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

by david＠classiccomputing.com

Well, one of my old computers is the star in an upcoming short film called "Base Code." It's a 1980 Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III. I made a little documentary. You may not want to watch all 20 minutes, but definitely watch the last 2 minutes. Look for me in some places too! http://gallery.me.com/dgreelish/100077 Best, David Greelish, Computer Historian President, Atlanta Historical Computing Society Classic Computing The Home of Computer History Nostalgia http://www.classiccomputing.com Best, David Greelish, Computer Historian President, Atlanta Historical Computing Society Classic Computing The Home of Computer History Nostalgia http://www.classiccomputing.com

15 years

3
3
0 0

Oscilloscope Recommendation

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I find myself in need of an oscilloscope to help me fix my PDP11 PSU (I am being ably assisted by a member of the list, so don't worry). As this is for occasional use only I can't justify spending a lot of money. From previous postings on the list I think I need a minimum spec of dual trace and 20MHz bandwidth. Does anyone have any recommendations for what to buy? I suspect it would be better to get a higher quality used one than a cheaper new one. Perhaps someone in the UK on this list has one they want to sell? Regards Rob

15 years

31
89
0 0

Q-bus chassis

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

The RetroComputing Society of Rhode Island is doing some housecleaning, as we need to make room for a new machine (a Cray J). I will probably offer up some goodies here and on Ebay over the next few weeks. I might even throw some of the Joe Heck stuff in as well. We have a couple of MDB Qbus chassis - no cards. Pretty basic 3rd party DEC stuff. These are rack mount, and are roughly equivalent to a PDP-11/23. We would like to get anything over shipping for these. Additionally, I could probably deliver to any of the NY area hamfests, or even at our open houses in Providence, RI (generally 3rd Saturday of the month). We will also have a massive triage of u-fixum VT100s soon. Those will likely be pickup only. All proceeds over shipping will go to RCS. -- Will, in 10512

15 years

4
5
0 0

Tektronix 4911 paper tape punch/reader, 4912 cassette drive

by legalize＠xmission.com

Has anyone ever seen either of these? They're introduced in the Tektronix catalog for 1973, pg. 277. I cannot find pictures of either of these peripherals in any catalog. The cassette drive appeared in only the 1973 catalog and the tape punch/reader appeared for only three years. Prices: 4911 4912 1973 $2950 $1950 1974 $2950 1975 $3295 I've collated together all the graphics/terminal products from the various Tektronix catalogs together into a single PDF file: <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/vintage/docs/tektronix/Tektronix_Terminal…> This includes the storage scope displays and related equipment, but omits all the oscilloscope, test equipment and microprocessor development system stuff. It does include the workstations, however. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years

2
5
0 0

Seeking surplus IBM bus / tag cables and terminators?

by nigel.d.williams＠gmail.com

A friend has a well preserved IBM 3430 tape drive (off an IBM System/38) and we speculated whether we could connect this to one of our AS/400s, which we understand is possible via a suitable SPD card. Before we try to usually difficult process of negotiating down the high prices offered by various eBay sellers, does anyone have any surplus bus/tag cables and terminators (for both) which they can offer please? Here are pictures of the IBM 3430 and most of the cables etc: https://picasaweb.google.com/118247290269860741639/IBM3430TapeDrive Willing to pay shipping to Australia.

15 years

3
2
0 0

Anybody running INN?

