Re: HP 7970B Capstan?

[David Collins via cctalk]

From my old HP CE days you could always get black off the capstan if you used 
alcohol or similar (never recommended). The key thing is it shouldn't be 
sticky/gooey. 

The official cleaning solution when they were in active use was water and a low 
lint cloth. 

David Collins

(Sent from out of office)

> On 6 Sep 2017, at 3:18 pm, CuriousMarc via cctalk  
> wrote:
> 
> All my capstans are feel rather hard (I think because the rubber is pretty 
> thin), and do not feel sticky either. The finish is matte. But they are not 
> powdery at all, they would not leave any residue rubbing your finger on them, 
> so something looks odd with yours. When the tape is threaded but the power is 
> off, they grab the tape well enough that turning the bottom reel by hand will 
> move the capstan easily, without any slippage. 
> Marc
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Guzis 
> via cctalk
> Sent: Monday, September 04, 2017 9:17 PM
> To: CCtalk
> Subject: HP 7970B Capstan?
> 
> I've got an HP 7970 tape drive here that's a little dicey on its reading 
> (haven't tried writing yet).  One thing that I noticed today was that the 
> surface of the capstan is a bit powdery--wipe it with an alcohol swab and you 
> get a lot of black schmutz.
> 
> It wasn't very soft and it occurred to me that it might be slipping, so I 
> cleaned it off and treated it with some methyl salicylate (oil of 
> wintergreen).  It's a bit softer now, but I'm wondering, for those of you who 
> still have functioning drives, how soft or "sticky/grippy" is right.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Thanks,
> Chuck
> 
> 
> 

RE: HP 7970B Capstan?

[CuriousMarc via cctalk]

All my capstans are feel rather hard (I think because the rubber is pretty 
thin), and do not feel sticky either. The finish is matte. But they are not 
powdery at all, they would not leave any residue rubbing your finger on them, 
so something looks odd with yours. When the tape is threaded but the power is 
off, they grab the tape well enough that turning the bottom reel by hand will 
move the capstan easily, without any slippage. 
Marc

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Guzis 
via cctalk
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2017 9:17 PM
To: CCtalk
Subject: HP 7970B Capstan?

I've got an HP 7970 tape drive here that's a little dicey on its reading 
(haven't tried writing yet).  One thing that I noticed today was that the 
surface of the capstan is a bit powdery--wipe it with an alcohol swab and you 
get a lot of black schmutz.

It wasn't very soft and it occurred to me that it might be slipping, so I 
cleaned it off and treated it with some methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen). 
 It's a bit softer now, but I'm wondering, for those of you who still have 
functioning drives, how soft or "sticky/grippy" is right.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Chuck

Xerox Alto Chordset Pictures (was RE: VCF?)

[CuriousMarc via cctalk]

Steve,

Here you go, 13 pictures of the Chordset. That's about as orthoscopic as I 
could get them.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/owjnyvozp0t8wsg/AABlwP-q-S1pOM4a9_RVAsXVa?dl=0
Note that even the piano keys are not flat pieces, they are wedges that thicken 
towards the back. Way more engineering and industrial design that you'd ever 
think for a research device. Beautiful piece of hardware, deserves to be 3D 
modelled. Good luck!

Marc

-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Steve Malikoff 
via cctalk
Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2017 9:16 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: VCF?


Marc said
> Problem is, it's not like this simple drawing at all, it's much more 
> complicated. Every surface is slanted, edges are rounded, edges are 
> beveled... Quite a refined industrial design actually.
> Marc
>
> On Aug 13, 2017, at 11:26 PM, ste...@malikoff.com wrote:
>
> Marc said earlier:
>> The overall Chordset dimensions are 5 3/4 for width and 6" for depth. Keys 
>> are spaced like regular piano keys, whatever that is. That should help you 
>> dimension the drawing you have. We found very few programs that would use it.
>> Marc

Marc
I'd be happy with a few top, side, front, back, bottom photos taken flat-on, 
and a 3/4-front and 3/4-rear photo. If there is a round flat object of a known 
size (eg. a coin) placed against each surface before taking the picture, then I 
can apply some basic photogrammetry techniques and/or affine transformations to 
get enough information. I usually do this to extract and generate 
plan/elevation/front views and marking details of WW2 vehicles from photos, 
have also done for a
360/40 CPU and operators table display (drawings are done but need dimensioning 
- need someone to confirm measurements someday).
So, basically some photos would be fine, if that's ok. No hurry - it's just an 
idle thought project I've had for a while, I have (too) many other things to 
work on :)

Steve.

