17 Nov
2007
17 Nov
'07
1:25 p.m.
On 17 Nov 2007 at 14:41, Curtis H. Wilbar Jr. wrote:
The edge connectors have 59 pins on each side. There
is a slit (key)
between pins 6 and 7 .... not sure if this matches any 'standard' bus.
Nothing that I've ever seen.
This is probably all custom stuff... but hoping
(probably in vain), that
maybe this thing is simply built from 'standard' parts... and can run something
else (CPM ? etc)
I have some pictures... but I haven't gotten them uploaded anywhere yet.
The 2 floppy drives are 5.25" FH (like IBM PC/XT) Qume Qumetrak 542 drives
(belt drive of course). So looks like 300RPM 360K drives. Not sure of belt
health (the look OK... but not sure how much tension they should have).
These floppy drives good models ? Suppose you could use them in a PC/XT
restoration (minus the fact they wouldn't be Tandons or have IBM P/Ns).
Not bad, not wonderful on the broad spectrum of 5.25" DD FH drives.
As far as the belts go, if they seem to turn the disk okay without
slipping or noise, then you're fine. It all depends on the ozone
situation in your area.
Perhaps this could be adapted to run CP/M, but I wonder if you won't
run into any ROM mapping that would prevent it. Remember that the
Wapo makers had full control over their hardware configuration. I
suspect the daisywheel that inevitably comes with these things is
probably a Diablo or a Qume model.
Do you see some familiar part numbers on the larger chips?
Cheers,
Chuck