- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

ZAPPLE 8080 monitor
by Bill Degnan 02 May '22

02 May '22

Does anyone have a copy of the 8080 version of the ZAPPLE monitor, presumably still called the APPLE monitor program? Bill

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VCF East Clinic kudos
by Crawford Griffith 02 May '22

02 May '22

Folks, I have to give a public Shout Out / Thank You to Jonathan Chapman and Glitch Works for the VCF East 2022 workshop / S-100 Clinic. Jonathan worked tirelessly to get kits built, and S-100 systems fixed, while being incredibly patient even with newbies, tough customers, and some idiot who clogged his desolder station. Highlights were: * Simply seeing 3 IMSAI’s (mine included) in a row on the CDL workbench with one early Altair was a treat. Ryan, Dmitry, and I got to see what other configurations the IMSAI’s had, and swapped known-good parts between us for testing. * Seeing a young woman come in, never having soldered before and seeing her first do a learners kit, then a full-on Glitch project. There was also another young woman there later (Connor’s friend) also doing a kit. * Just seeing people walk in, and say “so, what is all this”? and talk a bit about the CDL, and what we were working on. (Tip for introverts, the end of the front workbench nearest the door make you spokesperson pro tem) Jonathan’s expertise is hard to overstate, and he got my IMSAI operational. Jonathan did all the troubleshooting, and brought up the IMSAI power supply slowly so the electrolytic caps didn’t get all explodey I swapped out some known-bad front-panel switches, then the fun began. I recall there being at least a few badly tarnished TTL chips, and a bad one-shot chip. At least two bad IC sockets, one of which was under front-panel switches - Jonathan showed how the socket could be removed without major surgery. Dmitry loaned a 3 voltage / current limited power supply so boards could be tested *before* plugging into the IMSAI bus. In the end, I had a basic operational system, which is fantastic. Jonathan identified some of my mystery s-100 boards, procured at Trenton ages ago. In fact Ryan had one of them also to test, a video terminal board. Ryan also loaned me his front panel as a swap test, and the extra pair of hands needed for lucite cover re-installation. So, thanks Jon/Glitch! I promise to never clog up your Hakko desolder station ever again! -Crawford

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S-100 linear power supplies
by Martin Flynn 02 May '22

02 May '22

CDL is planning to stock capacitors for linear S-100 power supplies. Looking for suggestions on the values for the 8 volt and +/- 16V rails Martin

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East Clinic kudos
by David Gesswein 02 May '22

02 May '22

On Sun, May 01, 2022 at 10:57:16AM +0000, Alexander Pierson via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > While the Nova wasn't 100% after that, it wasn't trying to self-destruct > any more. > Did you find out later what the problem was?

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About that previous message concerning NJ Transit
by Gregg Levine 29 Apr '22

29 Apr '22

Hello! I believe group I was a little rude regarding the bollixed NJ Transit schedule. According to them, the reason why my train for last weekend was deleted was for their work on a bridge. And of course they completely forgot that they were still showing only last year's schedules everywhere. Anyway based, on what I normally work on, I've decided that unless circumstances change, I won't be at the next scheduled repair weekend for NJ. ----- Gregg C Levine gregg.drwho8(a)gmail.com "This signature fought the Time Wars, time and again."

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NJ Transit schedules mixup
by Gregg Levine 29 Apr '22

29 Apr '22

Hello! I am now aware that NJ Transit has gone ahead and created schedules that still do not make sense. For example they show a PDF for 3/26/2020 schedule that contains information I would have used to work out how to get to Belmar and then to Infoage for VCF East last week that would have gotten me there on time. And if that schedule was available in hardcopy last week. Then they still had the ones up from the last part of last year. So as of today Thursday, unless circumstances change that confirm I should be where InfoAge and the CDL location is on the weekend, I am still off for the coming one in July there. ----- Gregg C Levine gregg.drwho8(a)gmail.com "This signature fought the Time Wars, time and again."

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Great Commodore Related moments for me at VCF 2022,
by Christian Liendo 29 Apr '22

29 Apr '22

I wanted to share some great moments for me from VCF 2022. I owned a C64, Amiga 500, Amiga 2000 and Amiga 3000, I worked in an Amiga only store and I worked on their ad campaign. So for me this was a big deal. Where do I start? Albert Charpentier was sitting in the small couch area in building 9010D and he was talking about his history and what he did at Commodore. Why he designed what he did and what he did afterwards. It was wonderful. Some small tidbits: He designed the VIC because he liked video games. I thought that was a great bit of trivia. He wanted to make a "Commodore 80" and he wanted to use an Intel Chip. He never heard of the C64 being called the "VW Beetle" of computers and was surprised with all the people making clones. He knew the VIC-20 and C64 were big sellers but didn't seem to realize the impact to so many people. I have to say, the staff from Commodore really don't know how much of an impact their work did. Later on I took him to see the Univac and he was very impressed. He was also impressed by the PDP-8. He had worked on a PDP-8 at one time and was surprised to see one At the Commodore Panel Hedley Davis admitted they didn't like the look of the Amiga 2000. Personally I like the A2000 case but they explained that the A3000 was an aesthetic choice. I also didn't know about the joystick design issue they had. I also realized I want to buy Andy Finkel's shirt collection.