by vintagecoder＠aol.com

Hey is anybody running INN, especially under Solaris 10? I am using leafnode under Linux and I'm mostly happy with it but I'm thinking about moving this service off my desktop and running it on a server, probably under Solaris 10. I figured while I am at it maybe I should consider INN because of the option of using a different spool format that is supposed to increase performance significantly. Recovering or moving my news spool which is not that big at around 4G takes forever (not that I do it a lot, but I have done it and it's a pain) and now the startup each time a client connects takes a while. I think I'm outgrowing leafnode. I'm curious how much work it takes to administer INN for a small network to know if it's worth it or just overkill. Specifically, I want to be able to only host groups I want (about 500) including local-only groups rather than doing a complete usenet grab, and I would like to be able to support SSL connections directly. I use stunnel now on Linux but I've had some problems with it on Solaris 10, so if INN supports it directly that would be a plus. If anybody has any comments or suggestions I would appreciate it. Thanks. -- +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Vintage Coder America Online ivagntrpbqre at nby.pbz <ROT13> | | | | Collecting: DOS assemblers, compilers, & books (Z80, M68K, 6502, 808X) | | Software & doc for IBM S/360 through OS/390 | | | | Can't find: Ada 95 compilers for MVS/ESA & Solaris (Sparc) | | PL/I X Optimizing Compiler for MVS, APL/SV for MVS | |---------------------------------------+--------------------------------| | Powered by Slackware 64 & Solaris 10 | Powered by Hercules | |=======================================+================================| | PGP Key 4096R 0x1CB84BEFC73ACB32 Encrypted email preferred | | PGP Fingerprint 5C1C 3AEB A7B2 E6F7 34A0 2870 1CB8 4BEF C73A CB32 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+

15 years

2
2
0 0

OT (respond offlist): recommendations for static IP DSL

by spectre＠floodgap.com

For those of you like me who run a decently sized home server network, I am unhappily having to leave DSL Extreme (who have treated me pretty well) because the new house, despite having AT&T, is apparently not in their service area. I'm trying to find a new DSL ISP that serves Southern California that offers at least 5 static IPs at a decent rate (6/608, etc) and does not block ports as I run a mail server off it. Nationwide ISPs are fine if they are good, better still if I can prequal and compare rates online. So far rejected Speakeasy after the Covad/Megapath debacle. Now looking at Linkline, Pacific Internet and Keyway. Please reply offlist since this is super off-topic. :) -- ------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * ckaiser at floodgap.com -- To err is human -- to forgive is not company policy. -----------------------

15 years

1
0
0 0

Free items in Seattle area

by g-wright＠att.net

The flowing is free for pick up or what ever it takes for shipping - Jerry >>>>>>>>>>>. IBM Items Manuals 8 1/2 x 11 docs IBM 5253 Display station Parts catalog 40 pages 1982 " " " " I/PAR code guide and C/E Log 8 pages 1983 " " " " Maintenance Info. and Analysis procedures 1983 130 pages IBM System/360 Disk Operating system cobol compiler and library, ver 3, Programmers Guide 1971 265 pages IBM system/360 system/370 fortran IV language 100's of pages 1972 IBM System/360 Fortran IV Library Subprograms 100's of pages 1968 Books System/360 assembly language (don stabley) 1967 Book Programing the IBM 1130 (louden and Ledin) 1967 Book IBM system/36 Procedures and commands IBM 1984 Book IBM AS/400 FC 504x Problem Analysis and repair Software IBM SYStem/36 Q&A Data Base 1984 8" floppy IBM System/36 text management 1985 8" floppy x5 IBM System/36 Utilities 1983 8" floppy x2 IBM System/36 Query/36 1985 8" floppy x3 IBM System/36 RPGII 1983 8" floppy x1 IBM 3880 MIN manuals, 8" floppy and fiche printer manual IBM Printers models D12 and D20 . logic, parts and repair 1986 2 volumes 11 x 17 MISC Items 2 Harris main frame boards. Digital computer controls D-112, MSI, 12 Bit Digital computer installation and maintenance 2 volumes with drawings looks to be copies of originals "OK" copies has ME-6485 written on the cover. Mag tape Micro Data Reality SYS-GEN

15 years

1
0
0 0

Bad ebay experiance with ebay seller

by hp-fix＠xs4all.nl

I don't, I ordered the items at the end of January ... You can read the story in one of the earlier messages. > You can't blame him for customs. > ________________________________________ > > > Your item was processed through and left our SAN JOSE, CA 95101 facility > on > > April 18, 2011 at 11:27 pm. The item is currently in transit to the > destination. > > Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. > Please > > check again later. > > > > If the items arrive in good order I'll of cause will send him the by > paypal refunded > > money. > > I'll keep you people posted. > > > > -Rik > > At last I recieved my items after they were held in customs .. > And of cause I payed them.. > > -Rik >

15 years

13
18
0 0

anyone got an ISO of vms 4.2 ?

by dgahling＠hotmail.com

Anyone on the list have an ISO of vms 4.2 I could get a copy of? I have vms v1, v2, v3, and v7+ but seem to have misplaced the images of versions inbetween. It'd be much appreciated. Yes, I have several licenses (purchased with real vax machines) thanks muchly! Dan.

