9 Jul
1999
9 Jul
'99
2:57 p.m.
I got an e-mail recently from someone offering me an Esco 31 survey
calculator. I'd never heard of one but I decided to take a chance and
bought it sight unseen. It came today. The seller forgot to mention that
it said Tektronix on the back! Yeap, it's a rebadged Tektronix 31! Does
anyone have some instructions for one? Does anyone know where to find
tapes for these?
Joe
9 Jul
9 Jul
3:36 p.m.
On Fri, 9 Jul 1999, Joe wrote:
I got an e-mail recently from someone offering me
an Esco 31 survey
calculator. I'd never heard of one but I decided to take a chance and
bought it sight unseen. It came today. The seller forgot to mention that
it said Tektronix on the back! Yeap, it's a rebadged Tektronix 31! Does
anyone have some instructions for one? Does anyone know where to find
tapes for these?
Hans and I have about 50 tapes that we scored with the two Tek 31's we
scored a few weeks ago but they all contain various programs with
handwritten labels so we don't really know what's on all of them. If we
find any dupes then maybe we can do a trade.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out.
Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0!
See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 05/25/99]
10 Jul
10 Jul
6:25 a.m.
Sellam,
At 08:36 PM 7/9/99 -0700, you wrote:
Hans and I have about 50 tapes that we scored with the two Tek 31's we
scored a few weeks ago
TWO Tek 31s! That was a find! Where did you find those? That brings the
total of Tek 31s up to 4 AFIK. That would make a nice display at VCF. I
wish I could go but I'm on the wrong side of the country.
but they all contain various programs with
handwritten labels so we don't really know
what's on all of them. If we
find any dupes then maybe we can do a trade.
OK. do the tape drives still work in your's? I found the belt (O-ring)
lying broken in mine. I shouldn't be hard to find a replacement. Do you
have ANY docs for these?
Joe
3:05 p.m.
Upon the date 01:25 PM 7/10/99 +0000, Joe said something like:
Sellam,
At 08:36 PM 7/9/99 -0700, you wrote:
I'm on the wrong side too :( California is an interesting place to visit
and I wish I was closer.
Hans and I have about 50 tapes that we scored with the two Tek 31's we
scored a few weeks ago
TWO Tek 31s! That was a find! Where did you find those? That brings the
total of Tek 31s up to 4 AFIK. That would make a nice display at VCF. I
wish I could go but I'm on the wrong side of the country.
but they all contain various programs with
Gotta check my tape drive too as I've not played w/the machine in five or
more years.
I've got an operating and programing manual -in French. I'm still looking
for any docs myself -in English or even German. I could have several
copies of the French manual made just for costs involved if anyone is
interested (betcha some of ya are ;)
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
Check our redesigned website!
URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/
handwritten labels so we don't really know
what's on all of them. If we
find any dupes then maybe we can do a trade.
OK. do the tape drives still work in your's? I found the belt (O-ring)
lying broken in mine. I shouldn't be hard to find a replacement. Do you
have ANY docs for these? 
11 Jul
11 Jul
4:32 a.m.
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text
Size: 422 bytes
Desc: not available
Url :
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19990711/bed338bd/at…
5:06 a.m.
New subject: Sinking feeling
Tony Duell wrote:
All I have is the service manual for the 4661 plotter (a special plotter
for the 21 and 31 calculators). It does have some info on interfacing the
machine, but not a lot.
Oh oh, I have one of those sinking feelings in my stomach. Our amateur radio
club bazaar was yesterday, and there were a couple of plotters out there. At
the end when everything was free, I found a couple of manuals for the Tek
4662 Interactive Digital Plotters, one labeled "4662 Interactive Digital
Plotter", and the other "4662 Interactive Digital Plotter (with Option 31)
and judging by the pictures, one of the plotters was out there and may have
hit the dumpster <sigh>. Next year, I would *really* like to have an 18'
bobtail truck out there to collect all the stuff that would normally head
for the dumpster. Stuff that was dumpstered included quite a bit of older
test equipment, oscilloscopes including about 4 or 5 Tek scopes (531 or so),
Heathkit scopes, and too much stuff to remember. But yes, I did save the
manuals.
7:15 a.m.
New subject: Sinking feeling
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text
Size: 1301 bytes
Desc: not available
Url :
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19990711/c5f89673/at…
12:57 p.m.
New subject: Sinking feeling
Tony Duell wrote:
I do feel better now! Being a junk-o-holic from way back, I really dislike
seeing anything that might be used thrown out. We shall see what happens
next year, and if I really will have a van by that time :).
Oh oh, I have one of those sinking feelings in my
stomach. Our amateur radio
club bazaar was yesterday, and there were a couple of plotters out there. At
the end when everything was free, I found a couple of manuals for the Tek
4662 Interactive Digital Plotters, one labeled "4662 Interactive Digital
Plotter", and the other "4662 Interactive Digital Plotter (with Option 31)
and judging by the pictures, one of the plotters was out there and may have
hit the dumpster <sigh>. Next year, I would *really* like to have an 18'
I will cheer you up a little...