Re: Odd Ebay auction showed up today...

[Sam O'nella via cctalk]

Since it wasn't said already, i think (if its the same user) they've posted 
similar auctions several times in the past also (over several years). You can 
see some of us discuss it in vcfed.org forums.
No affiliation or bad blood myself. I know i bought my working Columbia Data 
Products luggable from them years back. But i know they have premium/eBay 
prices generally.
We also occasionally see the reminder that the user is a member of the 
community and on some forums so despite opinion its a bit ashame to see bad 
mouthing of any collector. Albeit actual sales, and comments from first hand 
deals are certainly legitimate information.
null

Re: Odd Ebay auction showed up today...

[dwight via cctalk]

Hi Eric

 It is vintage-computer-store

Dwight



From: cctalk  on behalf of Eric Christopherson 
via cctalk 
Sent: Tuesday, September 5, 2017 8:58:16 AM
To: Robert; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Odd Ebay auction showed up today...

On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 1:47 PM, Robert via cctalk 
wrote:

> On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 12:07 PM, william degnan via cctalk
>  wrote:
> > I noticed that he had not been selling as much lately, I guess he ran out
> > of the good stuff and needs to close out the business, or raise new
> funds.
> > His normal list of Altairs and such appear to have all been sold.
>
> As best we can tell, he's moved all the good stuff to a new account,
> vintagecomputerstore, operating out of a location that's nearby but
> not the same. This must be the stuff that wasn't worth hauling to the
> new warehouse.


FWIW, vintagecomputerstore doesn't seem to exist on eBay.

--
Eric Christopherson

Re: HP 7970B Capstan?

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

On 09/05/2017 10:55 AM, Jon Elson wrote:

> Some spring-arm drives had really bad problems with tape slipping. I
> know some Pertecs had circular grooves in the capstan to prevent an air
> bearing effect.  On one of our spring-arm drives, I cut thumbs out of
> latex gloves and stretched them over the capstan. This TOTALLY removed
> the slipping problem until the latex wore out.

The 7970 capstan has those same grooves.   I may resort to the latex
trick if OoWG doesn't make it grippy enough.

--Chuck

Re: HP 7970B Capstan?

[Jon Elson via cctalk]

On 09/04/2017 11:16 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote:

I've got an HP 7970 tape drive here that's a little dicey on its reading
(haven't tried writing yet).  One thing that I noticed today was that
the surface of the capstan is a bit powdery--wipe it with an alcohol
swab and you get a lot of black schmutz.

It wasn't very soft and it occurred to me that it might be slipping, so
I cleaned it off and treated it with some methyl salicylate (oil of
wintergreen).  It's a bit softer now, but I'm wondering, for those of
you who still have functioning drives, how soft or "sticky/grippy" is right.


Some spring-arm drives had really bad problems with tape 
slipping. I know some Pertecs had circular grooves in the 
capstan to prevent an air bearing effect.  On one of our 
spring-arm drives, I cut thumbs out of latex gloves and 
stretched them over the capstan. This TOTALLY removed the 
slipping problem until the latex wore out.


Jon

Re: Odd Ebay auction showed up today...

[Eric Christopherson via cctalk]

On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 1:47 PM, Robert via cctalk 
wrote:

> On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 12:07 PM, william degnan via cctalk
>  wrote:
> > I noticed that he had not been selling as much lately, I guess he ran out
> > of the good stuff and needs to close out the business, or raise new
> funds.
> > His normal list of Altairs and such appear to have all been sold.
>
> As best we can tell, he's moved all the good stuff to a new account,
> vintagecomputerstore, operating out of a location that's nearby but
> not the same. This must be the stuff that wasn't worth hauling to the
> new warehouse.


FWIW, vintagecomputerstore doesn't seem to exist on eBay.

