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

by ZGE＠aol.com

Does anyone remember seeing adds in popular electronics back during the 1970's about the NRI computer . A few examples were on page 37 of the 3\77 issue , .page 15 , 11\76 page 11 , 2\76 . thanks, zge(a)aol.com

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

MFM drives

by engine＠chac.org

>From: SUPRDAVE <SUPRDAVE(a)aol.com> >Subject: MFM drives >has anyone else had a fantastic failure rate with mfm controller cards? >seems like i have better luck with reviving hard drives.... For "fantastic" substitute "legendary." During my years as a support tech (roughly 1986 to 1994) it was an article of faith in my firm that a "bad disk" was a failed controller about two times out of three. This could be difficult to explain to end-users, who generally knew what a hard disk was, but rarely what a controller was, or even that they owned one. It was also entertaining telling an end-user that, once they had a new controller, they'd have to low-level the -- kc

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Cleaning TK-50 Drives

by healyzh＠ix.netcom.com

I've got some TK-50 drives that I want to use a couple of in my MicroVAX II, they are all filthy, with big dustbunnies crawling out of them. I've picked up some of the proper foam swabs for cleaning tape drives, and a bottle of "Radio Shack Professional Tape Head Cleaner Fluid". I took the worst one tonite and striped it down, gave it a good cleaning, blew it out good, got it nice and spick and span. I've got it put back together now, and it _looks_ great. My question is, was this a good idea? I started thinking about this when I went and put the thing that looks like it has two magnets back in from of the tape drive head. By taking this apart like that have I messed up the drive alignment or anything? Are there any particular gottcha's that I need to be aware of. I'm already aware of how the tape leader needs to be attached and what to do if it gets sucked into a drive (had a tech show me on a DLT4000 drive a few months ago). Of course my plan is to install it tomorrow night, and give it a try. It's called I really want to get a good backup of this machine prior to starting to play with it (I know nothing about VMS, but have the System Manager, and User's manuals). Zane | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | | healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | | For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html |

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Firsts

by scott＠isd.canberra.edu.au

At 22:01 20/01/98 -0500, Ward Griffiths wrote: >Daniel A. Seagraves wrote: >> >> Linux has a termcap for the TRS-80 Mod. 100. >> I think it trs80 or trs-80 >> ------- > >Not on my Caldera distribution. Terminfo either. Not hard to edit >the vt52 entry though, that's what I did when the 100 first came out >before Xenix directly supported it -- and I emailed the entry I'd >made to Fort Worth but never compared it to the official release. Here's the Model 100 entry from my termcap (on a SunOS 4.1.3 machine): zn|trs100|Radio Shack Model 100:\ :am:bs:le=^H:li#8:co#40:ku=^^:kd=^_:kl=^]:kr=^\:up=\EA:\ :nd=\EC:ho=\EH:ce=\EK:cd=\EJ:cl=\EE:xt:cm=\EY%+ %+ :\ :so=\Ep:se=\Eq:al=\EL:dl=\EM: Hope that helps. Regards, | Scott McLauchlan |"Sometimes the need to mess with their heads| |Information Services Division| outweighs the millstone of humiliation." | | University of Canberra |__________Fox_Mulder_"The_X-Files:_Squeeze"_| | scott(a)isd.canberra.edu.au |http://www.canberra.edu.au/~scott/home.html |

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Firsts

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 09:43 PM 1/19/98 -0500, you wrote: >I print 'em out on stone using an HP 7140 plotter with a knife attached and >use the pony express to get them to my cave. And I thought dialing into my ISP at 2400 baud with my Atari Portfolio was roughing it. Or before that, on a TRS-80 Model 100 at 300baud. Had to find a 40 column termcap for that one. -John Higginbotham- -limbo.netpath.net-

28 years, 3 months

5
5
0 0

Sinclair Kit for Sale

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

Seems to me these kits are still available from some distributor on the net for around $30. I'll see if I can dig up the exact URL. Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com -----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> Date: Sunday, January 18, 1998 7:46 PM Subject: Sinclair Kit for Sale > >A friend of mine has an original unbuilt Sinclair kit for sale at what >looks like an interesting price. If you're interested, contact him >directly at squest(a)cris.com and tell him Anthony Clifton - Wirehead sent you. > >Anthony Clifton - Wirehead > >

28 years, 3 months

4
4
0 0

Portability (was: Firsts)

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Uncle Roger <sinasohn(a)ricochet.net> wrote: > I can do better than that -- I've got a Zenith that makes the Kaypro look > pocket sized. *But* both fold up conveniently, and can be carried with one > hand. The IBM 5100 (and RS mIII, Commodore Pet, HP 85, etc.) is *not* > convenient to tote around on a regular basis. OK, you've mentioned the HP 85, so I'll write about it a bit. Was the 85 portable? That's a good question. HP apparently thought it could be pressed into service that way -- I remember the CEs bringing out a largish travel case containing an 85 with (at least) an HP-IB interface and some tapes that made it a diagnostic tool and exerciser for CS/80 disc drives. Of course, they also brought some other similarly sized travel cases full of 7933 kit and a hand truck to help move the lot from station wagon to computer room. But I didn't see that case come up to the computer room unless the CEs thought they were going to use it to deal with the problem at hand. Make of that what you will. I read it as: it's easily movable, but it's not convenient enough to be carried everywhere. I'm thinking that the 85 was designed at HP's Corvallis site. Were those responsible thinking of themselves as "Portable Computer Division" back then? -Frank McConnell

28 years, 3 months

3
2
0 0

New Finds

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Well over the last few days I've found a Multi-Tech Systems FM30 Data Coupler with cord for .80; a Heathkit Digital Design Experimenter model ET-3200-B for .80 no doc's where with it, will play around this weekend with it; 2 SUN spreakerboxs' for $5 each this place has about 50 of them for sale; Apple PC 5.25 ext drive for free not tested yet; a EPSON P.I.C. parallel interface cartridge #8620A no way to test it for now; IBM pc convertible printer and adapter unit for free got get convertible going to test unit; a Apple plotter model A9M0302 for $15 need s some clean and maybe parts before I can test it; Lisa with keyboard for .80 not tested yet card slot in back were open as if someone too them out at the thrift store; another Toshiba T1000 that works has carrying case power supply and manuals; HP IIIsi for $15 needs work; Laserwriter II $15 needs work; Kodak Diconix 150Plus free and not tested yet; LattisNet Synoptics model 102 $15 and not tested yet; a stripped Mac IIsi for free; and several other units and parts that do not meet the ten year rule. I hope to have better luck when all this snow goes away until them Keep Computing !! John

28 years, 3 months

2
2
0 0

Firsts

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 11:57 AM 1/19/98 -0800, you wrote: >YEAH! And not all of us have Windows to read email with - >I got to ^Q thru all that... Don't have windows??? How'd that neanderthal get in here?!? :) (Ow! I'm kidding! Ow! I said I was kidding! OwOwOwOw!!!!) Seriously, some people just assume that everyone else can support their standards. I've been partially guilty of it too. I send all my attachments as MIME, mainly because that's the standard in my main working environment (win95/NT). I'm a graphic artist and web page designer. I could only do 30% of my job in a text based environment if it came down to that (sometimes it does). Then again, everyone I know that I send attachments to have mail clients than can handle MIME. (I check the message headers for X-Sender before I do) Still, that doesn't make it right to send attachments to a list. It could have been worse. It could have come out of a "rich text" or HTML compatible mail client. (Then all heck would break loose, Dogar, the Many-Handed One would hand out the proper punishments, and all zeroes would flow across the lines, as the backbones crumble from their fury! So it was written, so it shall be!) (Uhh, was there ever a point in this message where it was on topic? Uh oh. Better fix that.) So, uh, speaking of Commodores... Anyone know where I can pick up an Amiga 500 or 1000 real cheap? :) -John Higginbotham- -limbo.netpath.net-