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Has anyone thought of the VCFED hosting a Mastodon instance?
by Dan FitzGerald 28 Apr '22

28 Apr '22

Look, I know that this probably going nowhere, but there is currently an interest in people posting to something other than Twitter because of Elon Musk. I've been on Mastodon for a couple of years, and it has its flaws, but a VCFED Mastodon instance wouldn't be the worst idea on the planet. One of the flaws with Mastodon is that its like Twitter if it was open-protocol and made up of clusters of special interest groups. If we had a VCFED Mastodon open only to members of VCFED (we could make membership to this mailing list a prereq to joining the instance), then the instance's local timeline would be full of posts from this community. As opposed to the tech.lgbt instance I am on, where the local timeline are just a bunch of people that happen to be queer like me... I feel like a timeline full of folks I just spent three days sharing an exhibit hall with would be more of an actual community. Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Apple II Classroom - Thank you and a challenge
by Adam Michlin 27 Apr '22

27 Apr '22

Hi Everyone, On behalf of Tony Bogan, Javier Rivera, Stephen Edwards, Dean Notarnicola and myself, we would like to thank everyone for making the Apple II Classroom such a wonderful success. Almost every class was overflowing all three days! We have all talked and would like to publicly challenge the Commodore community to create a Commodore classroom at VCF East 2023! Best wishes, -Adam

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My VCF East 2022 Polaroids are online
by Dan FitzGerald 27 Apr '22

27 Apr '22

Here ya go, there's eight of them and one of my cat. Cheers! https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzMkYL id="-x-evo-selection-start-marker"> Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Replacing keyswitches on a Macintosh Plus keyboard
by Herb Johnson 27 Apr '22

27 Apr '22

Dan FitzGerald: > that the keyboard was still plugged into my Mac 512Ke, and it fell of > the desk and the top rightmost keyswitches ('/' and '*') snapped. The OK, I can help you but you have to help me. The M0110A keyboard for the Plus and 512KE has a numeric keypad on the right with the keycaps you describe. The M0110 "short" keyboard for the 128K and 512K does not. Point one: you have the long keyboard right? https://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0110A Point two: there's no "standards" when it comes to keyboards, OK? Brand, model, where it was built, when it was built - those come into play. For expediency, I'll just ask you identifying questions. A) what color is the broken *keystem*? Creamy white? Ivory white? Black? b) what color is the *keycap*? Grey/platinum or brown/tan/beige? I can likely supply you at InfoAge, keyswitch and keycaps on Saturday to you in hand, if you inform me before Friday midnight. OK? Plan B: I find out Saturday and provide parts Sunday. With parts in hand you can visit with Jon Chapman at the CDL lab at InfoAge and repair the keyboard in some short period of time. Please reply privately to me so we can work this. Regards, Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net

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Vintage Computer Festival -- Happy 25th - 2022
by Andrew Diller 27 Apr '22

27 Apr '22

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Vintage Computer Festival The very first one was held on October 26-27, 1997, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California. More information will be forth coming as I continue my research about the history and formation of VCF (the Festival _and_ the Federation). I'm imagining that West may emphasis the anniversary since that is were it all began. -andy

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2022 VCFE AV Thanks and notes!
by Ethan O'Toole 26 Apr '22

26 Apr '22

Much thanks to people who helped out with the AV stuff this year. In no specific order, Shawn Holtom, Ben Dressler, Reggie Waters, Jason Perkins, Glitch and anyone I might of forgotten by accident (still recovering from the weekend!) Thanks to MAGFest for letting us borrow the pipe and drape system used behind stage and the ellipsoidal spotlights. A VCFE 2022 AV system diagram for those curious (95% accurate): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1szUFTQiNCdlRVvHh58kI6bYRSK-ARHJm/view?usp=…

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My Commodore Classroom story
by Kelly Leavitt 26 Apr '22

26 Apr '22

Back in 1982, as I was going into my junior year of high school, I moved to a new school district in rural New Jersey. The one I moved from (Vernon Township) had one Apple II plus computer and a link to an HP9000 time share using paper ttys. That was it for their computer program. The one I move too (High Point Regional High School) had a very different setup. They had just moved from independent TRS-80 model III computers to a new room of twelve Commodore Super Pet 9000s with shared 8050 disk drives. They were offering a BASIC class for interested students. Since I had been programming in BASIC since 1980 (that's a separate story*), they let me test out of that and then do an independent study of Pascal. What I actually did was mess around with peek, poke and what little assembly I knew while learning just enough Pascal on my own. The Super Pet 9000 is well documented at the following two sites: http://zimmers.net/cbmpics/csp9000.html and http://www.6502.org/users/andre/petindex/superpet.html I never hear too much about these setups but this is what I had to work with. I'd be happy to help out with a PET classroom, but I don't have any PET 9000s. Kelly PS * Separate story on how I got involved with computers in the first place... I was playing PeeWee football. Through a freak tackle I ended up breaking my kneecap at the end of 7th grade. I was on crutches and then rehab for two years. They had nothing to do with me for the required PE class. However, the school had just gotten a grant for an Apple II plus. They asked me if I wanted to learn about it, so I did. I sat in the equivalent of a closet for two years reading about the Apple II and basic programming. Funny how my first two computers were NOT TRS-80s but that's what I like the most.