15 years

8
10
0 0

Who's handling cctalk signups now?

by cclist＠sydex.com

All, I received an email message from Fred Bossu, who used to be a subscriber to this list, but unsubscribed in 2010 and has been unsuccessfully trying to re-subscribe. If someone can handle this, drop me a line and I'll forward his message to you. --Chuck

15 years

3
2
0 0

Free Sun 4/280 and Other Sun Stuff

by drac7ft＠gmail.com

Free to a good home. I have some vintage Sun4 equipment that I would like to give away to someone who can use it. The equipment is all located near Vancouver Canada. I will not ship it, you will have to pick it up. I will help you load it. Sun 4/280 in cabinet with 9 track 1600/6250 bpi 1/2 inch tape drive, two Hitachi 900 MB SMD disk drives and 16 channel serial port. Sun Sparc 1 pizza box computer, with 425 MB disk drive Two Sun monitors Sun 4/280 chassis with CPU, memory, disk controller and one Hitachi 900 MB disk drive. Assorted Sun VME boards and extra cables and stuff,(disk controller, SCSI interface etc.) All the computers are currently working and running Sun/OS 4.1.3. Contact Dennis at drac7ft *at* gmail *dot* com.

15 years

6
19
0 0

DEC Rainbow 100 available in Malvern, UK

by witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk

Folks, Had an email from someone who has a Rainbow with RD5x, RX50, VR241, keyboard, manuals and software. He'd prefer collection only but there's a chance I can meet him half way at the weekend so I can ship from work but bear in mind this will be a heavy consignment! Let me know and I'll get back to him ASAP. Cheers, -- Adrian/Witchy Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer collection?

15 years

1
0
0 0

Prototype Sphere I

by aek＠bitsavers.org

http://www.wix.com/hivalerie/sphere1#! Gen X website, beware!

15 years

16
33
0 0

Free: HP 3000 Corporate Business System (12-way) in Cupertino

by sieler＠me.com

Hi, I have an HP 3000 Corporate Business System (3000/996) with 12 CPUs and 1 to 2 GB of RAM, in 6' rack that I'd like to find a home for. It runs! The A/C power plug requires the weird hi-amp 3-prong outlet, not standard household 110. It's in Cupertino, CA, and is housed in a 6' rack (included). (Sadly, it qualifies as a classic, probably from about 1997.) If no home is found fairly quickly, it'll be scrapped, unfortunately. Stan

15 years

3
2
0 0

SGI servers on gsaauctions.gov

by legalize＠xmission.com

There's some SGI servers out at NASA (Langley, VA) on gsaauctions.gov if anyone feels like bidding on them. Opening bid is like $25-35, so definately a bargain. one lot has 2 Onyx 2 cubes and another lot has an Origin 2000 rack (could have graphics, hard to tell). I'd bid on these, but trans-continental freight shipping is prohibitive these days and the purple cubes are definately sensitive to handling. Hopefully someone out on the least coast will snatch 'em up. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years

1
0
0 0

TOPS-10 in a box

by waltsfo＠gmail.com

"I do have the source code. I will gather it up and make it available. However, it's not pretty." I'm interested. That certainly ties together several fascinating threads of 'classic' computing.

15 years

9
10
0 0

LK250 keyboard cable pinout?

by chrise＠pobox.com

Does anyone have the pinout for the cable that goes from a DEC LK250 keyboard to an AT DIN or PS/2 keyboard plug? I've got an LK250 that is missing the cable. There's a 6-pin modular jack (standard not MMJ) on the keyboard and I presume the missing cable has a mating modular plug on one end and a DIN or PS/2 plug on the other. I can make one if I can find the pinout... Chris -- Chris Elmquist

15 years

3
3
0 0

Q-bus replacement systems pdp-11

by db＠db.net

You lot seen this? http://www.transduction.com/pdf/NuPDPq_brochure_Transduction.pdf -- - db at FreeBSD.org db at db.net http://www.db.net/~db Why leave money to our children if we don't leave them the Earth?

