13 Aug
2016
13 Aug
'16
11:43 a.m.
On 13/08/2016 19:32, Don North wrote:
On 8/13/2016 6:20 AM, Christian Gauger-Cosgrove
wrote:
Thank you all very much. I'm collating all of this most useful data.
Regards
Rod (Panelman) Smallwood
On 13 August 2016 at 08:07, Noel Chiappa <jnc
at mercury.lcs.mit.edu>
wrote:
Like this maybe: http://www.ak6dn.com/stuff/1174.jpg
This is a 'true' 11/74 panel from the never-production variation of
the 11/74, with CIS.
Not just a relabeled/recolored 11/70 panel. Note the additional LEDs
on the right hand side.
AFAIK no front panel exists that mates with this plexiglass.
I also have a complete DEC DataSystem-570 panel (frame, plex,
switches) which is just
a standard 11/70 panel, but recolored in light blue / dark blue /
gray color scheme.
Don
I can't recall any other models with front
panels? (Well, the /74,
but IIRC
there are none of those extant outside museums - although people
might want
some for simulators.)
The whole list of PDP-11 models with any sort of front panel beyond
just an on/off switch is:
11/20 (11/15)
11/05 (11/10)
11/40 (11/35)
11/45 (11/50, 11/55)
11/70 (11/74)
11/34 (11/04, 11/34A) --- "Calculator" style panel (like an 8/A)
11/60 --- "Calculator" style panel.
I've put OEM machines, and
machines that are otherwise identical, or
nearly so in parens. The '45 and '50 panels are the same except for
the number, while the '55 panel is painted completely differently. The
same goes for the '70 versus '74 panels: Same indicators and
everything, just completely different paint job.
The panel on the '74 is almost exactly like a standard '70 panel, just
its in "blue" (i.e. like the DECdatasystem-570 that Dave McGuire
owns). Compare:
11/74:
<https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MgQBlTQEbso/Tis2KYplLSI/AAAAAAAAAEE/kqhLKWEimX8/s1280/castor-running.jpg>
11/70: <http://www.neurotica.com/w/images/5/58/DEC-PDP1170-KB11C-7.jpg>
The only other major difference between the '70 and '74 panels is that
the '74 uses the "chiclet" switches as on the '05/'10 instead of
the
"normal" triangular plastic ones you find on a standard '70.
There's also different coloured versions for many of the panels too.
E.g. there's a brown-and-white '70 panel used in OEM typesetting
systems by CSI Systems (if I recall right). There's a blue-and-red '40
panel sold by DEC in their "INDUSTRIAL-11" version. A photo exists
showing an 11/20 and an 8/e in "labratory" green (i.e. the LAB-8/e
colour scheme).
With regards to the 11/74, last I heard there were no machines extant.
Apparently there's an 11/74 panel plexiglass "floating around", but I
don't recall who owns it. 
As an aside thought: I'd love to see a "blue" 11/70 or an 11/74 panel
running with either blue LEDs or white LEDs. That would probably look
very nice? hopefully Rob will do a one of those panels because that
sounds like a fun project.
Cheers,
Christian