nop" }, { 0x01, 3, inst, 0, "lxi b,%2" }, { 0x02, 1, inst, 0, "stax b" }, { 0x03, 1, inst, 0, "inx b" }, { 0x04, 1, inst, 0, "inr b" }, { 0x05, 1, inst, 0, "dcr b" }, { 0x06, 2, inst, 0, "mvi b,%1" }, { 0x07, 1, inst, 0, "rlc" }, { 0x08, 1, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0x09, 1, inst, 0, "dad b" }, { 0x0A, 1, inst, 0, "ldax b" }, { 0x0B, 1, inst, 0, "dcx b" }, { 0x0C, 1, inst, 0, "inr c" }, { 0x0D, 1, inst, 0, "dcr c" }, { 0x0E, 2, inst, 0, "mvi c,%1" }, { 0x0F, 1, inst, 0, "rrc" }, { 0x10, 2, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0x11, 3, inst, 0, "lxi d,%2" }, { 0x12, 1, inst, 0, "stax d" }, { 0x13, 1, inst, 0, "inx d" }, { 0x14, 1, inst, 0, "inr d" }, { 0x15, 1, inst, 0, "dcr d" }, { 0x16, 2, inst, 0, "mvi d,%1" }, { 0x17, 1, inst, 0, "ral" }, { 0x18, 2, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0x19, 1, inst, 0, "dad d" }, { 0x1A, 1, inst, 0, "ldax d" }, { 0x1B, 1, inst, 0, "dcx d" }, { 0x1C, 1, inst, 0, "inr e" }, { 0x1D, 1, inst, 0, "dcr e" }, { 0x1E, 2, inst, 0, "mvi e,%1" }, { 0x1F, 1, inst, 0, "rar" }, { 0x20, 1, inst, I85, "rim" }, { 0x21, 3, inst, 0, "lxi h,%2" }, { 0x22, 3, instw, 0, "shld %a" }, { 0x23, 1, inst, 0, "inx h" }, { 0x24, 1, inst, 0, "inr h" }, { 0x25, 1, inst, 0, "dcr h" }, { 0x26, 2, inst, 0, "mvi h,%1" }, { 0x27, 1, inst, 0, "daa" }, { 0x28, 2, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0x29, 1, inst, 0, "dad h" }, { 0x2A, 3, instw, 0, "lhld %a" }, { 0x2B, 1, inst, 0, "dcx h" }, { 0x2C, 1, inst, 0, "inr l" }, { 0x2D, 1, inst, 0, "dcr l" }, { 0x2E, 2, inst, 0, "mvi l,%1" }, { 0x2F, 1, inst, 0, "cma" }, { 0x30, 1, inst, I85, "sim" }, { 0x31, 3, inst, 0, "lxi sp,%2" }, { 0x32, 3, instb, 0, "sta %a" }, { 0x33, 1, inst, 0, "inx sp" }, { 0x34, 1, inst, 0, "inr m" }, { 0x35, 1, inst, 0, "dcr m" }, { 0x36, 2, inst, 0, "mvi m,%1" }, { 0x37, 1, inst, 0, "stc" }, { 0x38, 2, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0x39, 1, inst, 0, "dad sp" }, { 0x3A, 3, instb, 0, "lda %a" }, { 0x3B, 1, inst, 0, "dcr sp" }, { 0x3C, 1, inst, 0, "inr a" }, { 0x3D, 1, inst, 0, "dcr a" }, { 0x3E, 2, inst, 0, "mvi a,%1" }, { 0x3F, 1, inst, 0, "cmc" }, { 0x40, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,b" }, { 0x41, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,c" }, { 0x42, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,d" }, { 0x43, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,e" }, { 0x44, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,h" }, { 0x45, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,l" }, { 0x46, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,m" }, { 0x47, 1, inst, 0, "mov b,a" }, { 0x48, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,b" }, { 0x49, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,c" }, { 0x4A, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,d" }, { 0x4B, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,e" }, { 0x4C, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,h" }, { 0x4D, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,l" }, { 0x4E, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,m" }, { 0x4F, 1, inst, 0, "mov c,a" }, { 0x50, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,b" }, { 0x51, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,c" }, { 0x52, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,d" }, { 