5 Jun
1998
5 Jun
'98
6:35 a.m.
On Fri, 5 Jun 1998, Jon Healey wrote:
After a fair amount of effort on my part, I found and
obtained a
copy of the July 1974, Radio-Electronics mag that has the cover
story "Build the Mark-8, your personal minicomputer". I was
less than delighted to find that in this instance, R-E left out
most of the construction details (including any skematics).
They have an offer on the second page of the article where
you should order the kit with circuit board patterns, and
the rest of the details. The article includes some theory of
ops, a parts list and a few photos.
Actually... about a year ago as part of my efforts to re-create a
'Mark-8', I contacted Gernback Publications and was able (with suitable
begging and pleading) to get them to loan me the last existing masters for
the article series AND the construction package.
Now, before you go deluging them with reqests: (which they probably are
not equipped to handle) as part of my communication with them, they
authorized me to provides copies (re-prints?) of this package (this one
only, this is NOT carte blanche!) to any other hobbiests who were
interested in the 'Mark-8'.
Now, it should be stated that I did NOT broach the question of publishing
this on the web, and I would not be comfortable doing this. However I
will be happy to provide copies of the package to interested parties for
the cost of materials.
While I had the originals (which have long since been returned BTW) I did
make a good set of photocopies, and did a set of (reasonably) high
resolution scans of the entire set, so I can provide sets in either form.
NOTE: the original printing plates that generated the PC board alyouts
were accidentally over-exposed (this was obvious on viewing of the
masters, and later confirmed by the publisher) so there is some places on
the PC board layouts where traces have run together. Don't go off and
start bruning board masks without carefully examining the layouts first.
I have been trying to get the time to correct the PC board layouts, but
have not completed this to date. It should also be noted that unless you
have a stash of 1101 static RAM chips somewhere, the memory board will
need to be revised for some other chip (I was thinking 2102s), and there
are two parts on the memory/address latch board that are long out of
production. (and I've not found a second source on)
But back on topic...
If anyone would like a copy of this document set, drop me a note. I'd
suggest that to avoid generation loss in copying the docs yet again you
consider sending along a blank CD-R disc with a SASE for its return, and
I'll provide you with the scanned (TIFF) files. (no charge) It's WAY too
big for floppies!
If you require printed copies, it would be just the cost of printing and
postage.
(...and if you make a new set of PC boards, I want one too!) B^}
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174