8 Sep
2015
8 Sep
'15
10:35 p.m.
Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
Subject: Re: Control Data 160 Ebay
I believe the eBay lister stated that it was a 160, not the -A. So no
return jump for you...
--Chuck
Which would make it even more scarce. There were only a little over a 100 of the 160
models made. And 40+ of them were rebranded as NCR machines.
There were 495 160-As made officially. (There were also a small number shipped without
serial numbers to the good people at Langley.)
I know of at least 5x 160-As still in existence, besides my own. Which should be going to
a museum this week if they can sort out shipping glitches. My system includes a 161-A
Typewriter in lousy shape and a 167-2 Card Reader in perfect shape. Plus all manuals,
software (with listings) and spare parts. Even the paper tape rewinder!
I did not know any 160 machines survived, so who ever bought it has a unique item.
I have looked for 15 years for an 8092 = the first true 8 bit computer. Haven't found
even a hint or rumor of one.
I am working with Al Kossow, to see that this material is eventually in his archives.
Billy Pettit
9 Sep
9 Sep
1:01 a.m.
On 09/08/2015 07:35 PM, Billy Pettit wrote:
Which would make it even more scarce. There were only a little over
a 100 of the 160 models made. And 40+ of them were rebranded as NCR
machines.
There were 495 160-As made officially. (There were also a small
number shipped without serial numbers to the good people at
Langley.)
I know of at least 5x 160-As still in existence, besides my own.
Which should be going to a museum this week if they can sort out
shipping glitches. My system includes a 161-A Typewriter in lousy
shape and a 167-2 Card Reader in perfect shape. Plus all manuals,
software (with listings) and spare parts. Even the paper tape
rewinder!
I did not know any 160 machines survived, so who ever bought it has a
unique item.
Well, I'm not much of a collector, so I don't know about values of old
gear too much. I do recall seeing a 160A and a 1604 on the machine
floor at SVLOPS sometime during the mid 70s, however. Since that's what
the CEs at the time were doing a lot of, I suspect they were there for
demolition. I wonder if they were from FNWC or the Naval PG school in
Monterey.
Really shows CDC's "scorched earth" policy during the 1970s, after it
was discovered that some "customers" were purchasing parts on the scrap
market.
Wonder what it was worth? Probably about the same $0.60 per pound
(IIRC) that the scrapped STAR-65 brought after it came back from Canada...
Now *that* or even a 1B would be rare indeed.
--CHuck
10:08 a.m.
On 9/8/15 10:01 PM, Chuck Guzis wrote:
I wonder if they were from FNWC or the Naval PG school
in Monterey.
The Blue Cube (Satellite Control Center) had a bunch of them as "Bird Buffers"
Likely in Sunnyvale in support of that.
I guess now that it is gone I should put up the docs on the facility that I
picked up on eBay.
The site is now flattened and is being turned into a "satellite" campus for
Foothill College. I turned this up a while back.
http://facilities.fhda.edu/_downloads/HABS%20Onizuka%20AFS.pdf
10:17 a.m.
On 9/9/15 7:08 AM, Al Kossow wrote:
The Blue Cube (Satellite Control Center) had a bunch
of them as "Bird Buffers"
Likely in Sunnyvale in support of that.
http://bitsavers.org/pdf/sdc/scf/TM-1146_Augmented_Satellite_Control_Facili…
is an early description of the system. It moved from a 1604 to six 3800s and one 160A for
every satellite
tracking center as of a report dated 1971
11:22 a.m.
On 9/8/2015 9:35 PM, Billy Pettit wrote:
Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
Subject: Re: Control Data 160 Ebay
I believe the eBay lister stated that it was a 160, not the -A. So no
return jump for you...
--Chuck
But quite a lot of the other printed material with it on the listing
says 160-A. Perhaps it got field upgraded, if such was done for that
machine.
JRJ
12:03 p.m.
On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 11:22 AM, Jay Jaeger <cube1 at charter.net> wrote:
On 9/8/2015 9:35 PM, Billy Pettit wrote:
Comparing the 160 and 160-A manuals with the 160 in the ebay auction
(252070822992)
Page 37 of the 160 manual from 1960 - smaller "160" marquee sign.