0x53, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,e" }, { 0x54, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,h" }, { 0x55, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,l" }, { 0x56, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,m" }, { 0x57, 1, inst, 0, "mov d,a" }, { 0x58, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,b" }, { 0x59, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,c" }, { 0x5A, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,d" }, { 0x5B, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,e" }, { 0x5C, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,h" }, { 0x5D, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,l" }, { 0x5E, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,m" }, { 0x5F, 1, inst, 0, "mov e,a" }, { 0x60, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,b" }, { 0x61, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,c" }, { 0x62, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,d" }, { 0x63, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,e" }, { 0x64, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,h" }, { 0x65, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,l" }, { 0x66, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,m" }, { 0x67, 1, inst, 0, "mov h,a" }, { 0x68, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,b" }, { 0x69, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,c" }, { 0x6A, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,d" }, { 0x6B, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,e" }, { 0x6C, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,h" }, { 0x6D, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,l" }, { 0x6E, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,m" }, { 0x6F, 1, inst, 0, "mov l,a" }, { 0x70, 1, inst, 0, "mov m,b" }, { 0x71, 1, inst, 0, "mov m,c" }, { 0x72, 1, inst, 0, "mov m,d" }, { 0x73, 1, inst, 0, "mov m,e" }, { 0x74, 1, inst, 0, "mov m,h" }, { 0x75, 1, inst, 0, "mov m,l" }, { 0x76, 1, inst, 0, "halt" }, { 0x77, 1, inst, 0, "mov m,a" }, { 0x78, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,b" }, { 0x79, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,c" }, { 0x7A, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,d" }, { 0x7B, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,e" }, { 0x7C, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,h" }, { 0x7D, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,l" }, { 0x7E, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,m" }, { 0x7F, 1, inst, 0, "mov a,a" }, { 0x80, 1, inst, 0, "add b" }, { 0x81, 1, inst, 0, "add c" }, { 0x82, 1, inst, 0, "add d" }, { 0x83, 1, inst, 0, "add e" }, { 0x84, 1, inst, 0, "add h" }, { 0x85, 1, inst, 0, "add l" }, { 0x86, 1, inst, 0, "add m" }, { 0x87, 1, inst, 0, "add a" }, { 0x88, 1, inst, 0, "adc b" }, { 0x89, 1, inst, 0, "adc c" }, { 0x8A, 1, inst, 0, "adc d" }, { 0x8B, 1, inst, 0, "adc e" }, { 0x8C, 1, inst, 0, "adc h" }, { 0x8D, 1, inst, 0, "adc l" }, { 0x8E, 1, inst, 0, "adc m" }, { 0x8F, 1, inst, 0, "adc a" }, { 0x90, 1, inst, 0, "sub b" }, { 0x91, 1, inst, 0, "sub c" }, { 0x92, 1, inst, 0, "sub d" }, { 0x93, 1, inst, 0, "sub e" }, { 0x94, 1, inst, 0, "sub h" }, { 0x95, 1, inst, 0, "sub l" }, { 0x96, 1, inst, 0, "sub m" }, { 0x97, 1, inst, 0, "sub a" }, { 0x98, 1, inst, 0, "sbb