9 Dec
2000
9 Dec
'00
4:09 a.m.
OK while the rest of you are freezing and getting ready for Christams, we
here in Florida and enjoying beautifull wheather and still fighting over
the election! A few of us are taking advantage of the weather and are out
scrounging for old computers and other interesting stuff. That's what I did
yesterday. My haul included a Morrow Micro Decision, a Tektronix 8002a
Developement system and the external 8" disk drives, an immersion cooler,
six or seven Busch & Lomb model 21 Spectrophotometers and a manual for my
IBM MD-2 Maintenance Device. I ran out of car before I ran out of goodies
so I left behind a Tektronix 4016 terminal, a tektronix 4024 terminal, an
ADM-3A terminal and an ADDS 25 terminal.
One of my coolest finds was a Paratronics model 100a Logic Analyzer with
the manual. This must be one of the first logic analyzers on the market.
It's about the size of a cigar box and uses a scope of other monitor with
an X-Y input for the display. The manual is dated 1977 and it says that
this an improved version of the one that was in the cover story of the Feb
1977 issue of Popular Electronics. (Does anyone have that issue?) The
mauual gives example of how to use it with the Altair, Intel 8080, Motorola
6800, Fairchld F-8, National SC/MP, Z-80, Bit Slice CPUs and the RCA
Cosmac. This will make a nice companion piece for my Altair.
Also spotted a Color Monitor for the TI-99/4. It's nothing but a color
TV with the tuner removed. I knew RS sold this kind of thing but I didn't
know that TI did also. I didn't pick it up but if anyone wants it, contact
me and I'll tell you where it's at. It's in a surplus store and I have no
idea what they want for it.
I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro Decision. If anyone knows much
about them, let me know.
Joe
9 Dec
9 Dec
9:56 a.m.
On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
OK while the rest of you are freezing and getting
ready for Christams, we
here in Florida and enjoying beautifull wheather and still fighting over
the election! A few of us are taking advantage of the weather and are out
scrounging for old computers and other interesting stuff. That's what I did
yesterday. My haul included a Morrow Micro Decision, a Tektronix 8002a
Developement system and the external 8" disk drives, an immersion cooler,
six or seven Busch & Lomb model 21 Spectrophotometers and a manual for my
IBM MD-2 Maintenance Device. I ran out of car before I ran out of goodies
so I left behind a Tektronix 4016 terminal, a tektronix 4024 terminal, an
ADM-3A terminal and an ADDS 25 terminal.
One of my coolest finds was a Paratronics model 100a Logic Analyzer with
the manual. This must be one of the first logic analyzers on the market.
It's about the size of a cigar box and uses a scope of other monitor with
an X-Y input for the display. The manual is dated 1977 and it says that
this an improved version of the one that was in the cover story of the Feb
1977 issue of Popular Electronics. (Does anyone have that issue?) The
mauual gives example of how to use it with the Altair, Intel 8080, Motorola
6800, Fairchld F-8, National SC/MP, Z-80, Bit Slice CPUs and the RCA
Cosmac. This will make a nice companion piece for my Altair.
Also spotted a Color Monitor for the TI-99/4. It's nothing but a color
TV with the tuner removed. I knew RS sold this kind of thing but I didn't
know that TI did also. I didn't pick it up but if anyone wants it, contact
me and I'll tell you where it's at. It's in a surplus store and I have no
idea what they want for it.
I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro Decision. If anyone knows much
about them, let me know.
Which one is it, Joe? I am fairly familiar with the 5.25" floppy ones,
the 2, 3, 5, 11, and nn.
- don
1:33 p.m.
At 12:56 PM 12/9/00 -0800, you wrote:
I don't know what model it is. It's not marked on the model anywhere.
The serial number is 34-22965 if that helps. I searched the web but didn't
find out much. A lot of sites mention the Morrow but none of them had
pictures or much of a description. One site said that it they had two
drives, then they were MD-2s. Mine has two HH drives but it doesn't look
like his. I'm in the process of adding it to my web site and I should have
links in there soon but in the mean time you can look at the pictures
directly at "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/front.jpg" and
"http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/back.jpg". Also here's one for
the Paratronics Logic Analyzer;
"http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/paratron.jpg". I've scanned the
cover of the Paratronics manual and I'll be posting it too.
Joe
I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro Decision. If anyone knows much
about them, let me know.
Which one is it, Joe? I am fairly familiar with the 5.25" floppy ones,
the 2, 3, 5, 11, and nn.
- don
6:45 p.m.
-> I should have links in there soon but in the mean time you can look
at the pictures
-> directly at "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/front.jpg"
MD2? MD3's have HH drives stacked on the left and a filler panel on the
right, at least the ones I have.
-> Also here's one for the Paratronics Logic Analyzer;
I built one of these from a kit about 1976. It worked well for many
years. One of those things I regret having not kept.
Fred from Dynacomp sold one earlier this year on eBay and it went for
much more than I was willing to spend ( >$100.00 IIRC)
Bill
10 Dec
10 Dec
4:32 a.m.
