[cctalk] Available in Germany: PDP 11/23 Plus with two RL02 drives in a H9642 cabinet
Hello list, there is a PDP 11/23 Plus with two RL02 drives available near Stuttgart, Germany. The configuration corresponds to the one shown here: http://www.cosam.org/computers/dec/pdp11-23/cabinet.html Contact me off-list if you are interested. Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] Fw: Re: VCFMW
Apologies to the list for the noise. This email was supposed to be sent directly to Paul, my mistake. Have a nice Sunday, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de - Weitergeleitete Nachricht - Von: P Gebhardt An: Paul Anderson via cctalk Gesendet: Sonntag, 10. September 2023 um 08:21:59 MESZ Betreff: Re: [cctalk] Re: VCFMW Hello Paul, how are you doing? Hope that healthwise, things are fine on your side since our last conversations a few years ago. I bought an RK611 controller back then from you. Just came accross your below post and was wondering if you have any CI750-related equipment around? I have the boards, but one has broken ICs. I am also missing the CI750 backplane. Let me know if you happen to remember to have anything around related to that piece of equipment that allows to connect a 11/750 to a CI-network. Thanks, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Montag, 4. September 2023 um 06:58:47 MESZ hat Paul Anderson via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: I just found a box of 11/150 and 11/780 prints including FP750, FP780 and CI780.I have other prints and manuals of which some are available. If you like compatible boards I have over 100 Dilog, Emulex, CMD, etc boards I also have BA11-M, N, and S Qbus boxes and several hundred boards. I can configure a system pretty much any way you want it. Paul On Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 3:27 AM Paul Anderson wrote: > I've started pulling parts for people who have requested them and keep > finding things I had forgotten. A few things of possible interest include: > PDP-8A parts including backplanes, most CPU boards, 128K, MM board > MM8-AA/AB > 8-E boxes and boards > DECMATE Rainbow, and PRO systems and parts > A few 11/05, 11/10 boxes > a new 54-21149 KN15 cpu > VS40X 4 plane color options > SI-QS 1000 board labeled QED 993 CPU > Tape drive heads > LA36, LA120, and other printers and parts > various VTs and monitors and parts > MFM and floppy drives > Qbus boxes and hundreds of boards > 1000s of DEC boards and parts > possible a few 3000 and 5000 boxes and parts > > If anyone wants to stop by and look for things, please contact me off list > to set up a time. Most of the people who have stopped by would say I have > quite a lot of DEC items. > > If you have any questions contact me off list. >
[cctalk] Re: VCFMW
Hello Paul, how are you doing? Hope that healthwise, things are fine on your side since our last conversations a few years ago. I bought an RK611 controller back then from you. Just came accross your below post and was wondering if you have any CI750-related equipment around? I have the boards, but one has broken ICs. I am also missing the CI750 backplane. Let me know if you happen to remember to have anything around related to that piece of equipment that allows to connect a 11/750 to a CI-network. Thanks, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Montag, 4. September 2023 um 06:58:47 MESZ hat Paul Anderson via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: I just found a box of 11/150 and 11/780 prints including FP750, FP780 and CI780.I have other prints and manuals of which some are available. If you like compatible boards I have over 100 Dilog, Emulex, CMD, etc boards I also have BA11-M, N, and S Qbus boxes and several hundred boards. I can configure a system pretty much any way you want it. Paul On Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 3:27 AM Paul Anderson wrote: > I've started pulling parts for people who have requested them and keep > finding things I had forgotten. A few things of possible interest include: > PDP-8A parts including backplanes, most CPU boards, 128K, MM board > MM8-AA/AB > 8-E boxes and boards > DECMATE Rainbow, and PRO systems and parts > A few 11/05, 11/10 boxes > a new 54-21149 KN15 cpu > VS40X 4 plane color options > SI-QS 1000 board labeled QED 993 CPU > Tape drive heads > LA36, LA120, and other printers and parts > various VTs and monitors and parts > MFM and floppy drives > Qbus boxes and hundreds of boards > 1000s of DEC boards and parts > possible a few 3000 and 5000 boxes and parts > > If anyone wants to stop by and look for things, please contact me off list > to set up a time. Most of the people who have stopped by would say I have > quite a lot of DEC items. > > If you have any questions contact me off list. >
[cctalk] Re: Disk-pack-based drives at LCM
Hi Rod, I don't blame them either! Operating these drives means having access to spare heads, alignment equipment and and alignment pack - not taking into account the work to be put in all of this! Anyway, thanks for sharing your anecdote with us :) Greetings, Pierre >I can't say I blame them. It was a lot of work to get a drive running after a >head crash. If it was a bad crash, there >could be extensive cleaning to be >done followed by replacing one or more heads. Then the new heads had to be >>aligned. If you hadn't cleaned thoroughly enough, you risked damaging the >expensive alignment disk. > >Once I came back from lunch to see the operators had 3 drives open. They kept >swapping a disk pack which was >giving I/O errors to new drives and were >crashing heads along the way due to the damaged disk pack. I stopped >them >before they spun up the pack on a 4th drive. That wasn't as bad as the time >one of them dropped a disk pack >and bent platters. That ripped heads >completely out of the mounting mechanism. > >Ah, the good old days! > >Rod > On Jun 2, 2023, at 2:51 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk > wrote: > > Hi all, > > I just came across pictures on the LCM website about their SDS Sigma > installation there. > On the pictures, one can see 10-platter disk packs in the corner and stored > on the disk drives. > Did the LCM ever had these in operation, either for data retrieval or even > demo purposes? > I know of the Jim Austin Computer museum where they fixed a CDC 9766 drive > but it suffered > a head crash after a few hours according to their description which led to > giving up the operation > of these drives. > > Greetings, > Pierre > > - > http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] Re: Disk-pack-based drives at LCM
Hello Lee, thanks for confirming this! To my knowledge, that would have been the only place world-wide in very recent past where 300MB drives based on disk packs would still (or again) be operational and actually be used! Simply amazing - and so unfortunate that it's closed! Greetings, Pierre Am Freitag, 2. Juni 2023 um 19:52:38 MESZ hat Lee Courtney Folgendes geschrieben: Hi Pierre, Yes, when LCM was open the Sigma-9 and the connected drives were up and operational, I can't remember what OS the system was running. Maybe CP-V or UTS? Lee On Thu, Jun 1, 2023 at 11:51 PM P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote: > Hi all, > > I just came across pictures on the LCM website about their SDS Sigma > installation there. > On the pictures, one can see 10-platter disk packs in the corner and stored > on the disk drives. > Did the LCM ever had these in operation, either for data retrieval or even > demo purposes? > I know of the Jim Austin Computer museum where they fixed a CDC 9766 drive > but it suffered > a head crash after a few hours according to their description which led to > giving up the operation > of these drives. > > Greetings, > Pierre > > - > http://www.digitalheritage.de > -- Lee Courtney +1-650-704-3934 cell
[cctalk] Disk-pack-based drives at LCM
Hi all, I just came across pictures on the LCM website about their SDS Sigma installation there. On the pictures, one can see 10-platter disk packs in the corner and stored on the disk drives. Did the LCM ever had these in operation, either for data retrieval or even demo purposes? I know of the Jim Austin Computer museum where they fixed a CDC 9766 drive but it suffered a head crash after a few hours according to their description which led to giving up the operation of these drives. Greetings, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] ebay: GE reel tape drives from the 60s