b" }, { 0x99, 1, inst, 0, "sbb c" }, { 0x9A, 1, inst, 0, "sbb d" }, { 0x9B, 1, inst, 0, "sbb e" }, { 0x9C, 1, inst, 0, "sbb h" }, { 0x9D, 1, inst, 0, "sbb l" }, { 0x9E, 1, inst, 0, "sbb m" }, { 0x9F, 1, inst, 0, "sbb a" }, { 0xA0, 1, inst, 0, "ana b" }, { 0xA1, 1, inst, 0, "ana c" }, { 0xA2, 1, inst, 0, "ana d" }, { 0xA3, 1, inst, 0, "ana e" }, { 0xA4, 1, inst, 0, "ana h" }, { 0xA5, 1, inst, 0, "ana l" }, { 0xA6, 1, inst, 0, "ana m" }, { 0xA7, 1, inst, 0, "ana a" }, { 0xA8, 1, inst, 0, "xra b" }, { 0xA9, 1, inst, 0, "xra c" }, { 0xAA, 1, inst, 0, "xra d" }, { 0xAB, 1, inst, 0, "xra e" }, { 0xAC, 1, inst, 0, "xra h" }, { 0xAD, 1, inst, 0, "xra l" }, { 0xAE, 1, inst, 0, "xra m" }, { 0xAF, 1, inst, 0, "xra a" }, { 0xB0, 1, inst, 0, "ora b" }, { 0xB1, 1, inst, 0, "ora c" }, { 0xB2, 1, inst, 0, "ora d" }, { 0xB3, 1, inst, 0, "ora e" }, { 0xB4, 1, inst, 0, "ora h" }, { 0xB5, 1, inst, 0, "ora l" }, { 0xB6, 1, inst, 0, "ora m" }, { 0xB7, 1, inst, 0, "ora a" }, { 0xB8, 1, inst, 0, "cmp b" }, { 0xB9, 1, inst, 0, "cmp c" }, { 0xBA, 1, inst, 0, "cmp d" }, { 0xBB, 1, inst, 0, "cmp e" }, { 0xBC, 1, inst, 0, "cmp h" }, { 0xBD, 1, inst, 0, "cmp l" }, { 0xBE, 1, inst, 0, "cmp m" }, { 0xBF, 1, inst, 0, "cmp a" }, { 0xC0, 1, inst, 0, "rnz" }, { 0xC1, 1, inst, 0, "pop b" }, { 0xC2, 3, pushj, 0, "jnz %a" }, { 0xC3, 3, jrst, 0, "jmp %a" }, { 0xC4, 3, pushj, 0, "cnz %a" }, { 0xC5, 1, inst, 0, "push b" }, { 0xC6, 2, inst, 0, "adi %1" }, { 0xC7, 1, trap, 0, "rst 0" }, { 0xC8, 1, inst, 0, "rz" }, { 0xC9, 1, popj, 0, "ret" }, { 0xCA, 3, pushj, 0, "jz %a" }, { 0xCB, 0, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0xCC, 3, pushj, 0, "cz %a" }, { 0xCD, 3, pushj, 0, "call %a" }, { 0xCE, 2, inst, 0, "aci %1" }, { 0xCF, 1, trap, 0, "rst 1" }, { 0xD0, 1, inst, 0, "rnc" }, { 0xD1, 1, inst, 0, "pop d" }, { 0xD2, 3, pushj, 0, "jnc %a" }, { 0xD3, 2, inst, 0, "out %1" }, { 0xD4, 3, pushj, 0, "cnc %a" }, { 0xD5, 1, inst, 0, "push d" }, { 0xD6, 2, inst, 0, "sui %1" }, { 0xD7, 1, trap, 0, "rst 2" }, { 0xD8, 1, inst, 0, "rc" }, { 0xD9, 1, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0xDA, 3, pushj, 0, "jc %a" }, { 0xDB, 2, inst, 0, "in %1" }, { 0xDC, 3, pushj, 0, "cc %a" }, { 0xDD, 0, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0xDE, 2, inst, 0, "sbi %1" }, { 0xDF, 1, trap, 0, "rst 3" }, { 0xE0, 1, inst, 0, "rpo" }, { 0xE1, 1, inst, 0, "pop h" }, { 0xE2, 3, pushj, 0, "jpo %a" }, { 0xE3, 1, inst, 0, "xthl" }, { 0xE4, 3, pushj, 0, "cpo %a" }, { 0xE5, 1, inst, 0, "push h" }, { 0xE6, 2, inst, 0, "ani %1" }, { 0xE7, 1, trap, 0, "rst 4" }, { 0xE8, 1, inst, 0, "rpe" }, { 0xE9, 1, popj, 0, "pchl" }, { 0xEA, 3, pushj, 0, "jpe %a" }, { 0xEB, 1, inst, 0, "xchg" }, { 0xEC, 3, pushj, 0, "cpe %a" }, { 0xED, 0, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0xEE, 2, inst, 0, "xri %1" }, { 0xEF, 1, trap, 0, "rst 5" }, { 0xF0, 1, inst, 0, "rp" }, { 0xF1, 1, inst, 0, "pop psw" }, { 0xF2, 3, pushj, 0, "jp %a" }, { 0xF3, 1, inst, 0, "di" }, { 0xF4, 3, pushj, 0, "cp %a" }, { 0xF5, 1, inst, 0, "push psw" }, { 0xF6, 2, inst, 0, "ori %1" }, { 0xF7, 1, trap, 0, "rst 6" }, { 0xF8, 1, inst, 0, "rm" }, { 0xF9, 1, inst, 0, "sphl" }, { 0xFA, 3, pushj, 0, "jm %a" }, { 0xFB, 1, inst, 0, "ei" }, { 0xFC, 3, pushj, 0, "cm %a" }, { 0xFD, 0, unused, 0, 0 }, { 0xFE, 2, inst, 0, "cpi %1" }, { 0xFF, 1, trap, 0, "rst 7" }, }; --Johnny

