Wow - all this Pocket Computer activity.
One thing I encountered when replacing the Ni-Cd batteries in the
cassette/printer for my PC-2, was the printer requires these batteries
to be present even if the unit is operated on mains power. It uses the
batteries as a current sink, the mains unit can't provide peak requirements.
Reminds me to get my PC-2 and printer out for its yearly run-up. I
always marvel at the small-print these things are capable of.
Philip
On 9/08/2018 7:41 AM, Jim Toth wrote:
My PC-2 and CGP-115 do deserve medical grade printer pens. Nothing
but the best.
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Brian White <mailto:bw.al...@gmail.com>
*To:* m...@bitchin100.com <mailto:m...@bitchin100.com>
*Sent:* Wednesday, August 08, 2018 12:57 PM
*Subject:* Re: [M100] TRS-80/Tandy Pocket Computer
You can get new pens, as in actually new, not new old stock, from
a german medical supplies company, and you can get new motor
pinion gears by 3d printing believe it or not. I have also found
the gear in brass, from a r/c helicopter company, but those appear
to be no longer manufactured, just existing stock.
The pens and gears are the same as for the CGP-115 and a bunch of
other plotters that all used the same engine. The paper size is
different though.
http://tandy.wiki/CGP-115
On Tue, Aug 7, 2018 at 10:08 PM Jim Toth <jt...@localnet.com
<mailto:jt...@localnet.com>> wrote:
You can still purchase PC-2 printer pens? Excellent. Where?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Lauzon" <rlau...@gmail.com <mailto:rlau...@gmail.com>>
To: <m...@bitchin100.com <mailto:m...@bitchin100.com>>
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2018 9:46 PM
Subject: Re: [M100] TRS-80/Tandy Pocket Computer
My PC-4 was my constant companion through college and into my
first
job. I picked up a PC-2 at the Tandy Corporate auction and
got bit by
the pocket computer bug.
What I've put together is this:
+ PC-1 - usually had bad screens over time.
+ PC-2 - frequently people left the AA batteries in them when they
stopped using them. The batteries leaked. So always check the
battery compartment before buying one. Leaky batteries can
cause a
great deal of damage.
The printer/cassette interface is where the flaws are. The
printer
gears tended to wear out. Also the rechargeable battery packs are
shot by now and are leaking.
There are some people who refurbish the printers (new
batteries and
new gears), but they will be more expensive. Surprisingly,
you can
still purchase the pens.
+ PC-3 - Not much that I know of. I only have 1 in my
collection and
it has no problems. The printer even works.
+ PC-4 - No problems with the pocket computer itself that I
know of.
The printer batteries are shot by now. Usually they don't
leak, but
the batteries are not meant to be replaced. But with some
work, the
printers can be made to work with an AC-adapter.
On Tue, Aug 7, 2018 at 8:01 PM megarat <mega...@yahoo.com
<mailto:mega...@yahoo.com>> wrote:
>
> Hey folks, a recent thread here highlighted my interest in
the old
> TRS-80/Tandy Pocket Computers (rebadged from existing Casio
and Sharp
> models). I always had a fascination with these things as a
kid, and I was
> lucky enough to own one of them for a while (a PC-5), so I'm
entertaining
> the possibility of hunting some of them down.
>
> I'm concerned, however, with how well these models age.
Specifically the
> electrolytics (and how easy are they to replace?), the LCD
display (do
> they have a tendency to fade/bleed?), and the keypad (do
those little
> chicklet keyboards still hold up years later?).
>
> Are there any PC collectors on this list that can offer me some
> advice/guidance? Thanks.
>
> /CAM
--
Ron Lauzon - rlauzon at acm dot org
Homepage: http://webpages.charter.net/rlauzon/
Weblog: http://ronsapartment.blogspot.com/
TRS-80 Pocket Computer 2 - TRS-80 Pocket Computer 4 - TRS-80
Model 100/102
Some people like to work on old cars. But old computers are
cheaper
and don't require a big garage.
--
bkw
