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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] vcf-midatlantic Digest, Vol 88, Issue 3
by Bill Degnan 04 Sep '25

04 Sep '25

I wish people qualified their "greatest computer of all time" responses to "greatest home computer" or "greatest personal computer" of all time. But it's a good interview. Thanks for sharing. Bill On Thu, Sep 4, 2025 at 9:17 AM Steve Lagotte via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > If I never see Lex Fridman again it won’t be soon enough. > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > From: Christian Liendo <cliendo(a)gmail.com> > > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > Cc: > > Bcc: > > Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2025 13:23:11 -0400 > > Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] LexClips Greatest computer ever made | Dave > > Plummer and Lex Fridman > > I know a few here would appreciate this. > > > > https://youtu.be/VIQ7tLuYJYk?si=ZhNkrm2bPXsw8XmS > > > > > > > > >

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Re: vcf-midatlantic Digest, Vol 88, Issue 3
by Steve Lagotte 04 Sep '25

04 Sep '25

If I never see Lex Fridman again it won’t be soon enough. > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Christian Liendo <cliendo(a)gmail.com> > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2025 13:23:11 -0400 > Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] LexClips Greatest computer ever made | Dave > Plummer and Lex Fridman > I know a few here would appreciate this. > > https://youtu.be/VIQ7tLuYJYk?si=ZhNkrm2bPXsw8XmS > > > >

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IBM Punched Card Equipment
by Brian L. Stuart 03 Sep '25

03 Sep '25

Apologies in advance to anyone who gets this multiple times. I know a number of you are on more that one of these lists. I'm looking for some information on a couple of the early IBM unit record devices, in particular the Type 512A and the Type 518. Ideally, I'd like to get the mechanical dimensions in enough detail to create a CAD model. The background is that I'd like to improve the model that I'm using in my ENIAC simulator and I'm involved with a school in Arizona that's working on a project to build a full-scale model of the ENIAC. There's a letter from IBM in the ENIAC archives that suggest the use of the 512A and the 518. So I'm pretty sure those are the ones they used, but I haven't really been able to find any details about them. We've found a fair amount of information on the Type 513, and from photographs, the punch used on the machine seems similar to the 513, but is smaller. Thanks in advance, BLS

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LexClips Greatest computer ever made | Dave Plummer and Lex Fridman
by Christian Liendo 03 Sep '25

03 Sep '25

I know a few here would appreciate this. https://youtu.be/VIQ7tLuYJYk?si=ZhNkrm2bPXsw8XmS

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: time to downsize
by Bob Shuster 03 Sep '25

03 Sep '25

I’ve finally gone through all the old Apple “i“-devices I’ve accumulated, but I haven’t listed them on the website as they definitely don’t fit the “vintage” moniker. That being said, perhaps some of you might also collect these or want them for parts/nostalgia? There are a couple of 1st gen iPads, a 1st gen iPad mini, various iPods, and a handful of iPhone 5 and 6 phones. Drop me an email if you want any more details. And still plenty of other stuff left - although I’ve been slowly selling off bits and pieces on eBay. - Bob Shuster > I've been regularly marking the sold and sale pending items, thank you guys so much! And once again - many thanks to those who have adopted some of my babies so far. Please let me know if I can clarify anything or if any more photos are needed. > > The link: http://www.theshusters.com/bobvintage.html > > Please don't share without asking me. Currently just open to this group - my contact info is intentionally missing from the webpages. If you can read this, you have my email. > > Email me with questions or offers! Please don't make offers on the list, but if you want to discuss my process and feel the group would benefit, then by all means knock yourself out! :) > > Bob Shuster > > (Original message below) > ---- > 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, 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'm willing to ship some of the smaller items, but in general systems or monitors 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. > > 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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Help with older HP LaserJet printers
by Herbert Johnson 02 Sep '25