15 years

6
6
0 0

Heath E-400 data

by jcdrisc＠tpg.com.au

Hello The enquiry is about the Heath analog computer ES-400 Can you make available copies of any of the documentation ? thanks Julian C Driscoll Manager DSCAPE Melbourne Australia

15 years

1
0
0 0

off topic TEK 565 RM duel beam scope---- off topic

by useddec＠gmail.com

I was at a local scrapper talking about copper, and saw a a tek 565-RM. had 1/2 the slides, was stored indoors, and I didn't see it last week when dropping off batteries, so it could be fresh from the U of I. He wants $100 for it ( seems high to me) and it weights about 75#s. If anyone wants it, I can get it, and possibly box it. Shipping would be expensive, unless you are close or someone in doing a road trip. I can store it for a few months. . I also have a box up plug in's for these, maybe 10-12. If anyone wants, I can did them out and make up a list. I used to have a few 555's, but I do like the new smaller units Located close to Champaign, IL 61853 Thanks, Paul

15 years

2
1
0 0

Prototype Sphere I (and this is when I flood the market)

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

> http://www.wix.com/hivalerie/sphere1#! > > Gen X website, beware! Pretty much all Spheres were prototypes - NONE of them worked properly out of the box (or as a bag of parts), and they ALL had to spend time with a thick ECO list. They were crap, plain and simple. Interestingly, just a couple of days ago, I was informed that the last of my Sphere stuff has been found, and after ten plus years of hiding, is getting back in my hands. I should have enough parts to make at least two "complete" Spheres, plus maybe a third, and then have parts left over. We shall see. I will likely use them as trade bait, unless people want to part with their money. -- Will

15 years

6
6
0 0

IBM 5110 available, somewhere

by sieler＠me.com

Hi, Someone (Floyd) emailed me saying: > I have an IBM 5110 that was traded to me in 1979 for a BASIC programming > job at a local route vending company. It worked last time I used it, > (1984?) and has been stored in a closet wrapped in blankets for years. I > am not sure if it works, as a computer tech friend recommended not > plugging it in until it is checked out. Is this something you would be > interested in? I declined, and offered to post here ... Floyd said ok. His email is floydvincent at verizon.net. I don't know his location, price, or anything other than the above. thanks, Stan

15 years

1
0
0 0

Hilti

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

> I have some Hilti gear, and some is from China, some is from Poland. And Slovakia. My very old Hilti hammer drill is from Western Germany. -- Will

15 years

3
3
0 0

Question re: Lisa expansion cards

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

I picked up a two-port parallel card for my Lisa 2/10. Unfortunately, it fails the POST diagnostics with error '92'. The system does correctly identify which slot it's in, FWIW. Does anyone know what the system firmware is poking around for? Is it asserting a checksum test on the card's EPROM? Checking for an interrupt response? The label covering the parallel card EPROM erase window is long gone, so I'm wondering if it was left in the sunlight and partially erased. Does anyone have an image of the EPROM? Steve --

15 years

2
3
0 0

free for the cost of shipping : Apollo DN 4500 +extra's

by tim＠hunkler.com

Greetings, I have a friend that is looking for a DN4500 or DN5500. Unfortunately he is in the hospital right now. He had a serious case of spiral meningitis and has been unconscious for a week. The doctors are pulling him through!!! I'd like to keep in touch and maybe he will be interested in a month when he is recovered. He has a DN5500 that was fully intact, including a cartridge drive, but the clock battery leaked acid on the motherboard and it will no longer work. But the disk drive, RAM, cartridge tape, etc. all work. So making a binary image of the tapes seems possible. Both of us used to be Applications Engineers for Mentor Graphics :-) see: www.hunkler.com/aegis.htm Thanks, Tim Hunkler

15 years

2
1
0 0

Nazi System 360/370 book...