-- 
Eric Christopherson

Re: Various Software and Documentation for shipping + donations (round 9)

[Tapley, Mark via cctalk]

Todd,
you get them! I will box and ship as soon as possible, and let you know 
what the price is. Do you have a preferred shipping service?
- Mark
210-522-6025 office 
210-379-4635cell



On Sep 5, 2017, at 5:40 AM, Todd Goodman via cctalk  
wrote:

> Hi Mark,
> 
> I'd like these if not already claimed.
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> Todd
> 
> 
> On 09/04/2017 04:34 PM, Tapley, Mark via cctalk wrote:
>> All,
>>  Windows Utilities and drivers:
>> 
>>  Not cataloged, a box of ~200 assorted 3.5” floppies, most marked “HD” 
>> but some not. All have labels describing Windows utilities, drivers, etc. 
>> 
>>  Yours for cost of shipping, or if you know you are looking for 
>> something (sure hope not :-) ) I will search for the specific thing you are 
>> after. No telling what is in the box.
>> 
>>  I’ll wait about a week, then probably toss the lot. 3.5” floppies are 
>> not that rare yet (I think?)
>>  - Mark
>> 
> 

Re: Various Software and Documentation for shipping + donations (round 9)

[Todd Goodman via cctalk]

Hi Mark,

I'd like these if not already claimed.

Thank you!

Todd


On 09/04/2017 04:34 PM, Tapley, Mark via cctalk wrote:
> All,
>   Windows Utilities and drivers:
>
>   Not cataloged, a box of ~200 assorted 3.5” floppies, most marked “HD” 
> but some not. All have labels describing Windows utilities, drivers, etc. 
>
>   Yours for cost of shipping, or if you know you are looking for 
> something (sure hope not :-) ) I will search for the specific thing you are 
> after. No telling what is in the box.
>
>   I’ll wait about a week, then probably toss the lot. 3.5” floppies are 
> not that rare yet (I think?)
>   - Mark
>

Re: Update: Rehoming Apple ][+ , BBC B+?? & A410/1 with math co-processor - Liverpool UK

[John Many Jars via cctalk]

My new partner, instead of being actively hostile ("I will rectally insert
the next computer you give him, in you!") is merely bemused.  I'm not sure
I want to put that bemusement to the test of 14 crates though. (:

On 2 September 2017 at 23:39, Rob Jarratt via cctalk 
wrote:

> I don't have any of those machines, but the person says he has *14*
> crates, I simply don't have room. If others were willing to collect
> soon-ish, I *might* be able to temporarily host them, as long as I could
> pick something to keep myself.
>
> Regards
>
> Rob
>
> > -Original Message-
> > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Adrian
> > Graham via cctalk
> > Sent: 02 September 2017 20:55
> > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <
> cctalk@classiccmp.org>
> > Subject: Re: Update: Rehoming Apple ][+ , BBC B+?? & A410/1 with math co-
> > processor - Liverpool UK
> >
> >
> > > On 2 Sep 2017, at 20:21, Dave Wade via cctalk 
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Folks
> > > I got this today via my Vintage Computing Meetup groups. If there is
> > > any interest please contact Nick direct Dave
> >
> > Typically I was supposed to be near Liverpool tonight but the customer
> > cancelled the job, grr.
> >
> > Not that I NEED another ][+ and Beeb+ but, you know….
> >
> > A
> >
> >
> > > -Original Message-
> > > From: Nik Kelly [mailto:nik.ke...@blueyonder.co.uk]
> > > Sent: 02 September 2017 17:33
> > > To: Dave Wade 
> > > Subject: Re: Update: Rehoming Apple ][+ , BBC B+?? & A410/1 with math
> > > co-processor
> > >
> > > Where-ever, Dave !
> > >
> > > Nik
> > >
> > > On 02/09/2017 13:44, Dave Wade wrote:
> > >> Nik,
> > >>  Do you mind if I publish elsewhere? CCTALK mail list? Vintage
> Computing
> > forums?
> > >> Dave
> > >>
> > >>> -Original Message-
> > >>> From: Nik Kelly [mailto:nik.ke...@blueyonder.co.uk]
> > >>> Sent: 02 September 2017 13:16
> > >>> To: dave.g4...@gmail.com; off...@madlab.org.uk
> > >>> Subject: Update: Rehoming Apple ][+ , BBC B+?? & A410/1 with math
> > >>> co- processor
> > >>>
> > >>> Hi !
> > >>>
> > >>> I've now collated those boxes & crates.
> > >>> Approx 5' x 4' x 18" ~~ 30 cu feet ~~ one cubic metre.
> > >>>
> > >>> All free to good home ASAP...
> > >>> I cannot deliver, taker(s) must collect.
> > >>> Would you pass the word around your members ??
> > >>> Nik
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>  Forwarded Message 
> > >>> Subject: Rehoming Apple ][+ , BBC B+?? & A410/1 with math
> > >>> co-processor
> > >>> Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2017 12:02:55 +0100
> > >>> From: Nik Kelly 
> > >>> To: dave.g4...@gmail.com
> > >>>
> > >>> Hi, Dave !
> > >>>
> > >>> Due to forthcoming down-size, I must re-home my three vintage
> > computers.
> > >>>
> > >>> Apple ][+ 48k, floppy drive and accessories from 1979, NOT PRODOS.
> > >>> BBC B+ {+ 64/128 ??} & 5.25" floppy drives, Acorn A410/1 with math
> > >>> co- processor, hard drive & floppy interface.
> > >>>
> > >>> They're in original crates, with sundry manuals, reference books etc.
> > >>> Also *multiple* crates of my disks and tapes etc. Very few games.
> > >>>
> > >>> ** Due care required for old capacitors etc. ** The Apple ][+ and
> > >>> BBC have been packed away, not run since ~1990, the
> > >>> A410/1 since I switched to PCs in ~2001.
> > >>>
> > >>> I used to write for MicroDigital's 'Liverpool Software Gazette'.
> > >>> Remember 'Stargate-- A 3D Planetarium' ? The ApplePips column ??
> > >>>
> > >>> Anyhow, I'm still based in Liverpool. I'd hoped to do some
> > >>> retro-computing but that's now become impracticable.
> > >>>
> > >>> The three have minimal commercial value, so are FREE to good home.
> > >>>
> > >>> There's no rush, their crates are buried in box-room; I'll have to
> > >>> clear access, collate accessories, check other rooms for strays.
> > >>>
> > >>> Would you pass the word around your members ??
> > >>> I cannot deliver, taker(s) must collect.
> > >>>
> > >>> Thank you.
> > >>> Nik
> > >>>
> > >>> ps: Some of my short stories and fun cat piccies may be found at...
> > >>> https://the-nik-files.deviantart.com/
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
>
>


-- 
Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems:  "The Future Begins Tomorrow"
Visit us at: http://www.yoyodyne-propulsion.net


"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign,
that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." -- Jonathan Swift

Re: HP Draftmaster I, Power Supply repair

[Holm Tiffe via cctalk]

Peter Coghlan via cctalk wrote:

> >
> > I think that I'm responsible for the dead, as the plotter stood in an attic 
> > for 20 years, meanwhile power was raised from 220 to 230v (+-10%) in Europe.
> >
> 
> The distribution voltage had previously been specified as 220V in some 
> European
> countries and 240V in others but the specification was then changed to 230V
> in all the countries involved, with a wider tolerance applied.  This allows
> new equipment to be designed to a common standard which will work in any of
> the countries.  As far as I understand it, there has been no deliberate change
> in the actual distribution voltage in any individual European country and the
> power companies continue to do what they did before the 230V standard came in.
> 
> Regards,
> Peter Coghlan.


..sorry, no.
I live in Germany and the line Voltage has rised after that specification
change from 220V to 230. In fact I see sometimes line voltages up to
250V. (I have an Aluminum Casting company in the neightborhood, maybe
that's one of the causes for this)

Since I do own many old devices from the 220V era, Ive think about
the use of an big 3 phase 24V transformer (3phase power here)
that's laying around here to step down that line voltage back in
to the 220V range. That should'nt harm any new equipment, but save
some liftime from the old stuff.

Regards,

Holm
-- 
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