02 Sep '25

> I have two HP LaserJet 4P printers, both in decent condition, and both > exhibiting the same exact problem - the printer passes all self tests > and everything works perfectly EXCEPT printer output pages are > completely blank or have only the slightest sheen of gray toner > background. [on first read] I think you have a high-voltage problem. High voltage is needed to charge the drum, to accept toner where the laser scanner would be charging the drum. Electrostatic voltage is the "charge" that picks up toner. The toner is mechanically transferred to the paper, the fuser fuses the toner onto the paper. Here's my reasoning which suggests diagnostics. Caution: proceed at your own risk, I am not responsible for loss injury or damages. If the output is blank, then toner is not being deposited on the drum, and/or the drum is not transferring toner to the paper. If you stop the printer mid-cycle by opening the access to the toner cart, you might be able to pull the toner cart and examine the drum visually, see if there's toner on it, in the pattern of whatever you are printing. You might have to manually rotate the (toner cart) drum, rotate it in the direction it normally turns. My guess however, is that toner is NOT getting deposited on the drum. If it were and was not transferred, then the drum would get full of toner and eventually it would dump it on the paper. So my guess is, you won't see a toner pattern. Of course, make sure your fuser is hot. But if it wasn't, the printer would issue a fuser failure. The lack of printer error codes, suggests something that is not monitored by HP printing diagostics (not reported as an error). > The service manual suggests final step would be replacing the > high voltage board ... (possibly age > related?) failure. I saw that on second reading. Makes sense to me. Also another person posted the same conclusion, read as I was about to post this reply. age related? Maybe. Maybe, the humidity at your printer is so high, it shorts out the high-voltage "corona wire" which in most ancient HP printers the means by which the high voltage charge is put onto the drum. Maybe there's a mechanical fault that keeps high voltage from contacting the coronal wire. Maybe the wire is shorted to ground. Why both printers would have the same error might be apparent when you find the error. I suggest you stare hard at the 4P service manuals, stare hard at the printer mechs, track down the path of the high-voltage to the drum from the high voltage board. I do not know how lethal the high-voltage is, I suggest you determine that from HP documentation. I suggest you Web search for repairs on HP 4P printers around "high voltage" issues or other keywords like corona wire or whatever words HP uses. Someone will have discovered means to measure the high voltage. Don't just put your DVM on the line and expect the meter to magically tell you "1500 volts" or whatever it is - it's very LIKELY your DVM won't expect very high voltage and you'll blow it up! Don't blow up your meter. ----- Looking on eBay for HP LJ 4P thingies, I saw a scanner board for sale. I suspect if your scanner failed you'd get an error message. (the scanner includes a rotating mirror to scan the drum.) But listen for the scanner motor spinning up. See if you actually have an IR laser signal getting to the toner cart. - You know, if some piece of paper jammed in around the laser scanner or laser path, it might *block the laser* from shining on the toner drum. And you might have the same sort of jam on *both* printers. See if you can figure out how to confirm the laser is actually getting to the drum. You can't see the IR laser of course, but any *digital camera* is likely to be able to see it. And of course any smartphone camera. Use them in real time (camera viewfinder, phone screen) to observe IR light. I do that all the time when checking (ancient) TV cable IR remotes for operation/live batteries. Regards Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA https://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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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] vcf-midatlantic Digest, Vol 88, Issue 1
by bernieS 02 Sep '25

