How to identify comm hardware you pass up

Hey, here's a tip. If you're interested in knowing to what use you can put that communications hardware you keep passing up at your preferred source for classic computers, get yourself a Glasgal Communications catalog. The older the better. Glasgal was a company that sold thousands of communications products, from cables & connectors to muxes & switches, and everything in between (and I'm talking everything). The catalog I have from them is 1987, and has some pretty interesting stuff in it, including things I've seen at thrift stores or surplus shops, or things I've worked with. This particular catalog is called "System/Configuration Guide and Product Listing". So not only does it describe their complete product line but it also goes into technical discussions about certain products and their applications, including diagrams. Its basically a tutorial on how to hook up and use the products they are selling. It is very thorough and extraordinarily useful if you'd like to start building your own communcations network between disparate computer storage sites with old comm hardware. I found this particular catalog in a thrift store. Alas (homage to Tony :), Glasgal doesn't seem to be around anymore. I just made a bunch of calls, first to the number in the catalog, then to toll-free directory assistance, then to directory assistance in New Jersey, with no success. I then did a web search on "Glasgal Communications" and found this on a stock market discussion BBS: "WE ARE MANUFACTURERS OF HIGH QUALITY EMPTY GLASS BOTTLES. WE PRODUCE BOTTLES IN TWO COLORS AMBER & WHITE. WE ARE SUPPLYING TO THE LIQUOR, PHARMACEUTICAL, FOOD BEVERAGES AND COSMETICS INDUSTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD." So either Glasgal Communications has radically altered its business plan or some new company has commandeered their name. If you run across a Glasgal Communications catalog from days gone by, grab it. This also applies to old Black Box catalogs (whom still exist) because if their old catalogs have the same format of their current catalogs, you can expect the same type of helpful information. Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ever onward. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 09/21/98]