13 Jun
2019
13 Jun
'19
3:33 p.m.
When I worked for Burroughs/Unisys, I was one of the last people working
on software for B1000. I think I was the sole user of the B1965 at their
Lake Forest (Orange County) California office in '88-89. I was
surrounded in my cubicle by all of the disk packs for that system. My
favorite systems while at Burroughs was the B1000s.
One of those type of disk packs is up on eBay right now and I am trying
to decide whether to buy it. It is $60 plus another $40 for shipping. Is
that too much? I almost never see Burroughs stuff, so, if I want
Burroughs stuff, I should just get it, right?
alan
13 Jun
13 Jun
11:50 p.m.
So, I ended up getting it. Anyone got a running system that can try to read the data off
of it?
On Jun 13, 2019, at 12:33 PM, Alan Perry via cctalk
<cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
When I worked for Burroughs/Unisys, I was one of the last people working on software for
B1000. I think I was the sole user of the B1965 at their Lake Forest (Orange County)
California office in '88-89. I was surrounded in my cubicle by all of the disk packs
for that system. My favorite systems while at Burroughs was the B1000s.
One of those type of disk packs is up on eBay right now and I am trying to decide whether
to buy it. It is $60 plus another $40 for shipping. Is that too much? I almost never see
Burroughs stuff, so, if I want Burroughs stuff, I should just get it, right?
alan
14 Jun
14 Jun
6:36 a.m.
The Philadelphia area has more Burroughs hardware in the wild than most
places, you might just shake a few things free from ex employees living in
the area, if you're lucky.
Bill
On Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:50 PM Alan Perry via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
wrote:
So, I ended up getting it. Anyone got a running system
that can try to
read the data off of it?
On Jun 13, 2019, at 12:33 PM, Alan Perry via
cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
When I worked for Burroughs/Unisys, I was one of the last people working
on
software for B1000. I think I was the sole user of the B1965 at their
Lake Forest (Orange County) California office in '88-89. I was surrounded
in my cubicle by all of the disk packs for that system. My favorite systems
while at Burroughs was the B1000s.
One of those type of disk packs is up on eBay right now and I am trying
to decide
whether to buy it. It is $60 plus another $40 for shipping. Is
that too much? I almost never see Burroughs stuff, so, if I want Burroughs
stuff, I should just get it, right?
alan
11:50 a.m.
The large A Series work was done in Paoli, King of Prussia, Trediffryn and probably other
cities around Valley Forge that I don?t recall.
The B1000 work was done in Goleta (Santa Barbara), CA plus mfg in Liege, Belgium. I was
responsible for a central piece of system software (GEMCOS), so I knew where the customers
were based on bug reports (a large portion of the bugs were from the UK, Ford in Dagenham
and the CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) in Bristol).
At the most recent VCF PNW, someone who checked out my exhibit told me that there was a
B1000, probably in Surplus at University of Washington, but checking with them, they don?t
believe they have it.
alan
On Jun 14, 2019, at 3:36 AM, Bill Degnan
<billdegnan at gmail.com> wrote:
The Philadelphia area has more Burroughs hardware in the wild than most places, you might
just shake a few things free from ex employees living in the area, if you're lucky.
Bill
> On Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:50 PM Alan Perry via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
wrote:
> So, I ended up getting it. Anyone got a running system that can try to read the data
off of it?
>
> > On Jun 13, 2019, at 12:33 PM, Alan Perry via cctalk <cctalk at
classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >
> >
> > When I worked for Burroughs/Unisys, I was one of the last people working on
software for B1000. I think I was the sole user of the B1965 at their Lake Forest (Orange
County) California office in '88-89. I was surrounded in my cubicle by all of the disk
packs for that system. My favorite systems while at Burroughs was the B1000s.
> >
> > One of those type of disk packs is up on eBay right now and I am trying to
decide whether to buy it. It is $60 plus another $40 for shipping. Is that too much? I
almost never see Burroughs stuff, so, if I want Burroughs stuff, I should just get it,
right?
> >
> > alan
> >
>
12:25 p.m.
On 6/14/19 8:50 AM, Alan Perry via cctalk wrote:
The large A Series work was done in Paoli, King of
Prussia, Trediffryn and probably other cities around Valley Forge that I don?t recall.
The B1000 work was done in Goleta (Santa Barbara), CA plus mfg in Liege, Belgium. I was
responsible for a central piece of system software (GEMCOS), so I knew where the customers
were based on bug reports (a large portion of the bugs were from the UK, Ford in Dagenham
and the CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) in Bristol).
I have a LOT of stuff that I've collected for the 1700/1800/1900 on bitsavers
because of its unusual 'microcode per programming language' architecture.
CHM has a B1955
https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/?s=X2550.2003
I may still have some packs in storage.
At the most recent VCF PNW, someone who checked out my
exhibit told me that there was a B1000, probably in Surplus at University of Washington,
but checking with them, they don?t believe they have it.
I don't think a surplus person would know what a 'B1000' would be.
You probably would have to add the second digit
12:57 p.m.