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

So my wife wanted to show me a book tonight. Turned out it was one of mine, she'd noticed something interesting. System 360/370 Job Control Language and the Access Methods by Reino Hannula What's up with the Swastika on the spine of the book? It's made up of little triangles, but it's definitely a swastika. Very strange. Zane -- | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | | healyzh at aracnet.com | OpenVMS Enthusiast | | | Photographer | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | My flickr Photostream | | http://www.flickr.com/photos/33848088 at N03/ |

15 years

49
283
0 0

Determine installed memory - microVAX 3100 Model 20e.

by CCTECH＠beyondthepale.ie

Austin Pass wrote: > >How do I determine the installed memory in a microVAX 3100 Model 20e? > >The unit has no disk in it presently. It starts healthily though and talks >to my VT420, although it doesn't seem to run many diagnostic tests compared >to what I'm used to seeing on my 3100 model 90. It also doesn't report the >amount of installed memory and SHOW CONFIG / SHOW MEM / T 9E produce >"ILL COMMAND". > I haven't come across a model 20e but I would have expected SHOW MEM to work. Try T 50 - hopefully there should be a number giving the memory size in hex just below the line starting with MEM. Regards, Peter Coghlan.

15 years

1
0
0 0

TOPS-10 in a box...

by CCTECH＠beyondthepale.ie

Dave McGuire wrote: >On 6/21/11 6:25 PM, Peter Coghlan wrote: >> For my final year engineering degree project, I co-wrote a Z80 simulator in >> somewhat pre-FORTRAN-77 to run on an IBM 4381 running MUSIC (under VM). The >> college planned to use this to teach students about microprocessors but I >> don't know if this was ever done. >> >> Not having much use for a Z80 simulator myself, I later rewrote it as a 6502 >> simulator and then converted the core of the simulator from FORTRAN to IBM 370 >> assembly and later still, VAX assembly. It can run the BASIC rom from the BBC >> Micro but not the OS rom. Instead some mainly text based OS functions are >> emulated/simulated directly. Software such as text based adventure games for >> the BBC Micro can be run on the simulator but anything relying on graphics, >> sound or trying to play directly with the hardware doesn't do so well. > > That sounds really, really cool. Do you still have the source code? > I do have the source code. I will gather it up and make it available. However, it's not pretty. (I am trying to change ISPs at the moment so bear with me if it takes a little time to get organised.) Regards, Peter Coghlan.

15 years

1
0
0 0

Determine installed memory - microVAX 3100 Model 20e.

by austin＠ozpass.co.uk

Hello all, How do I determine the installed memory in a microVAX 3100 Model 20e? The unit has no disk in it presently. It starts healthily though and talks to my VT420, although it doesn't seem to run many diagnostic tests compared to what I'm used to seeing on my 3100 model 90. It also doesn't report the amount of installed memory and SHOW CONFIG / SHOW MEM / T 9E produce "ILL COMMAND". Can anybody help? -Austin. Sent from my iPad

15 years

1
0
0 0

TOPS-10 in a box...

by CCTECH＠beyondthepale.ie

Richard Cini wrote: >From stackoverflow.net (someone was talking about porting/conversion >projects they were involved in): > >"Ported an 8080 simulator written in FORTRAN 77 from a DECSystem-10 running >TOPS-10 to an IBM 4381 mainframe running VM/CMS." > >Interesting comment. I wonder if that's how Gates/Allen would have done it. > For my final year engineering degree project, I co-wrote a Z80 simulator in somewhat pre-FORTRAN-77 to run on an IBM 4381 running MUSIC (under VM). The college planned to use this to teach students about microprocessors but I don't know if this was ever done. Not having much use for a Z80 simulator myself, I later rewrote it as a 6502 simulator and then converted the core of the simulator from FORTRAN to IBM 370 assembly and later still, VAX assembly. It can run the BASIC rom from the BBC Micro but not the OS rom. Instead some mainly text based OS functions are emulated/simulated directly. Software such as text based adventure games for the BBC Micro can be run on the simulator but anything relying on graphics, sound or trying to play directly with the hardware doesn't do so well. I didn't go on to have any input into MS-DOS or Windows :-) Regards, Peter Coghlan.