Page 3-1 of the 160-A marquee says "CONTROL DATA 160-A"
Ebay auction says "CONTROL DATA 160"
So, there were two variations of the 160 marquee/sign above the numeric
display.
----
Also, if a person is looking at the front of the computer, on the top left
side, there is a square cut-out / slot? in the original 160 table
(purpose?). This slot does not appear on the 160-A's table (from the 1963
programming manual), nor is it present on the Ebay auction.
I am thinking this was originally a "later" 160 that was probably serviced
well into the 160-A days.
--
Bill
vintagecomputer.net
Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
Subject: Re: Control Data 160 Ebay
I believe the eBay lister stated that it was a 160, not the -A. So no
return jump for you...
--Chuck
But quite a lot of the other printed material with it on the listing
says 160-A. Perhaps it got field upgraded, if such was done for that
machine.
JRJ
12:29 p.m.
On 9/9/2015 11:03 AM, william degnan wrote:
On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 11:22 AM, Jay Jaeger <cube1
at charter.net> wrote:
No doubt *originally* a 160, per the marquee. But, as I suggested,
perhaps field upgraded. Otherwise, why have what appear to be 160-A
drawings with it?
JRJ
On 9/8/2015 9:35 PM, Billy Pettit wrote:
Comparing the 160 and 160-A manuals with the 160 in the ebay auction
(252070822992)
Page 37 of the 160 manual from 1960 - smaller "160" marquee sign.
Page 3-1 of the 160-A marquee says "CONTROL DATA 160-A"
Ebay auction says "CONTROL DATA 160"
So, there were two variations of the 160 marquee/sign above the numeric
display.
----
Also, if a person is looking at the front of the computer, on the top left
side, there is a square cut-out / slot? in the original 160 table
(purpose?). This slot does not appear on the 160-A's table (from the 1963
programming manual), nor is it present on the Ebay auction.
I am thinking this was originally a "later" 160 that was probably serviced
well into the 160-A days.
Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
Subject: Re: Control Data 160 Ebay
I believe the eBay lister stated that it was a 160, not the -A. So no
return jump for you...
--Chuck
But quite a lot of the other printed material with it on the listing
says 160-A. Perhaps it got field upgraded, if such was done for that
machine.
JRJ
12:33 p.m.
No, I am saying the marquee itself is more like the 160-A than the original
160's. It's missing the "dash A" but otherwise identical in footprint.
What gives it away as an original 160 are the fewer controls below the
numeric display compared with the 160-A.
On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 12:29 PM, Jay Jaeger <cube1 at charter.net> wrote:
On 9/9/2015 11:03 AM, william degnan wrote:
--
Bill
vintagecomputer.net
On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 11:22 AM, Jay Jaeger
<cube1 at charter.net> wrote:
left
On 9/8/2015 9:35 PM, Billy Pettit wrote:
Comparing the 160 and 160-A manuals with the 160 in the ebay auction
(252070822992)
Page 37 of the 160 manual from 1960 - smaller "160" marquee sign.
Page 3-1 of the 160-A marquee says "CONTROL DATA 160-A"
Ebay auction says "CONTROL DATA 160"
So, there were two variations of the 160 marquee/sign above the numeric
display.
----
Also, if a person is looking at the front of the computer, on the top Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
Subject: Re: Control Data 160 Ebay
I believe the eBay lister stated that it was a 160, not the -A. So no
return jump for you...
--Chuck
But quite a lot of the other printed material with it on the listing
says 160-A. Perhaps it got field upgraded, if such was done for that
machine.
JRJ
side, there is a square cut-out / slot? in the
original 160 table
(purpose?). This slot does not appear on the 160-A's table (from the
1963
programming manual), nor is it present on the
Ebay auction.
I am thinking this was originally a "later" 160 that was probably
serviced
well into the 160-A days.
No doubt *originally* a 160, per the marquee. But, as I suggested,
perhaps field upgraded. Otherwise, why have what appear to be 160-A
drawings with it?
JRJ
1 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
Speaking of Control Data:
I have some boards out of (AFAIR) a Control Data
Display Controller (OSG 1253/1255), each populated
with ~30 10pin TO-5 ICs; they're Fairchild with
(house?) numbers such as 115, 116, 117, 118 and
what I assume to be date codes (all 3 digits,
7xx), e.g. F 115 728.
