5 Sep
2006
5 Sep
'06
11:58 p.m.
A Teletype Model 43 could be considered "portable", and to my
recollection it used a 7x9 dot matrix printhead, which did lower case
nicely. It also used "real" paper as opposed to the thermal stuff of
the TI Silent 700's. It was definitely noisier than a Silent 700, but
the 43 was very nice to use.
I used one of these for a time a long time ago, and found it to be a
really nice terminal for use on timesharing systems. Would love to find
one today.
I have a couple of TI Silent 700's in that have built-in acoustic
couplers, and do lower case...except that the lower case is just a
shrunken down version of the upper case character set. Readable, but
definitely what you'd want to print out RUNOFF documents with. Plus,
that thermal paper isn't very durable for long-term document storage.
Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Web Museum
http://oldcalculatormuseum.com
9:54 a.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
Back in February, someone mentioned the odd looking tape hardware used
in the TV show "Search" from 1972:
http://www.probecontrol.com/
Someone guessed that these were "memory tape loop" units. I found the
same units in Woody Allen's "Sleeper":
http://ripsaw.cac.psu.edu/~mloewen/Tapeloop.jpg
Can anyone identify these, positively? Were they really data storage
units, or audio units?
Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us
Old Technology http://ripsaw.cac.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/
3:11 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On Wednesday 06 September 2006 09:54 am, Mike Loewen wrote:
Back in February, someone mentioned the odd
looking tape hardware used
in the TV show "Search" from 1972:
http://www.probecontrol.com/
Someone guessed that these were "memory tape loop" units. I found the
same units in Woody Allen's "Sleeper":
http://ripsaw.cac.psu.edu/~mloewen/Tapeloop.jpg
Can anyone identify these, positively? Were they really data storage
units, or audio units?
Wow. I've no idea about those actual units (and wouldn't it be nice to have
so much space to spare that you could do stuff like that? :-) but I
remember having some thoughts about using quarter-inch tape in a big loop
like that as some form of "bulk storage" way back when, before I'd ever
gotten the chance to even get close to getting my hands on an actual computer
or any real computer hardware...
My thoughts didn't get anywhere near that fancy, though, just some sort of a
"bin" to keep the tape in, letting it loop how it would, and a single
capstan and pinch roller to move it along.
Judging by the dual illuminated meters in the picture, I'd guess that was
supposed to be some sort of stereo (audio) setup, or maybe two tracks of
data.
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin
7:33 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On 9/7/06 1:09 AM, John Foust wrote:
At 08:54 AM 9/6/2006, you wrote:
No, but we should be! DAMN those are stylish!
,xtG
.tsooJ
--
Do you really think that when Jesus comes back he'll want to see a cross?
--
Joost van de Griek
<http://www.jvdg.net/>
Back in February, someone mentioned the odd
looking tape hardware used in the
TV show "Search" from 1972:
Here we are in the future and we're not using those funny OCR computer fonts,
are we? 
7:51 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On 9/7/2006 at 1:33 AM Joost van de Griek wrote:
No, but we should be! DAMN those are stylish!
I think a lot of old TV programs used the MICR characters such as seen on
bank checks. (or cheques). I used to have a typewriter (Olivetti) with the
OCR-A font on it--a memo typed in it looked just plain crude. I think
that the OCR-B font available for daisywheel printers is one of the better
fixed-spacing fonts.
Cheers,
Chuck
8:32 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On 9/7/06, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
On 9/7/2006 at 1:33 AM Joost van de Griek wrote:
The C-itoh 101 line of VT-100-compatible terminals had the MICR font built
into ROM - you issued a (documented) control sequence and switched the
font. We had a lot of those back in the day (they were lots cheaper than a
DEC VT-102), so it was fun to hack the control sequence into folks'
LOGIN.COM files on VMS. ;-)
-ethan
No, but we should be! DAMN those are stylish!
I think a lot of old TV programs used the MICR characters such as seen on
bank checks. (or cheques). 
7 Sep
7 Sep
10:51 a.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
Ethan Dicks wrote:
On 9/7/06, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com>
wrote:
http://pdp11.kicks-ass.net
Gordonjcp.