Hi list , came across this listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/354525985222 I just love the engineering quality of these early electro-mechanical systems! Reminds me of the CDC 60x series reel tape drives. BTW, not affiliated with the seller. In my point of view, 5000 bucks is a lot of money for these, though... Greetings, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] Re: Disk pack production tools
Am Dienstag, 17. Januar 2023 um 01:20:22 MEZ hat Chuck Guzis via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: On 1/16/23 12:40, Paul Koning wrote: > On the CERL PLATO system at U of Illinois, around 1977, we had 20-ish > 844-21 drives, and maybe a few 844-41 as well. Those were roughly the > same as the DEC RP04 and RP05 drives, same pack and track count. > Different sectors, though; 322 12-bit words per sector. Those are 3600 > rpm drives, linear voice coil head actuator, dedicated servo surface. > The details of the format was handled in a sort of microcoded bit > handling engine, one of two engines in the programmable controller > (7054). I actually have the source code still around, and the manual > for that beast also still exists. Most of our customers from that time had all of the drive farm as well as the unit record equipment on MACs. (Predates Apple--Multiple Access Controller). We kept Spence Preston busy... : We had a 1311 on a CADET. Slow, but better than the alternatives (cards or paper tape). Monitor IID, IIRC. Work cylinders were 0-25, IIRC. No real file system, just DIM entries. I don't recall what options had to be installed on a CADET to run Monitor, but I think indirect addressing was a requirement. My favorite was the CDC 6603/Bryant 4000. That bugger was engineered to leak oil--it even had plastic jugs inside to collect the drippings. My fondest memory was watching a COMSOURCE operator run to refill a 501 printer, hitting the Bryant oil patch and falling flat on his back... Paul, Chuck, the hydraulic actuator-driven disk systems surely bring maintenance and related issues to another level and stories :) Thanks! >From what I see at least by the return on our list, there don't seem to be, >for example, servo writer and disk plattern mechanical alignment tools still around - at least to the knowledge of the cctalk list members. I wonder, if the CHM could have any additional knowledge about this and I will contact Al Kossow out of curiosity regarding this. Anybody aroundhere who used drives in the last 10 years to read multi-platter disk packs successfully? At least the CHM did so to read single-platter disks and archive software (thanks to the great videos, curious Marc!), but I don't know if they tried to work with multi-platter disks. I recall that the Jim Austin Computer Museum tried to get a 9766 300MB disk drive up and running, but it suffered a head-crash after a few hours and they decided not to go any further down this road... Greetings, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] Re: Disk pack production tools
Am Montag, 16. Januar 2023 um 17:57:46 MEZ hat Chuck Guzis via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: Hi Chuck, >The 844 drives date from the early 70s. I worked for CDC on a military >project where these were brought in to replace the 821s that were bid >(yes, I know there's no information on those--they're essentially a >high-capacity unit build on an 808 chassis and unreliable as hell). A >typical installation might have used over 100 of the units on a 4-CPU >Cyber cluster. They worked well, unless one got a bad pack, which would >clobber the heads on a drive; using the drive on a new pack would result >in creating another head-clobbering pack. I recall an overnight report >issued by an operator where he succeeded in trashing several packs and >multiple drives in his attempt to get something to work. It was a >blow-by-blow report somewhat akin to the Gerard Hoffnung bricklayer story. Wow, thanks for sharing this story! Did the 844 drives have the same hydraulic-actuator approach like the MMD 841 drives? Greetings, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] Re: Disk pack production tools
Am Montag, 16. Januar 2023 um 17:55:22 MEZ hat Jon Elson via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: >Washington University had a magnetic media lab at one time, >and got several semi loads of gear from an IBM lab. There >were air bearing spindle tables and many racks of IBM >circuitry based on MST chip technology. I assume some of >this could have been used as servo track writers. Any >system that doesn't have a dedicated servo surface or >embedded servo info doesn't need a servo track writer, it >can just format the pack by itself (with proper diagnostic >programs, of course.) > >Aligning the heads on the drive is an issue only if you want >to interchange platters. Then, you need an alignment pack - >wow, those would be quite hard to find today! There are >tools like alignment meters that can make the job easier, >but really all you need is a scope and generally a rod with >an eccentric tip to adjust the head position. > >Jon Thanks for sharing this information with us, Jon! I wasn't aware that academia got equipment from industry for research on magnetic media, but it actually makes sense, as a lot of research was conducted in this field. I can confirm that finding alignment packs is extremely difficult! Greetings, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] Re: Disk pack production tools
Am Montag, 16. Januar 2023 um 17:30:50 MEZ hat geneb via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: >> I bought RK05 packs from Althea (sp?). I know they make diskettes too. >> Trying to locate their web site so I must be spelling it wrong :-) > >I think you're referring to Athana. Are there still companies like Athana in business that sell new and/or refurbished disk packs? I am aware of M.Farris and Associates, but I am not sure, if they are still in active business. Their compatibility tables for packs and disk drives are fantastic, by the way! Greetings, Pierre
[cctalk] Re: long lived media (Was: Damage to CD-R from CD Sleeve
Am Dienstag, 17. Januar 2023 um 15:54:54 MEZ hat Paul Koning via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: >With hard drives you have to worry about mechanical faults, of course. I >wonder if there are any long term storage issues with the bearings. To my understanding, during the late 90s, the bearigs where changed from mechanical-type to fluid-type bearings in order to be within required tolerances decreasing by the increasing storage density. I wonder, how well these fluid-bearings last over two or three decades especially when merely used. I recall that there were problems reported with winchester disk drives from the 80s where the bearings got stuck when the drives were not used in 10 or more years, possibly in combination with inapproriate storage conditions (temperature). >I have an RM03 pack somewhere. There probably are a few places left that >could read it. If it were an RA60 pack it would be a whole lot more >problematic, I suspect. Without an >old drive, how would you recover the >data? Spin table? Perhaps, if you can find, or reverse engineer, the format. Do you assume the problem with RA60 disk packs to be more problematic because of a smaller availability of systems with RA60 drives to read the packs compared to CDC 9762 /RM03 drives? Greetings, Pierre
[cctalk] Fw: Disk pack production tools
>now. Older drives are close to unobtainium. I never came across a five-platter >pack for my CDC 854 drive and i have never seen packs for my MMD 844 or my CDC >BC3xx disk >drive for 200MB disk packs. Little correction: It's a CDC 844 Multiple Disk Drive, not a 841. Greetings, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] "Revival" of a dedicated Micropolis webpage on internet
Hello list, by coincidence, I came across this website: https://www.micropolis.com/ It seems to have been set up by a former employee of Micropolis with information about Micropolis products done until the late 90s. Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
[cctalk] Re: How to reproduce the DEC cabinets' grey colour paint?
