Re: Motor generator

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

Very large machines, certainly.  There were "site preparation" documents
that detail this.

I can quote from the 1975 edition of the STAR-100 hardware manual on
bitsavers (PDF page 25):

"Power for the basic computer consists of one 250 kva, 400 Hz motor
generator set.  The motor-generator set has the capability of providing
power for the CPU, MCS, I/O and the MCU. The optional memory requires
the addition of an 80 kva motor-generator set."

Granted, the STAR was a monster of a machine, but similar setups were
used for CDC 6000, 7000 and Cyber 70, 170 machines and others.   That
doesn't include the refrigeration necessary for the chilled water
supply.  I/O devices such as card readers and tape drives often used a
"split" supply with the 400Hz supplying the electronics and normal 50/60
Hz AC supplying power for motors, etc.

Small S/360 systems were operated from standard AC distribution.  I
don't know where the breakover was for IBM S/360; probably not for the
model 30, 40, or 75.   The 195, I suspect did use an MG set.

The 7090 certainly used MG sets.  From the "Power Supply and
Distribution Manual"
(http://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/7090/ce/7090%20Power%20Supply%20Control%20and%20Distribution%20223-6904.pdf,
page 5):

"The IBM 7608, a power converter or motor-generator set which converts
incoming 60-cycle three-phase (3Ø), 208v power to regulated 400-cycle 3Ø
208v power."

--Chuck

Re: Motor generator

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

One additional benefit was that an MG enables one to "coast" a bit
through transient power glitches.  That is, you'd see the lights
flicker, but the machine stays up.

Power failures in the bad old days could be very expensive.  Old
computers did not like being stopped suddenly and then restarted.  On
the CDC mainframes, you could be down for much of a shift.

--Chuck

Re: Motor generator

[Bill Gunshannon via cctalk]

On 5/4/21 7:54 PM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:




On May 4, 2021, at 7:06 PM, Donald via cctalk  wrote:

In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
machines using a motor generator.

If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
frequency or voltage?


I didn't know about S/360 systems.  Is that true for all of them?  I once 
worked on a 360 model 44 and I don't remember any motor-generators with that 
one.

A well known machine from that era that uses MG sets is the CDC 6000 series 
mainframes -- for power supplies, but not for motors.




And the Univac 1100...

bill

Re: Motor generator

[Jon Elson via cctalk]

On 05/04/2021 06:06 PM, Donald via cctalk wrote:

In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
machines using a motor generator.

  


If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
frequency or voltage?


Nope.  I know the 360/50 and 360/65 used a 
"converter-inverter" that converted 208 3-phase
to about 280 V DC, then inverted it with a 4-SCR inverter 
feeding a resonant transformer to
create 120 V 2.5 KHz regulated single-phase sine wave 
power.  All the critical loads in the CPU ran off this 
power.  Notably, the I/O power sequencer and console lamps 
power supply did not run off this power.  The 
converter-inverter made an absolutely HORRIBLE whine that 
could be heard 20+ feet from the back of the CPU even in a 
very noisy machine room.


The only "360" machine I know of that used 415 Hz was the 
Model 195, although I can guess that
the 360/85 used 415 Hz also, as it was essentially the 
prototype of the 370/165.


The 370/145 used an internal motor/generator set in the back 
of the CPU cabinet to produce 120 V 415 Hz 3-phase power.  
Larger 370's generally were provided with UPS's instead of 
M/G sets to create the 415 Hz power.


Also, the 709X series ran off 400 Hz from a motor/generator set.

The 360/50 and /65, at least, were pretty sensitive to noise 
and short dropouts in the mains supply.
The 370's with the MG sets rode through pretty severe power 
dips with no effect at all, until the disk drives and tape 
drives went offline.


Jon

Re: Motor generator

[Paul Koning via cctalk]

> On May 4, 2021, at 7:53 PM, Carlos E Murillo-Sanchez via cctalk 
>  wrote:
> 
> Donald via cctalk wrote:
>> In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
>> machines using a motor generator.
>> 
>>  
>> If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
>> frequency or voltage?
> Those systems predate my experience by roughly 25-30 years.  But once you go 
> through the trouble of adding such a thing as a motor-generator, then you can 
> make the generator a poly-phase device (say, 12-phase) and get a much lower 
> ripple in a full-wave polyphase rectifier; you can also easily control the 
> output voltage by acting on the generator's rotor field current.  This sort 
> of equipment is used for industrial processes requiring DC at thousands of 
> amps; the polyphase setup makes it possible to leave out the output filter 
> capacitors.