15 years

2
1
0 0

Apple II Concert in Los Angeles, looking for more Apple IIs

by christian_liendo＠yahoo.com

I figured someone in Cali would take interest in this. http://machineproject.com/archive/events/2011/06/25/apple-ii-concert/ Apple II Concert Saturday, June 25th, 2011 6pm: Meeting of the Apple II owners/musicians 8pm: Concert The old Apple II, first introduced in 1977, was a revolutionary computer in many ways. Sound capabilities were not one of them. The Apple II?s sound system, unlike contemporaries such as the Atari 800 or Commodore 64, did not use a discreet sound chip, but rather a simple timer circuit that could be coaxed into creating square-wave tones. Most chiptune musicians tend to use sound-chip based systems, but there is a certain charm to square-wave tones. Some may define this charm as ?annoyance.? So, as a grand ?musical? experiment, noted loon Jason Torchinsky has written a crude 16-step sequencer for the Apple II, and is seeking to gather up as many Apple IIs as possible to construct an orchestra which will then perform a live, dynamic concert/musical event. Machine?s resident music guru, Chris Kallemyer, will be on hand to discuss the nature of music, why some of the Apple?s 256 tones are notes and some are not, and generally help make things somewhat listenable. Who knows what the end result will sound like? A chorus of angels, poking at touch-tone phones? All the computers from the background of every sci-fi movie from the 1950s-80s going off at once? A serenade by a truckload of R2-D2s? Come on out and listen for yourselves. We are currently seeking Apple II owners to contribute to making this happen! Please contact machine at machineproject.com if you would like to participate!

15 years

1
0
0 0

Interesting teletype/computer artifact...

by jonas＠otter.se

On Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:26:38 -0400, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 12:16 PM, Dave Caroline > <dave.thearchivist at gmail.com> wrote: >> If you are of a certain age and live in Britain you would know bog >> paper could be VERY strong. > > Dunno if it's the era you are referring to, but I spent the summer of > 1985 in Britain and remember the bog paper as being quite stout. I > can imagine it surviving the rollers and printhead of an ASR-33 (not > sure if it would have buckled enough to snag a dot matrix head or > not). > Izal Medicated :-) Does that stuff still exist? Designed to be as non-absorbent as possible. The difference between using that stuff and a piece of wood was not noticeable. It would probably work quite well as a replacement for roof slates. /Jonas

15 years

1
0
0 0

: Anyone interested in a DiscFerret intro / tutorial

by robert.stek＠gmail.com

I would be interested, especially from the user point of view. Bob Stek Saver of lost Sols

15 years

1
0
0 0

TOPS-10 in a box...

by geneb＠deltasoft.com

http://www.filfre.net/2011/05/tops-10-in-a-box/ g. -- Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007 http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind. http://www.simpits.org/geneb - The Me-109F/X Project ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes. http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_! Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

15 years

6
12
0 0

mini-cassette LDB 4401

by martin.huch＠gmx.de

found your 6 years old post. Are you still interested in Philips LDB4401 mini cassettes (used)? I've got at least one, and I could check for some more. regards Martin Munich, Germany

15 years

1
0
0 0

Interesting teletype/computer artifact...

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> > http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT= > /p15421coll3&CISOPTR=402&CISOBOX=1&REC=8 > > I'm fascinated and a little horrified by this. Was there really a teletype > that could print on toilet paper without shredding it? Or is it that the > US Government in the 1950s made its employees use TP that was tough enough > to survive a run through a teletype?!?! Egad! I don;t know about the States, but over here there was a government issue TP that had a glossy finish (!). It was generally nicknamed 'cowboy' (or similar on the grounts it's rough, it's tough anf it don't take no sh*t. I suspect you could feed that through any teletpye... -tony

15 years

1
0
0 0

What Is It With Mains Filters?

by jonas＠otter.se

>> They are a special type of supposedly "self healing" capacitor able >> to >> withstand spikes without catching fire. >> You would be surprised if you scoped your supply, a lot of spikes > > Be careful if ou try this. One side of the 'scope input is earthed > (and > conencted to the metal case of the 'scope). Not on my 'scope (a Philips PM3540 with a 16 channel logic analyser built in). It is double insulated and the mains plug is a 2-pin Euro-plug. Yes, the inputs are connected to the 'scope chassis and case, but the case is not earthed. /Jonas

15 years

2
1
0 0

Interesting teletype/computer artifact...