Any reason why I shouldn't scrap these (after
cutting off the gold fingers of course ;-) ?
m
1:08 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
On Sep 9, 2015, at 1:00 PM, Mike Stein <mhs.stein
at gmail.com> wrote:
Speaking of Control Data:
I have some boards out of (AFAIR) a Control Data Display Controller (OSG 1253/1255), each
populated with ~30 10pin TO-5 ICs; they're Fairchild with (house?) numbers such as
115, 116, 117, 118 and what I assume to be date codes (all 3 digits, 7xx), e.g. F 115
728.
Any reason why I shouldn't scrap these (after cutting off the gold fingers of course
;-) ?
I don't recognize 115 etc. as IC part numbers, but 728 or similar 7xx numbers sounds
familiar for the old RTL ICs that Fairchild produced in TO-5 cans.
I don't suppose there's a whole lot of demand for that family, but then again I
also suppose there aren't a lot available.
paul
1:58 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Koning" <paulkoning at comcast.net>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic
Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: Control Data (?) circuit boards
On Sep 9, 2015, at 1:00 PM, Mike Stein
<mhs.stein at gmail.com> wrote:
Speaking of Control Data:
I have some boards out of (AFAIR) a Control Data
Display Controller (OSG 1253/1255), each
populated with ~30 10pin TO-5 ICs; they're
Fairchild with (house?) numbers such as 115,
116, 117, 118 and what I assume to be date codes
(all 3 digits, 7xx), e.g. F 115 728.
Any reason why I shouldn't scrap these (after
cutting off the gold fingers of course ;-) ?
I don't recognize 115 etc. as IC part numbers, but
728 or similar 7xx numbers sounds familiar for the
old RTL ICs that Fairchild produced in TO-5 cans.
I don't suppose there's a whole lot of demand for
that family, but then again I also suppose there
aren't a lot available.
paul
----- Reply -----
Yeah, RTL would be my guess considering the
package and the time frame (67/68), but AFAIK
Fairchild and Motorola used 700 and 900 (later
9000) numbers and these have 10 pins instead of
the usual 8 pins (although power is similarly
connected diagonally, i.e pins 5 and 10). Also odd
that the numbers are consecutive.
Anyway, just thought I'd mention them in case
someone has one of these displays or can use the
ICs.
m
3:32 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
On 2015-Sep-09, at 10:58 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Koning" <paulkoning at
comcast.net>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at
classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: Control Data (?) circuit boards
There were at least 3 types in Fairchild's standard RTL series in 10-pin cans:
9915 - dual 3-in inverting gate
9926 - JK FF
9927 - quad inverter
which would cover logic requirements if the designer were attempting to keep type
diversity down.
A lot of Fairchild's standard DTL series was also available in 10-pin cans.
On Sep 9, 2015, at 1:00 PM, Mike Stein
<mhs.stein at gmail.com> wrote:
Speaking of Control Data:
I have some boards out of (AFAIR) a Control Data Display Controller (OSG 1253/1255), each
populated with ~30 10pin TO-5 ICs; they're Fairchild with (house?) numbers such as
115, 116, 117, 118 and what I assume to be date codes (all 3 digits, 7xx), e.g. F 115
728.
Any reason why I shouldn't scrap these (after cutting off the gold fingers of course
;-) ?
I don't recognize 115 etc. as IC part numbers, but 728 or similar 7xx numbers sounds
familiar for the old RTL ICs that Fairchild produced in TO-5 cans.
I don't suppose there's a whole lot of demand for that family, but then again I
also suppose there aren't a lot available.
paul
----- Reply -----
Yeah, RTL would be my guess considering the package and the time frame (67/68), but AFAIK
Fairchild and Motorola used 700 and 900 (later 9000) numbers and these have 10 pins
instead of the usual 8 pins (although power is similarly connected diagonally, i.e pins 5
and 10). Also odd that the numbers are consecutive.
Anyway, just thought I'd mention them in case someone has one of these displays or
can use the ICs. 