The 4662 is the same mechanics as the 4661, but totally different
electronics. The 4662 (I have one, and the manuals) has normal RS232 and
GPIB interfaces (but it doesn't speak HPGL :-().
1:11 p.m.
New subject: Radio Shack Model III
I fired up a Radio Shack Model III that I got at the bazaar, and it seems to
work quite well. It uses TRS-DOS 1.3 and when I tried to log onto drive 1, I
got error messages although I could do a dir :1 with no problems. When I put
the disk in drive 0, I could do a directory, but again, couldn't run the
program. Anything not so obvious (at least to me) about running other
programs on the Model III? I also tried a game disk with Joust and a few
others, but again, the only result was an error message. Thanks.
12 Jul
12 Jul
1:49 a.m.
New subject: Radio Shack Model III
On 11 Jul 99 at 18:11, Marvin wrote:
I fired up a Radio Shack Model III that I got at the bazaar, and it seems to
work quite well. It uses TRS-DOS 1.3 and when I tried to log onto drive 1, I
got error messages although I could do a dir :1 with no problems. When I put
the disk in drive 0, I could do a directory, but again, couldn't run the
program. Anything not so obvious (at least to me) about running other
programs on the Model III? I also tried a game disk with Joust and a few
others, but again, the only result was an error message. Thanks.
There's a guy that has put up a site with the TRS m.1-4 manuals. The URL for
the Model 2 is http://www.asub.arknet.edu/wade/m2trsdos.htm but I've been
unable to find my way back to his home page. It gives me an unauthorized if I
just truncate the URL. A search on Deja in the comp.sys.tandy should find it.
IIRC it was in the last 2 months. He requests that you don't download during
the day as they are very large files in PDF format.
ciao larry
lwalker(a)interlog.com
Let us know of your upcoming computer events for our Events Page.
t3c(a)xoommail.com
Collectors List and info http://members.xoom.com/T3C
5:37 a.m.
New subject: Radio Shack Model III
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text
Size: 1741 bytes
Desc: not available
Url :
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19990712/468e1ef8/at…
5:25 p.m.
New subject: Radio Shack Model III
Tony Duell wrote:
That did it. I figured that anything ending with CMD was probably a program
but didn't realize that the system would "look" in other drives for the
command line file. I can do a directory on the game disks, but none of the
programs end in CMD so I don't know what is happening here. However, this
unit seems to be working just fine now. Thanks for the info!
I fired up a Radio Shack Model III that I got at
the bazaar, and it seems to
work quite well. It uses TRS-DOS 1.3 and when I tried to log onto drive 1, I
got error messages although I could do a dir :1 with no problems. When I put
TRS-DOS is not CP/M :-). You don't 'log on' to drives. TRS-DOS will
search all available drives for a file if you don't specify a drive number
13 Jul
13 Jul
6:04 a.m.
New subject: Radio Shack Model III
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text
Size: 852 bytes
Desc: not available
Url :
http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19990713/80369574/at…
12:14 p.m.
New subject: Radio Shack Model III
Tony Duell wrote:
These programs didn't have an extension, but the disk was labeled "Games."
I
don't know if teledisk can read Radio Shack disks but if so, I plan on
archiving them on CD-ROM.
That did it. I figured that anything ending with
CMD was probably a program
but didn't realize that the system would "look" in other drives for the
command line file. I can do a directory on the game disks, but none of the
programs end in CMD so I don't know what is happening here. However, this
What are the extensions? It's been a few years since I used TRS-DOS (I
10 Jul
10 Jul
3:38 p.m.
On Sat, 10 Jul 1999, Joe wrote:
At a local electronics surplus shop when Hans came by to visit a few weeks
back.
Hans and I have
about 50 tapes that we scored with the two Tek 31's we
scored a few weeks ago
TWO Tek 31s! That was a find! Where did you find those? That brings the
total of Tek 31s up to 4 AFIK. That would make a nice display at VCF. I wish I could go but I'm on the wrong side of the
country.
Cheap tickets are abound my friend:)
OK. do the tape drives still work in your's? I
found the belt (O-ring)
lying broken in mine. I shouldn't be hard to find a replacement. Do you
We were pressed for time and didn't get a chance to play with them at all.
Hopefully I'll find out more about them in a few weeks when I have some
free time.
have ANY docs for these?
Unfortunately, no. We're looking for some ourselves.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out.
Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0!
See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 05/25/99]
11 Jul
11 Jul
9:28 a.m.
New subject: Tektronix 31 was Re: New toy!!!
OK, all you guys with Tek 31s out there. What color are they supposed to
be? Mine is black but there is blue paint showing through the scratchs on
the case. The only pictures that I have of them are black and white so I
can't tell what color they're supposed to be.
The front panel where the Tektronix 31 name is supposed to be doesn't
look like it was repainted but there's no logo on mine. Instead there is a
red and white medalion that says "Survey 31/300" and "ESCO". The
medalion
appears to be smaller than the original Tek logo so I don't think it's
covering up the logo.