Polyphase would be complex, adding more generator windings, wires, and power 
transformer windings.  The usual approach instead is to increase the frequency, 
which is easy to do.  400 Hz is a standard frequency for applications where 
transformer weight is a concern, so it's found in airplanes among other things.

paul

Re: Motor generator

[Paul Berger via cctalk]

On 2021-05-04 8:54 p.m., Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:



On May 4, 2021, at 7:06 PM, Donald via cctalk  wrote:

In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
machines using a motor generator.

If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
frequency or voltage?

I didn't know about S/360 systems.  Is that true for all of them?  I once 
worked on a 360 model 44 and I don't remember any motor-generators with that 
one.

A well known machine from that era that uses MG sets is the CDC 6000 series 
mainframes -- for power supplies, but not for motors.

paul

Nor did the 20, 22, 25 and 30s I saw, but they where all low end 
machines.  I did see one big 360 with several frames of core but I don't 
know if it had a MG or not.


Paul.

Re: Motor generator

[Paul Koning via cctalk]

> On May 4, 2021, at 7:06 PM, Donald via cctalk  wrote:
> 
> In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
> machines using a motor generator.
> 
> If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
> frequency or voltage?

I didn't know about S/360 systems.  Is that true for all of them?  I once 
worked on a 360 model 44 and I don't remember any motor-generators with that 
one. 

A well known machine from that era that uses MG sets is the CDC 6000 series 
mainframes -- for power supplies, but not for motors.

paul

Re: Motor generator

[Carlos E Murillo-Sanchez via cctalk]

Donald via cctalk wrote:

In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
machines using a motor generator.

  


If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
frequency or voltage?
Those systems predate my experience by roughly 25-30 years.  But once 
you go through the trouble of adding such a thing as a motor-generator, 
then you can make the generator a poly-phase device (say, 12-phase) and 
get a much lower ripple in a full-wave polyphase rectifier; you can also 
easily control the output voltage by acting on the generator's rotor 
field current.  This sort of equipment is used for industrial processes 
requiring DC at thousands of amps; the polyphase setup makes it possible 
to leave out the output filter capacitors.


carlos.

Re: Motor generator

[dwight via cctalk]

I recall we had a motor generator and fluid cooling for the 3033 we had. We 
also had 2 smaller ones as well ( forget the numbers ). They all ran 360 code..
It is astounding how far things have come from that time.
Dwight



From: cctalk  on behalf of Brent Hilpert via 
cctalk 
Sent: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 4:32 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts 
Subject: Re: Motor generator

On 2021-May-04, at 4:06 PM, Donald via cctalk wrote:
> In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
> machines using a motor generator.
>
> If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
> frequency or voltage?

I dont know about the 360, but a motor/gen can provide several benefits:
- isolate the load side from mains noise
- provide a degree of regulation from mains fluctuation thanks to the 
inertia of the rotating mass
- raise the frequency so subsequent power supply transformers and caps 
can be smaller (ala 400Hz operation in aircraft)
- convert to 3-phase as Chuck mentioned, although I would have thought 
that by the time a 360 is running from a motor-gen
  it's probably already being supplied with incoming 3-phase mains

Re: Motor generator

[Paul Berger via cctalk]

On 2021-05-04 8:06 p.m., Donald via cctalk wrote:

In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
machines using a motor generator.

  


If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
frequency or voltage?

Not just 360 but 370s as well, the 3031 I assisted with installing 
hardware fixes on had one and I remember having to crank it up to run 
diagnostics after a fix was installed.  They where designed to provide 
stable power at a higher frequency, I seem to remember 600Hz but I may 
be wrong it has been 40+ years. It was explained to me that by using a 
higher frequency they could get by with smaller filter capacitors.  The 
power supplies in the 3031 where all linear with monsters supplying 2V 
at hundreds of amps.


Paul.