At 12:45 AM 12/10/00 -0500, you wrote:
-> I should have links in there soon but in the mean time you can look
at the pictures
-> directly at "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/front.jpg"
MD2? MD3's have HH drives stacked on the left and a filler panel on the
right, at least the ones I have.
I just opened it up and checked the circuit board. It says that it's a
model 1. Rev 1.1 . I'll make some pictures of the insides and post them as
I take it apart.
-> Also here's one for the Paratronics Logic Analyzer;
I built one of these from a kit about 1976. It worked well for many
years. One of those things I regret having not kept.
Fred from Dynacomp sold one earlier this year on eBay and it went for
much more than I was willing to spend ( >$100.00 IIRC)
Thanks for the info, Bill. I was wondering what something like this
would bring on E-Overpay but it's kinda of neat so I think I'll keep it.
But it's nice to have an idea of what it's worth.
Joe
9 Dec
9 Dec
8:02 p.m.
On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
At 12:56 PM 12/9/00 -0800, you wrote:
I don't know what model it is. It's not marked on the model anywhere.
The serial number is 34-22965 if that helps. I searched the web but didn't
find out much. A lot of sites mention the Morrow but none of them had
pictures or much of a description. One site said that it they had two
drives, then they were MD-2s. Mine has two HH drives but it doesn't look
like his. I'm in the process of adding it to my web site and I should have
links in there soon but in the mean time you can look at the pictures
directly at "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/front.jpg" and
"http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/back.jpg". Also here's one
for
the Paratronics Logic Analyzer;
"http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/paratron.jpg". I've scanned
the
cover of the Paratronics manual and I'll be posting it too.
Joe, from the front and rear shots that you posted, I'm morally certain
that it is an MD-2. The fixed power cord and the 2/3rd-high drives
both suggest that. The MD-3 had half-high drives and usually they were
stacked as was mentioned by Bill Dawson. If you want to check further,
remove the cover and look at the EPROM for a number. If 1.n it is MD-2,
or if 2.n it is MD-3. Also the motherboard ID silkscreened in the upper
RH corner will show Rev 1.1 for MD-2 and 2.n(?) for MD-3.
One further item. The card edge connector in back that is marked
'External Drives' is NOT. It is a parallel port for printer use. One
of the old TRS printer cables will work with it, but be careful that you
do not short out the signals and power.
There is an external drive connection on the MD-3, but it is a header on
the left hand end of the motherboard, and you have to snake the ribbon
cable out some way. Probably, by the parallel edge connection.
- don
I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro Decision. If anyone knows much
about them, let me know.
Which one is it, Joe? I am fairly familiar with the 5.25" floppy ones,
the 2, 3, 5, 11, and nn.
- don
10 Dec
10 Dec
9:33 a.m.
Don,
Thanks for all the info. I just opened it up and the board is marked
"model 1 Rev 1.1. The EPROM says "ROM 1.3" and what looks like
"71FB". I
tried to remove the drives and board to get a better look at things but it
needs a very narrow offset screwdriver to get the screws out of the middle
between the two drives so I wasn't able to. Thanks for the info about the
printer port. That could have been a costly mistake!
Jo
At 11:02 PM 12/9/00 -0800, you wrote:
I don't know what model it is. It's not marked on the model anywhere.
The serial number is 34-22965 if that helps. I searched the web but didn't
find out much. A lot of sites mention the Morrow but none of them had
pictures or much of a description. One site said that it they had two
drives, then they were MD-2s. Mine has two HH drives but it doesn't look
like his. I'm in the process of adding it to my web site and I should have
links in there soon but in the mean time you can look at the pictures
directly at "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/front.jpg" and
"http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/back.jpg". Also here's one
for
the Paratronics Logic Analyzer;
"http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/morrow/paratron.jpg". I've scanned
the
cover of the Paratronics manual and I'll be posting it too.
Joe, from the front and rear shots that you posted, I'm morally certain
that it is an MD-2. The fixed power cord and the 2/3rd-high drives
both suggest that. The MD-3 had half-high drives and usually they were
stacked as was mentioned by Bill Dawson. If you want to check further,
remove the cover and look at the EPROM for a number. If 1.n it is MD-2,
or if 2.n it is MD-3. Also the motherboard ID silkscreened in the upper
RH corner will show Rev 1.1 for MD-2 and 2.n(?) for MD-3.
One further item. The card edge connector in back that is marked
'External Drives' is NOT. It is a parallel port for printer use. One
of the old TRS printer cables will work with it, but be careful that you
do not short out the signals and power.
There is an external drive connection on the MD-3, but it is a header on
the left hand end of the motherboard, and you have to snake the ribbon
cable out some way. Probably, by the parallel edge connection.
- don
On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
> At 12:56 PM 12/9/00 -0800, you wrote:
> >
> >
> >>
> >> I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro Decision. If anyone knows
much
about them,
let me know.
Which one is it, Joe? I am fairly familiar with the 5.25" floppy ones,
the 2, 3, 5, 11, and nn.