28 years, 3 months

5
11
0 0

Firsts

by manney＠nwohio.nwohio.com

> SO what? I read my messages from TOPS-20. > Beat that. I print 'em out on stone using an HP 7140 plotter with a knife attached and use the pony express to get them to my cave. manney

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

USMO rip-off

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Who was the joker that posted the message a week or so ago stating that usmo.com had good prices? I checked thir website and found a couple of printers for the HP 41 calculator, so I E-mailed and asked their price. They didn't knopw what they were, I had to send them the URL. Then they wrote back wanting $650 for them!!!!! That's more than double HP's original price and at least 15 times the maximum price now. usmo is a rip off and a waste of time! Joe >Return-Path: <kseeker(a)usmo.com> >From: "c" <kseeker(a)usmo.com> >To: "Joe" <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> >Subject: Re: more prices >Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 09:36:17 -0000 >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.2106.4 > >Those printers we currenlty are asking $650 > >-----Original Message----- >From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> >To: c <kseeker(a)usmo.com> >Date: Monday, January 19, 1998 1:31 PM >Subject: Re: more prices > > >>They're at "http://www.usmo.com/~kseeker/webdoc3.htm". They're listed as >>Thermal Printers. >> >> Joe >> >> >>At 09:36 PM 1/18/98 -0000, you wrote: >>>Where did you see these, at what link, I do not recall these part numbers. >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> >>>To: kseeker(a)usmo.com <kseeker(a)usmo.com> >>>Date: Friday, January 16, 1998 1:46 AM >>>Subject: more prices >>> >>> >>>>I'm interested in the HP 82161 and 82162 printers advertised on your >>>>website. Tell me what you want for them and their condition. >>>> >>>> Joe >>>> >>> >>> >> > >

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Someone told me....

by thedm＠sunflower.com

That the PCjr had some demo tutorial type programs in rom. Is this true? anyone know how to get to them, or have I been misinformed? Bill

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

ID help (Commie, IBM, Nissho?)

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-01-19 23:14:51 EST, you write: << >> Oh, they also had a few IBM PS/2 style monitors with a single RCA jack >> > What denotes a PS/2 "style" monitor ? I haven't heard this term >before and have several P/S2 s. The RCA jack would suggest a >composite monitor. It's the kind of case; the PS/2 style is rather different from the old 5150 style. what was the model number? first generation ps/2 machines were 85xx. second generation ps2 models were 95xx, known as the premium line. david

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Apple ][+

by TOwad＠aol.com

Hi Jim, I'll give you $30 shipped. I'm in PA 17347. Sincerely, Tom >I have an Apple ][+ that needs a good home. I've never seen anything >quite like this; every slot filled! I don't know it it works though; >no boot floppies. Here's what's inside: > >Applied Engineering 16k Pocket Rocket (?) >Asynchronous Serial Interface >MountainComputer A/D+D/A >PTM-1 Programmable timer module (with kludge of unknown function) >Parallel Interface board >ThunderClock Plus >Disk ][ Interface Card (FDC) >APL Board (with centronics cable attached) > >Included are a pair of Disk ][ drives, an Apple Joystick, and some >misc cables dangling from the back. E-Mail me at: > > Jeff.kaneko(a)ifrsys.com > > _or_ > > banzai(a)worldnet.att.net > >if interested. Will sell for a very reasonable price, plus shipping >from Wichita, Kansas.

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Sinclair Kit for Sale

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

I wasn't try to ruffle any feathers here, or undercut anyone's price. Your post simply jogged my memory as to the availability of these kits. FWIW the URL is: http://www.users.interport.net/~zebra/ts/ I was just there; it's still a live link. Kind of interesting browsing what they have to offer. BTW, I'm not affiliated with the sellers in any way, nor have I ever purchased from them. Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com -----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> Date: Monday, January 19, 1998 10:17 PM Subject: Re: Sinclair Kit for Sale > >Yeah ok. I just report what I'm told. I'm not a salesman. I'm not an >apologist. If you want to negotiate price with the guy contact him >directly at squest(a)cris.com. I'm not making any money off them. I don't >care if sells any. I don't care if anyone buys any. > >Anthony Clifton - Wirehead > >> Seems to me these kits are still available from some distributor on the net >> for around $30. I'll see if I can dig up the exact URL. >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> >> Date: Sunday, January 18, 1998 7:46 PM >> Subject: Sinclair Kit for Sale >> >> >> >> > >> >A friend of mine has an original unbuilt Sinclair kit for sale at what >> >looks like an interesting price. If you're interested, contact him >> >directly at squest(a)cris.com and tell him Anthony Clifton - Wirehead sent >> you. >> > >> >Anthony Clifton - Wirehead >> > >> > >> >