Hello list, > > >My attempt at the colors from several years ago. > >http://www.chdickman.com/pdp8/DECcolors/ > >CHM = Color Harmony Manual Many thanks to those (especially Charles and Vincent) who gave me pointers on how to reproduce the DEC grey colour of the DEC cabinets. I wasn't aware that the colour codes were expressed in old standards. I don't have the impression that the paint of cabinet side panels, for instance, faded over the years. Again, just an impression, when comparing the color of different cabinets. As soon as I have time, I will make a few tests and give feedback to the list how it went. Cheers, Pierre
How to reproduce the DEC cabinets' grey colour paint?
Hello list, does anybody of you know colour codes or the mixture to obtain the grey paint that DEC used for their early H960 cabinet side panels as well as for their later cabinet from the 80s and 90s like the H9A10 or H9A15? Some of my cabinets have scratches and I would like to cosmetically fix this. I thought I remember some discussions about DEC paint some years ago but I couldn't find anything helpful in my archives except for discussions about colours for DEC's classic front panels. Any pointers are very much appreciated. Thanks, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Your pictures of a Tullamore pulse height analyzer on flickr
Apologies for the spam, folks, that message was supposed to be sent as a private one, and not via the mailing list. - http://www.digitalheritage.de >Am Donnerstag, 2. Juni 2022, 16:21:14 MESZ hat P Gebhardt via cctalk > Folgendes geschrieben: > > >Hello Patrick, > >I came across your pictures of a Tullamore pulse heigh analyzer on flickr >while looking for more information about these systems on internet. >Did you >possibly take more pictures of this unit which are not on flickr? If so, then >I'd be interested in these as more pictures can help me to fix >my unit which >has two missing front panels. > >Thanks in advance for any feedback! >With kind regards, >Pierre > >- >http://www.digitalheritage.de
Your pictures of a Tullamore pulse height analyzer on flickr
Hello Patrick, I came across your pictures of a Tullamore pulse heigh analyzer on flickr while looking for more information about these systems on internet. Did you possibly take more pictures of this unit which are not on flickr? If so, then I'd be interested in these as more pictures can help me to fix my unit which has two missing front panels. Thanks in advance for any feedback! With kind regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: LSSM is chasing this, was Re: General Data? Computer Equipment Auction - GSA
> Ok, it hit $1200, we're out of the running. I hope these systems go > to a good home, and don't disappear into the black hole of a private > >collection. > I think that next time, you should consider to rephrase this in a more considerate way. There are public museums on both sides of the great pond where stuff is stored in the basements for preservation and does not become accessible for years and years, even if one asks for it. And I am not only meaning hardware or software, I also mean documentation (this is based on personal experience). In my point of view, black holes exist in private as well as public museums, regardless of the different reasons for this. Some do a great job in making their collection accessible in public either for real or online via a website, and some don't. It just depends from case to case and generalising here doesn't seem appropriate. Cheers, Pierre
Re: Red Hat Linux 7.2 for Alpha
Hi Ben, > I can't seem to find this anymore. I have seen a few mentions that there is >a "wrapper" installer that is necessary to install 7.2 on an ES47/ES80 >>machine, and I'm hoping that it was archived or mirrored some place... Back then in 2016, I also looked for these images for my ES80 machine on the HP site and tried to find ftp mirrors, but all I found were broken links. I would be happy, too, if anybody has a copy of these installation sets. Cheers, Pierre
Re: VAX 780 on eBay
>I'm rather puzzled that an -11/70 will sell for north of $10K, while a /780 >can't fetch $5K. I can only guess that PDP-11'S are seen as more important in >the collector world (even though the BSD work, which had such a huge impact on >UNIX, which has now - in the form of Linux - taken over the world, was >centered on the VAX). Noel, maybethis is also related to the bare size of an 11/780 (any peripherals excluded) compared to a 11/70 which can be handled a bit easier when it comes to moving and storing it somewhere. And then we had these recent discussions about powering an 11/780 for those who would actually like to do something with it rather than just storing it. I think that an 11/70 is more convenient in practical terms for a lot of enthousiasts out there. Cheers, Piere
Re: DEC HDD heads?