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VCF East 2022 Wrap-up
by Jeffrey Brace 26 Apr '22

26 Apr '22

Hello everyone, VCF East 2022 was a great success! Initial reports indicate that financially we recouped our large expenses this year. Everyone that I ran into seemed very pleased with all aspects of the show and thanked me for all my hardwork and dedication for making this show great. The talks were diverse and top notch, the consignment was very profitable and great treasures to be found, the food on site was appreciated, the exhibits were incredibly exciting, lots of cool VCF Swag to be bought and the comradery was fun. I want to thank everyone who volunteered and helped me with the planning, setup and breakdown of the show. I spent countless hours planning for this show over the weeks and months before the show. Despite the huge amount of time and dedication that I put into this show by myself, I would not be able to make this show happen without the volunteers. The quality of the show has been improved due to the volunteers such as the Sea Cadets and all the individuals who made my job easier and improved the quality of the show overall. For me, this is a part time job in the months leading up to this show and a full time job the week before the show. I want to thank Bill and Rick who helped me plan for hours every week ahead of the show. Bill is my right hand man who helps set up the signs, docenting at the museum and with anything that I need, before, during and after the show. Rick helped with the planning and the survey as well as setup, docent duty and breakdown after the show. The Sea Cadets were incredibly helpful with crowd management and helping in all areas of the show. I want to thank Alex for organizing the volunteers and running the consignment. They brought consignment up to a new level with a Point of Sale System, setting up storage carts for a less crowded room, labeling for items, spreadsheet inventory and many other tweaks. Thanks to Corey for running the front desk, helping with setup and breakdown of it. I felt relaxed to know that he would have everything running there smoothly. Jason was great in setting up the tables, managing the exhibitors and for making the campus map as well as Lawson for making the exhibitor map. Ethan O and crew for bringing the A/V to an even higher level of professionalism. They were so good last year, but were even better this year! Thanks to Adam and Tony for setup and teaching and all the instructors for doing the Apple 2 classroom. It was very successful. Glitch had another incredible workshop and adjusted nicely due to lack of kits by making it an S-100 repair workshop. Chris L for helping where I needed at the front gate, breakdown, etc. Chris F for being the speaker coordinator and all the other people who helped with the day before, during and after the show. I was very glad to be able to go home "early" on Sunday by 10PM due to help with breakdown. I'm usually there until 2AM and come back Monday for several hours to clean up. Thanks to all the great speakers for such diverse, interesting and enjoyable talks. Thanks especially to Bil Herd for wrangling 12 Commodore speakers together in one spot. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see so many of them in one spot. Thanks to all the Commodorians who came. You will never see this happen again. Thanks to Burger Becky for such incredible talks. Thanks to Kathy Kleiman for a fun interactive talk. Thanks to Stephen Edwards for moderating the technical talks with the Commodore folks. Thanks to all the in-person and virtual speakers who had diverse and fun talks. All the steamed talks were made private so that we have a chance to clean up the videos and release them as separate talks. We need some time to edit and process them before releasing them. Our next year's show will be April 14, 15 and 16, 2023 back at InfoAge. There will be two themes for this show. The first is: Computing in Education. The second theme will be announced shortly. I hope to see everyone again next year for an incredibly fantastic show! Jeff Brace Showrunner for Vintage Computer Festival East

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The Commodore panels were off the hook.
by Christian Liendo 26 Apr '22

26 Apr '22

I'm sorry for singling out those panels. For me, those Commodore panels were amazing. They were something we wish we had when Commodore was around and had to wait 40 years. I don't know how to properly thank Bil Herd in getting all those people there. But that was a historical moment that I predict people will be talking about for a while. I have a lot of good Vintage Computer Fest Stories and this will go with them, I got to learn a lot of great trivia and met a lot of good people. Also it was great to see all the people I know.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Green Modem/Phone in consignment
by Jeff S 26 Apr '22

26 Apr '22

Didn't Connor buy that at a discount in the last hour or two? On Mon, Apr 25, 2022, 1:29 PM Jeffrey Golas via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Does anyone know if the green modem/RCA phone pair that were on the first > table sold at all? (AlexJ would prob know but I dont have his contact info) > > Jeff

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Show
by Jeffrey Brace 25 Apr '22

25 Apr '22

On Sat, Apr 23, 2022 at 6:34 PM Bob Aviles via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Hi All, > I enjoy the show today, I got a couple of things mostly software and one > joystick. I ready like the talk about Commodore to Atari ST it was a lot of > fun!Anyway can not wait until next year. > Bobby Glad to hear that you enjoyed it! Planning for next year! > -- ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Green Modem/Phone in consignment
by Jeffrey Golas 25 Apr '22

25 Apr '22

Does anyone know if the green modem/RCA phone pair that were on the first table sold at all? (AlexJ would prob know but I dont have his contact info) Jeff

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KSUs from free pile
by Jason Perkins 24 Apr '22

24 Apr '22

Whoever took the phone system / KSUs from the free pile... you left the phones. Without them the system won't work. Please grab them, they're in the free pile. Also, a friend was interested the blue / green TIE KSU. The TalkTo is higher quality, think you'd be happy with just one? Thanks, -- Jason Perkins 313 355 0085 Sent from my iPhone

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Sunday afternoon: from the Sarnoff Collection: Vinyl Videos Opening Reception and Zoom/In-Person Informal Discussion
by Jeffrey Jonas 24 Apr '22