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

A Request for Assistance

by dastar＠crl.com

Hello Fellow Classic Computer Collecting Nerds. If you've checked out the Vintage Computer Festival web page then you know that there will be an exhibition of over 100 computer systems as part of the event. Just having the computers without any accompanying literature would probably leave a lot of attendees wondering what it was they were looking at. Therefore, I would like to have a short, one-page write-up for each machine on display giving summary information about the machine. I figured there is probably no better resource for general and historical information on old computers than this discussion group. As you know, 100 computers is a lot. So I am asking for a favor from anyone interested. I need write-ups done for the machines which will be on display! Aside from my undying gratitude, anyone who contributes write-ups will receive a free Vintage Computer Festival 1.0 t-shirt and a free pass to the show either this year or for whatever year you will be able to make it out (this WILL be an annual event). A list of the systems on display will follow. If you would like to do some write-ups for a particular system or series of systems, please e-mail me and I will let you know if a write-up is required for that system. The write-up should ideally include: The company which created the computer The founding year of the company The year the company went out of business The founder(s) of the company What the company's main market was (ie. who was their customer?) The year the computer was developed/released How many were manufactured (if known) What computer (if any) preceded this computer What computer (if any) followed this computer What operating system(s) could it run? What language(s) if any were built-in or available for it? What kinds of peripherals were available for this computer What were the attributes of this computer What processor did it use? How many bits was it? How much memory did it come with standard? How much total memory could it be expanded to? What kind of bus architecture did it use (if any) or how could it be expanded (if at all)? Did it have a carthridge slot? What other computers was it compatible with (if any)? What peripherals were specifically available for it (if any)? Disk drives or other storage devices? Printers? Displays? Other stuff like speech synthesizers, graphics tablets, etc.? What (if any) graphics capabilities did it possess? What was the resolution (of all graphics modes)? How many colors were available? Any special features of the graphics? Any special graphics hardware? What (if any) sound capabilities did it possess? How many voices did it support? Any special features of the sound? Any special sound hardware? What other significant attributes did it feature? Again, it would be ideal to have all this information, but it is not mandatory. I realize that some stuff is just a mystery. Hopefully having Vintage Computer Festival's will clear up these mysteries by getting the information flowing about old computers. If you would like to contribute a write-up, please e-mail me with what you want to contribute and I will let you know if I need one for that system or not. Thanks! (list to follow below) 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! MANUFACTURER PRODUCT MODEL ---------------------------- --------------------------- ------------ Altos Apple Computer Apple /// A3S2 Apple Computer Apple //c A2S4100 Apple Computer Apple IIe A2S2064 Apple Computer Apple IIe A2S2128 Apple Computer Apple ][ A2S0016 Apple Computer Apple ][+ A2S1048 Apple Computer Lisa 2 Apple Computer Macintosh Plus M0001A Atari Atari 1040ST 1040STF Atari Atari 1200XL Home Computer 1200XL Atari Atari 130XE 130XE Atari Atari 400 Home Computer 400 Atari Atari 520ST 520ST Atari Atari 600XL Home Computer 600XL Atari Atari 800 800 Atari Atari 800XL 800XL Atari Falcon 030 Callan Data Systems Unistar 300 Commodore Amiga A1000 Commodore Amiga A500 Commodore CBM 2001 Series PET 2001-32 Commodore Commodore 64 64 Commodore Commodore 64 Personal Compu 64C Commodore Commodore 128 128 Commodore Commodore Plus/4 Plus/4 Commodore PET 4016 Commodore PET 4032 Commodore PET 8032 Commodore VIC 20 Computer VIC 20 Compaq Portable CompuPro 8/16 Computer Power & Light Compal 80 Minicomputer Corona Data Systems M18P-2 Corvus Concept Cromemco Z2 Computer System Data General Data General One 2514A Epson Geneva PX-8 Epson Portable Computer HX-20 Exidy Inc. Sorcerer Computer Fortune Systems Corporation 32:16 Forward Technologies Sun 1 Clone GCE Vectrex Heath H8 Heath Hero I Hewlett-Packard Computer HP3000/37 Hewlett-Packard Computer HP85A Hewlett-Packard Computer HP86B Hewlett-Packard Portable HP110 Hewlett-Packard Portable Plus Hewlett-Packard Integral PC HP9000/207 Hewlett-Packard Workstation HP9000/520 Hewlett-Packard Computer HP9915 IBM 3270 Personal Computer 5271 IBM Personal Computer 5150 IMSAI Manufacturing Corporat IMSAI 8080 Microcomputer Sy Interact Micro Video Intertec Data Systems SuperBrain II Kaypro Corporation Kaypro New 2 Macintosh 128 Mattel Electronics Aquarius 5931 Mindset Mindset Morrow Designs MDT 60 Morrow Designs Pivot Portable Non-Linear Systems, Inc. Kaypro II North Star Computers Horizon OSI C4P MF Olivetti M10 Osborne Computer Corporation Executive Osborne Computer Corporation Osborne 1 Osborne Computer Corporation Osborne 3 Osborne Computer Corporation Vixen PMC Inc. PMC 81 Processor Technology Corp. SOL 20 Quest Electronics Super Elf Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 Radio Shack TRS-80 64K Color Computer 2 26-3127B Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer 2 26-3027 Radio Shack TRS-80 Micro Color Computer MC-10 Radio Shack TRS-80 Micro Computer Syste 26-1006-1 Radio Shack TRS-80 PC-1 SWP Microcomputer Products ATR8000 SWTP 6800 SWTP 6809 Sanyo MBC-550 MBC-550 Sinclair ZX80 ZX80 Sinclair ZX81 Personal Computer ZX81 Sun Microsystems Workstation 2/50 Synertek VIM-1 Tandy TRS-80 Model 2000 26-5103 Tandy Tandy 1000EX 25-1050B Tandy Tandy 100HX Personal Comput 25-1053A Televideo TS1603 Texas Instruments 99/4A Computer PHC004A Texas Instruments Silent 700 745 Portable Timex Computer Corporation Timex-Sinclair 1000 M 330 Timex Computer Corporation Timex-Sinclair 1500 Toshiba T1000 PA7027U Vector Graphics Inc. Vector 1 Victor Technologies, Inc. Victor 9000 412 Video Technology Ltd. Laser 50 Visual Computer Inc. Commuter COMMUTER US

28 years, 3 months

5
6
0 0

Boot disk images possible?

by scottk5＠ibm.net

Let me ask some of you wiser heads here on the list a question if I may: Is there a way to archive boot-disk images on my DOS file server? I'm trying to archive some of the DOS versions that are on my older machines. I'm thinking of that .exe format that IBM uses to produce bootable reference disks for the PS/2's.....is there anything comparable to that I can use to make a storable boot-disk image? I do make disk copies of the operating systems I want to save, but would also like to back them up on the server. Can anyone recommend anything that would be simple enough for a newbie like me to use to do this? Kirk Scott scottk5(a)ibm.net Net-Tamer V 1.09.2 - Test Drive

28 years, 3 months

3
2
0 0

RD-53 ?54 RETRY

by healyzh＠ix.netcom.com

OK, I got a MicroVAX II with a working RD-54 yesterday! I'm finally up and running with VMS. It's one of the Big ones on casters, I think it's what's called a BA-123 enclosure. I'm happy :^) There is something incredibly cool about a system that has the ability to bill users based on CPU usage! Along with this I got a LOT of other stuff. Amongst it all were several RD-53's, which when I connect them up and try to boot the system from them it gives me a ?54 RETRY. Does this mean that they are bad, or that they are simply not bootable disks? Yes, I realize that the RD-53's are some of the worst disks ever made, but I've got a lot around here right now. I'm hoping to use one of the 53's in my VAXstation II/RC (I also got a full fleged backplane yesterday to swap out with the resin filled one). While I'm asking questions, I also got three non-DEC Hard Drives, I gather they can be used with the MicroVAX's. One is a Imprimis Hard Drive Model Number 94166-182, I've determined it's a ESDI 182Mb HD, I've got at least one or two Plessey ESDI controllers that I picked up a couple weeks ago. How do I go about formating these drives? Zane | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | | healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | | For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html |

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Portability (was: Firsts)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 05:17 AM 1/17/98 +0000, you wrote: > I've got a Kaypro "portable" that I lift occasionally to keep fit I can do better than that -- I've got a Zenith that makes the Kaypro look pocket sized. *But* both fold up conveniently, and can be carried with one hand. The IBM 5100 (and RS mIII, Commodore Pet, HP 85, etc.) is *not* convenient to tote around on a regular basis. I still maintain that any reference to portability IBM might have made (aside from outright lie-- I mean marketing) simply refers to not needing a moving company, air conditioning installer, electrician, etc. when moving the office. I cannot accept that anyone at the time would have expected someone to lug it around it with them. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Cordata parts, software

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

I recently purchased a computer from a gentleman in Indiana. During our correspondence he mentioned that he had a bunch of parts for the Cordata. To quote him: >I also have enough Cordata pieces/parts to start my own repair shop: >Powersupplies, MB's, cards of all sorts, keyboards, little springs, etc. >etc. Know anyone wanting to suppliment their parts supplies? Somewhere >out there is someone who would give their eye teeth for this stuff! > >If you would like any other old software - I got it! I'm not interested, but maybe someone out there is. His name is Keith Hoffman; his email address is kehoffman(a)juno.com Contact him directly if interested. Like I said, I bought a computer from him, and he was extremely reasonable and easy to deal with during that transaction. Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