9 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Unknown 8085 opcodes

by binarydinosaurs＠gmail.com

Hi folks, Any 8085 assembler geeks in the house? Official Intel docs don't seem to be helping with this one, I have 8085 and D8741A peripheral controller dumps both containing several opcodes that two disassemblers aren't recognising and any docs I've been looking through for either 8085 instructions or the UPI instruction set don't seem to feature them either. The codes are 0x08, 0x10, 0x18, 0x28, 0x38,0xD9, 0xDD and 0xED. 0x08 nearly always follows a 0x01 LXI B instruction, the others don't seem to have an obvious pattern. I've pondered if 0x10 is INC @R0 because the binary for that is 0001 000x where x is either 0 or 1. By the same reasoning 0xD9 could be XRL A,R1 (opcode 11011xxx) and 0xDD could be XRL A,R5 but can't match the others. Also the surrounding code doesn't mention those registers. Example 8085 code fragment: 3440 1792 09 DAD B 3441 1793 01 01 08 LXI B,0801H 3442 1796 08 UNRECOGNIZED 3443 1797 12 STAX D 3444 1798 0D DCR C 3445 1799 54 MOV D,H 3446 179A 65 MOV H,L 3447 179B 6C MOV L,H 3448 179C 65 MOV H,L 3449 179D 70 MOV M,B 3450 179E 68 MOV L,B 3451 179F 6F MOV L,A 3452 17A0 6E MOV L,M 3453 17A1 65 MOV H,L 3454 17A2 20 RIM 3455 17A3 44 MOV B,H 3456 17A4 65 MOV H,L 3457 17A5 74 MOV M,H 3458 17A6 61 MOV H,C 3459 17A7 69 MOV L,C 3460 17A8 6C MOV L,H 3461 17A9 73 MOV M,E 3462 17AA 01 04 05 LXI B,0504H 3463 17AD 08 UNRECOGNIZED 3464 17AE 17 RAL 3465 17AF 53 MOV D,E 3466 17B0 65 MOV H,L 3467 17B1 6C MOV L,H 3468 17B2 65 MOV H,L 3469 17B3 63 MOV H,E 3470 17B4 74 MOV M,H 3471 17B5 20 RIM Cheers! -- adrian/witchy Owner of Binary Dinosaurs, the UK's biggest home computer collection? www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk

9 years, 5 months

14
22
0 0

Obscure MIT-spinoff computer (Was: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?)

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Brad H > 4) Videobrain Family Computer So this tickled a question I'd been meaning to ask. Circa 1975, there was an MIT spinoff which designed and built a 'personal computer' (that's effectively what it was, although it wasn't called that). The company had gotten their start building digital (IIRC) capacitance meters (back when capacitance meters were not common). So they then decided that their next product would be a small computer. I don't recall the exact name, but it was something like 'Micro-Brain' (something with 'Brain' in it, IIRC). The computer was not a success (technically), and IIRC, it sank the company. Does this ring any bells for anyone? Noel

9 years, 5 months

4
4
0 0

Obscure MIT-spinoff computer (Was: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?)

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: William Maddox > ECD Micromind That would be the one. Thanks! (A friend of mine worked there, as a tech, but it was aeons ago, and I just could not remember the name!) According to this blog: http://ecdmicromind.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html there is actually one still in existence, and it (sorta) works! Noel

9 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

In a message dated 1/11/2017 2:01:05 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, RichA at livingcomputers.org writes: From: Noel Chiappa Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 5:40 AM >> From: Eric Smith >> I have a computer of the type that Gates and Allen used for that early >> development. :-) >> I don't have it running, though. > Really? Which model processor; KA, KI, KL? Eric's got a KL. If he had a KA, I would have tracked him down and beaten him to a pulp to lay hands on it--and we're friends. > PS: Apparently Gates and Allen at one point rented time on a commercial > service in Boston to do development; anyone know who that was, and what > machine/OS is was? Nope. They moved to Albuquerque as soon as the deal with MITS was done. (Ed Roberts hired Paul as his VP of software development on the spot.) They rented time from the Albuquerque school district, whose -10 had unused capacity. (Development of the BASIC interpreter was famously done using the Harvard KA-10.) They went from renting time on others' systems to owning their own when they moved from Albuquerque back to Seattle. Their first was a KS under TOPS-20. I have all this not merely from Paul's book, but from another friend who was Microsoft employee #11 (who appears in the famous picture) and others like David Bunnell at our grand opening. Rich Rich Alderson Vintage Computing Sr. Systems Engineer Living Computers: Museum + Labs 2245 1st Avenue S Seattle, WA 98134 mailto:RichA at LivingComputers.org http://www.LivingComputers.org/ I had heard Altair code for the roms and stuff was developed on an Intel Intellect 8 system? Is this fact , Fiction or?? Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org)