24 Apr '22

For folks not enjoying VCF-East in person, on channel 2 is a webcast from the RCA Sarnoff Museum: https://davidsarnoff.tcnj.edu/2022/04/18/vinyl-videos-opening-reception-and… The Sarnoff Collection Vinyl Videos Opening Reception and Zoom/In-Person Informal Discussion April 24, 2022: Reception 1pm; Zoom/In-Person Informal Discussion 2-3:30pm Vinyl Videos: The Rise and Fall of the RCA Videodisc on view through November \xe2\x80\x94 examines the creation, introduction, and fate of an innovative RCA commercial product line. On Sunday April 24, to mark the opening of the exhibit, the Sarnoff welcomes campus and community friends to a public reception (1pm) followed by a live/Zoom conversation (2-3:30pm) among Videodisc project leaders and scholars and historians of science, technology. and innovation. Presented live and via Zoom No reservations necessary To attend via Zoom: https://tcnj.zoom.us/j/92539097242?pwd=VDUxeTBDYXJYT2xidmIyTlRjbFlmUT09 Participants include Dr. Margaret Graham, author, The Business of Research: RCA and The Videodisc; Dr. Benjamin Gross, author, The TVs of Tomorrow: How RCA\xe2\x80\x99s Flat-Screen Dreams Led to the First LCDs; Dr. John A. van Raalte, lead RCA Videodisc researcher; Brian Wallace, curator, Sarnoff Collection. Flori Pierri, assistant curator at the MIT Museum, will moderate the conversation. Vinyl Videos: The Rise and Fall of the RCA Videodisc The RCA Videodisc system \xe2\x80\x93 along with the story of its creation, introduction, and impact on the RCA corporation \xe2\x80\x93 embodies the curious power and fragility of corporate innovation. This exhibit uses objects, images, and documents from the Sarnoff archives along with first-hand and scholarly accounts of this product\xe2\x80\x99s development and demise to examine the complex relationships between basic research, business decision-making, and product development and marketing. For much of the 20th century, RCA defined and dominated the fields of communication, information, and entertainment. RCA created products and provided the capital needed to manufacture and market those products and the highly-desirable content that drove sales of those products: record players and a vast catalog of music; radio and its multitude of broadcast programs; black and white and then color television and that medium\xe2\x80\x99s broad range of programs. Implicit in this success was the need to combine the next innovation with the next market niche and continue the cycle. In 1964, company executives decided to focus on the pursuit of a commercially viable video playback. 1972, RCA announced that a product named Videodisc would be on the market the following year. However, that year and then several more years passed, as difficulties crept into the development process. Some problems were research-based or technical. Some were rooted in a poor understanding of the home user: early designs failed to account for damage from fingerprints, dust, and scratches. Other problems are best characterized as poor leadership followed by sub-optimal responses: some executives ignored the greater status afforded to researchers at the more theoretical end of the spectrum (and to managers in the greater New York/Princeton area as opposed to in Indiana and elsewhere in the mid-West). Research and test work continued through the mid and late 1970s. Variations to disc materials and design and in the approach to needle/cartridge materials, a plastic sleeve totally enclosing the disc, and simplified and smaller player design all contributed to a new line of devices and programs set to drive a new mutually-reinforcing category of sales that built on, rather than cannibalized, the market for televisions. The Videodisc system was introduced in March 1981, promoted heavily for two years, sold poorly, and pulled from the market in 1984. RCA itself was sold to rival General Electric in 1987 in a deal that cost shareholders, workers, and pensioners billions in today\xe2\x80\x99s dollars. What went wrong? VHS videotape, introduced a crucial few months before Videodisc, offered a hard-to-define physical convenience, a lower sale price, and the availability of a rapidly increasing number of titles at a growing number of retail stores. As well, videotape allowed consumers to record programming to be played back at their convenience (a behavior unanticipated by RCA marketing research) \xe2\x80\x93 and it initiated a boom in renting, not selling, of content (another behavior RCA failed to envision). RCA, at this key moment, was also struggling to adapt to an increasingly global business environment, grappling with its own capital and labor issues, and only slowly \xe2\x80\x93 too slowly, as it turned out \xe2\x80\x93 coming to terms with the impact its acquisition and subsequent sale of large corporate units unrelated to its core industries had on the long-term health of the organization. This program is made possible in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission and the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] enjoyed the show today
by Jeffrey Brace 24 Apr '22

24 Apr '22

On Sat, Apr 23, 2022 at 7:20 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > I enjoyed the show today as well, > many more interesting things for me to see. > I was really impressed with the enigma machine and several other things as > well . > I like Eric’s display he had with sound, voice > and music with several different computers. > Kids really love that one. > > Had a really good conversation with a person from the Amiga display, I > just don’t remember his name. > > I missed the Apple Workshop unfortunately. > > I picked up several items from consignment and sold some items too which > I’m happy about. > > Met a few people that I didn’t know previously and some of the usual > people. > I believe it was a very good show. > > Mike R. Glad to hear that you could make it and enjoyed it! > > > > > > > > > Hi All, > I enjoy the show today, I got a couple of things mostly software and one > joystick. I ready like the talk about Commodore to Atari ST it was a lot of > fun!Anyway can not wait until next year. > Bobby > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Apr 23, 2022, at 6:34 PM, Bob Aviles via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > > -- ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Re: enjoyed the show today
by Sentrytv 23 Apr '22

23 Apr '22

I enjoyed the show today as well, many more interesting things for me to see. I was really impressed with the enigma machine and several other things as well . I like Eric’s display he had with sound, voice and music with several different computers. Kids really love that one. Had a really good conversation with a person from the Amiga display, I just don’t remember his name. I missed the Apple Workshop unfortunately. I picked up several items from consignment and sold some items too which I’m happy about. Met a few people that I didn’t know previously and some of the usual people. I believe it was a very good show. Mike R. Hi All, I enjoy the show today, I got a couple of things mostly software and one joystick. I ready like the talk about Commodore to Atari ST it was a lot of fun!Anyway can not wait until next year. Bobby Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > On Apr 23, 2022, at 6:34 PM, Bob Aviles via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >

