April 2016 - vcf-midatlantic

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] museum report
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 08 Apr '16

08 Apr '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >Jeff G. and I got to the museum at 8am today. JG stayed to about 4pm, >then I worked solo for a while; Jeff B. stopped by around 8:30pm and >helped for a while. Then I helped him with his VCF East exhibit until >10. How late did he stay after I left? You'd have to ask him! > >Jeff G. and I spent the first two hours planning and re-making the the >PDP-8 storage cart. Didn't want to rush this time. :) We cut a thick >piece of plywood for the entire width of the top shelf, lowered the >shelf one inch to the posts stick up at each corner, and notched the >plywood for the posts so the wood can't slide out. It worked quite well. >See this picture: http://vcfed.org/evan/8top.jpg ... one of these days What did you notch that with? A tree saw? A holesaw would have made a nice rounded corner cut. ;) >I'll shop for black rubber or plastic caps to fit into the poles. You >can see the complete bottom shelf, added for stability, in this picture: >http://vcfed.org/evan/8front.jpg. What's thin inside/outside diameter? There's a well stocked hardware store here which has such caps. I just purchased some for the legs of my currnet high power rocketry launch rail project. Let me know the sizes and I get a set for you before VCF. >Oh and we replaced the VT-100 with a DECwriter III aka LA-120. Cleaned >that up and it looks almost new (from a few feet away): >http://vcfed.org/evan/la120.jpg. Where's the tractor and printhead/platten cover?

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] museum report
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 08 Apr '16

08 Apr '16

Jeff Galinat via vcf-midatlantic writes: >On 4/8/2016 6:24 AM, Brian Schenkenberger via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > >What did you notch that with? A tree saw? A holesaw would have made a > >nice rounded corner cut. ;) Brian, We worked with the tools I had. I >had a circular saw & sawsall. Sorry if our work has not met your high >standards. Mock our efforts if you must, but you have not been in >attendance for these work sessions. In my book, that means you don't get >to criticize. There is still a lot of cleaning & setting up to do, >including sweeping & mopping the floors. We will be working Sunday, I >trust you you be stopping by to assist us? Regards, Jeff Galinat When all you possess is a hammer, all your problems look like nails. ;) It's just that, IMNSHO, aesthetics *do* matter.

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Commodore equipment needed for VCF
by Jeffrey Brace 07 Apr '16

07 Apr '16

So I'm quite surprised that no one stepped forward to lend me Commodore equipment. I was able to borrow from VCF and find equipment on my own. I was able to get enough C64 and backups. I was able to get enough monitors with one to spare, but wish all of them are not 1702. I would need 2 more. I have enough power supplies, cables etc. Oh well. Should be good enough, but not perfect! Jeff Brace

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museum report
by Evan Koblentz 07 Apr '16

07 Apr '16

Jeff G. and I got to the museum at 8am today. JG stayed to about 4pm, then I worked solo for a while; Jeff B. stopped by around 8:30pm and helped for a while. Then I helped him with his VCF East exhibit until 10. How late did he stay after I left? You'd have to ask him! Jeff G. and I spent the first two hours planning and re-making the the PDP-8 storage cart. Didn't want to rush this time. :) We cut a thick piece of plywood for the entire width of the top shelf, lowered the shelf one inch to the posts stick up at each corner, and notched the plywood for the posts so the wood can't slide out. It worked quite well. See this picture: http://vcfed.org/evan/8top.jpg ... one of these days I'll shop for black rubber or plastic caps to fit into the poles. You can see the complete bottom shelf, added for stability, in this picture: http://vcfed.org/evan/8front.jpg. We used the rest of the day to go on a computer-cleaning binge. We attacked every system with baby wipes and/or paper towels and/or 409 spray and/or Goo Gone and/or scrubbing sponges. The results are dramatic! I didn't take before/after pictures, but many of the systems were yellowed and dirty... and now they're only yellowed. :) Many others were simply dirty and now they're surprisingly clean. A good example if the Prime 6550. The metal panels were almost gray and nasty before; now they're nearly white. The bottom vents were yellowed and hideously covered in grime; now they're only yellowed and kind of bright. Check it out: http://vcfed.org/evan/prime.jpg. Oh and we replaced the VT-100 with a DECwriter III aka LA-120. Cleaned that up and it looks almost new (from a few feet away): http://vcfed.org/evan/la120.jpg. So what's left? I'm almost done make the files for all the signs; hoping to bring those in and print them on our new printer this weekend. Have to put up ropes and/or chains around the exhibits, put our sign outside the building, hang a bunch of pictures etc. (if there's time), clean up the workshop area, tie back a bunch of cables, and then declare the new museum "good enough" to open in beta mode for VCF East next week. Anyone who thinks we could have done more with the resources/time available should have donated more resources or their time. :)

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Giving away 0.35 metric tons of books
by Herb Johnson 07 Apr '16

