17 Jun
2015
17 Jun
'15
4:14 p.m.
About six months ago I struck a deal with a place down in California for
four Documation M1000's that I've been able to tell so far they all work but
I really don't have space for more than one. I've been trying to sell them
at a loss for months now over on the Vintage Computer Forums and Nekochan
(if you got here you'll find pictures) but no bites. I swear there were
people out there that were looking. Where did you folks go? Might anyone
here be interested? I absolutely refuse to put them on the curb.
-John
17 Jun
17 Jun
4:18 p.m.
On Jun 17, 2015, at 16:14 , John Ball <ball.of.john
at gmail.com> wrote:
About six months ago I struck a deal with a place down in California for
four Documation M1000's that I've been able to tell so far they all work but
I really don't have space for more than one. I've been trying to sell them
at a loss for months now over on the Vintage Computer Forums and Nekochan
(if you got here you'll find pictures) but no bites. I swear there were
people out there that were looking. Where did you folks go? Might anyone
here be interested? I absolutely refuse to put them on the curb.
Where are they located? I'm known for my poor self-control when it comes to acquiring
vintage computer gear, but shipping one of those heavy beasts to southern California might
be more than I'd like to spend. :/
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
4:24 p.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 7:14 PM, John Ball <ball.of.john at gmail.com> wrote:
About six months ago I struck a deal with a place down
in California for
four Documation M1000's that I've been able to tell so far they all work
but
I really don't have space for more than one.
If anyone here does get one, I've got a simple Arduino UNO program that
interfaces to the parallel output and sends fully decoded information over
USB at quite high speeds. The M-1000-L is a great reader, very reliable,
and easy to work on too (I did a little routine maintenance, but mine was
in 100% working shape when I got it).
Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N27Mr199I7g
I'm also working on getting a cable made to hook up to the M843 CR8-E
punched card reader interface for the PDP-8/E, but that's a project for
another day (year?).
Kyle
7:21 p.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
On Wed, 17 Jun 2015, Kyle Owen wrote:
On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 7:14 PM, John Ball
<ball.of.john at gmail.com> wrote:
There's also Brian Knittel's USB interface for the Documation readers:
http://media.ibm1130.org/sim/cardread.zip
I built one, and it works well.
Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us
Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
About six months ago I struck a deal with a place
down in California for
four Documation M1000's that I've been able to tell so far they all work
but
I really don't have space for more than one.
If anyone here does get one, I've got a simple Arduino UNO program that
interfaces to the parallel output and sends fully decoded information over
USB at quite high speeds. The M-1000-L is a great reader, very reliable,
and easy to work on too (I did a little routine maintenance, but mine was
in 100% working shape when I got it).
Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N27Mr199I7g 
10 Dec
10 Dec
7:20 a.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 7:24 PM Kyle Owen <kylevowen at gmail.com> wrote:
If anyone here does get one, I've got a simple
Arduino UNO program that
interfaces to the parallel output and sends fully decoded information over
USB at quite high speeds.
I'm interested in that! I was designing one in my head this weekend.
Much better to stand on the shoulders of giants!
I'm also working on getting a cable made to hook
up to the M843 CR8-E
punched card reader interface for the PDP-8/E, but that's a project for
another day (year?).
I have an M8291 CR-11 board (untested) but no cable. Same cable as
the M843 AFAIK (documented as such).
The interesting thing about my M-200 is it has a factory mod - a
6802-based parallel-serial board, mounted on an internal 44-pin
0.156"-spacing connector, so rather than remove that and use an
external cable, I have the option of making my own card for the socket
with a 40-pin Berg connector and using a straight 40-pin cable to the
M8291 or M843.
But since mine is punched-cards only (not mark-sense cards), I'm not
that likely to punch a lot of card decks for mine. Once I read 3-4
decks for a local buddy, I don't really have "next use" for my reader.