> >Dunno if this is useful for anyone but the price seems right: > >https://www.ebay.com/itm/Qty-8-Cdc-Dec-Disk-Head-Heads-75010109-75010101-/255306991030 Indeed useful for my drives :) I placed a bid on it. Cheers, Pierre
Re: VAX 780 on eBay
>There's a photo on twitter: > >https://twitter.com/DonaldM38768041/status/1215804561333473280/photo/2 > >showing a guy standing before an open one at Fermilab. In of the pictures are shown some very handy tape and disk pack holders on wheels. I never saw such fancy holders. Would be great to come across one of those - or better so some myself. Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: tamayatech let down
Hi Jacob and list, some years ago, I was also interested in some of their boards. The first thing I usually do with companies I didn't deal with, yet, is to contact them with questions to see if I get an answer and of what type it is. >From tamayatech, I never got any answers. Thus, I never ordered anything. PinnacleMicro was very different and a pleasure to deal with, but unfortunately, they dropped the DEC equipment support. I wonder where all their remaining equipment went to. Probably to some other support vendors. There are only a handful left regarding some bigger ones, to my knowledge. Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Dienstag, 21. Dezember 2021, 03:33:18 MEZ hat Jacob Ritorto via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: I think I should pass on my experience as a warning to others. I googled around for a particular PDP-11 board I needed and tamayatech.com was a hit, with "buy now" option and condition: refurbished. Seemed convincing and the price was in the sane ballpark. So I bought it, paid through their ecommerce routine, etc. Sent a mail thanking them and asking if it would be despatched soon as I had work time off in the coming week.. No reply. Waited a week and telephoned their phone number from the purchase confirmation email. No answer. Left message. Several (well over ten) repeated email and phone contact attempts through the last months (this began early November) to no avail. There has been absolutely no response. So my conclusion: it looks as though they took my credit card and never shipped it, then just ignored me. I hope the fellow's okay but feel quite thoroughly ripped off. So 'buyer' beware. Interestingly their SEO is rather well maintained and punching DEC part numbers into Google, etc. often results in a hit to their site. So they're at least keeping that part of the business updated. Anybody else with similar experience? Any way to rectify the situation? thx jake
Re: Wilson Laboratories SX-530 disk exerciser
Hello Alan, I am not at home right now, but when I will be back next week, I will see if I have the manual for that exerciser. If so, then I will scan it to upload it on bitsavers. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Donnerstag, 26. August 2021, 01:51:48 MESZ hat Alan Frisbie via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: I recently acquired a Wilson Laboratories SX-530 disk exerciser for SMD interface disk drives. Unfortunately, it did not come with a manual. Does anyone out there have a copy they could make available? Yes, Bitsavers was the first place I checked. :-) Yes, I still have some SMD drives in working condition -- at least they were before I moved. One is a Century Data Systems T-302, and another is a Fujitsu Eagle. The T-302 is wonderful for impressing younger people who aren't familiar with older technology like 12-platter removable disk packs. :-) 220 volt, 30 amps starting, 6 amps running, all for a whole 256 megabytes (formatted). Thanks, Alan
Re: Writings on AI from 17 years ago....
> >Don't trust that museums will abide by your wishes when you donate an item. >They almost never will no matter how secure you think your agreement with >them is. > >I believe that enthusiastic and competent individuals will look after >valuable items much better than most museums can. While I have also observed this in the case of a few (former) museums in Europe, I think that there is no perfect solution to either individuals or museums unless items are considered national heritage and "enjoying" a different state of protection than what is typifally seen in computer museums (In France, a very early Bull system has that particular protection). No matter the individuals or museums, if circumstances change in ways that were unforseen (individual dies and heritage is not taken care of as panned, or museum shuts down and collection needs to get "disposed of" ASAP), then things will usually not end well for the majority of a collection - again: no matter if it is a museum or from private hands. Cheers, Pierre
Re: Writings on AI from 17 years ago....
> >Which just makes me sick to the stomach, considering what I sent up there. I >really hope you’re wrong. What I really >regret is a LARGE box of GCOS-8 >documentation. :-( They have a lot of unobtainable software and >documentation. > >Zane You didn't scan the documents prior to giving them to the museum? I always do that before donating documents to a museum, since it is fairly sure that they are going to probably stay there for as long as the museum exists... with the only problem that they do not get accessible to the public anymore before somebody like Al Kossow or other curators or museum members have the time to help out and make them accessible when somebody asks for access. Cheers, Pierre
Re: H960 documentation
Thanks a lot for sharing this with us, Noel! I was looking for such information on the H960 cabinets in the past and this covers it all. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Freitag, 28. Mai 2021, 16:02:54 MESZ hat Noel Chiappa via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: So, I have images of two different pieces of DEC documentation for the H960 series of racks/cabinets (the H950 is the bare rack; the H960 is the rack complete with various appurtenances such as side panel, stabilizer feet, etc). I had a request for them, so I've put them online. They are: http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/H960/DEC_cabinets1.jpg http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/H960/DEC_cabinets2.jpg The entry in the Direct Sales Catalog which covers them; includes illustrated breakdowns, and the DEC part numbers for everything. http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/H960/DECRackManual1.jpg http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/H960/DECRackManual2.jpg http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/H960/DECRackManual3.jpg http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/H960/DECRackManual4.jpg http://ana-3.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/tech/H960/DECRackManual5.jpg The Assembly Guide; it shows in detail how all the bits go together (includes all the captive nuts, bolts, etc). Noel
Massbus - was: Re: VAX 11/750
Am Mittwoch, 24. Februar 2021, 03:53:19 MEZ hat Chris Zach via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: >Wow, I've always wanted an 11/750. Not sure why, the small box size is >impressive and all that. However it doesn't look like that one has a >MASSBUS adapter so I will have to pass... > >And I just gave away a M7850 memory board :-) > >C > I happen to have a massbus adapter and the cabling with terminator for my 11/750, but I never came across any massbus peripherals. Considering the price back then and the size for these, they seem nowadays quite rare, which is a real pity. Anybody knows if there was conversion kit to equip CDC 9762 and 9766 type SMD drives into MASSBUS drives much like the TU81 could be turned into a TA81 (SDI)? Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Mystery NCR disk pack
Hello list, there is an NCR-labelled disk pack offered in the bay with a geometry that I've never come across before: https://www.ebay.com/itm/353379280282 It seems to be a 14" pack with three platter and six recordable surfaces. The platters themselves are quite thick and the distance between the platters is quite wide compared to the IBM 1316 and 2316 type standards. Does anybody know if this is really an NCR development or if it is a rebadged pack from another manufacturer? Any hints to solve this mystery is much appreciated :) Best regards, Pierre PS: I wonder if the seller describing the party dog is describing himself, but partying seemed to be an important part of his life ;) - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Bendix G-15 and Control Data 160 console on ebay
If anybody of you has been looking for a Bendix System or a CDC 160 console and has deep pockets: That's your opportunity ;) ebay numbers 203239156838 and 203239181341 Not affiliated with the seller. Just saw the listings - can't believe that such cool systems are still stored in some warehouses in the U.S. for business purposes ... Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Regional accents and dialects (Was: The best hard drives??