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Show
by Bob Aviles 23 Apr '22

23 Apr '22

Hi All, I enjoy the show today, I got a couple of things mostly software and one joystick. I ready like the talk about Commodore to Atari ST it was a lot of fun!Anyway can not wait until next year. Bobby

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Share a ride Saturday morning from Belmar station? (or other rideshares)
by Ken 23 Apr '22

23 Apr '22

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Share a ride Saturday morning from Belmar station? (or other rideshares)
by Ken 23 Apr '22

23 Apr '22

Hi, everyone, I'll be travelling south on the North Jersey Coast train Saturday morning, aiming for 11:05am arrival in Belmar or Bradley Beach (although could turn out to be 1:05pm). Anyone else training it in and want to share a cab to InfoAge? (Ditto for getting back to train station Sunday evening, OR if any of the driving masses want to offer a short ride...) (Ditto for anyone staying in or near Point Pleasant Beach Saturday night and wants to share or offer a ride!) Travelling from Virginia for the fest via multiple train legs, can't wait! Living it up with this two-times-in-half-a-year anomaly... - Ken

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I serial cable I can borrow?
by Dan FitzGerald 21 Apr '22

21 Apr '22

Holy crow, thats a bit of a drive for me! (3.5 hours) I'll keep that in the back of my mind for the next time myself or a friend is down in the area. I do appreciate it, though. -----Original Message----- From: Bill Degnan <billdegnan(a)gmail.com> To: Dan FitzGerald <danjfitzgerald(a)comcast.net> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I serial cable I can borrow? Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2022 14:40:09 -0400 Kennett Classic Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Replacing keyswitches on a Macintosh Plus keyboard
by Dan FitzGerald 21 Apr '22

21 Apr '22

Jameel, Its fine, I can make due with the one I've got (I don't anticipate too many people playing with the '/' and '*' over the numpad). I just want to learn how to repair it properly. -----Original Message----- From: Jameel akari <jakari(a)bithose.com> To: Dan FitzGerald <danjfitzgerald(a)comcast.net> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Replacing keyswitches on a Macintosh Plus keyboard Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:23:52 -0400 What model keyboard is it? I can loan a Mac Plus KB (M0110A) that’s in reasonable condition, just needs a quick clean. Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I serial cable I can borrow?
by Dan FitzGerald 21 Apr '22

21 Apr '22

Bill, On second thought, why not bring one of your ImageWriters. Who knows if I'll need it for the display, and if there is a potential electrical problem with the one I own, then I can use your (known good) one at home instead of the one that smells like burnt electronics. Question: What is the best way to connect an Apple II Plus and a Macintosh 512Ke to the same ImageWriter II? I know that LocalTalk is out of the question because of the II Plus, so I had tried using a Mini-DIN8 data switch. I couldn't get it to work (and then it broke the ImageWriter II) -----Original Message-----From: Bill Degnan <billdegnan(a)gmail.com>To: Dan FitzGerald <danjfitzgerald(a)comcast.net>Subject: Re: [vcf- midatlantic] Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I serial cable I can borrow?Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2022 14:07:18 -0400 Sorry Dan, I don't know what chip that would be, but it may just be acoincidence. They're not going to go boom so easily unless somethingelse is already wrong electrically. On Thu, Apr 21, 2022 at 1:52 PM Dan FitzGerald< danjfitzgerald(a)comcast.net> wrote: > Bill, > Dang, I wish I had known before I bought my first ImageWriter II a > few months back :-P > I'm going to say no right now, because I have limited storage space > until I get my basement waterproofed next month. Then I can really > plan a proper computer equipment and tooling storage solution >:-) > You wouldn't happen to know what chip is the one that goes boom when > you plug the wrong type of cable into the Mini-DIN8 on the back of > the ImageWriter II, do you? As best as I could make out from a visual > inspection it was an AMD-branded IC of some sort (I didn't think it > was a processor, just an IC). > Regards,Dan FitzGeraldThey/Them/Theirs > http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger > > -----Original Message-----From: Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org>Reply-To: vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org>To: vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org>Cc: Bill Degnan <billdegnan(a)gmail.com > >Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I > serial cable I can borrow?Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2022 10:43:11 -0400 > For free at Kennett Classic - I have a number of Image Writer II's > in > good shape if you want one. > > On Wed, Apr 20, 2022 at 10:25 PM Dan FitzGerald via vcf-midatlantic > < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org > > > wrote: > > I did a dumb and blew out a chip on the Imagewriter II that I was > going > to use as part of my exhibit at VCF East this weekend. Luckily, > somebody at work gave me her old Imagewriter I and Macintosh > accessory > kit yesterday! The problem is that while I need to be able to > connect > my Mac to the printer, I *also* still need to connect my Apple II to > the printer. > > > Does anybody here have an Apple II (DB25) to Imagewriter I (DB25) > cable > that I can borrow for the weekend? > > Bonus question: Does anybody have a DB25 switchbox that I can use to > connect _two_ computers to a single printer? Otherwise I am going to > go along with my original plan of swapping the cables whenever > somebody > needs to print. > > Regards, > Dan FitzGerald > They/Them/Theirs > http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger > > Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Replacing keyswitches on a Macintosh Plus keyboard
by Dan FitzGerald 21 Apr '22