-ethan
10:02 a.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
On Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 10:20 AM Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote:
The interesting thing about my M-200 is it has a
factory mod...
A little clarification of this after more reading. My card reader
appears to be an M-600, with an internal Cardamation serial interface
("Feature 92"). I haven't found much in the way of specific info,
just mentions here and there that Cardamation rented and sold card
readers that were fitted with internal serial interfaces for local or
remote (modem) use.
I would love to read Cardamation docs, especially anything relating to
setting up a modem or a local computer with the serial port
requirements. Anyone have any? I can figure this out eventually of
course, but reading the manuals is a fantastic way to not duplicate
effort, should such manuals still exist in some form.
-ethan
3:23 p.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
You have forgotten that I am the one that cleaned out Cardamation...
--
Will
On Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 1:02 PM Ethan Dicks via cctalk
<cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
On Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 10:20 AM Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote:
The interesting thing about my M-200 is it has a
factory mod...
A little clarification of this after more reading. My card reader
appears to be an M-600, with an internal Cardamation serial interface
("Feature 92"). I haven't found much in the way of specific info,
just mentions here and there that Cardamation rented and sold card
readers that were fitted with internal serial interfaces for local or
remote (modem) use.
I would love to read Cardamation docs, especially anything relating to
setting up a modem or a local computer with the serial port
requirements. Anyone have any? I can figure this out eventually of
course, but reading the manuals is a fantastic way to not duplicate
effort, should such manuals still exist in some form.
-ethan
8:05 p.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
On Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 6:23 PM William Donzelli <wdonzelli at gmail.com> wrote:
Forgotten or never knew (I checked my inbox and I don't see any announcements).
So... we may have some business to conduct.
Thanks for speaking up.
-ethan
I would love
to read Cardamation docs, especially anything relating to
setting up a modem or a local computer with the serial port
requirements. Anyone have any?
You have forgotten that I am the one that cleaned out Cardamation... 
12 Dec
12 Dec
12:19 a.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
I think I have the M8291, and maybe a M843 and a cable somewhere.
Paul
On Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 10:05 PM Ethan Dicks via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
On Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 6:23 PM William Donzelli
<wdonzelli at gmail.com>
wrote:
Forgotten or never knew (I checked my inbox and I don't see any
announcements).
So... we may have some business to conduct.
Thanks for speaking up.
-ethan
I would
love to read Cardamation docs, especially anything relating to
setting up a modem or a local computer with the serial port
requirements. Anyone have any?
You have forgotten that I am the one that cleaned out Cardamation... 
10:13 a.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
Interested in the Arduino interface too. Will save me some time. Has it been posted
anywhere?
Marc
From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of "cctalk at
classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Reply-To: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com>, "cctalk at
classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Date: Monday, December 10, 2018 at 7:21 AM
To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: Documation card readers for sale
On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 7:24 PM Kyle Owen <kylevowen at gmail.com> wrote:
If anyone here does get one, I've got a simple Arduino UNO program that
interfaces to the parallel output and sends fully decoded information over
USB at quite high speeds.
I'm interested in that! I was designing one in my head this weekend.
Much better to stand on the shoulders of giants!
I'm also working on getting a cable made to hook up to the M843 CR8-E
punched card reader interface for the PDP-8/E, but that's a project for
another day (year?).
I have an M8291 CR-11 board (untested) but no cable. Same cable as
the M843 AFAIK (documented as such).
The interesting thing about my M-200 is it has a factory mod - a
6802-based parallel-serial board, mounted on an internal 44-pin
0.156"-spacing connector, so rather than remove that and use an
external cable, I have the option of making my own card for the socket
with a 40-pin Berg connector and using a straight 40-pin cable to the
M8291 or M843.
But since mine is punched-cards only (not mark-sense cards), I'm not
that likely to punch a lot of card decks for mine. Once I read 3-4
decks for a local buddy, I don't really have "next use" for my reader.
