3 Jun
2006
3 Jun
'06
9:45 p.m.
On 6/2/2006 at 7:03 PM Billy Pettit wrote:
But even peripherals can be too much mechanical for me
sometimes. Anyone
on the list ever work on an IBM-1311 or CDC 807/808 or CDC 813/814? All of
these featured hydraulic actuators. A face full of warm pressurized
hydraulic fluid is enough to convince even the most die hard GOM that
electronics has advantages. (GOM is how they used to refer to us
peripheral types - Greasy Ol' Mechanics.)
Don't forget the old CDC 6603-Bryant disk! My most vivd reminder of
hydraulic actuators on CDC gear was on the 821 disk. We were running a
benchmark with about eight of these things (connected through a QSE). We
knew that one was leaking, but the leak wasn't enough to take the thing
offline and we had a few hours invested in setting the benchmark up, so we
decided to go with it.
At some point, a message pops up on the console that 821 Unit-so-and-such
is offline. I run for the thing, forgetting about the lieak, have my hand
out ready to punch the "on/off line" button, hit the puddle of fluid and do
a wonderful imitation of a swan dive. I collect myself, punch the button
and limp back...
I REALLY don't miss the old hardware. If I wanted to work with heavy
machinery, I'd go back to work in a steel mill.
I'm sure that Billy has had his share of digging shredded ribbon out of the
type train on a CDC 512 pritner, too. Wonderful rewarding job.
Cheers,
Chuck