21 Apr '22

Folks, While doing a dry run for my exhibit this weekend, I (stupidly) forgot that the keyboard was still plugged into my Mac 512Ke, and it fell of the desk and the top rightmost keyswitches ('/' and '*') snapped. The keycaps came off, with the top part of the keyswitches still stuck inside. I tried to remove them with a pair of pliers, but I couldn't get a good enough grip to do so. So I used two-part epoxy to reconnect the keycaps with the broken keyswitch stems back onto the keyswitches themselves. Electrically, they work, but I don't have high hopes of this repair job holding (even through the weekend) Has anybody here had any experience with a repair of this kind? Do the Mac Plus keyboards use a standard type of keyswitch that I can just re- solder onto the board? And how the heck can I get the broken stems out of the two keycaps? Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I serial cable I can borrow?
by Dan FitzGerald 21 Apr '22

21 Apr '22

I did a dumb and blew out a chip on the Imagewriter II that I was going to use as part of my exhibit at VCF East this weekend. Luckily, somebody at work gave me her old Imagewriter I and Macintosh accessory kit yesterday! The problem is that while I need to be able to connect my Mac to the printer, I *also* still need to connect my Apple II to the printer. Does anybody here have an Apple II (DB25) to Imagewriter I (DB25) cable that I can borrow for the weekend? Bonus question: Does anybody have a DB25 switchbox that I can use to connect _two_ computers to a single printer? Otherwise I am going to go along with my original plan of swapping the cables whenever somebody needs to print. Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I serial cable I can borrow?
by Dan FitzGerald 21 Apr '22

21 Apr '22

David and Jameel, If I understood this webpage ( http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/ground.icaen.uiowa.edu/MiscInfo/Cables/Pinouts… ) correctly, I need a straight DB25 to DB25 cable. Two if I am using a switchbox. I have a DB-25 switchbox, which I had forgotten about when I wrote my initial email. I'm not sure if it will work or not so having other options would be useful. It looks like the ImageWriter I needs the following pins connected: -----Original Message-----From: David Gesswein <djg(a)pdp8online.com>To: danjfitzgerald(a)comcast.netSubject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Anyone have an Apple Imagewriter I serial cable I can borrow?Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2022 22:31:01 -0400 I have some swithboxes around and can see if I can find what you needtomorrow. Do you need particular sex on the connector and do you know if you only need the normal serial pins connected or all 25? I have generic DB25 cables but if Apple needs special pinouts I wouldn'tahve that. On Wed, Apr 20, 2022 at 10:24:10PM -0400, Dan FitzGerald via vcf- midatlantic wrote: > I did a dumb and blew out a chip on the Imagewriter II that I was > goingto use as part of my exhibit at VCF East this > weekend. Luckily,somebody at work gave me her old Imagewriter I and > Macintosh accessorykit yesterday! The problem is that while I need > to be able to connectmy Mac to the printer, I *also* still need to > connect my Apple II tothe printer. > > Does anybody here have an Apple II (DB25) to Imagewriter I (DB25) > cablethat I can borrow for the weekend? > Bonus question: Does anybody have a DB25 switchbox that I can use > toconnect _two_ computers to a single printer? Otherwise I am going > togo along with my original plan of swapping the cables whenever > somebodyneeds to print. > Regards,Dan FitzGeraldThey/Them/Theirs > http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger IMAGEWRITER I -- DB25 1 Frame Ground 2 Transmit Data (TXD) 3 Receive Data (RXD) 4 Request to Send (RTS) 7 Signal Ground (GND) 14 Fault 20 Data Terminal Ready (DTR) Regards, Dan FitzGerald They/Them/Theirs http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/dfitzger

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Travel plans
by RETRO Innovations 20 Apr '22

20 Apr '22

Since travel from Iowa to New Jersey will take about 16 hours, it seems prudent to split the trip over two days, stopping somewhere around Toledo to Cleveland. Anyone privy to options for a layover in those parts? Jim -- RETRO Innovations, Contemporary Gear for Classic Systems www.go4retro.com store.go4retro.com

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: time to downsize
by Bob Shuster 19 Apr '22

19 Apr '22

I assume those are initial release dates? (And where did you find this information?) Do we know when each of these was discontinued? Is there a serial number lookup anywhere to tell the actual date for my items? There just seems to be a dearth of online information for these systems, vs. what’s available for Apple for example. - Bob Shuster > Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2022 16:10:28 -0400 > From: Dean Notarnicola <dnotarnicola(a)gmail.com> > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: time to downsize > Message-ID: > <CAJeDMDgoQH9+J32S-GLJ0ur6ezpx3BBOqf-748yVce3sQy=3sg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Atari Mega ST4: 1987 > Atari 520ST: 1985 > Atari SM124: 1985 > Atari SC1224: 1985 > Atari SF354: 1985 > Atari SF314: 1985 > > On Mon, Apr 18, 2022 at 3:34 PM Bob Shuster via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >> Just an update on this process and some questions! I?ve gone through most >> of my Apple stuff and gone through my 8-bit Atari stuff - and now going >> through the 16-bit Atari stuff. Unlike the Apple and 8-bit Atari, I?m >> having a hard time finding much info on the 16-bit Atari systems online. >> Specifically I?m looking to date the pieces. Can anyone point me in the >> right direction? I have: Atari Mega ST4, Atari 520ST, Atari SM124, Atari >> SC1224, Atari SF354, Atari SF314. I?m having trouble even finding specific >> date ranges. Any Atari experts out there? >> >> Thanks. - Bob Shuster