Re: Motor generator

[Brent Hilpert via cctalk]

On 2021-May-04, at 4:06 PM, Donald via cctalk wrote:
> In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
> machines using a motor generator.
> 
> If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
> frequency or voltage?

I dont know about the 360, but a motor/gen can provide several benefits:
- isolate the load side from mains noise
- provide a degree of regulation from mains fluctuation thanks to the 
inertia of the rotating mass
- raise the frequency so subsequent power supply transformers and caps 
can be smaller (ala 400Hz operation in aircraft) 
- convert to 3-phase as Chuck mentioned, although I would have thought 
that by the time a 360 is running from a motor-gen
  it's probably already being supplied with incoming 3-phase mains

Re: Motor generator

[Chuck Guzis via cctalk]

On 5/4/21 4:06 PM, Donald via cctalk wrote:
> In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
> machines using a motor generator.
> 
>  
> 
> If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
> frequency or voltage?

3-phase 400 Hz, IIRC.   The 3-phase output enables production of DC
output that's mostly DC (about 92%)  with a ripple frequency of 6x400 =
2400Hz.

--Chuck

Motor generator

[Donald via cctalk]

In the deep recesses of my mind I seem to remember something about S/360
machines using a motor generator.

 

If I am right was this to create a stable power source at a certain
frequency or voltage?

Re: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector

[Peter Dreisiger via cctalk]

> On 4 May 2021, at 19:00, cctalk-requ...@classiccmp.org wrote:
> 
> Message: 17
> Date: Mon, 3 May 2021 16:22:45 -0700
> From: Adam Thornton 
> To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts" 
> Subject: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector
> Message-ID:
>   
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> I assume it would be way too much to hope that HD BNC would fit it?  Does
> anyone have a pointer to the actual physical dimensions of the itty-bitty
> BNC-ish connector in the video port of the VAXStation4000vlc?  If I can get
> red, green, and blue out (assuming since there are only 3 connectors it's
> sync-on-green) I can put together a sync splitter and turn it into VGA.  I
> have at least one decent multisync VGA monitor still, although none with
> the RGB BNC inputs.

Firstly, apologies if my response doesn't show up nicely in this thread --- I 
only receive the daily digests so I'm not sure how best to reply to a specific 
post...

But on the subject of sourcing / making video cables with 3W3 connectors on one 
end, I also balked at the cost of the coaxial insets and decided to make an 
only marginally dodgy (if I do say so myself) cable out of half of an old VGA 
cable, three of the 'sleeves' / female connectors contained, in abundance, in 
every female D-sub connector, and a few bits of heat-shrink (see 
https://media.decarchive.org/DEC/VAX/VAXstation%204000-VLC/IMG_3941.jpg for a 
photo of this cable from an albeit sub-optimal angle). The resulting 
connections were surprisingly stable, however, were I to make another one, I'd 
replace the grounding alligator clip with a lug that can be screwed onto one of 
retaining nuts next to the VLC's 3W3 connector, and use longer bits of 
heat-shrink to fully insulate the outside of the RGB connectors...

And just FYI, even as shown, the video quality was more than adequate 
(considering the resolution of the VLC's LCG framebuffer), however, I suppose 
one could always attach a shielded DA15 shell to provide a bit of extra noise 
suppression (as well as mechanical protection).


Hope this helps,

Peter

Re: General Instruments Capacitive Keyboard Encoder

[Tony Duell via cctalk]

On Tue, May 4, 2021 at 10:33 AM Paul Birkel via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> I'm currently reverse-engineering an AMPEX keyboard that uses capacitive key
> switches.  The basic design employs a GI encoder coupled to an 8039 MCU
> supplemented by a 2K EPROM and 74LS373 (used to latch the ROM address set
> from Port A while Port A is then used to read data back from the ROM).  The
> 8039 MCU drives a bit-banged serial interface.  The PCB identifies itself as
> AMPEX on the coper foil, although the key switch mounting-plate actually has
> a "General Instruments Quality Accepted" sticker.  The EPROM is labeled
> "3512663-03 Copyright 1983 AMPEX CORP".
>
>
>
> The GI encoder is a DIP-40 labeled as "321239007  M2406-054-02  GI 8233 CBU
> TAIWAN".  I seek technical documentation for this IC.

