December 2017 - vcf-midatlantic

MOBIDIC replica project
by Evan Koblentz 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

I want us to build a MOBIDIC replica at the museum. Background for any newer list members who aren't aware: MOBIDIC -- Mobile Digital Computer -- was a first-gen (1956) transistor computer designed by the staff of Camp Evans, which is the Army Signal Corps secret electronics R&D facility that's now the InfoAge Science Center, which hosts the VCF museum among many other groups. MOBIDIC was not the "first" mobile computer. For example, the National Bureau of Standards (today called NIST) made DYSEAC in 1953. However DYSEAC was a one-time prototype, whereas Sylvania (in Massachusetts, under contract to Camp Evans) built six MOBIDIC computers all of which were successfully used in field operations for several years. Sylvania also made two 9400 computers which were faster versions of the MOBIDIC design. "Mobile" is relative. :) Each MOBIDIC was installed in two 30-ft. trailers. One for the computer itself, one for power, cooling, etc., with the trailers attached by cables/hoses when in use. None of the six MOBIDICs or two 9400s exist today. Our museum has a beat-up scale model of the computer trailer. Computer History Museum (our friends out in California) have a better model. There are various pictures on the Internet. There are large amounts of public/private documents from the Army/Sylvania about details of the electronic design, architecture, components, programming, etc., most of (all?) of which I obtained while writing my book "Abacus to smartphone: The evolution of mobile and portable computers" published in 2015 (www.abacustosmartphone.com) From this information, I believe a replica MOBIDIC could be constructed. At least, a fullish-scale model could be made, and we could let visitors walk inside to see it. At best, someone could emulate the software so the model could "work". (I can't fathom building a complete truly "working" exact clone.) Conveniently, there are two 50s/60s-era Army-green trailers parked at InfoAge. They're under control of the electronic warfare group, whose leader (John C.) is a super-nice guy. We get along well. A while ago I asked him if we could use one trailer for this purpose. We "just" need the know-how and money to do it. So if we do this, the replica would only be of the computer trailer, not of the support trailer. I envision plenty of signs explaining to visitors that this trailer is HALF an installation. I have some ideas about how to fund the project, but there's no point getting into that until we understand how much work is really involved and what it would cost. * I wrote "fullish-scale", not full-scale, because I haven't measured the length of the available trailers. It would be close. Online images: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOBIDIC#/media/File:MOBIDIC_cutaway.jpg https://www.usarmygermany.com/Units/7th%20Army%20SUPCOM/Partials_7th%20ICC%…

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Commodore in Trooper, PA??
by William Sudbrink 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

Did anybody else catch the odd post on the VCFed forums from a guy claiming to be disposing of the contents of a "gmt plant"? Talking about wafers, blueprints, sealed games, C64s? Someone close enough to take a look? Bill S. The posting is in the For Sale: spotted on Craigslist thread for some reason, by the way. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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¡IMPORTANTE! - README.TXT - Finale Festivus 2017 reminder
by Jeffrey Brace 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