On 9/7/2006 at 1:33 AM Joost van de Griek wrote:
The C-itoh 101 line of VT-100-compatible terminals had the MICR font built
into ROM - you issued a (documented) control sequence and switched the
font. We had a lot of those back in the day (they were lots cheaper than a
DEC VT-102), so it was fun to hack the control sequence into folks'
LOGIN.COM files on VMS. ;-)
No, but we should be! DAMN those are stylish!
I think a lot of old TV programs used the MICR characters such as seen on
bank checks. (or cheques). 
6 Sep
6 Sep
9:28 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
At 06:51 PM 9/6/2006, Chuck Guzis wrote:
I think a lot of old TV programs used the MICR
characters such as seen on
bank checks. (or cheques). I used to have a typewriter (Olivetti) with the
OCR-A font on it--a memo typed in it looked just plain crude. I think
that the OCR-B font available for daisywheel printers is one of the better
fixed-spacing fonts.
Did MICR only include 0-9 and the control characters?
We're not talking OCR-A and OCR-B, right?
Were the stylish fonts seen in the "Search" opening credits ever
actually used by computers, or were they a graphic designer's
riff on MICR, extending it to alphabetic characters, too?
- John
On Wednesday 06 September 2006 09:54 am, Mike Loewen wrote:
Back in February, someone mentioned the odd
looking tape hardware used
in the TV show "Search" from 1972:
http://www.probecontrol.com/
Someone guessed that these were "memory tape loop" units. I found the
same units in Woody Allen's "Sleeper":
http://ripsaw.cac.psu.edu/~mloewen/Tapeloop.jpg
Can anyone identify these, positively? Were they really data storage
units, or audio units?
10:13 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On 9/6/2006 at 8:28 PM John Foust wrote:
Did MICR only include 0-9 and the control characters?
Yep-- 0 through 9 and 5 special characters. But old TV programs such as
"Probe" gave alpha titles an MICR look also. I don't know if there's a
proper name for that contrived font.
Were the stylish fonts seen in the "Search"
opening credits ever
actually used by computers, or were they a graphic designer's
riff on MICR, extending it to alphabetic characters, too?
Pure Hollywood, as far as I can tell.
Cheers,
Chuck
7 Sep
7 Sep
1:19 a.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
Chuck Guzis wrote:
On 9/6/2006 at 8:28 PM John Foust wrote:
When I was 9 years old MICR fonts said 'the future is computers'.
Everything to do with the space-age/computers/future used MICR-alpha in marketing.
I think the title of Byte magazine was (is?) the last holdout (1984 is the
most recent issue I have).
(There was an article in Annals of the History of Computing a few years ago
about the development of automated cheque processing and MICR (late 50s)).
On the topic of future prognostications becoming out-dated, a little while
ago I saw a 370 front panel and the first thing that came to mind was
"Oh, how 2001-ish" - the association being common design themes (to my
perceptions) between the front panel and stuff in the movie '2001: A Space
Oddysey'.
Today they both say "1970".
Who is it that has that sig "The future was never like this" ?.
Did MICR only include 0-9 and the control
characters?
Yep-- 0 through 9 and 5 special characters. But old TV programs such as
"Probe" gave alpha titles an MICR look also. I don't know if there's
a
proper name for that contrived font.
Were the stylish fonts seen in the
"Search" opening credits ever
actually used by computers, or were they a graphic designer's
riff on MICR, extending it to alphabetic characters, too?
Pure Hollywood, as far as I can tell.
Cheers,
Chuck
2:17 a.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On 9/6/2006 at 10:19 PM Brent Hilpert wrote:
On the topic of future prognostications becoming
out-dated, a little while
ago I saw a 370 front panel and the first thing that came to mind was
"Oh, how 2001-ish" - the association being common design themes (to my
perceptions) between the front panel and stuff in the movie '2001: A Space
Oddysey'. Today they both say "1970".
Hmmm, wasn't 2001 sometime around 1968-69?
I like "The Forbin Project" myself. Lots of old IBM 1620/1710 panels and
blinkenlights behind CDC 3000-series "green glass" cabinet fronts.
For you IBM-ers: Everyone calls IBM "Big Blue" but I definitely remember
S/360 hardware also coming in orange. Was that a standard option?