9 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Boot Loader for 3P+S on IMSAI

by wheagy＠gmail.com

Yes, I was able to run the echo characters test from the solivant site as well as a couple other small upload tests, so I'm thinking it's a delay issue or a configuration problem with the 3P+S and MITS BASIC. Digging back into this on my IMSAI, I'm now remembering the peculiarities of loading MITS BASIC when I was doing it on the Altair. That picture will help. I think I've already spotted something without even having my actual card in front of me. Thanks...Win >Did you verify "echo characters" works? There is a test program in the >solivant site that explains this. If so, then you very well may need to >experiment with character delays when you download BASIC. You can watch >the lights and see when the various loaders load, that might help give you >a clue where the failure point is. >The extra pointers I added were things I found useful, but I was using the >2SIO card. >b

9 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Fwd: Stinky screwdrivers

by aek＠bitsavers.org

I sent this out to some friends at the end of December -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Stinky screwdrivers Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2016 08:51:02 -0800 From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> To: Eric Schlaepfer <schlae at gmail.com>, Kenneth Sumrall <ken at scrapheap.net> CC: Hedley Rainnie <luvhed at gmail.com>, Alvaro <apg88zx at gmail.com> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-153147.html I've been buying a lot of Xcelite tools lately, and was wondering why some of the handles stunk. Sadly, it looks like the good USA made hand tools will all have their plastic handles crumble eventually though I have two Craftsmen nut drivers I bought in 1975 that are still perfect. Xcelite isn't made in the US anymore. Bought a #0 Super-tru Tip (no longer says USA) and it is absolute crap. -- as an addendum, I just bought a new "Made in USA" Xcelite pliers, and the build quality was an embarrassment. now I understand all the interest in used hand tools on eBay

9 years, 5 months

8
9
0 0

Stripping an RA80

by ard.p850ug1＠gmail.com

I am probably going to be flamed for this.... My VAX11/730 has an R80 disk drive as you might expect. I dismantled this many years ago to move it and never reassembled it. Over the years (in particular during a house move), the smaller parts (screws, the brackets and clevis pins for the gas struts, and ribbon cables) have got lost. A friend of mine (Philip) was having a clearout and gave me an RA80 (SDI interface, of course). I don't run SDI drives anywhere (I think I have a UDA50 somewhere), but a lot of parts are the same as in the R80. My first thought is to strip this RA80 (that's why I got it!). This will provide me with most of the missing parts (all that I would have to make is the 26 way ribbon to the controller cable -- the 60 way one is still in the R80 chassis). So after stripping I think I would be left with 4 classes of part : 1) Those I need for the R80 -- brackets, screws cables, etc 2) Those that could be useful spares for the R80 : HDA Spindle Motor Belt Belt Tensioner PSU R/W PCB Servo PCB Microprocessor PCB (the ROMs are different, of course, but the the PCB is the same and could be a source of components. I don't swap boards anyway) AC and DC power harnesses Fans Motor capacitor 3) Those that are of no use in the R80, but are not too hard to store Personality board Control panel SDI cabling 4) Those that I don't need and which are a pain to store Cbassis parts. Is there any reason to keep the bare, stripped, chassis, or should I let it go as scrap metal? Does anyone run an RA80 and think any of the bits in list 3 (certainly) or 2 (I may want to keep these, in particular the HDA if it's good) are useful to them? Of course I don't know if the parts are still good. Or should I preserve the RA80 as it is, and just use it as patterns for the missing bits. Try to find a source of the UNC screws, make up the cables, make up brackets, etc. I would only do that if there is a very good reason. -tony

9 years, 5 months

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What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by spereira1952＠comcast.net