07 Apr '16

Here's my Web page about mold on diskettes. They can be cleaned for use; they MUST be cleaned for use. http://www.retrotechnology.com/herbs_stuff/clean_disks.html Bill Degnan has used UV light, or just sunlight, to clean books and magzines. I put books out in full sunlight with the pages separated by sticks, to permit air flow. Really helps get that musty smell out. I've found it very useful, to buy zip-lock bags for individual books or bunches of diskettes. And I use "recycling trash bags" which are transparent, for storing box-sided items, which can be closed with a tie-wrap. these work both ways of course; keep mold in or out, keep moisture out. Mold thrives where there is moisture. My exhibit at VCF-East, will represent what happens to S-100 systems stored in moisture. Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Secrets, schmeecrets! Apple 1 + Kenbak-1
by Evan Koblentz 07 Apr '16

07 Apr '16

So...... come to VCF East ... TELL YOUR FRIENDS .... there will be TWO real Apple 1s on display, one or maybe both will be up and running (thanks to Apple 1 master Corey C. for hooking us up with these) ... oh and a real Kenbak-1 (display only, not running) will also be there.

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FS: Applied Microsystems EM-188 Intel 8080 8085 Diagnostic Emulator
by Systems Glitch 07 Apr '16

07 Apr '16

link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/272125508235 ** NOTE: This unit is missing the emulator pods! ** Picked it up at either a hamfest or university surplus auction, I don't remember which. I've been searching for 8080 or 8085 pods for this unit for several years. I'm calling it a loss, so it's time to sell it. Perhaps someone has the pods and can make use of it. It does power on, and you can see from the pictures it has six TIL311 displays in it. I believe it also has a number of 6116 2K x 8 static RAMs inside -- I opened it up at one point in the past. This would've been an excellent tool for vintage computer debugging, if I could've found the pods. The emulator lets you observe and control the data and address bus states, as well as internal state of the CPU. If you're going to be at VCF East this year, I can drop it off in person and avoid shipping. That will of course be a *major* consideration if anyone wants to submit Best Offers :) Thanks, Jonathan

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Giving away 0.35 metric tons of books*
by Alexey Toptygin 07 Apr '16

07 Apr '16

*some restrictions apply :-) Evan Koblentz pointed me to a rescue here in the triangle, NC area back in August 2015. Some items were set aside for VCFed, but there were A LOT of books and other media that were up for grabs. Because I'm a sucker, I took and then carefully cleaned and catalogued them all. The master list is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19UYeJlhiVYVExCAO2NSzcAkBww0kEeAYrEG… There really are 17 boxes, and they really do weigh 780lb or approximately 0.35 metric tons. They're mostly books (from the 80s and 90s), but there are some floppies, some boxed sets, and even a small box of VHS tapes. The previous owner stored all this stuff in abysmal conditions, so there was a lot of mold (and some dead insects and some live insects, and... you know how it goes). I cleaned every item as much as possible. Some items had to be disposed of for safety reasons. That which made it into the cataloging stage is at least scanable, but if it says 'mildewed' on it, and you have a mold allergy, you don't want it. I don't know if any floppies are readable, and unless the catalog says it comes with media, I haven't got the media. Luckily most items survived relatively intact. You can have anything in the spreadsheet free of charge provided: 1) You are willing to take WHOLE BOXES at VCF East XI, you let me know by Weds 4/13/16, and they fit in my car when I pack for VCF. OR 2) You want to come to Durham to pick them up at a prearranged time after VCF OR 3) You are willing to wait until the next VCF East, and let me know far enough in advance that I can set items aside for you. If you want single items, and you don't want to wait until VCF East 2017, I'll do my best to mail them to you after this VCF is over, but you'll need to pay for shipping. I would prefer not to ship whole boxes; they're sturdy moving boxes but they weigh 40-60lb each and I'm pretty sure if you drop them hard enough the contents won't like it. I'm in Durham, NC 27701. I don't want any of this to go to recycling, so I'll try to hold it for at least a year or the next VCF East after this one. After that, all bets are off. Let me know if you are interested in any of this stuff, or if you have questions; in case the mailing list(s) eat it, my email is alexey.toptygin at gmail dot com. Thanks!

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Wanted to borrow: Hayes Smartmodem 1200
by Mike Loewen 06 Apr '16

06 Apr '16

I'd like to borrow a Hayes Smartmodem 1200 (external) for my VCF exhibit, preferably in working order. Is anyone able to help? The Hayes was introduced in 1982, which is appropriate for my exhibit (1982 Office Suite). Thanks! Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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VCF East - Weather looking good from here
by Dan Roganti 06 Apr '16

06 Apr '16

Weather looking good from here for VCF East extended forecast shows clear skies, a little warm might need shorts and sandals this year :) http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/belmar-nj/07719/daily-weather-forecast/217…

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