Cheers,
Chuck
3:50 a.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
Chuck Guzis wrote:
On 9/6/2006 at 10:19 PM Brent Hilpert wrote:
Yes, 2001 was 1968, I recall seeing it in 1969 ... I was just referring to the
design era, so figure +/- a couple of years covers it.
On the topic of future prognostications becoming
out-dated, a little while
ago I saw a 370 front panel and the first thing that came to mind was
"Oh, how 2001-ish" - the association being common design themes (to my
perceptions) between the front panel and stuff in the movie '2001: A Space
Oddysey'. Today they both say "1970".
Hmmm, wasn't 2001 sometime around 1968-69? >Oddysey
^ (whoops, sp, correcting
myself)
9:37 a.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
For you IBM-ers: Everyone calls IBM "Big
Blue" but I definitely remember
S/360 hardware also coming in orange. Was that a standard option?
Standard colors were blue, red (orangey), white, grey, and yellow.
Other colors could be RPQd. If a customer did not spec the color, blue
was the most common result.
Sometimes installations with multiple processors would color code the equipment.
--
Will
2:33 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On Wed, 2006-09-06 at 23:17 -0700, Chuck Guzis wrote:
For you IBM-ers: Everyone calls IBM "Big
Blue" but I definitely remember
S/360 hardware also coming in orange. Was that a standard option?
Blue, Red and Yellow were the standard colours, I believe.
http://www.aconit.org/spip/IMG/jpg/36040.jpg
http://static.cray-cyber.org/Comprooms/LARGE/IBM_360.jpg
http://www.newbegin.com/html/misc__item_detail_65.html
(Though the latter implies you could have any colour you like ...)
--
Lawrence Wilkinson lawrence at ljw.me.uk
The IBM 360/30 page http://www.ljw.me.uk/ibm360
3:10 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On 9/7/2006 at 7:33 PM Lawrence Wilkinson wrote:
Blue, Red and Yellow were the standard colours, I
believe.
http://www.aconit.org/spip/IMG/jpg/36040.jpg
http://static.cray-cyber.org/Comprooms/LARGE/IBM_360.jpg
http://www.newbegin.com/html/misc__item_detail_65.html
(Though the latter implies you could have any colour you like ...)
The only S/360 color other than blue that I've ever seen up close was
orange (or red, or whatever you want to call it)in the 1960's--and for a
time, I saw so much orange, I thought that it was the standard color and
blue was special-order. I thought it looked very "mod". Just the thing
to go along with your avocado fridge and burnt orange shag carpeting.
On the other hand, the yellow and bilious green shown in the ad looks
downright revolting...and I've never heard of a purple S/360! I suppose
that if the S/360 were being marketed today, it'd be offered in white or
brushed stainless steel.
Cheers,
Chuck
3:54 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On Thursday 07 September 2006 15:10, Chuck Guzis wrote:
On 9/7/2006 at 7:33 PM Lawrence Wilkinson wrote:
More likely, Black with a copper strip going up the front door (like how
their zSeries boxes are packaged). As far as I know, they don't offer
a color option, though cans of Krylon are cheap compared to the machine
itself...
Pat
--
Purdue University Research Computing -- http://www.itap.purdue.edu/rcac
Blue, Red and Yellow were the standard colours, I
believe.
http://www.aconit.org/spip/IMG/jpg/36040.jpg
http://static.cray-cyber.org/Comprooms/LARGE/IBM_360.jpg
http://www.newbegin.com/html/misc__item_detail_65.html
(Though the latter implies you could have any colour you like ...)
On the other hand, the yellow and bilious green shown in the ad looks
downright revolting...and I've never heard of a purple S/360! I
suppose that if the S/360 were being marketed today, it'd be offered
in white or brushed stainless steel.
8 Sep
8 Sep
1:11 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On 9/7/2006 at 3:54 PM Patrick Finnegan wrote:
More likely, Black with a copper strip going up the
front door (like how
their zSeries boxes are packaged). As far as I know, they don't offer
a color option, though cans of Krylon are cheap compared to the machine
itself...
Since the TV series "Star Trek" premiered 40 years ago today, does anyone
notice any similarity between the set used for that and the "orange" S/360
decor? Any other similarities?