-ethan
8:46 p.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
On Wed, Dec 12, 2018 at 6:50 PM Curious Marc via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
Interested in the Arduino interface too. Will save me
some time. Has it
been posted anywhere?
Marc
Sorry it took me a while to get it. Here's the program, ca. 17 January 2015.
https://pastebin.com/uQED05Xk
Enjoy,
Kyle
14 Dec
14 Dec
10:01 p.m.
New subject: Documation card readers for sale
Thanks!
Marc
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Kyle Owen via cctalk
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2018 8:47 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Documation card readers for sale
On Wed, Dec 12, 2018 at 6:50 PM Curious Marc via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
Interested in the Arduino interface too. Will save me
some time. Has it
been posted anywhere?
Marc
Sorry it took me a while to get it. Here's the program, ca. 17 January 2015.
https://pastebin.com/uQED05Xk
Enjoy,
Kyle
17 Jun
17 Jun
7:43 p.m.
On Jun 17, 2015, at 16:14, John Ball <ball.of.john
at gmail.com> wrote:
About six months ago I struck a deal with a place down in California for
four Documation M1000's that I've been able to tell so far they all work but
I really don't have space for more than one. I've been trying to sell them
at a loss for months now over on the Vintage Computer Forums and Nekochan
(if you got here you'll find pictures) but no bites. I swear there were
people out there that were looking. Where did you folks go? Might anyone
here be interested? I absolutely refuse to put them on the curb.
Are the readers in question these ones in Canada?
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?45888-FS-Documation-…
If so, the presumed cost of shipping is the main thing that has kept me from adopting one
of them. Well, that and being in debt at the moment from other recent acquisitions. And
not having a clear space to set one down. And not having a keypunch, let alone room for a
keypunch in my tiny little packed-full house.
But I do think they look quite cool! And if I find solutions to all of those impediments
before you find loving homes for all of those readers, I may yet adopt one of them. I was
born just late enough to miss using punched cards, so I think that experiencing them would
be fun since I've never learned otherwise by needing to use them in anger.
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
7:48 p.m.
On Jun 17, 2015, at 7:43 PM, Mark J. Blair <nf6x at nf6x.net> wrote:
Are the readers in question these ones in Canada?
When you drive up there to get them, you can stop by my house on your way home and drop
one off. I?m in Sacramento so I?m right on the way. I?ll let you play some air hockey
while you?re here! :-P
--
Follow me on twitter: @FozzTexx
Check out my blog: http://insentricity.com
7:54 p.m.
On Jun 17, 2015, at 19:48, Chris Osborn <fozztexx
at fozztexx.com> wrote:
On Jun 17, 2015, at 7:43 PM, Mark J. Blair <nf6x at nf6x.net> wrote:
I sincerely thank you for the offer, but I won't be driving up there. I don't like
driving long distances (despite commuting about 20,000 miles per year), and I don't
particularly like traveling in general, either. Nope, I'm totally a stay-near-home
type, with my one concession being a drive up to San Luis Obispo once a year for a
military radio collectors meeting and one or more steaks at Jocko's.
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
Are the readers in question these ones in Canada?
When you drive up there to get them, you can stop by my house on your way home and drop
one off. I?m in Sacramento so I?m right on the way. I?ll let you play some air hockey
while you?re here! :-P
7:55 p.m.
Although, I suppose that could change if I win the lottery tonight, retire, and buy a
camper. :)
--
Mark J. Blair, NF6X <nf6x at nf6x.net>
http://www.nf6x.net/
2198
days inactive
3475
days old
15 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
ball.of.john＠gmail.com -
curiousmarc3＠gmail.com -
ethan.dicks＠gmail.com -
fozztexx＠fozztexx.com -
kylevowen＠gmail.com -
mloewen＠cpumagic.scol.pa.us -
nf6x＠nf6x.net -
useddec＠gmail.com -
wdonzelli＠gmail.com