14 Feb
2003
14 Feb
'03
1:25 a.m.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3401934914&categ…
They think it's a PDP-8 panel, but I highly doubt that given:
(0) It's got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look closely.
(1) The switches are the wrong color
(2) No "|D|I|G|I|T|A|L| PDP-8" anywhere on it
(3) Doesn't look like any PDP-8 I've ever seen
So what is it?
--
Jeffrey Sharp
14 Feb
14 Feb
2:21 a.m.
At 06:23 AM 2/14/03 -0600, Jeffrey Sharp wrote:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3401934914&categ…
They think it's a PDP-8 panel, but I highly doubt that given:
(0) It's got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look closely.
(1) The switches are the wrong color
(2) No "|D|I|G|I|T|A|L| PDP-8" anywhere on it
(3) Doesn't look like any PDP-8 I've ever seen
So what is it?
Don't know but it's close to me oif you need someone to check it out. I'm
not familar with DEC stuff so you'll have to tell me what to look for.
Joe
6:51 a.m.
Jeffrey Sharp wrote:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3401934914&categ…
They think it's a PDP-8 panel, but I highly doubt that given:
(0) It's got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look closely.
(1) The switches are the wrong color
(2) No "|D|I|G|I|T|A|L| PDP-8" anywhere on it
(3) Doesn't look like any PDP-8 I've ever seen
So what is it?
I have no idea but it looks COOL. In fact I building
24 bit computer and want that panel ( but not at ebay
prices. The question here is who made 18 bit computers?
as the layout suggests that to me from the markings
around the switches. Ben.
7:22 a.m.
On Fri, 14 Feb 2003, ben franchuk wrote:
Jeffrey Sharp wrote:
at least DEC: PDP 1,4,7,9,15...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3401934914&categ…
They think it's a PDP-8 panel, but I highly doubt that given:
(0) It's got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look closely.
(1) The switches are the wrong color
(2) No "|D|I|G|I|T|A|L| PDP-8" anywhere on it
(3) Doesn't look like any PDP-8 I've ever seen
So what is it?
I have no idea but it looks COOL. In fact I building
24 bit computer and want that panel ( but not at ebay
prices. The question here is who made 18 bit computers? as the layout suggests that to me from the markings
around the switches. Ben.
Looks like 2 panels
Peter Wallace
10 a.m.
(0) It's got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look
closely.
I think 24, since the numbers don't restart. Bit 0 is at the right,
which might rule out some machines.
I'm pretty sure the first word at the top is "DISPLAY"; the next
might be "REGISTER", but I'm not certain. I think the word that
labels bits 18-21 might be "INSTRUCTION". Can anyone think of a
machine with a 4-bit opcode and 18-bit address? I think the next
word (first of two labelling 0-17) is the same.
--
Kevin Schoedel <schoedel(a)kw.igs.net>
2:38 p.m.
On Fri, 14 Feb 2003, Kevin Schoedel wrote:
Now that I've looked at it more, it almost looks like a Four Phase Systems
front panel. It can't remember now, but I believe it was either a 16-
or 18-bit machine (18-bits would make sense with regards to these front
panels).
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *
(0) It's
got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look closely.
I think 24, since the numbers don't restart. Bit 0 is at the right,
which might rule out some machines.
I'm pretty sure the first word at the top is "DISPLAY"; the next
might be "REGISTER", but I'm not certain. I think the word that
labels bits 18-21 might be "INSTRUCTION". Can anyone think of a
machine with a 4-bit opcode and 18-bit address? I think the next
word (first of two labelling 0-17) is the same. 
7:11 a.m.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3401934914&categ…
They think it's a PDP-8 panel, but I highly doubt that given:
(0) It's got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look closely.
(1) The switches are the wrong color
(2) No "|D|I|G|I|T|A|L| PDP-8" anywhere on it
(3) Doesn't look like any PDP-8 I've ever seen
So what is it?
Good question, I'm pretty sure it's not DEC (unless it's from an 18-bit
system). In looking at the switches, even though they're the wrong colour,
they appear to be closer to those found on an IMSAI 8080. Another oddity
is the two keys per panel.
It would be nice if the poster had given some info on what is written on
the panels, or provided a better photo (so we could read it ourselves).
Zane
--
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast |
| | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
7:46 a.m.
Nowhere close to an IMSAI. IMSAI's are red and blue, and have square bats,
with tight spacing. Perkin Elmer, maybe?
--John
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-admin(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-admin@classiccmp.org]On
Behalf Of Zane H. Healy
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 13:09
To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: What computer is this front panel for?
&category=1247
They think it's a PDP-8 panel, but I highly doubt that given:
(0) It's got 24 bits, or maybe 18 + 6 if you look closely.
(1) The switches are the wrong color
(2) No "|D|I|G|I|T|A|L| PDP-8" anywhere on it
(3) Doesn't look like any PDP-8 I've ever seen
So what is it?
Good question, I'm pretty sure it's not DEC (unless it's from
an 18-bit
system). In looking at the switches, even though they're the
wrong colour,
they appear to be closer to those found on an IMSAI 8080.
Another oddity
is the two keys per panel.
It would be nice if the poster had given some info on what is
written on
the panels, or provided a better photo (so we could read it
ourselves).
Zane
--
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast |
| | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
2:19 p.m.
On Fri, 14 Feb 2003, Zane H. Healy wrote:
Good question, I'm pretty sure it's not DEC
(unless it's from an 18-bit
system). In looking at the switches, even though they're the wrong colour,
they appear to be closer to those found on an IMSAI 8080. Another oddity
is the two keys per panel.
IMSAI switches are a bit wider and more square. These look like they
slide like PDP switches. The IMSAI switches have a definite <click> to
them.
It would be nice if the poster had given some info on
what is written on
the panels, or provided a better photo (so we could read it ourselves).
Perhaps someone can mail the chap and ask him if there are any
distinguishing marks on the PCBs.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *
9:19 p.m.
On Friday, February 14, 2003, Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
VCF> IMSAI switches are a bit wider and more square. These look like they
VCF> slide like PDP switches. The IMSAI switches have a definite <click> to
VCF> them.
The click, or lack thereof, is one of the things that has most surprised me
in this hobby. When all I knew was a set of pictures, I just assumed that
all the switches on all the blinkenlights panels of all the manufacturers
clicked. When I flipped my first DEC switches (A PDP-8 in Saint Louis, I
think), I thought they were broken. They slid smoothly instead of clicking.
Not all DEC switches slide, though. I had a PDP-11/10 chassis once, and the
switches on it clicked.
--
Jeffrey Sharp
7910
days inactive
7911
days old
9 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
bfranchuk＠jetnet.ab.ca -
healyzh＠aracnet.com -
jcwren＠jcwren.com -
jss＠subatomix.com -
pcw＠mesanet.com -
rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com -
schoedel＠host.kw.igs.net -
vcf＠siconic.com