13 Oct
2012
13 Oct
'12
2:07 p.m.
Ohhhhh, Panaplex? Basically seven-segment neon
displays? I LOVE
those. Unfortunately they tend to go for big bucks. If you have some,
you are morally obligated to do something cool with them! Even if it's
just yet another clock...they're beautiful displays.
I have a few in devices designed ot use them : HP9815 calculator (16
digit Panaplex), Sumlock Compucorp 324 calculator (ditto) and HP59304
'remote display' (12 digit Panaplex). The last takes in ASCII digits and
'E' over an HPIB interface and displays them on the Panaplex, it was
designed to be used as a data diaply on HPIB systems. And it doesn't seem
to sell for ridiculous amounts of money.
Yearsd ago I got some loose 16 dgiit (same as in the above devices) and 9
digit (rather taller digits) Panaplex displays. I stil lahve them. Alas
they'd run out of 12 digit ones, or I'd haev bought soem of those too. Of
course I didn;'t know at the time I was goign to get devices for which
these would be useful spares, but that's the way of computer collecting.
You buy bits when you can and only later find a use for them.
-tony