You might take a look at the manuals here :

http://cpu-ns32k.net/Whitechapel.html

I am pretty sure there's a keyboard techincal description in 'binder
1' and a reverse-engineered schematic in 'binder 2'. While it's not
quite the same IC, it's related and the power pins are in the right
place :-)

Alas there is no real description of what that IC does or how to talk
to it from the 8039. It is designed to sit on the 8039 bus, it takes
in the multiplexed address/data bus, ALE, rd/ and wr/

-tony

RE: General Instruments Capacitive Keyboard Encoder

[Paul Birkel via cctalk]

> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Al Kossow 
> via cctalk
> Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2021 9:48 AM
> To: cctalk@classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: General Instruments Capacitive Keyboard Encoder
>
> On 5/4/21 2:33 AM, Paul Birkel via cctalk wrote:
> > I'm currently reverse-engineering an AMPEX keyboard that uses capacitive key
> > switches. 
>
> did all of the square foil and foam pads disintegrate in it?

It uses individual sprung metal leaves, with the exception of the caps-lock key 
which has a central LED and around that an annular square foil/pad that is in 
fine shape.  It's all nicely constructed; the case even includes a spray-on 
metallized surface that is connected via a sprung contact to the cable shield 
and the switch-body retaining plate.

-

Re: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector

[Antonio Carlini via cctalk]

On 04/05/2021 02:29, Maciej W. Rozycki via cctalk wrote:


  Failing either solution you can make your own adapter cable:





(you'll also need a case for the connector, the other connector and a
length of suitable cable of course).  They have a US site too.



Wow: £2.47 for the housing but £5.02 for each of the coaxial inserts ... 
not cheap at all!



Mind you, I suspect that an original cable won't be much cheaper either.


Antonio


--
Antonio Carlini
anto...@acarlini.com

Re: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector

[Jon Elson via cctalk]

On 05/03/2021 06:22 PM, Adam Thornton via cctalk wrote:

I assume it would be way too much to hope that HD BNC would fit it?  Does
anyone have a pointer to the actual physical dimensions of the itty-bitty
BNC-ish connector in the video port of the VAXStation4000vlc?  If I can get
red, green, and blue out (assuming since there are only 3 connectors it's
sync-on-green) I can put together a sync splitter and turn it into VGA.  I
have at least one decent multisync VGA monitor still, although none with
the RGB BNC inputs.


These connectors (D-style shell same as regular 15, 25 and 
37-pin shells) with several coax inserts)
are an industry standard.  You can buy the connectors and 
pins from the likes of Digi-Key, Mouser and Newark.  They 
require a fancy crimping tool, but for just 3 contacts, you 
can probably solder or fudge it somehow.  AMP (now TTI) has 
excellent documents which you ought to be able to turn up at 
one of the above distributors.


Jon

Re: General Instruments Capacitive Keyboard Encoder

[Al Kossow via cctalk]

On 5/4/21 2:33 AM, Paul Birkel via cctalk wrote:

I'm currently reverse-engineering an AMPEX keyboard that uses capacitive key
switches. 


did all of the square foil and foam pads disintegrate in it?

Re: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector

[Paul Koning via cctalk]

> On May 4, 2021, at 1:50 AM, Doug Jackson  wrote:
> 
> HI Paul,
> 
> "I don't know what "HD BNC" means.  There's only one BNC"
> 
> Years ago when working in a university with Photomultiplier tubes, we used HV 
> BNC connectors - these looked like standard BNC, but were rated at 10kv.
> 
> https://www.radiall.com/products/rf-coaxial-connectors/high-voltage-connectors/bnc-ht-mhv.html

Those are MHV connectors, not BNC, the description makes that clear.

> We also used to use 75 Ohm BNC connectors for video systems.

> 
> https://www.hubersuhner.com/en/products/radio-frequency/connectors-adapters/bayonet-connectors-bnc/bnc-75-real

Sure.  Those are the same shape and size as regular BNC connectors; the 
difference is in the insulation to produce a 75 ohm characteristic impedance.

> It is worth noting that there are multiple BNC connectors.