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Panasonic CT-1030M for sale
by Mike Loewen 19 Apr '22

19 Apr '22

For sale: Panasonic CT-1030M color monitor. 10" Diagonal with Audio 300 lines resolution Solid-state IC chassis Automatic 75 ohm termination Comb filter Front panel push controls BNC video/8-pin VCR connectors (selectable) RCA audio connector Mfg. Date: April 1987 This monitor is in good working order, with the usual scuffs from use in a university environment. Pictures, here: http://q7.neurotica.com/Panasonic/ Best offer over $25, to be delivered at VCF East (April 22-24). Please contact me off-list with your offer. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: time to downsize
by Bob Shuster 18 Apr '22

18 Apr '22

Just an update on this process and some questions! I’ve gone through most of my Apple stuff and gone through my 8-bit Atari stuff - and now going through the 16-bit Atari stuff. Unlike the Apple and 8-bit Atari, I’m having a hard time finding much info on the 16-bit Atari systems online. Specifically I’m looking to date the pieces. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have: Atari Mega ST4, Atari 520ST, Atari SM124, Atari SC1224, Atari SF354, Atari SF314. I’m having trouble even finding specific date ranges. Any Atari experts out there? Thanks. - Bob Shuster > Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2022 16:33:17 -0500 > From: Bob Shuster <bob(a)theshusters.com> > To: vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org > Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: time to downsize > Message-ID: <C5D0CE20-2D73-45DD-84E4-5AC290FEEDD4(a)theshusters.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > Well, folks, I?ve gotten to the age where I need to seriously downsize my hobbies and collections, not wanting to leave it to my children to have to deal with in later years. (I had to do that recently for a relative.) On the electronics side, I?ve decided to concentrate on my vintage video game systems - and therefore sell off most of my vintage computer stuff. My collection includes mostly 8-bit stuff: TRS-80 Models I, IV, M100, etc. - Atari 400, 800, Stacy, Portfolio, ST, etc. - C64/VIC20 - T/S1000 (including an unbuilt kit), Apple II, II+, IIe, IIe Platinum, IIgs - Wang WLTC - Mattel Aquarius - TI-99/4A - many others that I still have to dig out - plus lots of peripherals, disks, manuals, etc. Also have some newer Macs starting with a Mac Plus in an Apple carrying bag. > > I?m starting with you guys before trying to list elsewhere, although I may hit some of the dedicated FaceBorg pages (such as for Aquarius and Apple II.) I may be willing to ship some of the software, but in general anything else will need to be picked up here (near the Fort Washington exit of the PA Turnpike) or nearby, and cash or PayPal for payment. I may also consider trades for some of the video game stuff I?m looking for. > > So - I?m not sure how to start with this. Does the group have a For Sale page where I can post photos, etc.? I?ll need to dig out each of the systems (carefully stored in my heated/cooled workshop) and test and figure out prices, but I will definitely entertain offers. For specific inquiries please email me, but for discussion of how to go about reducing my collection [and assuming the admins agree that it?s on-topic] that can be on-list. > > It pains me to do this, but the clutter is getting out of hand, and I haven?t touched most of these in years. It?s time for someone else to enjoy. > > Bob Shuster > > ------------------------------

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I won't be there on Saturday but I owe someone money for a scope
by Neil Cherry 18 Apr '22

18 Apr '22

Sorry I need to look this up but I wanted to buy another scope for the CDL. I need to figure out how to pay the person and have them leave the scope in the makerspace lab where Jonathan with be. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies

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Consignment for VCF East 2022
by Alexander Jacocks 18 Apr '22

18 Apr '22

Information follows on consignment for VCF East 2022. Drop-off for consignment is from 5:00pm until 10:00pm on Friday, April 22nd, 2022. If you cannot make this time, you may also drop off during the time that consignment is open. The hours for consignment at the upcoming VCF event will be: Saturday, April 23rd, 2022, 9:00am until 5:00pm Sunday, April 24th, 2022, 9:00am until 4:00pm Consignment will be located in the cafeteria of building 9010C. Entry is through the front door of building 9010D. Items may be left overnight, on Saturday night. Here are links to the consignment sales forms, information on you, and how you wish to be paid: Consignee Address and Payout Information <https://vcfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Consignment_Sale_Sheet.pdf> Consignment Sale Sheet (for you to fill out) <https://vcfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VCF_East_Consignment_Items.xlsx> Instructions for using the spreadsheet are in the document. Please fill out the consignment sale sheet, as soon as possible, with all of the items listed that you wish to consign. You may email back the consignment sheets to consign-east(a)vcfed.org or you may deliver the spreadsheet (on a USB thumb drive) to us when you drop off your items. *Priority will be given to submissions received earlier*. Check with the volunteer on duty for the location of the free pile. Space will be limited, so first come, first served. You must collect all of your unsold items on Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm sharp. Failure to pick up your items may result in VCF withholding payment for other items sold. Thanks! Alexander Jacocks VCF committee member and consignment coordinator

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S-100 Repair at VCF East Workshop
by Jonathan Chapman 17 Apr '22