Here is the detailed Festivus information. Here is the signup list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1odmPxfBK9BrR-NDZIx4_c-V2lZpt_-vU-3f… <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1odmPxfBK9BrR-NDZIx4_c-V2lZpt_-vU-3f…> *DATE:* December 9 & 10. *TIME:* START - 10 A.M. on Saturday and goes late into the night until everyone sleeps. END - 5 P.M. on Sunday. (Re-starts around 10 A.M. Sunday morning) *LOCATION:* InfoAge Building 9010-D - (2201 Marconi Road, Wall Township, NJ) - It will be straight ahead once you enter through the gate. The door is marked Sandy Recovery and is up the steps. *PARKING:* InfoAge management wants us to park inside the campus, in a neat orderly row, between the Festivus building and the IXR MakerSpace building. Here's is my crude map: https://drive.google.com/ open?id=1ThrnNAnAWsCz30Am7IvG8GS50YFOziHK InfoAgeMap (Park behind Q/R/S) http://infoage.org/visiting/ The holiday train show is going on, so we are discouraged from parking in the main parking lot, since they will be reserved for guests of the model train show. Do not cost IA money by leaving it open to confuse paying guests. Always close it behind you when you enter/exit, EVEN IF IT WAS ALREADY OPEN! *COST:* *PAY ME! (Jeff Brace) - **http://vcfed.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/brace-1.jpg <http://vcfed.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/brace-1.jpg>* $10 for all members attending Festivus, which VCF pays to InfoAge to renting the space and buy food and supplies. $25 if you are staying overnight. See below for details. We can accept cash. If you want to pay via PayPal, I can have a machine available. *EQUIPMENT:* VCF will have tables setup for food and games. We will have two full sized refrigerators and one full sized freezer to temporarily store food and drinks. We will be borrowing *my* propane grill to cook hamburgers and hot dogs outside. *DRINKS:* Everyone is encouraged to bring their own drinks and enough to share with others. Bring your favorite and put what you are bringing on the list: *FOOD:* VCF will be supplying hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments, plates, forks, napkins, cups. I sent out a list of what we need. E-mail me if you want to bring. You are encouraged to bring your own favorite good and put what you are bringing on the list: *IMPORTANT TO KEEP FOOD AND DRINKS IN THE CAFETERIA! THIS IS THE RULE OF THE FACILITY OWNERS.* *ENTERTAINMENT?* Ian: Vintage video games and boob tubes. Jeff Brace: Namco Joystick games, C64 Jostick Games, Intellivision Joystick Games, C64 with Super CPU and Metal Dust with optional PS2 controller, Cards Against Humanity!, Vectrex Evan: Will be entertaining us bad jokes and stinky farts. Bill Degnan: Live action Terrance and Philip skit with Jeff Brace. Name the farter/burper: Throughout the night there will be a contest to identify who farted or burped. Difficulty will increase when we are all in bed and it is dark. *STAYING OVERNIGHT?* Let me know if you want to stay overnight. The cost is $25. You provide your own mattress cover, blankets, pillows. There is a shower area, lounge, bunk beds, hot water for tea, microwave oven, toaster oven, keurig, coffee pot, ice machine, sink, cable TV, wi-fi. Evan will be responsible for sorting the snoring people into the "snoring room" and the non-snoring people into the "non-storing" room. To get an accurate headcount, let me know as soon as possible that you are staying overnight and how many nights. There will be coffee, milk, cream, sugar and tea bags available as well. * BUYING, SELLING, FREEBIES :* You are allowed to bring items to sell and trade with specific individuals, but this isn't a hamfest where you get a table to sell your stuff. If you want to bring your stuff, you are encourage to post to the list what you want to sell/trade and set it up ahead of time with individuals. Anything you bring in and don't sell/trade, you bring home. We can set aside a freebie table as per traditional, but you *must* take your stuff home before leaving if no one takes it. *SIGN-UP LINK:* https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1odmPxfBK9BrR-NDZIx4_c-V2lZpt_-vU-3f…

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Festivus stuff already covered
by Jeffrey Brace 02 Dec '17

02 Dec '17

Some people are not looking at the list of stuff that is already covered on my Google sheet. There are certain things that are already covered and at the party site. Maybe I gotta copy and paste in e-mails? All of this is covered in my info doc as well as my shopping list etc. For example all of this is at the site already: Item Quantity Plates 130 Cups-styrofoam 10 Cups-hot 110 Solo 175 Solo-mini 15 Napkins 100 K-cups-coffee 40 K-Cups-chocolate 20 Sugar packets 300 Sucralose 500 Utensils 300 Tea 100 Coffee bags 50 Straws 50 Coffee Strainers 30 There is an ice machine there. There is a hot water dispenser. There is a "regular" coffee machine. We are bringing VCF's Keurig machine (dunkin coffee, hot chocolate, many other flavors) There is a big freezer, and two refrigerator/freezer combos. I'm bringing my grill with two propane tanks. I will send the Info doc out again and send another e-mail with what we need.

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Retro Related Metal Work
by Henry S. Courbis 01 Dec '17

01 Dec '17

Anyone here know of a cheap metal solution for a small U frame or thin walled tube for a chassis project? It would need to be something about 3.5" x 2.5" x 10". I will also need an end plate with some holes cut out that can mount to the chassis. Thin steel and a break would work also I believe however I don't want to do the work. If interested in the work let me know. Thanks! Henry S. Courbis Office Toll Free: (800) REACTIVE (732-2848) Office/Mobile Direct: (856) 779-1900 www.ReActiveMicro.com <http://www.ReactiveMicro.com> - Sales, Support, and News, Our Headquarters on the Internet ReActiveMicro.com/wiki - Support, Software, Manuals, and History. Create your own page today! Facebook.com/reactivemicrousa - Our Social Media Outlet and Support

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FESTIVUS: free stuff
by Jeffrey Jonas 01 Dec '17

01 Dec '17

free if anyone wants it: Panasonic R310 electronic typewriter. Stand-alone daisy wheel typewriter. NO floppy drive NO PC interface -- jeff jonas

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