17 Aug
2014
17 Aug
'14
12:31 a.m.
I've seen paperweights that contain replicas of the first transistor to
commemorate its invention. I'm guessing that's the sort of thing this is?
Anyone seen one of these before and knows for sure?
Item: Univac I Computer Serial # 001 Plaque 1951 US Dept of Commerce Bureau
of Census
<http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web>
URL: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web
Alt URL:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Univac-Computer-Serial-001-Plaque-1951-US-Dept-Comm…
(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)
17 Aug
17 Aug
10:20 a.m.
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 23:31:00 -0500
Subject: if it seems too good to be true...
From: "A. P. Garcia" <a.phillip.garcia at gmail.com>
Sender: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
I've seen paperweights that contain replicas of the first transistor to
commemorate its invention. I'm guessing that's the sort of thing this is?
Anyone seen one of these before and knows for sure?
Item: Univac I Computer Serial # 001 Plaque 1951 US Dept of Commerce Bureau
of Census
<http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web>
The CHM has one just like it. They call it a replica.
http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102630940
10:46 a.m.
On Aug 17, 2014 9:26 AM, "Phil Budne" <phil at ultimate.com> wrote:
well done! I asked the seller for some more information. He said he bought
it from the estate of someone who worked at univac, and his guess was that
they were given as appreciation awards.
> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 23:31:00 -0500
> Subject: if it seems too good to be true...
> From: "A. P. Garcia" <a.phillip.garcia at gmail.com>
> Sender: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
>
> I've seen paperweights that contain replicas of the first transistor to
> commemorate its invention. I'm guessing that's the sort of thing this
is?
> Anyone seen one of these before and knows for
sure?
>
> Item: Univac I Computer Serial # 001 Plaque 1951 US Dept of Commerce
Bureau
of Census
<http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web>
The CHM has one just like it. They call it a replica.
http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102630940 
12:38 p.m.
First thing I notice is that the date, model and serial numbers are
hand-struck into the badge - they are not part of a sequential, machine
rolled series. This means that anyone could have struck those numbers into
a blank plaque at any given time. It also certainly dates from 1963 or
later, fwiw.
I also find it odd that it's engraved by the Bureau of Census - it may have
been in use there, sure, but if this had been presented as a commemorative
to one of the principal individuals involved in the project, wouldn't you
expect it to bear their name? It's almost as if the Bureau of Census made
up & presented this item, rather than execs or department heads from
Remington-Rand.
On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 11:31 PM, A. P. Garcia <a.phillip.garcia at gmail.com>
wrote:
I've seen paperweights that contain replicas of
the first transistor to
commemorate its invention. I'm guessing that's the sort of thing this is?
Anyone seen one of these before and knows for sure?
Item: Univac I Computer Serial # 001 Plaque 1951 US Dept of Commerce Bureau
of Census
<http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web>
URL: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web
Alt URL:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Univac-Computer-Serial-001-Plaque-1951-US-Dept-Comm…
(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)
12:43 p.m.
@Phil
We crossed posts. Good find, thanks for confirming my suspicions.
On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 11:38 AM, drlegendre . <drlegendre at gmail.com> wrote:
First thing I notice is that the date, model and
serial numbers are
hand-struck into the badge - they are not part of a sequential, machine
rolled series. This means that anyone could have struck those numbers into
a blank plaque at any given time. It also certainly dates from 1963 or
later, fwiw.
I also find it odd that it's engraved by the Bureau of Census - it may
have been in use there, sure, but if this had been presented as a
commemorative to one of the principal individuals involved in the project,
wouldn't you expect it to bear their name? It's almost as if the Bureau of
Census made up & presented this item, rather than execs or department heads
from Remington-Rand.
On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 11:31 PM, A. P. Garcia <a.phillip.garcia at gmail.com
wrote:
I've seen paperweights that contain replicas
of the first transistor to
commemorate its invention. I'm guessing that's the sort of thing this is?
Anyone seen one of these before and knows for sure?
Item: Univac I Computer Serial # 001 Plaque 1951 US Dept of Commerce
Bureau
of Census
<http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web>
URL: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web
Alt URL:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Univac-Computer-Serial-001-Plaque-1951-US-Dept-Comm…
(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)
1:32 p.m.
still all aside it would make a nice peac of wall art
On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 11:43 AM, drlegendre . <drlegendre at gmail.com> wrote:
@Phil
We crossed posts. Good find, thanks for confirming my suspicions.
On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 11:38 AM, drlegendre . <drlegendre at gmail.com>
wrote:
is?
First thing I notice is that the date, model and
serial numbers are
hand-struck into the badge - they are not part of a sequential, machine
rolled series. This means that anyone could have struck those numbers
into
a blank plaque at any given time. It also
certainly dates from 1963 or
later, fwiw.
I also find it odd that it's engraved by the Bureau of Census - it may
have been in use there, sure, but if this had been presented as a
commemorative to one of the principal individuals involved in the
project,
wouldn't you expect it to bear their name?
It's almost as if the Bureau
of
Census made up & presented this item, rather
than execs or department
heads
from Remington-Rand.
On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 11:31 PM, A. P. Garcia <
a.phillip.garcia at gmail.com
wrote:
> I've seen paperweights that contain replicas of the first transistor to
> commemorate its invention. I'm guessing that's the sort of thing this > Anyone seen one of these before and knows for
sure?
>
> Item: Univac I Computer Serial # 001 Plaque 1951 US Dept of Commerce
> Bureau
> of Census
> <http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web>
>
> URL: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191287398219&alt=web
>
> Alt URL:
>
>
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Univac-Computer-Serial-001-Plaque-1951-US-Dept-Comm…
(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)
2:43 p.m.
On Aug 17, 2014, at 12:38 PM, drlegendre . <drlegendre at gmail.com> wrote:
First thing I notice is that the date, model and
serial numbers are
hand-struck into the badge - they are not part of a sequential, machine
rolled series. This means that anyone could have struck those numbers into
a blank plaque at any given time. It also certainly dates from 1963 or
later, fwiw.
I also find it odd that it's engraved by the Bureau of Census - it may have
been in use there, sure, but if this had been presented as a commemorative
to one of the principal individuals involved in the project, wouldn't you
expect it to bear their name? It's almost as if the Bureau of Census made
up & presented this item, rather than execs or department heads from
Remington-Rand.
It?s not clear it is *by* the Bureau of Census. It is certainly correct that SN#1 went
there, and I can easily imagine Univac marketing department making up a bunch of these to
celebrate their first sale. Whether it was made at that time, or many years later, is
anyone?s guess.
paul
3627
days inactive
3627
days old
6 comments
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participants (5)
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a.phillip.garcia＠gmail.com -
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