15 Apr
2003
15 Apr
'03
9:33 a.m.
All I call is the beautiful RCA broadcast transmitter logo in red and
black. It's either ca 1942 or 1948, but incredibly beautiful. The
backside is somewhat reminiscent of an Ardent. It's about 5-6 feet tall
and 12-15 feet long, plus an external transformer. Easily 3times the
size of the Harris. The Nova is also ex-WEAN, apparently. If only the
building could be restored. Some of the glass brick has been replaced
with cement block.
When we get moved, you'll have to come see the new warehouse.
On Tue, 15 Apr 2003, William Donzelli wrote:
M. K. Peirce
Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
Shady Lea, Rhode Island
"Casta est quam nemo rogavit."
- Ovid
The systems
are two identical DEC PDP-11/70's that seem to date from the
early 1980's. There are two CDC 9766 drives and a nice DEC LP26 printer,
plus 6-8 terminals. The systems have not been powered on since 1996.
They also seem to bear the name of an aftermarket supplier - Systems
Industries?- and some sort of system name, which I cannot remember, but
suggests typesetting.
SI made lots of disk products for DECs. At one point I had a somewhat
trashed Diablo drive for a PDP-8/E (RKmumble), with an SI interface board
and power supply. I still have the power unit, if anyone os interested,
but the rest is long gone.
SI also made a neato disk cache for the VAX-11/780. Neato, as it had an
LED bar graph for the hit rate! No stinkin' ten LED doodad this - this
graph had *many* LEDs, because you never know when you will need to know
just how precise your cache is...
Our second visit in East Providence, RI let us
view the ca1930-35 Art Deco
transmitting facility of WEAN. Although not 100% original, the bulk of
the original features are there, including the original black and chrome
decor. The original transmitter has been replaced twice, but an 80's
era Harris MW-5A is the main unit, with a 40's era RCA as a fully
functioning backup.
Do you remember what kind? Shame on you for noting the modern Harris but
not the classic RCA...
Generally broadcast transmitters and computers don't mix.
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org