- don
9 Dec
9 Dec
6:04 p.m.
On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
an X-Y input for the display. The manual is dated 1977
and it says that
this an improved version of the one that was in the cover story of the Feb
1977 issue of Popular Electronics. (Does anyone have that issue?) The
Sure. I assume you want a scan of the article?
Cosmac. This will make a nice companion piece for my
Altair.
Speaking of which I fired mine up today and it worked like a champ. Look
for it's television debut sometime next year ;)
I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro
Decision. If anyone knows much
about them, let me know.
A standard (but nice) CP/M box circa 1982 or so. You can actually plug
any terminal into it for your display device.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
10 Dec
10 Dec
4:33 a.m.
At 09:04 PM 12/9/00 -0800, Sellam wrote:
Let me know when.
I just found out that this is a model 1 (or so the circuit board says).
On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
Thanks but one of the other list members has already promised to make
a copy for me.
an X-Y input for the display. The manual is dated
1977 and it says that
this an improved version of the one that was in the cover story of the Feb
1977 issue of Popular Electronics. (Does anyone have that issue?) The
Sure. I assume you want a scan of the article? Cosmac. This will make a nice companion piece for
my Altair.
Speaking of which I fired mine up today and it worked like a champ. Look
for it's television debut sometime next year ;) I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro
Decision. If anyone knows much
about them, let me know.
A standard (but nice) CP/M box circa 1982 or so. You can actually plug
any terminal into it for your display device. From what little I found on the net, these are scarcer
than the 2 and 3s.
Joe
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer
Festival
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
4:52 a.m.
New subject: MAI 4 terminals
I was back at the scrap yard and they still have 4 MAI basic
4 terminals at $19 cdn.
http://www.cohenandcohen.com/ is their web site.
4:52 p.m.
On Sun, 10 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
At 09:04 PM 12/9/00 -0800, Sellam wrote:
Let me know when.
I just found out that this is a model 1 (or so the circuit board says).
From what little I found on the net, these are scarcer than the 2 and 3s.
I'm not sure that is so, Joe, as the circuit board that I looked at says
the same thing and I know it came from an MD-2. If there was a Model 1
machine the difference must have been in the power supply having the
fixed vice removable power cord or something like that.
- don
On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
Thanks but one of the other list members has already promised to make
a copy for me.
an X-Y input for the display. The manual is dated
1977 and it says that
this an improved version of the one that was in the cover story of the Feb
1977 issue of Popular Electronics. (Does anyone have that issue?) The
Sure. I assume you want a scan of the article? Cosmac. This will make a nice companion piece for
my Altair.
Speaking of which I fired mine up today and it worked like a champ. Look
for it's television debut sometime next year ;) I'm looking for info on the Morrow Micro
Decision. If anyone knows much
about them, let me know.
A standard (but nice) CP/M box circa 1982 or so. You can actually plug
any terminal into it for your display device.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer
Festival
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
11 Dec
11 Dec
4:11 a.m.
At 07:52 PM 12/10/00 -0800, Don wrote:
I think you're probably right about the card being the same in both
(all?) models. I guess I'm going to have to find a factory ad or something
similar from the period to find out exactly what model it is. It definitely
dates from 1982. That's the copyright on the board and all the ICs that I
checked had that date. However I thought that was a bit late for the SA200
drives.
Joe
I just found out that this is a model 1 (or so the circuit board says).
From what little I found on the net, these are scarcer than the 2 and 3s.
I'm not sure that is so, Joe, as the circuit board that I looked at says
the same thing and I know it came from an MD-2. If there was a Model 1
machine the difference must have been in the power supply having the
fixed vice removable power cord or something like that.
10:18 a.m.
On Mon, 11 Dec 2000, Joe wrote:
At 07:52 PM 12/10/00 -0800, Don wrote:
I think you're probably right about the card being the same in both
(all?) models. I guess I'm going to have to find a factory ad or something
Well, the MD-3 board was different - in fact there were two versions and
manufacturers of that - and the MD-5/10/nn was yet different again. But
any or all would fit in the same case. The late MD-2 had a detachable
power cord, as did the MD-3. So did the MD-5/10/nn, but they also had a
different - higher wattage - power supply to handle the HD.
- don
I just found out that this is a model 1 (or so the circuit board says).
From what little I found on the net, these are scarcer than the 2 and 3s.
I'm not sure that is so, Joe, as the circuit board that I looked at says
the same thing and I know it came from an MD-2. If there was a Model 1
machine the difference must have been in the power supply having the
fixed vice removable power cord or something like that.
similar from the period to find out exactly what model
it is. It definitely
dates from 1982. That's the copyright on the board and all the ICs that I
checked had that date. However I thought that was a bit late for the SA200
drives.
Joe
8619
days inactive
8621
days old
12 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
-
donm＠cts.com -
foo＠siconic.com -
KenzieM＠sympatico.ca -
rigdonj＠intellistar.net -
whdawson＠mlynk.com