22 May
2010
22 May
'10
10:36 a.m.
From: Ian King
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 10:18 AM
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
> bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Back
> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 8:53 AM
[snip]
> The folks concerned have very limited time and
resources, and with this
> they achieve an awful lot. They're making a real difference when it
> comes to educating newer generations about the history of computing,
> and we'd be a lot worse off in this respect were it not for their
> efforts. I for one applaud that they spend weekend upon weekend,
> working for free and trying to rescue as much as possible and get it on
> show to the public, when they too could be in the comfort of their own
> home and nurturing their own private collections.
I had the pleasure of meeting with TNMOC staff both at
the DEC Legacy
Event in Windermere and at the Bletchley Park site. I want to second
Andrew's praise of the great work they have done, and add that I find
them to be delightful people as well.
For such as we, I think there is risk of discounting
the work people
like TNMOC do in bringing their work to the greater number, as distinct
from sharing with the cognoscenti. While I certainly enjoy nattering
with like-minded fellows about my toys, it is that former work, the
sharing, that adds value to the world. Frankly, it's also more
difficult: while restoring old kit is certainly challenging, it is a
separate art to build a connection to a non-technical audience and help
them appreciate the value of the history we are preserving.
Ahh, careful now, Ian. Besides being a private collector, you're also
one of those awful, evil museum people who hoards the good stuff and
never lets the cognoscenti see it.
Oh, wait. Aren't you the one who lectures every quarter at the University
of Washington on the history of computing, and arranges tours for the
students in those classes to come get an in-depth tour of the collection?
And arranges with the Dean of the School of Information and the Chair of
the Department of Informatics for graduate opportunities to work with
vintaqe equipment in order to preserve the history of information processing?
We did, as I noted previously, have a great time on our visit to TNMoC,
and I resent the aspersions cast on their massive work. They've done it
all on their own, investing their own funds, where we actually get paid.
Another 2d 'orth. As for tolls, remember the sign on at the Chicken Ranch:
"Never ask for whom the belle tolls: She tolls for thee!"
Rich Alderson
Vintage Computing Sr. Server Engineer
Vulcan, Inc.
505 5th Avenue S, Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98104
mailto:RichA at vulcan.com
mailto:RichA at LivingComputerMuseum.org
http://www.PDPplanet.org/
http://www.LivingComputerMuseum.org/