SoCal/TRW Swap Items

by jpl15＠netcom.com

Hello all on The List; I have been a Lurker here for several months but this is the first opportunity I have taken to actually POST something. For PDP11 folk in the Southern California area, I will have several items of related gear at the TRW Ham Radio Swapmeet in El Segundo, on Saturday Jan the 31st, 7:30am to 11:30am. (The meet is always held the last Saturday of the month) I have several Plessey pieces, including a MicroII which boots into ODT - but I have no disk OS for it.. and a Plessey dual 8" drive module... a Kennedy 5360 Hard Disk with a lucite see-thru cover.. it spins up and comes into ready, but the drive-to-I/F card was mechanically smashed. I have an RA60 that looks good but is untested and an RL02 junk for parts. Also many other bits and pieces and boards.. I am trying to thin out and concentrate my PDP collection. I WOULD LIKE: a formatter/interface card(s) to hook a Kennedy 9300 9-trk to an 11/34a... also A/D and D/A cards for the MINC11, and/or 70's vintage stand-alone or DEC-specific D/A converters. All items I have are for sale/trade/free to good home, and transportation in the SoCal area is included... longer distances according to value of bribe offered. :) AT TRW I am in spaces J21-J23, near the east side of the lot and across from a blue tent with CDroms all over. White Toyota P/U Truck full of Old Stuff, you probably can't miss it. I know this is CA-specific, but one never knows who might be traveling and would be interested. A URL with pix of my stuff is available, but waiting for renovation of the Old Computer section. Please feel free to write to my e-mail address if you would like more info or just to chat... I don't wish to take up ListSpace with personal communications. ;} Thank you for all the great info... many posts have helped me get my own jun^H^H^H systems working thru others giving good advice. Cheers, John

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

NeXT Cube

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 08:23 PM 1/18/98 -0600, you wrote: >> If anyone knows where I can buy a NeXT cube at a decent price, please >> let me know. Okay, I know NeXT was the baby of Steve Jobs, but what exactly is it based on? Is it an entirely new animal? If anyone can point me to some info, I'd appreciate it. -John Higginbotham- -limbo.netpath.net-

28 years, 3 months

5
4
0 0

Mini & Mainframe Power Requirements

by jrbrady＠mindspring.com

Having an IBM mainframe would be great provided you have a direct connect to the nearest power station! Here's several messages from knowledgeable folks that posted to alt.folklore.computers awhile back: [Message 1 of 4 in thread 148 of 176] alt.folklore.computers Re: IBM Mainframes: Power & Coolant Requirements From: Alan Greenberg <ALAN(a)VM1.McGill.CA> Date: Wed, 23 Aug 95 20:33:11 EDT (Page 1 of 2) In article <BNIDrJa.jrbrady(a)delphi.com> Jason Brady <jrbrady(a)delphi.com> writes: > >Does anyone have any insights as to the power requirements for the >beasts? How about the liquid coolant (I think one of the many system >components was the PDU "power/coolant distribution unit"?) We just replaced a two processor 3090 with a new CMOS-based system. The new systems was cost-justified partly on the energy savings. The processor complex ate up about 55 KVA, mostly in 415 Hz power (which is what the motor-generator created from 60 Hz - just as with airborne equipment, the higher frequency makes for smaller DC power supplies). Onto that, you need to add the cost of removing the heat - perhaps another 25-50% for a total power consumption of about 60-70 KVA. A complex with more processors would of course take more power. I should point out that this was a 9 year old machine.... We replaced it with a new box that draw less than 1,500 watts! Alan Greenberg Re: IBM Mainframes: Power & Coolant Requirements From: Joe Morris <jcmorris(a)mwunix.mitre.org> Date: 24 Aug 1995 14:42:30 GMT (Page 1 of 2) Jason Brady <jrbrady(a)delphi.com> writes: >I never got involved with the facilities support side of the place, but >remember one day when an emergency shutdown was attributed to a "motor- >generator failure." A lot of the big systems used MG sets, both as frequency translators (some circuits were designed for 400 Hz supply) and as an isolation mechanism to prevent garbage on the power feed from getting into the computer. The rotating mass of the MG provided excellent ride-through for short outages of the commercial power. At a PPOE in the mid-1970s we had an IBM 370/148 (with MG), an IBM 360/65 (no MG) and a DEC DECsystem KL10 (no MG). We also had a Dranitz power line monitor tied to the power mains; based on its output we could show how well the systems handled dropouts in the power. The DECsystem 10 never survived more than about 3 or 4 cycles outage; the 360/65 died at about 16 cycles, and the 148 could tolerate almost a full second. (We got lots of opportunities to collect data points ... thanks, TVA.) Of course, the peripherals on the 148 would usually die on an outage of one second, but the CPU itself would survive without taking a power check. (The shop didn't have the funds and/or will to buy a UPS, even though I managed to include a room for one in the building when it was designed.) The problem with the DEC box didn't surprise me at all. There were a lot of nice features in the design, but the impression I got was that DEC designed the power circuits on a day after the engineers had spent the previous night in a bar. At one time I found that the box was dumping almost 8A of current down the *ground* line, yet the DEC CE insisted that the box was installed and working correctly. It also was dumping over 20A down the neutral line on a 3-phase circuit; not the safety issue of ground current, but still indicative of poor design. Joe Morris / MITRE [Message 3 of 4 in thread 148 of 176] alt.folklore.computers Re: IBM Mainframes: Power & Coolant Requirements From: Joe Morris <jcmorris(a)mwunix.mitre.org> Date: 24 Aug 1995 15:04:21 GMT (Page 1 of 2) Responding to: <41e5j3$id(a)news.iadfw.net> mcw(a)gateway.airmail.net (Mike Wommack) writes: >I used to work as an Electrician at an IBM site a few years back. I know >the 3380(?) DASD strings took 220v at 100A. The plugs were huge. I also >recall what looked like 3/4" water lines used to cool the main processor. >(Which was either a 3090 or ES9000.) If it was a US site, the 3380 box probably was being fed with 208VAC, 3-phase power at no more than 60A; the box is spec'ed at requiring no more than 8.2 KVA. In the case of the 3380 the power connector is an R&S 7328 plug, which is rated at only 60A. (You could get the box wired for other voltages, so a 220 VAC feed is possible but if that was the voltage the current draw would have been even less than at 208.) The size of the connectors in the power lines is often mandated by NEC (National Electric Code) and/or local code requirements, which for underfloor installation often require watertight connections (and thus increase the size of the connector). Joe Morris / MITRE

28 years, 3 months

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Toronto-area comp museums ?

by chrish＠knet.kootenay.net

Not in toronto, but I live in Castlegar British Columbia, Canada Nice Computer website. Chris :) >On 18 Jan 98 at 16:50, Unusual systems wrote: > >> Did any one ever reply? I believe I'm the chap in the K-W area. We once had >> Canada's first computer museum, but it has since closed. Have you seen our >> web site? www.sentex.net/~ccmuseum. >> >> Please let me know what I can do to help you. >> >Not a peep !! It's amazing that the 5th largest city in N.A. has nary >a one. Only you and Charlie Fox in Windsor TMK. Thanks for the URL >I had a reference to it at one time but misplaced it. > Any other TO area folks on the list ? > >ciao larry >> >> >lwalkerN0spaM(a)interlog.com > >

28 years, 3 months

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computer collectors index

by bmahoney＠sprint.ca

Isaac, Did this list get anywhere? I just found this discussion today, although I have been collecting and have had a collecting page on the web for two years. If it has amounted to something, please add my name and email. Brian Mahoney in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. bmahoney(a)sprint.ca Thanks

28 years, 3 months

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ID help (Commie, IBM, Nissho?)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 05:04 PM 1/19/98 +0000, you wrote: >> Oh, they also had a few IBM PS/2 style monitors with a single RCA jack >> > What denotes a PS/2 "style" monitor ? I haven't heard this term >before and have several P/S2 s. The RCA jack would suggest a >composite monitor. It's the kind of case; the PS/2 style is rather different from the old 5150 style. Dunno if it was actually part of the PS/2 line-up or not. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 3 months