02 Sep '25

At 08:00 AM 9/2/2025, vcf-midatlantic-request(a)lists.vcfed.org wrote: >Message: 1 >Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2025 01:01:04 -0400 >From: Anthony Iannone <aiannone(a)nis.gs> >To: vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org >Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] Help with older HP LaserJet printers > >[...] > >I have two HP LaserJet 4P printers, both in decent condition, and both >exhibiting the same exact problem - the printer passes all self tests >and everything works perfectly EXCEPT printer output pages are >completely blank or have only the slightest sheen of gray toner >background. Forcing an engine test with the formatter board disconnected >yields the same results. > >I have swapped parts between printers, tried a brand new-old-stock toner >cartridge in both units, and even tried replacing the laser scanner with >a supposedly known good laser scanner assembly. None of these steps have >worked. The service manual suggests final step would be replacing the >high voltage board, but short of finding another donor printer, I >haven't been able to locate one. Having troubleshooted hundreds of HP LaserJet printers back in the day (including the HP LJ 4P) I suspect this issue is a failed high-voltage power supply. There are several vendors of new/used/refurbished HP LJ parts that you can find online, and I'd be surprised if you couldn't find that part from any of them. You could also try reseating that assy, and try yet another NOS toner cartridge. Two printers with that same HVPS issue seems unlikely. -bernieS

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Help with older HP LaserJet printers
by Anthony Iannone 02 Sep '25

02 Sep '25

Hello all, Long time lurker and reader here who has enjoyed visiting many VCF East and swap meet events. I am hoping the hive mind can assist me with solving a tricky problem I am having repairing a pair of HP LaserJet 4P printers. I have two HP LaserJet 4P printers, both in decent condition, and both exhibiting the same exact problem - the printer passes all self tests and everything works perfectly EXCEPT printer output pages are completely blank or have only the slightest sheen of gray toner background. Forcing an engine test with the formatter board disconnected yields the same results. I have swapped parts between printers, tried a brand new-old-stock toner cartridge in both units, and even tried replacing the laser scanner with a supposedly known good laser scanner assembly. None of these steps have worked. The service manual suggests final step would be replacing the high voltage board, but short of finding another donor printer, I haven't been able to locate one. I've reached the end of my ability to troubleshoot these units, and am perplexed that both appear to be suffering from the same (possibly age related?) failure. Can anyone here on the list offer any suggestions or help? I'd be happy to haul the printers to the next repair session if anyone here thinks they can further diagnose or troubleshoot the issue. Thanks in advance for any help! Warmest Regards, Anthony Iannone aiannone(a)nis.gs

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Jerryco/American Science and Surplus is closing
by Jeffrey Jonas 28 Aug '25

28 Aug '25

Their catalogues were always a fun read with such silly writeups. https://sciplus.com/important-information/ It is with a very heavy heart that we are writing to tell you that it's time to say goodbye. The next two weeks, up until September 7th

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OT: Software Freedom Day.
by murph 26 Aug '25

26 Aug '25

We're having an event for Software Freedom Day. It is a world-wide educational event, and we are having one right here at Montclair State University. We'll have talks about what free software is, and why it's important for everyone. What kind of software is available for your existing computer, and how you can use Free Software to use your computer past the date that the manufacturer wants to keep updating it. There will be a talk on self hosting, so that you can run services that reduce or replace your reliance on outside big tech companies, and keep better control of your data. There will also be a talk on Social Networking with free software called "Mastodon and the Fediverse" that will show how you can network with people without giving your data to big tech, and without the algorithms that don't work in your best interest. --- For a general computer user -- You might be thinking. "I get software for free all the time, it come with my computer, and there are lots of free services that I can get over the internet. We're talking about software that is free as in Freedom. Free to use, improve and share, and software that does not require a subscription or ads from an outside source. --- For an aspiring developer --- What is the point of worrying about licensing my software, does it matter? If you choose a Free Software license for your software can get community help in developing it, you can get wider acceptance in community projects without losing control of it, and contribute to the community of computer users. There is a huge variety of software out there, and we'd like to take some time to tell people about it. This is a community event, and we'd love to see people from all over come out! Here are some links for more information: https://softwarefreedom.neocities.org/ also, the foundation site https://digitalfreedoms.org/en/software-freedom-day/events/software-freedom… If you have any questions, please email myself at: sfd(a)murph.info Or my colleague Mars at: mxu(a)uribe.cc We'll be happy to discuss any details.

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