1 Apr
1999
1 Apr
'99
10:43 p.m.
Has anybody here ever heard a relay machine running,
like one
of the early Zuse machines or the Harvard Mark-1?
In the 70s I worked in the lab at a foundry and the atomic emission
spectrophotometer which we used had a 'computer' biult from relays
to integrate the signal. It then printed the results out using an
electric typewriter which deoubled as a printer.
I remember that, when relays stuck we had to resurface them by filing
the contacts with a diamond dust coated spatula.
I've heard
descriptions of them sounding like a thousand women knitting,
which could sort-of describe that robot sound-effect as well...
I suppose it could be described like that ;-)
Regards
Pete