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Kaypro's Available

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 08:31 PM 1/18/98 -0600, you wrote: >Would any collectors be interested in Kaypros. > >I have four -- some complete with original advertisement, software, >manuals, etc. Definitely! Where and how much? Which models? Thanks! --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 3 months

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Sinclair Kit for Sale

by zmerch＠northernway.net

At 09:30 PM 1/19/98 -0600, Anthony Clifton wrote: > >Yeah ok. I just report what I'm told. I'm not a salesman. I'm not an >apologist. If you want to negotiate price with the guy contact him >directly at squest(a)cris.com. I'm not making any money off them. I don't >care if sells any. I don't care if anyone buys any. >Anthony Clifton - Wirehead > Cliff Gregory Wrote: >> Seems to me these kits are still available from some distributor on the net >> for around $30. I'll see if I can dig up the exact URL. [snip] Sir Anthony, I don't believe that Sir Cliff was undermining your post -- for you posted no actual prices. All you stated was: "at what looks like an interesting price." An interesting price to me is $5.00. An interesting price to another could be $500.00. Frankly, I wouldn't pay either price right now due to lack of spare time to actually build the kit (which is what I would do -- I *like* trying to burn my fingers with a soldering iron (thank goodness I'm horrible at it - the burning, that is ;-)). I believe Cliff was just mentioning the URL just in case the Sinclair kit that you mentioned was already gone -- there may be a source for more so that others could enjoy them to. [Of course, I'm an optimist...] Anyway, that's my take on this situation -- now back to the rest of my (short) 12-hour shift. See ya, and chin up, eh? Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger Merchberger | Why does Hershey's put nutritional Programmer, NorthernWay | information on their candy bar wrappers zmerch(a)northernway.net | when there's no nutritional value within?

28 years, 3 months

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ID help (Commie, IBM, Nissho?)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

Spotted a few things that someone might be interested in, and that I wasn't sure what they were... First, and oddest, was a pizza box labelled Nissho Electronics. Looked like a workstation, one 3.5". Almost got it, but for $26... Anyone know what it might have been? Commodore 64 for $5, 64c in the box for $15 -- Anyone interested? I know what a 1541 disk drive is, but what about a Vic-1541? Is it worth $10? I did pick up a C modem/300 (model 1660) for $.99 and an Osborne 1 keyboard (only!) for (I know, too much, but it's an Osborne!) $5. Oh, they also had a few IBM PS/2 style monitors with a single RCA jack input on the back; they were mounted on little stands, kinda like (I think) the Apple IIc monitors. Possibly Composite? Possibly from some POS terminal/cash register? A little steep at $26 though. (Looked new though!) --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 3 months

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ID help (Commie, IBM, Nissho?)

by chemif＠mbox.queen.it

At 08:24 19/01/98 -0500, you wrote: >The Vic-1541's are somewhat more uncommon that the >C-1541's, and are in a little more demand among Commodore collectors for >that reason. ..omissis.. >Now then, should you happen across one labled "Vic-1540", you had better >grab it as they are ultra-rare. I've only heard that they exist, I've never >actually seen one. Who saw a C=1570? How much would worth? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ? Riccardo Romagnoli,collector of:CLASSIC COMPUTERS,TELETYPE UNITS,PHONE ? ? AND PHONECARDS I-47100 Forli'/Emilia-Romagna/Food Valley/ITALY ? ? Pager:DTMF PHONES=+39/16888(hear msg.and BEEP then 5130274*YOUR TEL.No.* ? ? where*=asterisk key | help visit http://www.tim.it/tldrin_eg/tlde03.html ? ? e-mail=chemif(a)mbox.queen.it ? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

28 years, 3 months

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Kaypro's Available

by manney＠nwohio.nwohio.com

Sure -- I'm interested. btw, might I (humbly) suggest that anyone offering something for sale include his (her) e-mail address in the message? Then the subsequent hail of offers will stay off the LISTSERV. manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 3 months

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Firsts

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 10:26 PM 1/16/98 -0500, you wrote: >>Haddock says (now that I'm home) the Compass was early 1982, $6000-8000. > >Forgive me, my ignorance, O Wise One, but what is this Haddock? I think that's the first time anyone's ever called me wise (except, of course, myself, who knew it all along.) 8^) Haddock, Dr. Thomas F., author of "A Collector's Guide to Personal Computers and Pocket Calculators", ISBN # 0-89689-098-8. It's an excellent first go at a refernce book on collectible microcomputers; incomplete, and inconistant, but a good start. (I can't speak for the calculator part.) Prices are not realistic (some too high, others too low) and missing a lot of machines, but good for what it's got. I think I got my copy from amazon (http://www.amazon.com/) but other bookstores (like powell's (http://www.powells.com/) might have it as well.) His PhD, btw, is in physics, and he's also the author of a book on Jag E-type restoration. Go figure.

28 years, 3 months

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Cleaning out my storage room...

by manney＠nwohio.nwohio.com

I dibs the 486 and/or the VLB card, if it has drivers. manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 3 months

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PDP-11/73 -- VT220

by manney＠nwohio.nwohio.com

Have you set the communications protocols correctly? Baud rate, parity, stop bit(s), word size? That's the usual reason for gibberish. manney(a)nwohio.com ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: PDP-11/73 -- VT220 > Date: Sunday, January 18, 1998 2:45 PM > > I picked up a VT220 yesterday, as I was getting tired of using another > computer for a terminal. The question is how do I connect it? I'm > assuming the DB25 on the back of the VT220 is the comm line (especially if > I read the back correctly), I gather the DB9 is for a printer (from what I > found in my web searches last night). > > I took a cable and ran it from the Comm port on the /73 to the Comm port on > the VT220, and get nothing. I then added a Null-Modem adapter and got > gibberish. Does this need some kind of special cable to work? I don't see > any switch settings on the back of terminal or anything. > > Oh, and the VT220 say's it's OK when I power it on. > > Zane > > > | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | > | healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | > | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | > +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ > | For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | > | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | > | For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. | > | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html | > >

28 years, 3 months

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Firsts

by chemif＠mbox.queen.it

At 03:58 11/01/98, you wrote: Someone At 01:44 PM 1/11/98 -0500, wrote: >>> >First programable calc >>> >>> Then there is the "first solid state electronic calc" which I think goes to >>> the Busicom from Japan that employed the first production run of the intel >>> 4000 chip set: the 4001 (2048 bit ROM), 4002 (320 bit RAM), 4003 (10 bit >>> shift register), and the 4004 (4 bit CPU). That chip set was shipped to >>> Busicom in March 1971 according to Michael S. Malone's "The >Microprocessor: >>> A Biography" ISBN 0-387-94342-0 Then William Donzell added: >>Wang's first (or quite near their first) product was an all electronic >>calculator, introduced in the late 1960s. They are big, but could be >>lugged around. Then Joe: > HP's first calculator, the 9100a, was introduced in 1967 or 68. It had >no ICs, used core memories, and used logic gates made of diodes and >resistors. It did have transistors but they were mainly used as amplifiers >for the core memory. I guess it still qualifies as "solid state".) It was >fully proggramable and used RPN. I have a 9100B with a 1969 date code. > > I believe the Japanese Busicom calculator is even older and dates from >about 1966. Let see if I' m able to go more back: I translate from the URL page of the Pisa University Scientific Instruments Preservation Dept. < http://www.difi.unipi.it/museo/calcolat/miniepc/miniepc.html > Olivetti Programma 101 Olivetti Programma 101 Programma 101 comes introduced in 1965 during the BEMA elecronic show,in New York.It represents the first "desktop calculator" ever constructed in the world. 40.000 exemplary were constructed at the price of 3.200 $ The machine offered the possibility to carry out arithmetical operations in direct way, or of being programmed for the calculation of complex functions. The programs could be stored in magnetic stripes. It was entirely planned and realized in the Olivetti research laboratories of Pregnana, from a group of researchers guided from the Ing. Piergiorgio Perotto, the design was from the Arch. Mario Bellini. Attacment:picture of the machine "olip101.jpg"

28 years, 3 months

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ID help (Commie, IBM, Nissho?)