> On Jan 11, 2017, at 1:00 PM, cctech-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > > Message: 8 > Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 22:09:52 +0000 > From: Andy Cloud <r3trohub at gmail.com <mailto:r3trohub at gmail.com>> > To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org>" <cctalk at classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org>> > Subject: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do > you own? > Message-ID: > <CAGmukzzmPkTx0D98iSPK41=Y4utY1nxiyfhrGwek=v5VdpQz5A at mail.gmail.com <mailto:CAGmukzzmPkTx0D98iSPK41=Y4utY1nxiyfhrGwek=v5VdpQz5A at mail.gmail.com>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hi Everyone! > > I thought this would be an interesting question to ask around - What's the > rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own? > > For me, personally, I have a Altair 8800! > > Looking forward to hearing your answers > >> _Andy I recently acquired my ?holy grail?: an Altair 680b. And, with a bit of troubleshooting, I got it up and running, too. smp -- Stephen M. Pereira Bedford, NH 03110 KB1SXE

9 years, 5 months

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pdp-11 assembly standards

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

> I've never heard of that '&o' bizzaro-stuff - where did you find that? This one: http://mdfs.net/Software/PDP11/Assembler/AsmPDP.txt Reading more closely, the encoding has some relation back to BBC BASIC. I was beginning to wonder if it was some html character-encoding screwup.

9 years, 5 months

1
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pdp-11 assembly standards

by jnc＠mercury.lcs.mit.edu

> From: Brent Hilpert > This one: > ... > Reading more closely, the encoding has some relation back to BBC BASIC. Given this (from the documentation): Assembler directives -------------------- #include <filename> Includes the specified file. #ifndef <label> Continue assembling if <label> is undefined. #ifdef <label> Continue assembling if <label> is defined. #if <value> Continue assembling if <value> is non-zero. #else Toggle assembly. #endif Continue assembling. which is clearly C-related, I wonder if there is some relationship there (the '%o' looks rather printf()-ish). Although I note the documentation says "any valid value recognised by BBC BASIC" - does BBC basic use the leading '%' notation for constants? Noel

9 years, 5 months

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What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by tmanos＠concursive.com

I just gave away my pride and joy: an AT&T 3B2 1000 in perfect condition with just about every accessory you could want and fully configured. It was a dual processor system, and fully maxed out with RAM and ports. It had an ethernet card and SCSI, I collected boards and documentation for many years and had a complete set of original docs, and many, many spares. I was downsizing and ended up giving it away to another denizen of the list along with a couple Sparc 20's and a bunch of other stuff. It completely filled up a rental SUV and traveled from Virginia to a state way out west. Many hundreds of pounds of stuff. It's happily running now. I miss it, but hopefully it's getting more use than I was giving it. On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 5:09 PM, Andy Cloud <r3trohub at gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Everyone! > > I thought this would be an interesting question to ask around - What's the > rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own? > > For me, personally, I have a Altair 8800! > > Looking forward to hearing your answers > >>_Andy

9 years, 5 months

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pdp-11 assembly standards

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

> I've never heard of that '&o' bizzaro-stuff - where did you find that? This one: http://mdfs.net/Software/PDP11/Assembler/AsmPDP.txt Reading more closely, the encoding has some relation back to BBC BASIC. I was beginning to wonder if it was some html character-encoding screwup.

9 years, 5 months

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Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by vintagecomputer＠bettercomputing.net

-------- Original message -------- From: Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> Date: 2017-01-10 11:24 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you   own? On 01/10/2017 09:58 PM, Brad H wrote: > Am envying the Altair guys though.? I want one but they always come > up at just the wrong time. I've still got the 8800 I built (with all those crappy white stranded wires) back in the day.? It's not that great, trust me. I moved to an IMSAI box and finally to an Integrand box.? Don't have the IMSAI any longer, but still have the Integrand. Haven't powered any of them up in 30 years.?? One tends to forget about >such stuff. >--Chuck For me it'd be purely about the history. ? ?Gates and Allen writing the interpreter without an actual Altair to work on. Allen writing the bootstrap on the plane he took to pitch to MITS. ?Gates' first written tirade about piracy. ? An Altair isn't out of my reach.. just.. other stuff (like the Mark-8 boards) keeps coming up just as I've stored enough money to buy one.

9 years, 5 months

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pdp-11 assembly standards

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

> I've never heard of that '&o' bizzaro-stuff - where did you find that? This one: http://mdfs.net/Software/PDP11/Assembler/AsmPDP.txt Reading more closely, the encoding has some relation back to BBC BASIC. I was beginning to wonder if it was some html character-encoding screwup.