On Jun 14, 2019, at 9:25 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk
<cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
That is why I like the B1000. I have been talking to other folks at CHM about seeing the
one there, but need to work on my rationale.
On 6/14/19 8:50 AM, Alan Perry via cctalk wrote:
The large A Series work was done in Paoli, King of Prussia, Trediffryn and probably other
cities around Valley Forge that I don?t recall.
The B1000 work was done in Goleta (Santa Barbara), CA plus mfg in Liege, Belgium. I was
responsible for a central piece of system software (GEMCOS), so I knew where the customers
were based on bug reports (a large portion of the bugs were from the UK, Ford in Dagenham
and the CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) in Bristol).
I have a LOT of stuff that I've collected for the 1700/1800/1900 on
bitsavers
because of its unusual 'microcode per programming language' architecture.
CHM has a B1955
https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/?s=X2550.2003
I may still have some packs in storage.
Do you have a way of reading them? I am interested in seeing if there is anything readable
on the one I just bought.
At the most recent VCF PNW, someone who checked
out my exhibit told me that there was a B1000, probably in Surplus at University of
Washington, but checking with them, they don?t believe they have it.
I don't think a surplus person would know what a 'B1000' would be.
You probably would have to add the second digit
1:14 p.m.
On 6/14/19 9:57 AM, Alan Perry wrote:
I have been talking to other folks at CHM about seeing the one there, but need to work on
my rationale.
There really isn't much to see that is in the picture. It's not like the system in
in one physical location
in storage. Everything is palletized and would have to be brought down from the pallet
racking.
I have no way to read the packs. I may still have a drive in my storage, if it hasn't
already been scrapped
as I've been downsizing over the past several years.
1:17 p.m.
On 6/14/19 10:14 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
On 6/14/19 9:57 AM, Alan Perry wrote:
I also still have some 19xx series boards since I had wanted to pull the proms to at least
attempt to save
enough information so someone could try simulating the machine in the future. On the list
of things to do
is try to save some 1700 2315-style 32 sector packs that I should be able to read if I can
ever get back
to working on digitizing non 12 sector packs.
I have been talking to other folks at CHM about seeing the one there, but need to work on
my rationale.
There really isn't much to see that is in the picture. It's not like the system
in in one physical location
in storage. Everything is palletized and would have to be brought down from the pallet
racking.
I have no way to read the packs. I may still have a drive in my storage, if it hasn't
already been scrapped
as I've been downsizing over the past several years.
1:19 p.m.
On 6/14/19 10:17 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
On 6/14/19 10:14 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
and read several dozen cold-start and diag cassettes
On 6/14/19 9:57 AM, Alan Perry wrote:
I also still have some 19xx series boards since I had wanted to pull the proms to at
least attempt to save
enough information so someone could try simulating the machine in the future. On the list
of things to do
is try to save some 1700 2315-style 32 sector packs that I should be able to read if I
can ever get back
to working on digitizing non 12 sector packs.
I have been talking to other folks at CHM about seeing the one there, but need to work on
my rationale.
There really isn't much to see that is in the picture. It's not like the system
in in one physical location
in storage. Everything is palletized and would have to be brought down from the pallet
racking.
I have no way to read the packs. I may still have a drive in my storage, if it hasn't
already been scrapped
as I've been downsizing over the past several years.
8:27 p.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Kossow via cctalk" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2019 1:19 PM
Subject: Re: Value of Burroughs B9974 disk pack
On 6/14/19 10:17 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
-----------------
Have you got a suitable drive? I've been meaning to read several dozen series
'L' tapes one of these days.
BTW, a B90 8" drive on eBay, item #
122904436385
m
On 6/14/19 10:14 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:
and read several dozen cold-start and diag cassettes
On 6/14/19 9:57 AM, Alan Perry wrote:
I also still have some 19xx series boards since I had wanted to pull the proms to at
least attempt to save
enough information so someone could try simulating the machine in the future. On the list
of things to do
is try to save some 1700 2315-style 32 sector packs that I should be able to read if I
can ever get back
to working on digitizing non 12 sector packs.
I have been talking to other folks at CHM about seeing the one there, but need to work on
my rationale.
There really isn't much to see that is in the picture. It's not like the system
in in one physical location
in storage. Everything is palletized and would have to be brought down from the pallet
racking.
I have no way to read the packs. I may still have a drive in my storage, if it hasn't
already been scrapped
as I've been downsizing over the past several years.
1:37 p.m.
On Jun 14, 2019, at 10:14 AM, Al Kossow via cctalk
<cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
Yeah, but it is like getting the disk pack, a chance to see and touch something that I
haven?t seen in decades that was once a big part of my life.
alan
On 6/14/19 9:57 AM, Alan Perry wrote:
I have been talking to other folks at CHM about seeing the one there, but need to work on
my rationale.
There really isn't much to see that is in the picture. It's not like the system
in in one physical location
in storage. Everything is palletized and would have to be brought down from the pallet
racking.
I have no way to read the packs. I may still have a drive in my storage, if it hasn't
already been scrapped
as I've been downsizing over the past several years.
1864
days inactive
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days old
10 comments
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