Yes, I see your point.  What I meant is that "BNC" refers to a given shape and 
size.  As for the "HD BNC", that's news to me but it seems to be merely a 
standard BNC connector with slightly tweaked tolerances or materials to be 
rated to a higher top frequency.  For the application we're talking about here, 
the frequency rating of an ordinary BNC connector is way better than what's 
needed.

paul

Re: IBM 1410 FPGA Implementation Update - new github repository

[Jay Jaeger via cctalk]

On 5/3/2021 6:23 PM, Michael Thompson via cctech wrote:


Date: Sun, 2 May 2021 15:38:33 -0500
From: Jay Jaeger 
Subject: IBM 1410 FPGA Implementation Update - new github repository
Message-ID: <68c06711-e563-f1bf-8abc-090793bed...@charter.net>

The last 12 months I have been pretty busy working on my 1410 in FPGA
project, and there is now more to share, though I have not done much
actual work since February - been too busy playing with other "toys".  8D

JRJ



The RICM has a 1401 control panel. It would be pretty cool to mount your
FPGA to the back of it and get it to blink the lights the right way.

https://www.ricomputermuseum.org/Home/interesting_computer_items/ibm-control-panels



Nope, sorry, wouldn't work.  This is a *1410*, not a 1401.  The 1410 
does usually have a hardware implementation of the 1401 buried inside - 
accessed via a switch on the console, but it is controlled 1410 style, 
via the 1415 console (including the selectric for displaying and 
modifying memory), not via lights and switches like the 1401.


However, the *technique* I used could be used to accomplish your goal, 
though you might need to multiplex the lights depending on how many 
connections it would take - for example, my Digilent board has 4 Pmod 
ports so only 32 pins of I/O.


JRJ

RE: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector

[Dave Wade G4UGM via cctalk]

Adam,
 IBM used the same cable on the RS6000 and these pop up on e-bay from time to 
time.
You do need a monitor that will support sync-on-green

Dave

> -Original Message-
> From: cctech  On Behalf Of Jonathan
> Stone via cctech
> Sent: 04 May 2021 01:31
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts ; Adam
> Thornton 
> Subject: Re: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector
> 
>  You need a video cable with a 3W3 connector on one end. Original was likely
> a DEC BC29G-10.
> That, plus 5BNC-to-VGA cables, and 3 F/F BNC barrels, will work with a
> multisync monitor that handles sync-on-green.
> 
> I just went through this with several DECstations, where the Turbochannel
> graphics options have the same 3W3 connector.
>  On Monday, May 3, 2021, 04:23:05 PM PDT, Adam Thornton via cctech
>  wrote:
> 
>  I assume it would be way too much to hope that HD BNC would fit it?  Does
> anyone have a pointer to the actual physical dimensions of the itty-bitty BNC-
> ish connector in the video port of the VAXStation4000vlc?  If I can get red,
> green, and blue out (assuming since there are only 3 connectors it's
> sync-on-green) I can put together a sync splitter and turn it into VGA.  I 
> have
> at least one decent multisync VGA monitor still, although none with the RGB
> BNC inputs.
> 
> Adam
> 

Re: That VAXStation4000vlc 3W3 video connector

[Liam Proven via cctalk]

On Tue, 4 May 2021 at 07:50, Doug Jackson via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> Kindest regards,
>
> Doug Jackson
>
> em: d...@doughq.com
> ph: 0414 986878
>
> Check out my awesome clocks at www.dougswordclocks.com
> Follow my amateur radio adventures at vk1zdj.net
>
> ---
>
> Just like an old fashioned letter, this email and any files transmitted
> with it should probably be treated as confidential and intended solely for
> your own use.
>
> Please note that any interesting spelling is usually my own and may have
> been caused by fat thumbs on a tiny tiny keyboard.
>
> Should any part of this message prove to be useful in the event of the
> imminent Zombie Apocalypse then the sender bears no personal, legal, or
> moral responsibility for any outcome resulting from its usage unless the
> result of said usage is the unlikely defeat of the Zombie Hordes in which
> case the sender takes full credit without any theoretical or actual legal
> liability. :-)
>
> Be nice to your parents.
>
> Go outside and do something awesome - Draw, paint, walk, setup a
> radio station, go fishing or sailing - just do something that makes you
> happy.
>
> ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G- In more laid back days this line would literally
> sing ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G ^G

Doug, could I ask you to please pay a little more respect to mailing
list etiquette?

