DEC Legacy 2015 Pictures

[Dave G4UGM]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rod
> Smallwood
> Sent: 14 April 2015 12:55
> To: General at classiccmp.org; Discussion at classiccmp.org:On-Topic and Off-
> Topic Posts
> Subject: Re: DEC Legacy 2015 Pictures
> 
> Hi yes all good points.
> 
> It wasn't DEC who considered places remote it was their customers.
> I have no axe to grind I'm a born and bred Liverpool Scouser and would
> defend the Northwest if needed.
> 
> DEC did have a large office in Manchester and think an offshoot in Leeds.

In later times the Manchester Office was closed and work moved to Birchwood Science Park, Warrington.
The Birmingham office was also closed and space rented in a Regus building "as needed"

> 
> The question was simple " Where do I put a show to get the maximum of
> attendees?"
> You already know the answer. It cost DEC a few grand to find that one out.

Perhaps we don't want the maximum number of attendees.  Putting on a large show needs a large outlay, 
(I know I help put on the Northern Amateur Radio Societies show at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, www.narsa.org.uk)
We keep around £8,000 just in case we have a complete flop...

> 
> Bletchley Park. A shame. A house divided against itself or an agressive take
> over. Is the war over yet?

I think the Bletchley trust see it as their ball and no one else can come and play so many of the interesting attractions have been forcibly evicted including:-

The Churchill Papers 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2288931/Churchill-exhibition-Bletchley-Park-scrapped-museum-bosses-claim-wartime-prime-minister-synonymous-code-breakers-work.html


Milton Keynes Model Railway Society
http://www.mkmrs.org.uk/about-us/press-release/


Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society
http://forum.mkars.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1494

The Projected Picture Trust still has it has a site at Bletchley 
http://www.ppttrust.org/locations/bletchley-park/events-and-news

but I can't see any info about it here :-

https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/content/visit/alsotosee.rhtm

which just mentions the National Radio Exhibition and The National Museum of Computing.

> 
>   Of course there is another way to look at it. Make it difficult to get to and
> only  the really keen ones will go.
> Not only a retrospective show but introspective one as well.
> 
> Was there anybody there who actually worked for DEC or am I the last of the
> many?

I worked for DEC for the last few weeks of its existence. 

> 
> That said.. If there is another one (show that is) and I'm fit to travel I may well
> come up.
> 
> Rod
> 
> On 14/04/2015 11:08, Dave G4UGM wrote:
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rod
> >> Smallwood
> >> Sent: 14 April 2015 10:31
> >> To: General at classiccmp.org; Discussion at classiccmp.org:On-Topic and
> >> Off- Topic Posts
> >> Subject: Re: DEC Legacy 2015 Pictures
> >>
> >> Hi Mark
> >>                I think we would all like to live near the Lake
> >> District and an excuse to visit is always welcome.
> >> Venue is easy. Slap in the middle = Birmingham.
> >>
> >> Years ago DEC bought in market surveys as to the best place for shows.
> >> All had the same answer. Birmingham
> >> London was too expensive and everywhere else remote or poor access.
> > Ah typical, Manchester "Remote".... Has he tried getting into central
> > Birmingham recently, with all the road works. Its quicker by Canal
> > Boat:-(
> >
> > Its also getting expensive to find venues in Birmingham, as it is about as
> central as you can get in the UK. Decent accommodation (it was a two day
> event) can also be challenging.
> >
> >> What is the point of me having 20+ working DEC systems if I can't
> >> show them unless I become a long distance lorry driver?
> >>
> > Organize your own event! I wonder if the TNMOC of computing would let
> us run an event there? But of course they don't have much space either and
> they are, I believe still not really on speaking terms with Bletchley...
> >
> >> Good luck for next year.
> >> At least I can look at the pictures
> >>
> >> Rod
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 14/04/2015 10:01, Mark Wickens wrote:
> >>> Rod
> >>>
> >>> Where would you consider accessible in terms of major cities? This
> >>> question comes up every year and I'm open to suggestions, but it
> >>> would probably end up with me having a three hour drive instead. The
> >>> problem I'll have is the 'unknowns' of a new venue - we still have a
> >>> few of them here every year even though the event has run several
> >>> times now and it's a lot easier to get things sorted close to home.
> >>>
> >>> This year I've have folks come from South West England, Wales, Kent
> >>> and even Holland - and that included a substantial amount of kit. As
> >>> far as I know it's all survived (apart from a VT320 - but that died
> >>> before it left the building).
> >>>
> >>> Having said that I appreciate there is a not insubstantial expense
> >>> in travel and accommodation that would be mitigated if the event
> >>> were within a reasonable distance.
> >>>
> >>> Regards, Mark
> >>>
> >>> On 14/04/15 09:11, Rod Smallwood wrote:
> >>>> It a pity its not somewhere more accessible.
> >>>> I have plenty of DEC systems that run.
> >>>> However a four hour drive would not do them or me any good.
> >>>>
> >>>> Rod Smallwood
> >>>> Digital Equipment Corporation (1973-1985)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> On 14/04/2015 06:22, kirkbdavis at hush.com wrote:
> >>>>> Man that 11/70 sure would look nice on my coffee table..
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On April 13, 2015 at 10:20 PM, "Mark Wickens" <msw at hecnet.eu>
> >> wrote:
> >>>>>> I've uploaded some photos from the 2015 DEC Legacy event:
> >>>>>> http://wickensonline.co.uk/declegacy/image
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Had a great time - already looking forward to the next one. Many
> >>>>>> thanks to the presenters (local and remote) and everyone who
> >>>>>> attended.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Regards, Mark.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> p.s. yes, I will try and get a better gallery tool embedded into
> >>>>>> the DEC Legacy site. The drupal one I'm currently using sucks.
> >