----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Battle" <frustum(a)pacbell.net>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 6:41 AM
Subject: MIT Dumbkopf 1 computer
Some time back on the vintage computer marketplace
(
http://marketplace.vintage.org/), somebody listed a "dumpkopf 1"
computer, but only the most vague information was given about it. I
think there was some speculation here that it was maybe a hoax, and that
no information could be found about it on the internet.
I accidentally stumbled upon the machine at this web site; I suspect
that this guy was the lister in that marketplace ad:
http://community-2.webtv.net/ARCHAICAUDIO/WESTERNELECTRIC/page15.html
It looks to be very interesting, perhaps significant, but certainly
inoperable. The web page has a number of very interesting pictures of
the computer, and says that the tubes have a 1954 date stamp on them.
There are some large patch panels on the machine, so perhaps it wasn't a
general purpose programmable computer (in fact, the name implies the
machine isn't all that smart!)
same computer, same site.What's frustrating about the site is that the guy
has some cool stuff but his pics are low-res and small. With larger pics
someone on here would probably be able to figure out exactly what he was
offering for sale. It's been quite a few months since the original posting
and a lot of the stuff is still for sale which leads me to think the prices
are ridiculous and the guy is a pack rat and just doesn't want to sell
anything. The old broadcast items are pretty interesting.
bm