May 2022 - vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Help shipping ASR-33 from Allentown
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 12 May '22

12 May '22

Dave via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> writes: >Hi all, > >Back in February, I bought an ASR-33 teletype on Ebay. The seller >is stalling on the shipping. Initially, I think there were >some family issues, and now I suspect he's just having trouble >figuring out how to get the ASR prepared for freight. > >I contacted him a month a go and he said he was going to see "how I >can break it down to make if more flat than tall". I suspect >(and hope) that he is an honest (if not super diligent) seller that >has no idea how to ship this. > >Is there anyone on this list who might be able to give me a hand in >getting this going? I imagine that some folks here may have >been through something like this in the past. > >I could use any help at all, including guidance on the best way to >ship the teletype, any suggestions for (as minimal as possible) >disassembly and getting it on a pallet, etc. If there is >someone in the Allentown area who might be able to help me get this >shipped, I would be most grateful. I'm originally from the Lehigh Valley and I go home quite often. It would help if you'dstate where this ASR is to be shipped to. ;) Do you know where in Allentown this seller resides?

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Help shipping ASR-33 from Allentown
by Bill Degnan 12 May '22

12 May '22

Totally agree. When I have sold a Teletype I break it down, pad and lock down the key spots inside, bubble wrap the entire thing, get a good box with proper padding and then show it already packed as part of the listing. I get the weight and dimensions for shipping. But some sellers don't know better, they're not experienced. best to just be friendly and offer to help with specific directions. Or just drive up there and get it. b On Thu, May 12, 2022 at 4:43 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > I have to admit that I cannot understand these sellers on eBay, > they know they have to ship the item, > shouldn't they have figured this out in advance? > I certainly would not buy the item unless I knew how it was going to be delivered to me safely! > > Mike > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On May 12, 2022, at 4:10 PM, Dave via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > > > Back in February, I bought an ASR-33 teletype on Ebay. The seller is stalling on the shipping. Initially, I think there were some family issues, and now I suspect he's just having trouble figuring out how to get the ASR prepared for freight. > > > > I contacted him a month a go and he said he was going to see "how I can break it down to make if more flat than tall". I suspect (and hope) that he is an honest (if not super diligent) seller that has no idea how to ship this. > > > > Is there anyone on this list who might be able to give me a hand in getting this going? I imagine that some folks here may have been through something like this in the past. > > > > I could use any help at all, including guidance on the best way to ship the teletype, any suggestions for (as minimal as possible) disassembly and getting it on a pallet, etc. If there is someone in the Allentown area who might be able to help me get this shipped, I would be most grateful. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > Dave > > >

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VCF Repair workshops and keeping the costs of HVAC down
by Jeffrey Brace 11 May '22

11 May '22

VCF makes use of the Makerspace and classroom in 9059 during our repair workshops. CDL just cut the checks to cover the first quarter gas bills for their Makerspace (per the IA lease agreement). The total came to $932.00. The cost per therm has gone up. During workshops, we need to keep the exterior doors closed to keep the heat and A/C in the building. How we can help: not allowing the doors to be held open for extended periods of time. Moving things in and out is fine, but keeping it open for extended periods of time increases the HVAC costs. Thank you for your cooperation. ========================================= 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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VCF East Clinic kudos (soldering iron cleaning brass)
by Herb Johnson 10 May '22

10 May '22

[Regarding brass for soldering iron tip-cleaning.] https://www.testequity.com/category/Electronic-Production-Supplies/Solder-A… This is not "brass wool" which would be an abrasive mesh of dry, sharp fine brass wire. The Hakko product is apparently brass coiled ribbon (my words for it) that is *rosin coated* (fatty acid compound). Other products may have other coatings, or none. A stated virtue of brass over wet sponge is "the tip temperature is not reduced". The virtue of brass is that it's softer than most metals. Of course, melted solder is softer still so it removes excess solder from tips. Since it removes solder, it's likely it will accumulate loose solder splatter. That's likely why it's contained in a bowl or holder, to capture the material. This is all Web homework I did, not stuff I knew previously. Someone with industrial training in soldering, or some reference for that training, may be informative. 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

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OT: looking for Ryan’s (with the IMSAI at the workshop) email
by Crawford Griffith 10 May '22

10 May '22

Folks, I wanted to follow up with Ryan who had an IMSAI at the S-100 workshop at VCFE. Of course, In addition to not getting his last name, I didn’t get his email address before he left. If Ryan is on this list, please contact me via email, or if anyone else has his info, please send it to me. Thanks, Crawford

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] FS: Non-Linear Systems X-2 Nixie Meter
by Dave McGuire 09 May '22

09 May '22

On 5/9/22 19:22, Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > I have one of their multimeters! I have the model with the edge-lit displays. Gorgeous. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA

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FS: Non-Linear Systems X-2 Nixie Meter
by Jonathan Chapman 09 May '22

09 May '22

All, I don't usually post about test equipment here, but this one is made by Non-Linear Systems, so I figured there's enough overlap that folks might be interested: https://www.ebay.com/itm/275305278929 NLS is probably better known for the Kaypro series of computers, but they invented the digital multimeter back in the 1950s! Their first unit was an electromechanical beast, using stepping relays and edge-lit numerical displays. This is of course a later model, and is fully solid state, with Nixie tube displays. I went through the meter around three years ago, replaced a cap in the HV supply for the Nixie anode voltage, reformed the logic and analog supply caps, and cleaned up a previous repair that was causing excessive leakage on the 1000V range. A basic calibration was done following the manual, using a Fluke 343A DC Calibrator and a calibrated Fluke 8842A. Three years later, it's still holding calibration! Anyhow, I'm letting it go as I don't use it much, I have a number of Nixie meters, and though this one is both very nice and historically significant, it's DC-only. The option boards for AC and ohms conversion are not present. The schematics are available, and it'd be possible to recreate them on protoboard with the appropriate Elco connectors. Thanks, Jonathan

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Free stuff Weds Night (semi OT)
by Bill Degnan 09 May '22

09 May '22

This is s a follow up to my earlier email about the large lot of computer and some electronics/consumer items I am trying to offload here, the entire lot for $100: https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/sys/d/kennett-square-vintage-computers/… I have received some interest in some items, all offers considered. Some of the items are from the 80's, most are from the 90's and a few things are from the earlier 2000's. I get it that many consider a lot of this post-vintage. For those who are interested anyway - whatever does not sell it will be unceremoniously moved into the parking lot. At that point it will be free to a good home. What remains after that will be recycled. We're filming the museum on Thursday so it needs to be gone by then. Bill P.S. From a bargain collectors' standpoint - the strategy of picking up the nice things before everyone else considers them "vintage" has it's merits. That's what I do. Some of these CRTs will be hard to come by eventually. People are practially giving away late 486/early Pentium stuff now, but not forever.

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Looking for 16-bit ISA memory board
by Joseph Giliberti 09 May '22

09 May '22

Greetings all! I'm looking to expand the RAM in my IBM PC/AT and I'm having a hell of a time finding an expansion board. It has one megabyte onboard, but I'd like to get it to eight. It seems that everyone hung on to their 8-bit boards but nobody has 16-bit ones and the few that I found are barely populated. Does anyone here have such a board that they'd be willing to part with? Thanks in advance! Joe Giliberti

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OT - Anyone Want to Meet up in Nashville, This Week?
by Alexander Jacocks 08 May '22

08 May '22

I’m going to be at a conference this week, so if anyone wants to meet up, let me know. - Alex

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