Discussion of large systems

As I haev said many times on this list, my main interest is electronics. Not computing per se. Sure I like computers, but I regard them as being ingenious digital [1] electronic systems which happen to be programmable. [1] As yet Iv'e not obtained an analogue computer, unless you count some of the servo systems in my hard drives, which IMHO are dedicated analogue comptuers. And so I can see as much beauty and interest in, say, the motor controller of a plotter as in some CPUs. This is one reason I prefer the old TTL-built machines -- there is little to investigate when you have a few large ICs connected together, espeically when you don't have proper data on them. There's a lot more interest to me in a few boads of simple ICs -- gates, flip-flops, and the like -- which I can understand and watch the signals on the inputs and outputs. So yes, I collect peripherals, calculators, odd bits of control systems [2] and so on. And of course processors [2] I haev part (most?) of the control system from some kind of Xray defraction system (no, I don't have the 'optics'). It's patchboard programmable, uses DM160s as status indicators, etc. The papertape I/O uses the punch and reader from a fride flexowriter, mounted on 19" rack panels, and with their own motors. The printer is based on a Victor Comptometer adding machine with solenoids over the keys. I am not sure I'll ever use it, but it seemed worth rescuing... -tony