Williams Tube memory, Selectron question, and Charactron

At 07:45 AM 8/15/99 -0000, Eric wrote: It was an electrostatic memory tube with 256 bits as 2 16x8 arrays, one on each side of the cathode. X-Y grid wires could be addressed to form a beam (4 +potential wires, 2 X and 2 Y formed a window/electron lens). Beyond were electrically isolated targets. These, by biases to other electrodes, could be charged to 2 different potentials (170V) by the beam. The targets were shaped like eyelets so at the more negative potential, the read beam would be repelled, and at the positive potential, the beam would pass through to a faraday cage and anode where it was read out. There also was a fluorescent screen, maybe for visual readout or maybe for secondary emission amplification? -Dave ps, Cool idea Allison on a vacuum f. triode flip-flop/ readout.