Do any of you have overlays for the LH keyboard? I have two, one is
plastic and was made by ESCO. The other is aluminium and was made by
Tektronix and says that it's a User Definable Overlay but someone (ESCO?)
has painted titles into all the blocks. Both overlays are marked up for
survey work.
Joe
At 08:38 PM 7/10/99 -0700, you wrote:
On Sat, 10 Jul 1999, Joe wrote:
At a local electronics surplus shop when Hans came by to visit a few weeks
back.
dastar(a)siconic.com
Hans and I
have about 50 tapes that we scored with the two Tek 31's we
scored a few weeks ago
TWO Tek 31s! That was a find! Where did you find those? That brings the
total of Tek 31s up to 4 AFIK. That would make a nice display at VCF. I wish I could go but I'm on the wrong side of
the country.
Cheap tickets are abound my friend:)
OK. do the tape drives still work in
your's? I found the belt (O-ring)
lying broken in mine. I shouldn't be hard to find a replacement. Do you
We were pressed for time and didn't get a chance to play with them at all.
Hopefully I'll find out more about them in a few weeks when I have some
free time.
have ANY docs for these?
Unfortunately, no. We're looking for some ourselves.
Sellam Alternate e-mail:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie
to come out.
Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0!
See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 05/25/99]
12 Jul
12 Jul
2:14 p.m.
New subject: Tektronix 31 was Re: New toy!!!
On Sun, 11 Jul 1999, Joe wrote:
OK, all you guys with Tek 31s out there. What color
are they supposed to
be? Mine is black but there is blue paint showing through the scratchs on
the case. The only pictures that I have of them are black and white so I
can't tell what color they're supposed to be.
The ones Hans and I got are a deep blue. No paint. Its the original
surface.
The front panel where the Tektronix 31 name is
supposed to be doesn't
look like it was repainted but there's no logo on mine. Instead there is a
red and white medalion that says "Survey 31/300" and "ESCO". The
medalion
appears to be smaller than the original Tek logo so I don't think it's
covering up the logo.
I don't remember that much detail.
Do any of you have overlays for the LH keyboard? I
have two, one is
plastic and was made by ESCO. The other is aluminium and was made by
Tektronix and says that it's a User Definable Overlay but someone (ESCO?)
has painted titles into all the blocks. Both overlays are marked up for
survey work.
One of ours has an overlay but I can'r remember if it is plastic or not.
It does have spots for custom buttons I believe.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out.
Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0!
See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 05/25/99]
2:36 p.m.
New subject: Tektronix 31 was Re: New toy!!!
Upon the date 07:14 PM 7/12/99 -0700, Sellam Ismail said something like:
Perhaps Tek provided the front panel without the Tek logo silkscreened on.
Either they or ESCO slapped the ESCO medalion onto the panel.
Hmmm, I don't think mine has an overlay but I can check. It's buried behind
a LOT of stuff I had to hurredly cram into the house when our old house
suddenly sold in mid-May. (Thank God I've _finally_ just got everything
out of that place. What a job _that_ was!)
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
Check our redesigned website!
URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/
On Sun, 11 Jul 1999, Joe wrote:
The one on Mr. Bensene's site and mine are the same: Tektronix Blue. Indeed
this is the color which yours and Hans' would be Sellam. Apparently, ESCO
had Tek paint their OEM versions black (or did it themselves.) as noted on
Joe's ESCO unit.
OK, all you guys with Tek 31s out there. What
color are they supposed to
be? Mine is black but there is blue paint showing through the scratchs on
the case. The only pictures that I have of them are black and white so I
can't tell what color they're supposed to be.
The ones Hans and I got are a deep blue. No paint. Its the original
surface. The front panel where the Tektronix 31 name is
supposed to be doesn't
look like it was repainted but there's no logo on mine. Instead there is a
red and white medalion that says "Survey 31/300" and "ESCO". The
medalion
appears to be smaller than the original Tek logo so I don't think it's
covering up the logo.
I don't remember that much detail. Do any of you have overlays for the LH
keyboard? I have two, one is
plastic and was made by ESCO. The other is aluminium and was made by
Tektronix and says that it's a User Definable Overlay but someone (ESCO?)
has painted titles into all the blocks. Both overlays are marked up for
survey work.
One of ours has an overlay but I can'r remember if it is plastic or not.
It does have spots for custom buttons I believe. 
14 Jul
14 Jul
6:33 a.m.
New subject: Tektronix 31 was Re: New toy!!!
OK, all you guys with Tek 31s out there. What color
are they supposed to
be? Mine is black but there is blue paint showing through the scratchs on
the case. The only pictures that I have of them are black and white so I
can't tell what color they're supposed to be.
9074
days inactive
9079
days old
18 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
cfandt＠netsync.net -
dastar＠ncal.verio.com -
Hans.Franke＠mch20.sbs.de -
lwalker＠mail.interlog.com -
marvin＠rain.org -
rigdonj＠intellistar.net