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

The Vic-1541 was the disk drive with the colors of the Vic-20. These were marketed at about the time of the introduction of the C64 and could be used with either the Vic-20 or the C64. Internally the Vic-1541 and the original beige Commodore 1541 (the one with the pull down door latch) are essentially the same. The later versions of the C-1541 (flip down latch) were changed internally with different drive moters, etc. Functionally they are all the same. Is it worth $10.00 ? The Vic-1541's are somewhat more uncommon that the C-1541's, and are in a little more demand among Commodore collectors for that reason. I would put their value at between $10 and $20. In other words, if I were in San Francisco I probably would have picked it up, but it's not worth shipping across country. Now then, should you happen across one labled "Vic-1540", you had better grab it as they are ultra-rare. I've only heard that they exist, I've never actually seen one. Supposedly they were introduced for a short time before the Vic-1541 and the drive speed is set for the Vic-20, and therefore will not work with the later Commodore machines. Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com -----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> Date: Monday, January 19, 1998 5:01 AM Subject: ID help (Commie, IBM, Nissho?) >I know what a 1541 disk drive is, but what about a Vic-1541? Is it worth $10? > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- O- > >Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad >roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." >Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates >San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/ > >

28 years, 3 months

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Transformer theory for computer hackers.

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

This would be easier with some diagrams, but I'll do my best. This is not strictly on topic but I think I'd better clear up some of the confusion since I caused it! The equivalent circuit of a transformer is an "ideal transformer" in series with an impedance and in parallel with a magnetising impedance: O---------------+----------UUUUUU----/\/\/\/----)||(-------------O | )||( / Xs Rs )||( O I \ Rm )||( U N / )||( T P | )||( P U ) )||( U T ) Xm )||( T ) )||( | )||( O---------------+-------------------------------)||(-------------O The ideal transformer merely changes voltage. Xs = series reactance (inductive) Rs = series resistance (copper loss - due to resistance of windings) Xm = magnetising reactance Rm = magnetising resistance (iron loss - due to hysteresis of core) There are two things limiting the power you can shove through a transformer. First (and quite easy) is the thermal limit - the current flowing in Rs. In reality, the thermal limit is the current flowing in _any_ winding, which might burn out that winding. Next is the flux in the core. The two windings of the ideal transformer carry equal and opposite ampere-turns, and their flux cancels out. The flux in the core is determined by the current in Xm, which depends on voltage and frequency (remember it's an inductor - more current at lower frequencies) Usually the transformer has a primary winding with a rated voltage (so you don't over-flux it. It also has a VA rating which determines the current (so you don't burn out the windings) If you are trying to kludge things, there are some special cases to worry about. 1. 50Hz MAINS. If your transformer is designed for 60Hz mains and you want to use it at 50Hz, the lower frequency will meaan that Xm is lower. (X=2*PI*f*L). The magnetising impedance will draw more current, and the flux in the core will be higher. From a practical point of view, this means that the rated VOLTAGE must be lower. For example if it is designed for 240V, 60Hz, at 50Hz the rating is 200V. This is called DERATING. Since the rated voltage is lower, and the rated current is the same (excessive current will melt copper whatever the voltage), the VA rating is also less. Most small commercial transformers are designed for 50Hz anyway, so this shouldn't be a problem. However (following the discussion of mainframes and things) most [North American] medium to large power transformers are not! (Medium > 5kVA I suppose. Large probably > 50 kVA. Hard to say - in my job I regularly deal (at least on paper) with 500000kVA transformers) 2. HOME MADE AUTOTRANSFORMERS. An autotransformer has the low voltage end of one winding connected to the high voltage end of another. This saves copper, reduces core size, etc. It is often used for converting between mains voltages and is at its best around the 2:1 voltage ratio. Many small transformers are made with two primary windings, each rated at 120V or thereabouts. The idea is to connect them in series for 240V operation and in parallel for 120V. A trick I mentioned a few days ago is to wire them together as an autotransformer (Windings are W1 and W2 in the diagram: +---------------O | )|| W1 )|| )|| O-----------------+|| )|| IN- W2 )|| PUT )|| | O-----------------+---------------O Call the VA rating of the transformer V*I, where V is the voltage rating of the windings in series (usually 240V) and I is the current that flows in each winding. On the HV (higher voltage) side, we want V and I. On the LV side we must therefore provide V/2 and 2I. (Assuming an ideal transformer for the moment) Now each winding is rated at V/2, so energising one at this voltage is not a problem. But each winding is only rated at I, so what do you do with the 2I you have to supply? 2I must flow in at the junction of the two windings, and I must flow out at the HV terminal. It is easy to see that I will flow through W1; the rest of the current entering at the junction must flow through W2. Simple arithmetic tells you that each winding carries a current of I; the ampere turns are equal and opposite, so the transformer will work. However, once you add the imperfections, you do start to get a few problems. I'd have to do some serious calcs to find out exactly how Zs (= Rs + i*Xs) and Zm affect it, but you may have to take a VA rating 10% or so lower than nameplate. Which is not much of a loss. You also have a regulation problem. Most small transformers have extra turns on the secondary to compensate for the voltage drop across Zs. Here you are only using the primary, so you don't get this. Expect a voltage drop (proportional to load current, of course) of about 10% to 20% (less for larger transformers) at full load. So, in response to Tony's comment, the transformer won't mind if you use it almost up to nameplate rating - but you may not get as many volts out as you expected. Using a transformer at 30% of nameplate rating is as good a way as any to avoid this! In response to (I forget your name - sorry!) I hope this has explained what I was getting at. Finally, SCOTT CONNECTION etc. Someone yesterday(?) tried to perpetuate one of the myths about the Scott transformer, which is used in converting balanced 2-phase to 3-phase power. If you have two phases at 90 deg to each other, you have a balanced 2-phase supply. This is very rare! There will usually be 3 wires - two phases and neutral - and the phase to phase voltage will be about 1.41 times the phase to neutral voltage. The scott transformer (actually two single phase transformers) converts this to and from 3 phase. Most US domestic supplies (and a few UK rural supplies to farms and things) have two phases at 180 deg to each other - phase to phase voltage is twice phase to neutral voltage. THERE IS NO TRANSFORMER THAT WILL GIVE YOU THREE PHASE FROM SUCH A SUPPLY. You need preferably a motor-generator or dynamotor (motor-generator sharing a common rotor winding). As mentioned previously, an induction motor with suitable capacitors and things will do this quite well up to a point. Electronic converters exist and are getting cheaper all the time... Finally, you may have two of the phases of a three-phase system. If you have three wires - two phases and neutral - there is a transformer that will derive balanced 3-phase from this. If not, you're in the same position as with a single phase or unbalanced 2-phase (which is actually single phase centre tapped to earth) supply. If anyone STILL doesn't understand what's going on, ask privately. Who knows? If I get very many questions, I may be posting "3 phase ac theory for computer hackers" before long... Philip. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Philip Belben <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Bloedem Volke unverstaendlich treiben wir des Lebens Spiel. Grade das, was unabwendlich fruchtet unserm Spott als Ziel. Magst es Kinder-Rache nennen an des Daseins tiefem Ernst; Wirst das Leben besser kennen, wenn du uns verstehen lernst. Poem by Christian Morgenstern - Message by Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk

28 years, 3 months

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System/34

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

Someone asked about power requirements for IBM S/34. All I can say is it's less than 7 kVA (ours was plugged into 30A, 240V single phase circuit. The other one at IBM Bristol was plugged into a 3-phase 415V socket but I don't know whether it used all 3 phases) If there's one going begging, I want it as long as (a) it's within 200mi of Coalville, England and (b) it can wait a week or three while I get my truck back on the road. Philip

28 years, 3 months

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Toronto-area comp museums ?

by kstumpf＠unusual.on.ca

Did any one ever reply? I believe I'm the chap in the K-W area. We once had Canada's first computer museum, but it has since closed. Have you seen our web site? www.sentex.net/~ccmuseum. Please let me know what I can do to help you. Yours in good faith.