9 years, 5 months

1
0
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pdp-11 assembly standards

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

On 2017-Jan-10, at 5:03 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote: >> From: Brent Hilpert >>>>> One assembler doc uses a prefix of "&o" >> >> So the answer is, by modern expectations the old standard would be >> ambiguous or misleading. > > Well, the ideas of 'assembler' and 'standard' don't really go together in my > mind... :-) > > But seriously, I don't know how many different PDP-11 assemblers there were, > but the two _main_ ones (DEC's, and Unix's) both use the same numeric > convention (although they differed in other ways, probably because of the > CTSS/Multics erase character convention): a sequence of digits is an octal > number, unless there's a trailing '.', in which case it's decimal. > > (Well, technically, DEC had PAL-11 and MACRO-11, but PAL-11 was basically a > subset of MACRO-11, and used the same number syntax.) > > I've never heard of that '&o' bizzaro-stuff - where did you find that? > > Noel This one: http://mdfs.net/Software/PDP11/Assembler/AsmPDP.txt Reading more closely, the encoding has some relation back to BBC BASIC. I was beginning to wonder if it was some html character-encoding screwup.

9 years, 5 months

1
0
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pdp-11 assembly standards

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

On 2017-Jan-10, at 5:03 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote: >> From: Brent Hilpert >>>>> One assembler doc uses a prefix of "&o" >> >> So the answer is, by modern expectations the old standard would be >> ambiguous or misleading. > > Well, the ideas of 'assembler' and 'standard' don't really go together in my > mind... :-) > > But seriously, I don't know how many different PDP-11 assemblers there were, > but the two _main_ ones (DEC's, and Unix's) both use the same numeric > convention (although they differed in other ways, probably because of the > CTSS/Multics erase character convention): a sequence of digits is an octal > number, unless there's a trailing '.', in which case it's decimal. > > (Well, technically, DEC had PAL-11 and MACRO-11, but PAL-11 was basically a > subset of MACRO-11, and used the same number syntax.) > > I've never heard of that '&o' bizzaro-stuff - where did you find that? > > Noel This one: http://mdfs.net/Software/PDP11/Assembler/AsmPDP.txt Reading more closely, the encoding has some relation back to BBC BASIC. I was beginning to wonder if it was some html character-encoding screwup.

9 years, 5 months

1
0
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pdp-11 assembly standards

by hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca

On 2017-Jan-10, at 5:03 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote: >> From: Brent Hilpert >>>>> One assembler doc uses a prefix of "&o" >> >> So the answer is, by modern expectations the old standard would be >> ambiguous or misleading. > > Well, the ideas of 'assembler' and 'standard' don't really go together in my > mind... :-) > > But seriously, I don't know how many different PDP-11 assemblers there were, > but the two _main_ ones (DEC's, and Unix's) both use the same numeric > convention (although they differed in other ways, probably because of the > CTSS/Multics erase character convention): a sequence of digits is an octal > number, unless there's a trailing '.', in which case it's decimal. > > (Well, technically, DEC had PAL-11 and MACRO-11, but PAL-11 was basically a > subset of MACRO-11, and used the same number syntax.) > > I've never heard of that '&o' bizzaro-stuff - where did you find that? > > Noel This one: http://mdfs.net/Software/PDP11/Assembler/AsmPDP.txt Reading more closely, the encoding has some relation back to BBC BASIC. I was beginning to wonder if it was some html character-encoding screwup.

9 years, 5 months

1
0
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What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

That is amazing Ian ! - Photo? Wonder what the ticket was for that back in its new day... Ed# In a message dated 1/10/2017 4:27:44 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, isking at uw.edu writes: I'd have to say my VAX 6000-600. It has six processors, and therefore is alternatively known as the VAX 6660 - the Devil's VAX. :-) I've not been able to boot it because I don't have three-phase power to my house. However, I've been informed that the H405 can be rewired to run correctly off dryer power, which I do have. That's one of the (many) projects on my post-dissertation list. With six processors and a half-gigabyte of RAM, I've been told this is probably the most built-out VAX 6600 remaining. -- Ian -- Ian S. King, MSIS, MSCS, Ph.D. Candidate The Information School <http://ischool.uw.edu> Dissertation: "Why the Conversation Mattered: Constructing a Sociotechnical Narrative Through a Design Lens Archivist, Voices From the Rwanda Tribunal <http://tribunalvoices.org> Value Sensitive Design Research Lab <http://vsdesign.org> University of Washington There is an old Vulcan saying: "Only Nixon could go to China."