> >How many are aware that the capital of South Dakota, "PIERRE" is >pronounced by the locals "PEER"? > > >Is the "correct" pronunciation the dominant local one? I knew about a city called like my first name, but I never knew that it was pronounced that differently :-D Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
CDC/Seagate Sabre, Elite and Wren disk drive documents on bitsavers
Hi list, i don't know who in the end made available all the documents for the CDC/Seagate Sabre IPI and SMD disk drives, but I am very happy that they are finally there for the public! Thanks a lot to the document providers and Al for maintaining bitsavers! Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Manuals for Imprimis/Seagate 5" Elite SMD/IPI drives
> >one of the white whales. >anyone have OEM documentation for their 5" Elite SMD or IPI drives? > >The only thing I've ever been able to find was an installation manual for the >SMD verison I'd be *very* interested to see docs on bitsavers, too. There are four IPI-2 drives (5-inch) in a SUN enclosure and I never came across any documents for them. Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Future of cctalk/cctech
>On 6/16/2020 4:43 PM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote: >> Although we all know Google will be around forever > > >they destroyed dejanews despite promising to keep it. > >A few long threads I discussed things with Tanenbaum and a guy named >Torvalds, gone. > >Also some responses from a guy named DMR. > >Google. uh no, not a fan. Remember google plus? Google hangouts is >gone this year. I hold a grudge. Could go on. If they get bored with >groups, wonder if they'll do a better job preserving it. Google doesn't have any obligations to keep their services up and running in any ways, since they are for FREE. They offer these as long as they contribute to generate income by providing information from their users. And why should a multi-national company of that size stick to promises they made in the past? Unfortunately, ethics and principles don't play much of a role when it comes to making money for companies of these sizes. It's about revenue in the first place. I think that we should avoid Google as a host, but that's just my humble opinion. Unfortunately, I don't have alternatives to come up with except for another mailing list, since I never tried groups.io. Cheers, Pierre
CRT from IBM terminal available
Hello list, I was contacted regarding the availability of a CRT from the terminal shown in this picture: http://www.robotrontechnik.de/bilder/Galerien/Computersammlung/Computersammlung_268.jpg Location is Germany. Please contact me offlist and I will establish the contact to the owner with you in case of interest. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Did anybody ever came across the DEC CI750 User Guide?
Hello all, the headline says it all. DEC document number is EK-CI750-UG I've been looking for that one for years but never came across a paper copy or scanned document. Does anybody know where to get one? The technical description and the schematics are available, though. Thanks for any feedback on this. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload
Hi Ed, this exerciser supports the ISS 7330-type of drives, which come with capacities of 100MBytes and 200MBytes on 10-platter-placks (they are IBM-3336 equivalents). Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Montag, 30. März 2020, 08:49:23 MESZ hat ED SHARPE via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: I mean which iss drive the 10 platter pack. the 20 meg one? Ed# In a message dated 3/29/2020 10:22:30 PM US Mountain Standard Time, cctalk@classiccmp.org writes: which iss drive the 10 plotter 20 meg one? Ed# In a message dated 3/27/2020 5:12:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time, cctalk@classiccmp.org writes: On 3/27/20 3:55 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote: > I contacted two times Al via email for access credentials to upload the > document as I did in the past years for numerous scans, but I never got an > answer. private msg sent sorry, things have been crazy
help needed: Document scan of ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser avalaible for bitsavers upload
Hello list, I have a scan of a manual with schematics for a ISS Sperry Univac Driver Exerciser for 7330 and 843x type of disk drives that was kindly scanned and provided to me by Mark from the Computer History Archivies Project, since he and myself happen to come accross such exercisers. I contacted two times Al via email for access credentials to upload the document as I did in the past years for numerous scans, but I never got an answer. He is probably very busy during the last months. In case anybody has access for uploading documents on this list, can you contact me so that we can make this document available to everybody? Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Classic computers, and peripherals offers in France
Hello list, this might be of interest for list members located in France (Normandie) or close to it: There is seller who offers different types of classic systems. Micros as well as larger systems andwhat appears to be a punched card sorter from the 50s. He writes that he has more stuff and that he can send pictures upon request. Descriptions are in French, but google translate might help out... https://www.leboncoin.fr/recherche/?text=Informatique%20vintage=Bernay_27300__49.10325_0.58486_6186 Cheers, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: H7821 power supply in MicroVAX 3100, SCSI disk enclosures and others
Yep, that's what I call preventive electronics maintenance: I power up for a little time at least once a year all electronics that were in operational order up to a year ago, no matter what it is, to make sure they don't turn defective from "non-running", which is mainly affected by caps indeed. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Freitag, 31. Januar 2020, 19:30:17 MEZ hat crufta cat via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: General rule for Elecrolytic caps is age and heat is not their friend. So the assumption is if it powers up they may be leaky(electrically) or leaking and not completely bad so inspection is well advised. My experience is if powered regularly (at least once a year for a hour or more) they seem to behave well. Same for other electronics (non computer). Allison On Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 8:24 AM Peter Coghlan via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > The recent discussion on BSC protocol prompted me to dig out my Microvax > 3100 > with DSH32 synchronous serial interface. It had been idle in storage for > several years and it wouldn't power up, only giving a brief flash on the > diagnostic LEDs and a quick twitch of the fans. There was a slight smell, > like > the stale air that comes out of a deflating tyre. > > I took out the H7821 power supply and found that five identical brown > 1800uF 25V > electrolytic capacitors on the output side had leaked. > > The SCSI disk enclosure where the machine's system disk lives required > several > power cycles to get it to run at all and it died as soon as the disk tried > to > spin up. It turned out to also contain a H7821 power supply which had a > similar issue with the same five brown capacitors, although not as > extensive > as in the main unit. > > I found a second disk enclosure which had seen little use and grabbed the > power > supply out of that to put in the MicroVAX. It worked well enough to test > with > but there was a ring of goo around the bottom of one of the brown > capacitors > which was worst affected in the other units. Time to order a batch of > replacement capacitors and figure out what else has been damaged. While > it is > not the worst I have seen, access to these power supplies for repairs is > quite > difficult and it is really difficult to debug them safely while they are > running with the cover off :-( > > If anyone has anything with H7821 power supplies in them, I suggest > checking > on these capacitors. If anything with these power supplies is in storage, > I > suggest ensuring it is stored the normal way up as this should limit the > ability of the goo to escape and spread around the power supply. > > And there I was thought I was being safe enough by removing the nicad > battery > packs some years ago... > > Regards, > Peter Coghlan. >
IBM 129 keypunch: How to remove the complete mechanics unit?