28 years, 3 months

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One question was: Re: Cleaning out my storage room...

by jpero＠cgo.wave.ca

Oh, About lunchbox, I nearly forgot, To anyone who knows the Canadian-USA border well, could anyone tell me what is proper proccedures to let border guys know that I'm ridding of this lunchbox? It has the small yellow serial label that border person stuck on my lunchbox when I was travelling to visit my friend. The empty lunchbox was originally privately brought used by mail from a person in USA during last summer. Thanks! Jason D.

28 years, 3 months

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Firsts

by bmpete＠swbell.net

At 07:39 PM 1/18/98 -0500, you wrote: ><You could use the "skip big messages" option that most mail program have ><Anyway I will refrain from sending attachements to this list in future. > >not all mailers have that! My email prog never saw the message; many times the ISP timed out and closed the connection. _______________ Barry Peterson bmpete(a)swbell.net Husband to Diane, Father to Doug, Grandfather to Zoe and Tegan.

28 years, 3 months

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Bubble Memory

by yakowenk＠cs.unc.edu

Bubble memories were once available as a kind of disk emulator for SwTPC 6809 machines with the FLEX OS. The package was called "DISKBUB", and was based on a bubble memory by Texas Instruments, IIRC. Didn't sell terribly well; cost something like $1000 for 128K bytes. God, I wish I'd saved those old program listings. Bill.

28 years, 3 months

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Uncles/PC-C64c file transfers

by scott＠isd.canberra.edu.au

At 10:26 17/01/98 -0800, Larry Anderson wrote: >>Okay, so I have a C-64c, 1541 floppy, and monitor. Now how exactly would I >>go about downloading programs from the internet on my PC machine and >>porting them over to the Commodore? Will I need a special serial cable? I >>have the 64 boxed up at the moment so can't really tell what I need. [Snip!] > Finaly (if nesessary) convert the file, it it is .D64 there are a few >d64 to 1541 utilities out there for both the 64 and 128. T64 is a >different story, it will need to go to tape, and even though I know it >can be done I am unsure whether or not a utility exists yet for the 64. Actually, you can transfer .T64 files to disk without any problem. .D64 is a disk image format, .T64 is simply a single file. Just transfer it as a PRG file and it should work fine. Regards, | Scott McLauchlan |E-Mail: scott(a)isd.canberra.edu.au| | Admin/ISD IT User Support Team |Phone: +61 2 6201 5544 (Ext.5544)| | Information Services Division |Post: University of Canberra, | |University of Canberra, AUSTRALIA | ACT, 2601. |

28 years, 3 months

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Mini & Mainframe Power Requirements

by pvhp＠forte.com

classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Subj: Re: Mini & Mainframe Power Requirements William Donzelli wrote: >OK, running a big mini or a mainframe class machine is not for everyone. >However, running a processor plus a single disk and perhaps a tape may not >be all that bad. Water cooled machines, however, would be too much to >handle. > >For those that only want to plug things into the wall, turn back now! > >A typical mainframe machine from the past is going to want 3-phase power. <more scary power specs snipped> Well not necessarily. Of late IBM has been putting effort into making S/390 (note: less than 7 years old and not quite a classic) available to small shops: via the P/390 (a 7490 mainframe on a chip hosted by a pentium running OS/2) and the R/390 (also a 7490 with an AIX host - RS/6k or PPC). I must apologize: in a previous message I had referred to the mainframe on a chip as a "3490" which is a tape drive not a CPU model number. To the extent that S/390 derives its heritage from S/370 and S/360 such a box may serve the needs of the mainframe hacker with a small power capacity/budget. IBM's amazing efforts at preservation of backward compatability are a big plus here: to a first approximation S/390 simply adds features to S/370 (the parallel sysplex clustering ability allegedly being quite highly advanced nowadays e.g.). Unfortunately the purchase price won't help the budget minded hacker: a new P/390 runs $50k to $100k and the R/390 a bit more. I've used a P/390 and must say that it is quite a machine: all DASD communication channels are actually handled via a software emulation that runs under the host OS/2 machine, but other than that it seems much like a mainframe. You can run with RAID 0,1,3,5 using PC type drives. The 7490 can run OS/390 (the new name for MVS), VM/ESA, as well as VSE/ESA (the new name for DOS since about 1987). Interestingly enough IBM recently upgraded their P/390 production line to move from 90 MhZ Pentiums to 200 MhZ Pentiums and touted that customers could expect throughput rates to increase a whopping 10% (this gives you an inkling of how much the host OS adds in overhead). According to an IBM technical contact there are shops that are actually running P/390s in a production environment: doing payroll, accounting and whatnot. This despite the fact that the intended market was primarily for software shops porting code to S/390. Perhaps the most unusual thing about S/390 are the OpenEdition environments that run under the various OSes. They give you unix on the mainframe and the OpenEdition environment under OS/390 is now known as "UNIX System Services for OS/390". The irony being that MVS is actually 3-4 years younger than UNIX: UNIX started in 1969, MVS was announced in 1973 and shipped in 1974. At any rate keep an eye out for P/390 on a PC Server 500 (maybe the P90s will wind up on the used market?) and the equivalent R/390 machine - they take only wall plug 110 AC and will let you hack JCL, assembler, and CLISTs to your heart's content - destined to be classics. Peter Prymmer

28 years, 3 months

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Kaypro's Available

by strategy＠winning.com

Would any collectors be interested in Kaypros. I have four -- some complete with original advertisement, software, manuals, etc. Time to free them from the storage bin.

28 years, 3 months

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Firsts

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-01-18 17:11:29 EST, you write: << Just acquired a Compaq luggable (don't know the model, but it's an XT) that's pretty hefty. I forgot how much I love mono screens, though. The case reminds me of an airline carry-on cat container...stands on end, with the handle on top. >> ive got two IBM portable pc's (5155 i think) which are the same thing. also has built in handle and a 5 inch screen. both that i have are upgraded to 640k, and one has one floppy removed and a hard drive in its place. david

28 years, 3 months

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Round-up of classic HP stuff