9 years, 5 months

1
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What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

DIGITAL TRAINERS TUBE TYPE - IBM Digital trainer - uses the earliest of IBM plug in tube things that were in their commercial systytems http://www.smecc.org/video/logic_5.gif IF ANYONE CAN SHED LIGHT ON THIS IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC! SOLID STATE - DEC COMPUTER LAB with the pdp-8 I toggles... not RARE but is cool! RELAY - - MINIVAC 601 COMPUTERS for tube computer - - our sage stuff also. for solid state - some of our GE Erma material. for mechanical analog computer -- some kid of weird thing with gears shafts , bellows and I think this weird thing runs off compressed air. details pending for electronic analog computer - Syston Donner with Tubes in it not that RARE but we are proud of it! for calculators - W.W. Salisbury's HP 35 that he used for Spiral Fusion Calculations ACTIVE DEVICES Tubes- - single Plate early Deforest Spherical Audion Transistors - - experimental and Pre-production prototypes ALL Bell Transistors DIGITAL TRAINERS IBM Digital trainer - uses the earliest of IBM plug in tube things that were in their commercial systems http://www.smecc.org/video/logic_5.gif IF ANYONE CAN SHED LIGHT ON THIS IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC! Comes in a fitted wood case with lots of plugable modules with tubes and other parts. But we love all the stuff! Ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org) In a message dated 1/10/2017 4:42:21 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us writes: On Tue, 10 Jan 2017, Andy Cloud wrote: > I thought this would be an interesting question to ask around - What's the > rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own? 64Kbit core plane from an AN/FSQ-7 (SAGE) computer: http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/SAGE/Coreplane-1L.jpg ...along with other Q7 parts: http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/SAGE/ Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

9 years, 5 months

1
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Boot Loader for 3P+S on IMSAI

by wheagy＠gmail.com

Took a little digging but I found the thread where you were talking about port 20/21. I was able to configure the 3P+S card and run the test from the solivant site successfully, but I'm not able to upload basic. I have a couple more things to try, including setting a small upload delay as Bill suggests on his page. http://www.vintagecomputer.net/browse_thread.cfm?id=318 However, I'm thinking that I may still have a configuration issue on the 3P+S card. But I think I'm getting close. Win -- >The manual pretty much has the exact config for that port 20 is all you >have to remember >Bill Degnan >twitter: billdeg >vintagecomputer.net >On Jan 6, 2017 7:41 PM, "Win Heagy" <wheagy at gmail.com> wrote: > I have an IMSAI that I am restoring. The basics appear to be working > (front panel, CPU and RAM cards). I have a Processor Tech, 3P+S card > that is next on the list for testing. I have the manual, but the card > was not configured for RS-232...not sure what it was configured for > but it doesn't match anything in the manual. I plan to reconfigure it > for RS-232. I'm trying to locate boot loader code for that board to > allow serial uploading of files from a PC to the IMSAI? I have boot > loader code for a 2SIO board on an Altair that I restored awhile back, > and would like to find something similar for the 3P+S. I want to be > able to toggle in a boot loader routine and then initiate an upload > from the PC to IMSAI -- something similar to this > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwC1T9oLK1U&t=212s > (at 1:10s in) but with a 3P+S board on an IMSAI. > > Also, a picture of your RS-232 configured card and wiring of the edge > connectors would be helpful to make sure I get things right. Any help > is appreciated.

9 years, 5 months

3
4
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Female Computer

by rickb＠bensene.com

Ben Wrote: > > Where are the Female Computers? > Hal >To which Dave W. replied: >Here they were ... >http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3214242023_ca5f2425a2_o.jpg And, to this I say - BRILLIANT! These ladies were indeed called computers back in those days! -Rick

9 years, 5 months

3
2
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Compaq C series 2010c - aka series 2930a posters & Point of sale stuff needed

by COURYHOUSE＠aol.com

Compaq C series 2010c - aka series 2930a posters & Point of sale stuff needed We were given one - apparently not used in box the tab for the what I assume is the config battery next to the main battery compartment never even had its white paper pull tab pulled out to stat the battery up. So anyway want to get other marketing stuff etc to help embellish a display at SMECC project. thanks ed# _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org)

9 years, 5 months

1
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