Hello all, I may get a 129 IBM keypuncher soon and was wondering, if for transportation- and weight-related reasons, the punch mechanics can be carefully removed with the cables from the rest of the sytem? >From the IBM documents, it seems that after removing the top cover from the >table, the mechanics connected to two holders (one one each end) could be >separated from the table by removing two screws and two bolts (one of each on >every side) and deconnecting all cables down in the electronics cabinet. See for instance: UvA Computermuseum UvA Computermuseum Did anybody make any experiences with this? I am grateful for any suggestions and/or recommendations. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: DJ11 Maintenance Manual available
Noel, there seems to be a copy of the maintenance manual in the unibus-folder on bitsavers: EK-DJ11-MM-003_DJ11_Maint_Man_Aug76.pdf Would be worth checking the document revision. What is missing, however, is an engineering manual with the schematics. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Dienstag, 24. September 2019, 18:22:55 MESZ hat Noel Chiappa via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: So, I have a copy of the maintenance manual for the DJ11; is this something anyone needs?n If so, I'll move it up the scan queue. Noel
Re: DEC RP04 service manual available
Hi Noel, I am very glad that you're the one who put hands on it. I planned to get it with the same intention to scan it for bitsavers, but then I got distracted and missed it! Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Mittwoch, 18. September 2019, 20:33:44 MESZ hat Noel Chiappa via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: So I have just acquired a copy of the service manual for the RP04 drive (ISS model 733). Does anyone have an immediate need to look at this? If so, I can put it on the top of the 'to scan' stack. Noel
Re: SMD disks
Al,thanks a million for having uploaded the Super Eagle manual. I had been looking for a long time for it! Best regards,Pierre -http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Freitag, 30. August 2019, 18:03:34 GMT-7 hat Al Kossow via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: On 8/30/19 12:50 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote: > Talking about such drives, did anybody ever come across some manuals for the > Super Eagles M2361A? Just uploaded it to bitsavers
Re: SMD disks
Hi Alan, >3. The system "ran when parked" about a dozen years ago, but it was left >in an open barn after that. How likely is it that the disks will work >and be readable? One is a Fujitsu M2333; don't recall what they other >one is. > Alan, I have a few of these drives of which two were stored in a humid environment before I got them. There was rust everywhere... After a bit of cleaning, they both worked fine, formatting and checking was successful. In my experience, the 8" Fujitsu SMD drives are rock-solid, all of my drives work, never had issues, even after years of storage. It's a very different story with the 10.5" Fujitsu Super Eagles... Talking about such drives, did anybody ever come across some manuals for the Super Eages M2361A? There are M2351 Eagle manuals online, but not for the Super Eagles which are different. Never came across a paper version, either. Best regards, Pierre
Control Data 9766 drive on epay
Hi list, Just came across this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Computing-CDC-Magnetic-Peripherals-Control-Data-9766-Storage-Module/143351908424?hash=item2160708848:g:3yEAAOSw1oJdTo9u Haven't seen one listed in years. The price lets me assume that this offer addresses customers that may use these drives in a production environment or so... I am not aware of museums or hobbyists who have such drives currently in a functional state to read and write from and to 80MB (CDC 9762) or 300MB (CDC 9766) disk packs. Maybe the CHM? ... not taking into consideration the CHM activities related to the Xerox disk cartidge (2315-equivalent) software archive project. Anybody out there? Would be interesting to know. Best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: looking for a 7-track reel tape controller
Hello Paul, thanks a lot for your hint to the DEC controller. I wasn't aware that the TM11, TMA11 and TMB11 controllers can handle 9-track as well as 7-track NRZI-encoded tape drives. However, all these controllers seem to be very rare in the public out there. Not too surprising considering that DEC TU and TS tape drives themselves are rare and that 7-track tape drives were soon replaced by 9-track tape technology in the early days. With best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Dienstag, 6. August 2019, 19:49:14 MESZ hat P Gebhardt Folgendes geschrieben: Hello Paul, thanks a lot for your hint to the DEC controller. I wasn't aware that the TM11, TMA11 and TMB11 controllers can handle 9-track as well as 7-track NRZI-encoded tape drives. However, all these controllers seem to be very rare in the public out there. Not too surprising considering that DEC TU and TS tape drives themselves are rare and that 7-track tape drives were soon replaced by 9-track tape technology in the early days. With best regards, Pierre - http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Freitag, 2. August 2019, 07:04:02 MESZ hat Paul Koning via cctech Folgendes geschrieben: It may depend more on what kind of tape drive you have. The DEC TU10 controller handles both 7 and 9 track tapes. paul
looking for a 7-track reel tape controller
Hello list, I have been looking for years for a q-bus or unibus-based disk controller that is able to handle 7-track drives (NRZI encoding). So far, I only located one controller type which handles that: Dilog DQ120 or DU120 and I never came across any. Any other suggestions regarding controller types?Contact me off-list if you are happy to part any 7-track tape controller with me. That would be very much appreciated :) Best regards,Pierre -http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Pleas ID this IBM system....