by dave.thearchivist＠gmail.com

If you are of a certain age and live in Britain you would know bog paper could be VERY strong. the following is a clip from the web " Minor British Institutions: Izal toilet paper By Sean O'Grady Saturday, 4 July 2009 It is a discomfiting thing to learn that Izal loo roll is still available. Not as discomfiting as it used to be, in the days when this slightly abrasive product was routinely found in school toilets and public conveniences, the harsh price of spending a penny away from home. Today it is not ? quite ? so harsh. San Izal has been rebranded Izal, and the tissue seems less unforgiving than before. Make no mistake, this is not the sort of roll that the Andrex puppy would like to romp around with, but it is just a little less austere than before. The scent of disinfectant seems also to have disappeared, which is a bit of a shame for those who like their khazi karma nice and traditional. It is difficult to believe that, in a world of ultra-soft pastel-hued lavatorial opulence, such a throwback to the age of austerity will still be bought out of choice (it is not particularly cheap either). Some websites market it as a "novelty product". Nostalgia, surely, has its limits: there's no need to scrape the bottom of the barrel. " It would wrinkle into sharp points and hurt ones delicate behind. I could easily see a printer being able to use it. Dave Caroline

15 years

5
5
0 0

Interesting teletype/computer artifact...

by wh.sudbrink＠verizon.net

http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT= /p15421coll3&CISOPTR=402&CISOBOX=1&REC=8 I'm fascinated and a little horrified by this. Was there really a teletype that could print on toilet paper without shredding it? Or is it that the US Government in the 1950s made its employees use TP that was tough enough to survive a run through a teletype?!?! Egad!

15 years

1
0
0 0

Bob Pease dies in car accident

by ragooman＠gmail.com

Bob Pease dies in car accident http://tinyurl.com/3btjuar

15 years

5
4
0 0

Anyone interested in a DiscFerret intro / tutorial presentation?

by classiccmp＠philpem.me.uk

Hi guys, A couple of hours ago, I found a copy of some old presentation slides I put together for the "pre-release" DiscFerret which was part of my MEng project presentation. They cover the basics of magnetic data recording (on floppies only, this is before I added MFM HDD support), and how the hardware works. So how about this: a short series of DiscFerret presentations, done on Ustream or Livestream, explaining what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to make it do useful stuff. This would be both from the point of view of a user (DF-LUA / Arthur toolkit) and a programmer (LibDiscFerret API). I was thinking something along the lines of a half-hour (or so, depending on subject matter) presentation, followed by about 20 minutes for Q&A. Now for the Million Dollar Question: would anyone be interested in something like this? Thanks, -- Phil. classiccmp at philpem.me.uk http://www.philpem.me.uk/

15 years

2
1
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Useless thread, RE:Religion, Re: Nazi System 360/370

by jonas＠otter.se

>> >> Manifest in the 70's as HP vs TI. >> > >> > Over here, TI calcualtros were not particularly common. The common >> > brand >> > was (and is, I guess) Casio. >> > >> Interesting, do you know if TI didn't make much market effort over >> there, or their calcs just weren't well-received in the market? > > I don't, I'm afraid. > > TI calculators doexist over here, but if you just went ot buy 'a > caluclator' you'd either get some no-nam hose brand 4-banger or a > Casio > most likely. > > I would estimate that Sharp calculators were actually more common > than TI > over here. > >> >> >> > Of course those of us who prefer RPN bought HPs. When I went to university in 1976, everybody got a calculator. There were two models which sold the most: the TI-57 and the HP-25, virtually no other makes were sold at all. They were essentially equivalent, the TI being rather cheaper but faster. The odd HP-67, SR-52 or TI-59 sold as well, although you had to have rich parents, plenty of savings or mortgage parts of your body to the devil to afford one. HPs were considered the BMWs of calculators, the TIs were the Fords :-) I got an HP-25 which I never regretted, the extra money I spent probably gave me a couple of extra years longer life thanks to less stress using it, owing to RPN. /Jonas