Your reply should go _below_ the text you are replying to, not above.
The maximum length for a signature is 4 lines of 80 characters or
fewer, and the sig should be prefixed with a line containing two minus
signs then a space.

-- 
Liam Proven – Profile: https://about.me/liamproven
Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk – gMail/gTalk/gHangouts: lpro...@gmail.com
Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn/Flickr: lproven – Skype: liamproven
UK: +44 7939-087884 – ČR (+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal): +420 702 829 053

General Instruments Capacitive Keyboard Encoder

[Paul Birkel via cctalk]

I'm currently reverse-engineering an AMPEX keyboard that uses capacitive key
switches.  The basic design employs a GI encoder coupled to an 8039 MCU
supplemented by a 2K EPROM and 74LS373 (used to latch the ROM address set
from Port A while Port A is then used to read data back from the ROM).  The
8039 MCU drives a bit-banged serial interface.  The PCB identifies itself as
AMPEX on the coper foil, although the key switch mounting-plate actually has
a "General Instruments Quality Accepted" sticker.  The EPROM is labeled
"3512663-03 Copyright 1983 AMPEX CORP".

 

The GI encoder is a DIP-40 labeled as "321239007  M2406-054-02  GI 8233 CBU
TAIWAN".  I seek technical documentation for this IC.

 

It evidently is not a relabeled simple variant of the documented AY-3-4592
as it does not multiplex the input side of the matrix (sense lines), there
are fewer output data lines, and the power pins are non-standard (Vcc = pin
37; GND = pin 16).

 

Reverse engineering identifies this M2406-054-02 as supporting an 8 column
by 16 row (3 unused in my case) matrix plus 8 output data lines. I can
identify analogs of several pins on the AY-3-4592.  My interpretation of the
pin uses is that the necessary key-scanning behavior is generated using the
8039 ALE line (pin 11) as the encoder clock input.

 

Proper documentation for this IC would be nice to come by!  Pointers and
suggestions appreciated.

 

Thank you,

paul

 

 

Re: 920M - and also the Argus 200 / 700

[erik--- via cctalk]

Hi Jos!

> in the UK around 1960 the Argus 200 was developed to control the Bristol
> Bloodhound anti-aircraft rocket. This computer was one of the very first
> transistor-based control computers.

Absolutely - in these days Ferranti and Elliott where competitors on
the European market for defecne computing! Very funny, that they later 
merged and today the legacy of both is distributed in the BAe and 
Leonardo businesses ;-)

There are quite interesting stories, on occasions when the two had to 
cooperate before merging and in the ELDO project mentioned in my video,
the computer was from Elliotts whereas the inertial sensor was from
Ferranti (https://youtu.be/v-gF5g0nnoE?t=363).

> In Switzerland the Bloodhound was on duty  until 1999 ! One of the sites,
> once top secret,  is now a museum, and well worth a visit. 
> Check out https://www.museums.ch/org/de/Bloodhound-Lenkwaffenstellung

Definitively worth a visit! I am also into the Ferranti navigation systems 
from the 1970ties (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EQqfxiGgd8) and since 
years I am trying to find out, what architecture its 32 bit computer is. 
Here I booked an extensive special tour and the team on mount Gubel organized
some experts to join the tour - although I learned that the INS computer
is not related to the Argus series, the visit was AMAZING!

Also great there to see the technology of the almost Mach3 missile from
the 1950ties.

   Erik.

Re: 920M - and also the Argus 200 / 700

[jos via cctalk]

Yep, Europe was also active at the time.

in the UK around 1960 the Argus 200 was developed to control the Bristol 
Bloodhound anti-aircraft rocket. This computer was one of the very first 
transistor-based control computers.

In Switzerland the Bloodhound was on duty  until 1999 ! One of the sites, once 
top secret,  is now a museum, and well worth a visit.

Check out https://www.museums.ch/org/de/Bloodhound-Lenkwaffenstellung

Besides the rockets there is plenty to see for the tech enthusiast : the 
illuminating radar,  a fully functional Argus 700 computer that was a major 
update of the Argus 200, and some remnants of the orignal Argus 200 computer, 
for instance the programmable ROM module.


Jos