wow! ...Hopefully some larger museums or seriously envolved hobbyists within Germany can take care of this piece of history to save this nice piece of computer history. --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Samstag, 6. April 2019, 16:04:26 MESZ hat jos via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: The seller clearly has no idea, but the starting price is right ! https://www.ebay.de/itm/seltene-Anlage-Puma-Computer-IBM-2020/202646831828?hash=item2f2eb142d4:g:izoAAOSwhV1cpw Jos
Re: Data books available in Aachen
Hi Al, I work at the RWTH Aachen and will contact him. I'd be happy to save the books from being thrown away. All the best, Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Montag, 22. Oktober 2018, 15:54:28 MESZ hat Al Kossow via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: I received this message this morning, if someone in Germany would like a data book collection "The computer club at the RWTH Aachen University has to move from a larger collection of semiconductor data books. These are 2..3 steel cabinets full of data books of various manufacturers, for which there is no more space in the new premises. I have seen your website and that you are dealing with the archiving / digitization of such books. Would you be interested in taking over this data book inventory? You would otherwise have to go to the waste paper ..." -- From: Alfred Arnold Guten Tag, der Computerclub an der RWTH Aachen muß sich im Zuge eines Umzugs von einer größeren Sammlung an Halbleiter-Datenbüchern trennen. Dabei handelt es sich um 2..3 Stahlschränke voll von Datenbüchern verschiedenster Hersteller, für die in den neuen Räumlichkeiten kein Platz mehr ist. Ich habe Ihre Webseite gesehen und daß Sie sich mit der Archivierung/Digitalisierung solcher Bücher beschäftigen. Bestünde eventuell Interesse an der Übernahme dieses Datenbuch-Bestandes? Sie müßten wohl ansonsten ins Altpapier gehen... Viele Grüße Alfred Arnold -- Alfred Arnold E-Mail: alf...@ccac.rwth-aachen.de Computer Club at the http://john.ccac.rwth-aachen.de:8000/alf/ Technical University Phone: +49-241-406526 of Aachen
Re: 1970s CDC disk drive (Craigslist, Washington DC)
it's too bad that I am on the other side of the great pond . I would have been very interested in it :-( Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de Chuck Guzis via cctalk schrieb am Mo, 22.10.2018: Betreff: Re: 1970s CDC disk drive (Craigslist, Washington DC) An: "Ken Shirriff via cctalk" Datum: Montag, 22. Oktober, 2018 08:16 Uhr On 10/21/18 7:12 PM, Ken Shirriff via cctalk wrote: > Someone pointed out this CDC disk drive on Craigslist in the Washington DC > area: > https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/zip/d/early-computer-era-rolling/6728728220.html > > I have no connection to this, and don't know anything about it, but figured > someone on cctalk might want to pick it up, rather than it getting scrapped. > Looks like a 9746. --Chuck
Re: Looking for two DEC H445 power bricks for PDP 11/40 project
> >Am Dienstag, 18. September 2018, 16:27:49 MESZ hat Noel Chiappa > Folgendes >geschrieben: > > > > > > > From: Pierre Gebhardt > > > As I don't have core memory modules available, I thought of using MS11 > > memory, which, according to my research, seems to be an option for > > 11/40 systems. > >Err, which kind of MS11? There are lots of different ones: > > http://gunkies.org/wiki/MS11 > >and they don't all work in every UNIBUS PDP-11! > >Your options are the -E/-J group, and the -L, but the latter are a bit hard >to find, and expensive. (There may be non-DEC equivalents, but I don't know >about them.) They all need a MUD backplane such as the DD11-C or DD11-D. Indeed, these are MS11-LB boards, but I don't know yet, if they work. Got them a long time ago with a bunch of other untested unibus boards. With the BA11-F enclosure actually came a DD11-DK backplane. On Henk's website, I saw that one of his systems also has a DD11-DK backplane mounted in it despite the shorter cable lengths compared to a DD11-DF according to what Paul Anderson wrote. I will have a look at this as soon as I have time and will extend the cables accordingly, if required. Thanks a lot for all the great hints provided so far by the list member :) All the best, Pierre
Re: Looking for two DEC H445 power bricks for PDP 11/40 project
> > From: Henk Gooijen > > > As far as I know, the 11/40 uses only one H745. > >Depends on what kind of memory it has. If MF11-L, it has two H745's; if >MM11-U, it has an H745 and an H754. > >(The harness has two different connectors for the 5th 'brick', so it can >handle either kind. At least, that's the situation on the later machines >[serial numbers above 6000]; early production /40's only support the MF11-L, >and you have to use special add-on harnesses to support an MF11-U in them; >see DEC-11-H40SA-B-D, Chapter 6 for the details.) As I don't have core memory modules available, I thought of using MS11 memory, which, according to my research, seems to be an option for 11/40 systems. The system manual states on page 6-7 that the base power configuration consists of two H745 regulators and that one may be swapped with a H754 in case MF11-U memory is used. Does that mean that a single H745 regulator might be sufficient for my needs? All the best, Pierre
Re: Looking for two DEC H445 power bricks for PDP 11/40 project
Hello Noel, thanks for your quick reply. There are indeed some DEC power brick models on epay, but none regarding the H745. All the best, Pierre > From: Pierre Gebhardt > two H745 bricks (delivering -15V) which are still missing. I'd be very > happy, if anybody could consider parting with one or two. Location is > in Germany. There should be some on eBait; mildly expensive, but if you get them from the US, the shipping is going to be a fair amount anyway... Noel
Looking for two DEC H445 power bricks for PDP 11/40 project
Hello list, last year, I was able to obtain a BA11-F chassis for my PDP 11/40 build-up project. The power supply to run a system in basic configuration is complete except for two H745 bricks (delivering -15V) which are still missing. I'd be very happy, if anybody could consider parting with one or two. Location is in Germany. Please contact me off-list. Thanks a lot in advance for anybody of you helping me to work towards a running my first very classic PDP-11! Best regards,Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Whence 556?
Hi all, thanks, Chuck, for pointing to my website with the 604 drive, but it's currently offline as I am required to update the disclaimer part. This is required, since in Europe,a new law for data protection was introduced on Friday, 25th of May. I plan to put the website back online this weekend. All the best, Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de Am Montag, 4. Juni 2018, 23:15:10 MESZ hat Chuck Guzis via cctalk Folgendes geschrieben: On 06/04/2018 11:20 AM, Rich Alderson via cctalk wrote: > For decades, I remembered the lowest density for magnetic tapes as 225 > bits/in, > not 200. I have never been able to find the number "225" in any manual since > starting the project which became the museum 15 years ago (sob!), but it still > hangs around in my mind and pings whenever I see "200BPI" mentioned. Nope. I've seen 248 mentioned and I have period-specific tapes that are declared to be 200 bpi on the label and then there's this: http://www.digitalheritage.de/peripherals/cdc/604/604.htm Note the density indicators on this panel from a CDC 604. --Chuck
towards a working PDP: Anyone has a PDP 11/35 or PDP11/40 panel for $$$ to offer?