I think that ST was very notable for its time in that the ship computers
didn't use mag tapes or disks--contrast with other contemporary Hollywood
fare.
Cheers,
Chuck
1:15 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
Chuck Guzis wrote:
I think that ST was very notable for its time in that
the ship computers
didn't use mag tapes or disks--contrast with other contemporary Hollywood
fare.
Well, that may have been for budgetary reasons, not forward thinking.
:-) They also weren't consistent: some episodes show cartridges being
plugged into the console; others show thin memory-card-like wafers being
inserted (dropped completely into, actually, like falling through a slot
to the bottom).
--
Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org) http://www.oldskool.org/
Help our electronic games project: http://www.mobygames.com/
Or check out some trippy MindCandy at http://www.mindcandydvd.com/
A child borne of the home computer wars: http://trixter.wordpress.com/
1:31 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
And thusly were the wise words spake by Jim Leonard
Chuck Guzis wrote:
Sounds a little like the storage used on the planet Krypton and in
Superman's Fortress of Solitude.. It is lengths of crystal which is
probably holographic and now that kind of storage is being worked on.
Cheers,
Bryan
P.S. I just watched Superman: The Movie a few days ago.. :)
I think that ST was very notable for its time in
that the ship computers
didn't use mag tapes or disks--contrast with other contemporary Hollywood
fare.
Well, that may have been for budgetary reasons, not forward thinking.
:-) They also weren't consistent: some episodes show cartridges being
plugged into the console; others show thin memory-card-like wafers being
inserted (dropped completely into, actually, like falling through a slot
to the bottom). 
2:18 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On Fri, 8 Sep 2006, Chuck Guzis wrote:
On 9/7/2006 at 3:54 PM Patrick Finnegan wrote:
There was mention of "microtapes" now and then, which appeared to be the
same size as 3.5" floppies. Also, there was a tape cartridge in Star Trek
II.
--
David Griffith
dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?
More likely, Black with a copper strip going up
the front door (like how
their zSeries boxes are packaged). As far as I know, they don't offer
a color option, though cans of Krylon are cheap compared to the machine
itself...
Since the TV series "Star Trek" premiered 40 years ago today, does anyone
notice any similarity between the set used for that and the "orange" S/360
decor? Any other similarities?
I think that ST was very notable for its time in that the ship computers
didn't use mag tapes or disks--contrast with other contemporary Hollywood
fare. 
5:23 p.m.
New subject: Probe/Search TV props
On Thursday 07 September 2006 15:10, Chuck Guzis wrote:
On 9/7/2006 at 7:33 PM Lawrence Wilkinson wrote:
More likely, Black with a copper strip going up the front door (like how
their zSeries boxes are packaged). As far as I know, they don't offer
a color option, though cans of Krylon are cheap compared to the machine
itself...
Pat
--
Purdue University Research Computing -- http://www.itap.purdue.edu/rcac
--
Purdue University Research Computing --- http://www.rcac.purdue.edu/
The Computer Refuge --- http://computer-refuge.org
Blue, Red and Yellow were the standard colours, I
believe.
http://www.aconit.org/spip/IMG/jpg/36040.jpg
http://static.cray-cyber.org/Comprooms/LARGE/IBM_360.jpg
http://www.newbegin.com/html/misc__item_detail_65.html
(Though the latter implies you could have any colour you like ...)
On the other hand, the yellow and bilious green shown in the ad looks
downright revolting...and I've never heard of a purple S/360! I
suppose that if the S/360 were being marketed today, it'd be offered
in white or brushed stainless steel.
6509
days inactive
6511
days old
22 comments
16 participants
participants (16)
-
bpope＠wordstock.com -
cclist＠sydex.com -
dgriffi＠cs.csubak.edu -
ethan.dicks＠gmail.com -
gordon＠gjcp.net -
hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca -
jfoust＠threedee.com -
jvdg＠sparcpark.net -
ljw-cctech＠ljw.me.uk -
mloewen＠cpumagic.scol.pa.us -
pat＠computer-refuge.org -
rickb＠bensene.com -
rtellason＠verizon.net -
trixter＠oldskool.org -
vax＠purdue.edu -
wdonzelli＠gmail.com