17 Apr '22

All, Due to components shortages/costs and several folks requesting it, we're going to do S-100 evaluation and some repair at the Glitch Works kit workshop at VCF East next weekend. We've apparently got several new S-100 owners in the VCF-MidAtlantic group! I'll be bringing our medium-sized variac for first time bringup, known good RAM, I/O, and CPU boards, etc. We've also gotten requests for some of our reproduction Solid State Music T-1 terminator kits, so we'll have those too. Some of the usual kit offerings will also be available, but due to components shortages, drastic cost increases (priced 28C256 EEPROMs lately?), a lockdown in China, and insufficient time to correct for those things, there will be limited availability on some of the kits. Thanks, Jonathan

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Scenes from VCF East 8 (2012)
by Jeffrey Brace 17 Apr '22

17 Apr '22

Robert Bernardo filmed a few exhibits back in 2012 at VCF East 8. https://youtu.be/R670Oe3L8hc -- ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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My Trenton Computer Festival 2022 Talk
by Jeffrey Brace 16 Apr '22

16 Apr '22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms9i_1s4j7Y ========================================= Jeff Brace

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VGA CRT Monitors FTGH
by Kelly Leavitt 16 Apr '22

16 Apr '22

Anyone want a couple? I can bring them to VCF. Free if you want them. Different brands. 14" and 15". VGA and SVGA. Mixed batch. No takers and they're going to e-cycle. Kelly

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VCF East 2022 Pre-Event Survey Results
by Jeffrey Brace 15 Apr '22

15 Apr '22

https://tinyurl.com/vcfe2022pre ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Wanted: DM8511 IC
by Mike Loewen 14 Apr '22

14 Apr '22

I need a National Semiconductor DM8511N, dual-gated D-type flip-flop, 16-pin DIP. Does anyone have a spare? Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Campus Map VCF East 2022
by Herb Johnson 14 Apr '22

14 Apr '22

https://vcfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Campus_Map_VCF_East_2022.pdf It's a fine looking map, and has good captions. There's no more time to do much more work on it. So it's fine for the coming event. But the problem I see, is that your guests are on foot and in cars. They need to see the actual walkways and streets, so they can follow them, to get from point to point. The photos of trees *block view of those streets and walkways*. So this map doesn't show parts of them. So they don't see a clear path, the paths that are on the ground in front of them. Solution? Cut and paste on the image, pieces of road. Smaller issues. The intersection of Marconi Blvd and Marconi Rd might include a caption: "to Rt. 18". You might include a marker on the map pointing to "North" (not so useful in New Jersey). Will dealers be in "exhibits" or "consignment"? You don't show "the gate" from the parking area, it's a common point of reference. Will the "guard shack" be used for any purpose at this event? It's not named. And an odd thing: calling the section of 9001 "dining room" may make visitors think it's a place where you *eat*. My memory is faulty, but wasn't that area called other things like "the ballroom"? Or call it nothing, but leave the rectangle mark, for this map. This is a judgement call. These are suggestions, not complaints. I'm not being "negative". There may be no time for changes, that's fine. There's always another event that needs a map, you'll be informed about use of this map, and you can improve it. Regards, Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com

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[FS] TRS-80 Model III Upgraded to Model 4 (Maryland)
by Alexander Jacocks 14 Apr '22

14 Apr '22

All, Not my listing, but near me, and I have met the seller. He has a TRS-80 Model III upgraded to a Model 4, seemingly in great condition, and is asking $350 for it. Let me know if you’d like me to put you in touch. I’d be happy to bring the machine up to VCF East, if desired. Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintagecomputerswapmeet/posts/5037818999627… - Alex

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Campus Map VCF East 2022
by Jeffrey Brace 14 Apr '22

14 Apr '22

Take a look at this Campus Map for VCF East 2022: https://vcfed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Campus_Map_VCF_East_2022.pdf Jason Perkins, Alex Jacocks and I worked on this over the past few days. It is looking great so far! ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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InfoAge and VCF closed for Easter, Sunday, April 17
by Jeffrey Brace 13 Apr '22

13 Apr '22

In observance of Easter, InfoAge and VCF will be closed on Sunday April 17. ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Bill Degnan Kennett classic PC
by Sentrytv 12 Apr '22

12 Apr '22

If anyone is going to Kennet Classic to pick up any of the PCs Bill has for sale, could you please contact me. I was looking to purchase the Packard Bell 486 computer but I am over 2 hours away from there and if it can’t be picked up I cannot purchase it. (Bill does not want to bring to VCF East) So if anyone is going (and I can arrange payment) please contact me, if you are able pick up this 486 Packard bell for me, and bring to the VCF East if possible. I don’t usually ask for favors like this but I figured I would try. If not, then oh well, what can I do. Thank you Mike Rosen Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.

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Rube, Heath and Rowland
by Jeffrey Jonas 12 Apr '22

12 Apr '22

Back when machines were fun, we had Rube, Heath and Rowland In the USA, we call it a "Rube Goldberg machine". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine In the UK, it's a Heath Robinson or Rowland Emett. https://youtu.be/1S82q60qGtc Emett's Computer (1966) Inventor Rowland Emett is seen working on a mechanical automated 'computer'; commissioned as a show piece for a famous computer firm. He fits a bone with a small lampshade and adds a wheel to the end. Various shots show 'The Forget-Me-Not Computer'; an amazing and surreal contraption with many turning wheels and moving parts. Small balls revolve around china heads, a currant bun is lowered into an information feeding bowl, mechanical birds punch holes in playing cards, and so on. A sign on the machine reads 'The Honeywell - Emett Forget-Me-Not Computer' - Honeywell is probably the company that commissioned the contraption.

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