Hello all, As I never came across a complete unit of an early PDP-11 with lights-and-switches console, I decided 5-6 years ago to figure out, if I can't build one of out of different parts. It seemed possible to get there if I focus on parts for a 11/35 or 11/40. 5 years ago, I came accross a backplane for such as system. Two years later, I was lucky to purchase an almost complete board set (one board missing, the M7232) from another classic computer enthusiast. Last year, I got a BA11-F chassis with the power supply. Over all those years, I looked out for a 11/35 or 11/40 panel (KY11-D), but I never was lucky to come accross one.On epay US, somebody is offering the plain PCB, but the seller says that he cannot ship to Europe :-( My frustation pushes me now to ask, if anybody on this list has such a panel with the electronics board that he would consider to offer me for some $$$ to help me building a complete machine? I don't mind the panel color, e.g., if it's from a front-end PDP-11 of some bigger DEC system, or if the silkscreen is damaged or even missing. It would be great for me to get an early PDP-11 up and running and connect it to peripherals such as an RK07 that are in my collection. I am located in Germany. Contact me off-list, if you have something to offer, please. Best regards,Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Control Data 841 disk drive's 3-phase power supply resurrection
>The claim about the "only CDC disk drive with hydraulic positioner" is >false. Starting with the Bryant 6603, I believe that the 808 and very >rare 821 also used hydraulics. Voice-coil positioners started to be >used with the 844 drives. I don't recall what the 854 used, as it >wasn't very common on big CDC iron. > >--Chuck Chuck, thanks a lot for your reply and for these insights! I indeed wasn't aware that within CDC, the 808 and 821 worked-with hydraulics, too. I will update the description on the web accordingly!The 85x drives don't use a hydraulic positioner. To my understanding, they used a solenoid and a carriage assembly that is controlled by a photo-cell, -transistor and a timing wheel with slots. All the best,Pierre
Control Data 841 disk drive's 3-phase power supply resurrection
Hello list, currently, I am in the process of trying to bring back to life a disk drive installation from Control Data known as "841 Multiple Disk Drive" ( MDD ). From the early '70s. It uses hydraulic disk head actuators! Pictures of the subsystem are here: http://www.digitalheritage.de/peripherals/cdc/841/841.htm I started with the power supply. Most of the electrolytic capacitors need to be reformed which is being done. As far as I know, some computer installations used 400Hz 3-phase back in the days. Does anybody know, if that is the case for this type of drive systems? I couldn't find any indication so far, except for the input filter that supports up to 400Hz (written on it). I've quite some experience with old linear power supplies, but never worked with three-phase supplies, yet. Has anybody experience with this? Anything particular to be considered? There is an operator's manual, but there don't seem to be manuals or schematics about this type of CDC drive nor on bitsavers, neither elsewhere on the net. How could help me in pointing out where to get these? A lot of questions, I know :) Thanks a lot for any of your precious help, Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: eBay: MEMOREX 3693-2 & 3690-2 Disc Drive Mainframe IBM 3370-2 VINTAGE
>eBay: MEMOREX 3693-2 & 3690-2 Disc Drive Mainframe IBM 3370-2 VINTAGE > >No connection to the seller, but they mention it will be scrapped if no >takers. $150 Buy it now. >https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MEMOREX-3693-2-3690-2-Disc-Drive-Mainframe-IBM-3370-2-VINTAGE/272983151498 >or eBay item number: 272983151498 > >Steve. I saw that one today, too! If it wouldn't be across the great pond, then I would try to save these drives from being scrapped.It would be a real shame if nobody could take them. This Memorex equipment is very rare to come across. All the best,Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de
Re: Anybody has Control Data (CDC) disk packs for 841 and 844 disk drives to spare with?
Hello Al, >> The surfaces of the disk packs of type 9871 or 871 that came with it where >> corroded and are not usable anymore. > >Did you keep them? > >The platters can be replaced with ones from the single-platter IBM 2315 (ie. >RK05) and use similar head technology which is pretty rugged. > Yes, I kept the disk packs. However, I guess that one need to have special alignment tools to replace single platters of a disk pack. Or is a reformat enough, as long as the servo disk surface is error-free and available? >The two drives you have are equivalent to IBM 2311 and 2314, which both use >hydraulic actuators. > I didn't know that they were equivalent! Are you sure it's the drives themselves that are equivalent between IBM and CDC, not the disk pack specs for both drives? I assumed that the IBM and CDC drives wth hydraulic actuators were independent developments... >We were constrained at the time by what we could take from Dortmund. As it was >it was a very expensive move. >I'm glad that so much of what we couldn't take was saved. >From what I found regarding remaining documents hidden inside some cabinets in >Dortmund, I scanned them in already and most of them were uploaded to >bitsavers in the past. All the best, Pierre
Anybody has Control Data (CDC) disk packs for 841 and 844 disk drives to spare with?
Hello everybody, recently, there was an US epay auction with a CDC 849 disk pack. http://www.ebay.com/itm/292129988099 This pack is for the early CDC 851/852 disk storage drives and thus not of interest for me, as the packs I am looking for my 854 drive have a different amount of sectors per track and these packs are numbered: 9851 or 851. Here's a link to the drive that I'd like to restore some day: http://www.digitalheritage.de/peripherals/cdc/854/854.htm Same question regarding the 841 Multiple Disk Drive in the collection: http://www.digitalheritage.de/peripherals/cdc/841/841.htm The surfaces of the disk packs of type 9871 or 871 that came with it where corroded and are not usable anymore. These packs and the drives seem rare and though I've been looking for these for some years now, I don't came across them :-( Thus my question to anybody having disk packs of these types: Would you spare a disk pack, even if in unknown working condition? I am located in Germany. Thanks in advance for getting in contact with me! All the best, Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de
Help needed: Identifying the right RK611 <-> RK06/RK07 cabling
Hello list, Paul Anderson and myself are trying to figure out the available cabling options that allow to connect an RK611 controller to RK06/RK07 drives. To my knowledge, there is the possibility to get a drive connect via: RK611 <-> flat cable <-> cabinet transition bracket <-> round cable <-> RK06/07 The part numbers I found so far: Flat cable: BC-06R-xx round cable: 70-12292 or BC23Z-xx The transition bracket's PN is 70-12415 and is the same as for RL01/RL02 configurations. The round cable with same connectors as used for RL01/02 cannot be used for RK06/07 as not all cables are wired to the connectors. But a RK06/07 cable can be used for RL01/RL02. Can the BC-06R also be used for RL01/RL02? Apparently, there are also direct cable connections between RK611 and RK06/07 existing. In that case, no transition bracket is needed. BC80M shielded: RK611 to first drive ... and the cable required to connect two RK07/07 drives: BC17Eshielded Can anybody help us in confirming and correcting us regarding the cabling configurations and the part numbers? Thanks a lot for your help! Have a nice Sunday, Pierre --- Pierre's collection of classic computers moved to: http://www.digitalheritage.de