10 Sep
10 Sep
10:39 a.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
Can we see some pictures?
--
Will
On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 1:00 PM, Mike Stein <mhs.stein at gmail.com> wrote:
Speaking of Control Data:
I have some boards out of (AFAIR) a Control Data Display Controller (OSG
1253/1255), each populated with ~30 10pin TO-5 ICs; they're Fairchild with
(house?) numbers such as 115, 116, 117, 118 and what I assume to be date
codes (all 3 digits, 7xx), e.g. F 115 728.
Any reason why I shouldn't scrap these (after cutting off the gold fingers
of course ;-) ?
m
12:23 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
Not very interesting
Haven't used Picasa in years; hope this works:
https://picasaweb.google.com/115794482077177620188/CDCCards?authkey=Gv1sRgC…
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Donzelli" <wdonzelli at gmail.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic
Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: Control Data (?) circuit boards
Can we see some pictures?
--
Will
On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 1:00 PM, Mike Stein
<mhs.stein at gmail.com> wrote:
> Speaking of Control Data:
>
> I have some boards out of (AFAIR) a Control
> Data Display Controller (OSG
> 1253/1255), each populated with ~30 10pin TO-5
> ICs; they're Fairchild with
> (house?) numbers such as 115, 116, 117, 118 and
> what I assume to be date
> codes (all 3 digits, 7xx), e.g. F 115 728.
>
> Any reason why I shouldn't scrap these (after
> cutting off the gold fingers
> of course ;-) ?
>
> m
1:18 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
On 9/10/15 9:23 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
Not very interesting
backside is all-telling.
DD12092 is the part number. DD == "Data Display"
the display division of CDC
they are the form factor that DD used. I picked up a 3291-B display
controller manual from Billy Pettit yesteray, and is uses discrete
cards in the same shape.
cans are Fairchild, circa 72/73
3:28 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
On 2015-Sep-10, at 10:18 AM, Al Kossow wrote:
On 9/10/15 9:23 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
There are two chips there with dates codes 6816.
I suspect the date codes of the form e.g. 710, 728 would be 6710, 6728. At least in the
past when I've seen 3-digit dates codes they've tended to correlate with dropping
the decade-year digit.
Not very interesting
backside is all-telling.
DD12092 is the part number. DD == "Data Display"
the display division of CDC
they are the form factor that DD used. I picked up a 3291-B display
controller manual from Billy Pettit yesteray, and is uses discrete
cards in the same shape.
cans are Fairchild, circa 72/73
14 Sep
14 Sep
4:53 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
Thanks for confirming that these cards are indeed
from a CD display unit; here's the model info:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y78OZlnQIMA/Vfcy4SwF3gI/AAAAAAAAAW0/sVPC…
But after all that I take it they're of no use to
anyone and I can scrap them with a clear
conscience?
m
----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Kossow" <aek at bitsavers.org>
To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: Control Data (?) circuit boards
On 9/10/15 9:23 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
Not very interesting
backside is all-telling.
DD12092 is the part number. DD == "Data Display"
the display division of CDC
they are the form factor that DD used. I picked
up a 3291-B display
controller manual from Billy Pettit yesteray,
and is uses discrete
cards in the same shape.
cans are Fairchild, circa 72/73
5:54 p.m.
New subject: Control Data (?) circuit boards
On 09/14/2015 01:53 PM, Mike Stein wrote:
Thanks for confirming that these cards are indeed from
a CD display
unit; here's the model info:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y78OZlnQIMA/Vfcy4SwF3gI/AAAAAAAAAW0/sVPC…
But after all that I take it they're of no use to anyone and I can
scrap them with a clear conscience?
Well, I note the QSE tag on the controller housing. That means that
what was special about this controller is anyone's guess. I doubt that
there's any extant information about the specific unit. CDC engineered
a ton of QSEs back in the day.
--Chuck
3235
days inactive
3240
days old
17 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
aek＠bitsavers.org -
billdegnan＠gmail.com -
bpettitx＠comcast.net -
cclist＠sydex.com -
cube1＠charter.net -
hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca -
mhs.stein＠gmail.com -
paulkoning＠comcast.net -
wdonzelli＠gmail.com