What's your specialty?

Like many people on this group, I'd HATE to mention the stuff I had 25 years ago, but I specialize in (well, actually, make) "homebrew" early micro's from the beginning of the micro era. I've scratch built and programmed several 8008's and 8080's, and a 4004 I'm just now getting around to program. Recently, I've been starting work on "larger" machines: a 6800 capable of running SWTPC and Motorola software; an 8008 based somewhere between a Mark-8 and a Scelbi 8H capable of running SCELBAL, a BASIC-like language (for the 8008!); and an 8080. All are wire-wrapped, including the 8080, with 256 2102 RAMS (uh...that's slowed me down a bit, and I'll never do it again). All are made with NOS or surplus/scrounged components of proper technological and/or date code vintage. I am getting increasingly concerned about the smaller supply and higher prices of prototyping supplies. In most modern surface mount stuff, things can get simulated on computer and go right to PCB, so, who prototypes. But I find prototypes to be almost an art form - a dying art form. I don't have a lot of space; some of my computers actually hang on the wall mounted on plaques! I've been sidetracked recently with a project that is based on the SBC6120 at www.sparetimegizmos.com; a PDP-8/e clone. Here, I'm using a laptop drive, so the whole thing should run on +5 at 1.2 A or so. My test equipment is also vintage; a Tek 464, an HP Nixie-display crystal oven freq counter, and a loaded Tek 1230 logic analyzer. I couldn't even dream of owning this stuff when it was new, and now I even have entire spare units for parts, and I did it all for considerably less than the cost of a single new low-end scope. Bargains can be had on eBay if you are patient and don't lose your head! I want complete, operational systems capable of doing something demonstratably interesting with none of this modern "disc drive" stuff; for peripherals, I have a DSI paper/mylar tape punch/reader, and a similar punch-only model. I have a DATA I/O paper tape reader and a high speed reel to reel Decitek/GE reader. Got lots of paper and Mylar tape for em, too. A restored w/new CRT ADM-3A is my primary display; on and off, I'm working on a modern PIC/UBICOM micro driven 32 character by 16 line vector based display. My godmother was a top-tier servicer of Teletype model 28's and 33's at Western Electric's mighty Hawthorne works plant; I'd be in the market for a Teletype but she's scared me with her statement that "half of what you need to know was never written down", and she's getting kind of old...I can't repeat her opinion of the Model 33 here. I knew one of the engineers who developed this model, and HE said it was garbage. I will probably get one or two more vintage CRT terminals when I find the right ones (like a Televideo 91X, or an ADM-5). I would consider donating a kidney for a Qwint telprinter, working or not (I wrote and have the service manual so I could probably fix it). http://8080geek.freeservers.com (sorry about the popups) http://sloboyko.home.mindspring.com/adm3a.htm http://sloboyko.home.mindspring.com/ptfun.htm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE Valentine eCards with Yahoo! Greetings! http://greetings.yahoo.com