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> wrote: > (2) 21MX E computers (one having 1MW of memory, the other with 256MW) For Joe: MW == megawords. These being 2100-family machines a word is 16 bits. > (1) HP1000A Um, no, I think that is an HP1000 F-series. (I have trouble keeping 1000 M/E/F-series straight though, really should copy those pages out of the test equipment catalog and paste them to my monitor or something.) > (1) HP1000 model 600A (hard drive, 3.5" floppy) Cute little thing, in a deskside tower chassis. And a 2621P terminal that I am guessing was last used as its console: it's got the fiber-optic console interface attached. > (1) Tape Reader Reroller (the 8th of only a few ever made) Well, that's what the seller told us. Definitely 1960s stuff though. The idea was that the reader would re-roll your tape into its canister as it read. I gathered that that part didn't work too well. There were also some drafting erasers, um I mean hand-held re-rollers in a box nearby. > (2) 2647F terminals (these are actually computers running Basic with > built-in tape and external 5.25" disk drives but are used as > terminals to the 21MX) Take a close look at the label on the front. They say "HP3000". That's because these 2647Fs were originally meant to be used as consoles for HP3000 series 64/68/70 systems. (Though, in April 1984 when the shop I was at got a brand new 3000/64, the 2647F console with it had a 2647F badge on the front.) It's been a while since I had one of these to play with, but I'm thinking that the BASIC was loaded from diskette. There is a sort of command/script interpreter in the terminal though. > (2) Mag-tape drives (Frank will provide the specs and model #s) I think one of them has a 7970B tag and the other doesn't have a model tag but behaves like a 7970E, meaning nine-track 1600 BPI read/write. It's been modified, though, and I gather it started life as a read-only drive that could read 7-track tapes, and that we may have the parts to convert it back. Some of the parts are definitely there, but I can't judge their condition or completeness 'til we do a decent inventory of the lot and I try to wrap my head around the service manual for that drive. > (1) Big-assed line printer and stand HP 2608A. Needs work, doesn't feed paper right. As line printers go it's kinda dinky. E.g. you can take it off its stand and then two people can carry it without too much trouble, so long as there aren't stairs or doorways or RVs in the way. So if you have Sam's attention and are near a proper line printer please show it to him so he can get properly calibrated. > (2) HP racks No, two 19" HP racks on a pedestal. Apparently from an engine test system of some sort. HP used to embed 2100-family CPUs in all sorts of specialized test equipment and that's what these look like they were, once upon a time. > The guy was more interested in getting rid of it and having it go to a > good home than getting money for it. We paid him $200. Of course Frank > now has an invaluable contact for discussing his HP passion (the guy we > bought the stuff from is a 26 year HP veteran). Yeah, y'all really should have hung around a bit longer before zipping off to unload. > I think when it was all done Frank basically had an accident in his pants > as he could not contain his excitement over his good fortune. No, I was just dazed'n'confused because I really hadn't expected we'd be moving it that day, just looking and dealing to come get it in a couple weeks' time. So today I am playing catch-up, then maybe going off to rearrange /dev/closet02 in the hope of making a hole that some of this stuff can fit in. Catch-up? Um, yeah, I have a bunch of IBM manuals and stuff to sort through and inventory. They go with an IBM RT PC (6150). Got that too. Up to my butt in alligators, I remain, -Frank McConnell

28 years, 3 months

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Firsts

by chemif＠mbox.queen.it

Hi, Barry, At 04:03 18/01/98 GMT, you wrote: >>Attacment:picture of the machine "olip101.jpg" > >PLEASE! No more attachments, especially of that size. >It took me dozens of tries to finally get it. (It blocked all my >other emails.) Hmm, sorry but I thought that 77 k attachment file would not make any problem (it took 45 sec. to send it). You could use the "skip big messages" option that most mail program have. Anyway I will refrain from sending attachements to this list in future. About my messag on Re: Firsts/programmable calculators, I received back from classicmp only one part of the whole message wrote (very strange). Here follows a copy without attachement: ------ Someone At 01:44 PM 1/11/98 -0500, wrote: >>> >First programable calc >>> >>> Then there is the "first solid state electronic calc" which I think goes to >>> the Busicom from Japan that employed the first production run of the intel >>> 4000 chip set: the 4001 (2048 bit ROM), 4002 (320 bit RAM), 4003 (10 bit >>> shift register), and the 4004 (4 bit CPU). That chip set was shipped to >>> Busicom in March 1971 according to Michael S. Malone's "The >Microprocessor: >>> A Biography" ISBN 0-387-94342-0 Then William Donzell added: >>Wang's first (or quite near their first) product was an all electronic >>calculator, introduced in the late 1960s. They are big, but could be >>lugged around. Then Joe: > HP's first calculator, the 9100a, was introduced in 1967 or 68. It had >no ICs, used core memories, and used logic gates made of diodes and >resistors. It did have transistors but they were mainly used as amplifiers >for the core memory. I guess it still qualifies as "solid state".) It was >fully proggramable and used RPN. I have a 9100B with a 1969 date code. > > I believe the Japanese Busicom calculator is even older and dates from >about 1966. Let see if I' m able to go more back: I translate from the URL page of the Pisa University Scientific Instruments Preservation Dept. < http://www.difi.unipi.it/museo/calcolat/miniepc/miniepc.html > Olivetti Programma 101 Olivetti Programma 101 Programma 101 comes introduced in 1965 during the BEMA elecronic show,in New York.It represents the first "desktop calculator" ever constructed in the world. 40.000 exemplary were constructed at the price of 3.200 $ The machine offered the possibility to carry out arithmetical operations in direct way, or of being programmed for the calculation of complex functions. The programs could be stored in magnetic stripes. It was entirely planned and realized in the Olivetti research laboratories of Pregnana, from a group of researchers guided from the Ing. Piergiorgio Perotto, the design was from the Arch. Mario Bellini. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ? Riccardo Romagnoli,collector of:CLASSIC COMPUTERS,TELETYPE UNITS,PHONE ? ? AND PHONECARDS I-47100 Forli'/Emilia-Romagna/Food Valley/ITALY ? ? Pager:DTMF PHONES=+39/16888(hear msg.and BEEP then 5130274*YOUR TEL.No.* ? ? where*=asterisk key | help visit http://www.tim.it/tldrin_eg/tlde03.html ? ? e-mail=chemif(a)mbox.queen.it ? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

28 years, 3 months

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Power Problem (slightly offtopic?)

by higginbo＠netpath.net

I know this is off-topic, but I think someone might be able to help me with this here. If you want, reply privately to higginbo@netpath. net. I haven't got a clue on this one: I was putting together this system the other day at work, got everything setup, turned it on, and it was fine. But when I hit reset or power down, I can't get it to come back up at all. The hard drives would init, the cd-rom drives would power up, but nothing would come up on screen, no memory check, etc. I could then reset a few times and it would eventually come up. The system is getting power, and the motherboard and case/PS are brand new. So I'm throwing this out to you guys: Is it the power supply not providing enough juice for all the drives? It's a 250w PS, and everything works once it's on. Is it the motherboard? (TX Pro chipset, el cheapo, but have had no probs with them in the past.) Not enough power getting to the power supply? I'm at a loss on this one. -John Higginbotham- -limbo.netpath.net-

28 years, 3 months

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DECMates

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<A while ago, I mentioned that I had a DECMate III, the one without <the hard drive. It has two DECWrite manuals, a disk set for the same, <Could anyone tell me what OS I can use on this, where I can get it, <and how to install it. The DEC is not at my house, and any mistake will DECMATE-III is a sorta PDP-8 using the harris 6120 chip that is a microprocessor clone of the basic PDP-8 with some added features. With some notable exceptions it will run most PDP-8 software and there are some spcific DECMATE modified veriosn out there like OS/8 and operating system. FYI DECMATEs nominally run WPS a word processing, list management, spread sheet and communications terminal emulation package unique to them. If you can surf the web most of the software for PDP-8 and DECmates are out there along with tech info. To get the OS on the decmate there are two paths... get someone to make a copy of the OS/8 disk set(its permitted) or down load the files from those sites and use PUTR ot teledisk(disk cloner) and a 1.2m 5.25" drive on a PC. Allison

28 years, 3 months

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