15 years

1
0
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Useless thread, RE:Religion, Re: Nazi System 360/370

by jonas＠otter.se

> [Reasons why I use an RPN calculator snipped] > >> I'm intrigued. I don't understand, but that's OK. > > What don;'t you understand ? RPN, or why I prefer to use it? AFAIK compilers often/usually convert expression to postfix notation (RPN or close) during parsing. Also of course the Burroughs B5000 series and successors (up to B7800 IIRC) were stack machines, using postfix notation internally. At university a calculator was a necessity, I had an HP-25 and I always found that RPN made it a lot easier to keep track of where I was in complex calculations, e.g. when working out the reactance of some series-parallel-whatever network of R, L and C. The equations usually barely fitted on one line of a sheet of notepaper, involved lots of additions, subtractions, divisions and multiplications and conversions between rectangular and polar coordinates, and I did not envy those who used infix calculators. /Jonas

15 years

1
0
0 0

Google Lisa List

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

Does anyone know who owns this list and how to get in touch with them? I joined last month, made about three totally innocuous postings and found myself banned at the next attempt to sign in. Google, in their infinite wisdom, gives you no means to find out if it's a mistake, appeal to the owner, or even get an explanation for why it's occurred! I sent a message to the posting address with no response. I had been given the name of "lowenddan at gmail.com" as list owner, but cannot get any response from that address either. Is there something I should know about becoming worthy of Lisa List membership? Perhaps a secret handshake I've overlooked? I contacted a couple of members privately, and both were utterly baffled as to what the motivation may have been. I'm still operating on the assumption that this is a software glitch or mistake. If I've been thrown off as a deliberate action, then I think it's common courtesy for the list owner to at least explain why this occurred. Steve --

15 years

5
9
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Poqet PC

by va7nt＠telus.net

I would appreciate the info you have on the serial adapter for the Poqet. cheers, Paul

15 years

1
0
0 0

Looking for a MicroVAX II BA123 Front Panel Door

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I recently acquired a MicroVAX II in a BA123 (World Box) enclosure. It has cleaned up really well. The only niggle is that I am missing the little door that goes over the front panel at the lower left of the enclosure. Does anyone have one of these going spare? Regards Rob

15 years

1
0
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What Is It With Mains Filters?

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

> All the PSUs that have had components pop on me have all been capacitors in > the mains filter (except the H7140 in my PDP11 but that was only after I had > been messing with it to try to fix it, so that doesn't count). > Not being an expert in electronics I am not sure of the reason for this. Can > someone explain? Is it the type of capacitor? Is that type of capacitor only > used in mains filters? If not, why have I (so far) not seen other PSU > capacitors blow up? Not sure how far you're going back but... Mains filters from the 50's and 60's likely had paper/wax capacitors in them. At least in the US, there doesn't seem to have been a special rating system for these but most cap failures were benign (not purely luck... even though there was no special rating they were generally made to be on the robust end.) "Modern" ones (70's onwards) have specially rated X1, X2, Y2 capacitors. In small filters these are likely to be ceramics and in larger ones (especially snubber networks) they are more likely to be boxed film capacitors. They all have special fire protection and surge voltage ratings. They do not necessarily lead "Easy" lives - if some nearby inductive appliance is putting crap into the power line, it's the small devices on the same circuit or nearby branch that may end up eating it. Tim.

15 years

3
2
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Anyone interested in a Gandalf 6' Communication Rack in the Portland area

by innfoclassics＠gmail.com

Picked up the intel 330 and 380 today, thanks Vince. However I think I am not going to keep the rack. It is a 6 foot communication rack mount case with a dark glass door and the Gandalf logo on the front top, on wheels. I could deliver it in the Portland Oregon area on Monday as it is in my van at the moment. I want to keep the rails for the 330 and 380 but can leave the power distributor if whomever takes it wants it. Paxton currently in Portland/Eugene but going back to Astoria on Monday. -- Paxton Hoag Astoria, OR USA

15 years

2
1
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DEC paint color matching?

by chrise＠pobox.com

Has anyone ever tried to color match spray paint to the DEC "taupe" color (ie, the color of the front of a {clean} RL02)? I've got a bunch of stuff now with scratches and rust which I'd like to attempt to touch up or repaint. Is there any sort of standard color code for that DEC color? Chris -- Chris Elmquist

15 years

2
3
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