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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: large # of Vintage items for sale
by Alexander Pierson 08 Nov '19

08 Nov '19

The pricepoint this kid has in mind doesn't seem to be based heavily on previous transactions. While I currently don't have my ear to the ground for Hero robot ebay sales, I used to for quite awhile. tl;dr: take my assessment here with a grain of salt. Complete Hero-1 robots usually fetch a few hundred bucks, anywhere from 200 for ones in need of serious repair, all the way up to about 500 for a complete working unit. Sometimes you see them go higher, especially if they've got all the bells in whistles, in good shape, complete documentation with the addendums issued by Heathkit. Those schematics changed with time, and so they sent you little pieces of paper to cut out and tape over the old sections of schematics. I've only ever seen one complete, sealed, mint Hero 2000 for sale before, and that went for 3 grand. Now, keep in mind that the Hero 2000 is by far the most elusive model, with the fewest total manufactured units, but also the most power. A base Hero 2000 has somewhere like 6 processors/coprocessors on board and can be maxed out at about a dozen, depending on installed options. I've never seen seen a Hero 2000 in meatspace before. I know this seller has one for just over 5 grand, but it's in rough shape from what the pictures show. I spot plenty of rust. At a tenth of that, it might be worth the gamble, but even that's pushing it in my book. Back to the NIB Hero-1. Seeing as it was the popular model used by schools and hobbyists alike, they're far more common than the 2000 or the Jr. To put one of those at about 14 grand for a sealed kit? That's quite absurd. Unbuilt Hero-1's are something I've only ever seen once before, and it was a long time ago, so whatever it fetched has long since left my mental cache. Plus, it only looked like one box -- there's no way that includes a lot of the features that make a Hero-1 desirable. Thus, it's likely a very barebones unit from what I understand. You would have to confer with Robert Doerr, who is the defacto expert on all things Heathkit Hero, in order to reach a better assessment. Lastly, that same seller has another Hero-1, with no visible arm, and not all of the panels visible. I see manuals, but I do not see schematics. It's also dirty in ways that make me sad. There's also more circuitry than I've ever seen near the head battery cage, stacked on top of the sonar receiver. Maybe that's a later revision? Again, Mr. Doerr is your best resource there. Anyway, you could cut his price in half and I still wouldn't touch it based on this condition. Hopefully my rambling mess is helpful. -Alexander 'Z' Pierson On Thursday, November 7, 2019, 07:58:34 PM EST, madodel via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: On 11/5/19 15:47, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > VCF would love to have the Hero 1 in its box. Our policy remains that we > only accept donations, we don't purchase artifacts. Would someone like to > acquire this for us? Anyone have an idea on what a fair price for this is? The seller says it was a sealed box that he opened to check if there was anything in it but it was never assembled. Mark > > On Tue, Nov 5, 2019, 2:49 PM Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > >> All, I’ve been working with a young man from California who inherited a >> large amount of vintage computers and other items. >> He’s reached out to a number of Facebook groups, but I’m trying to help >> him reach interested parties without having to go on a dozen different >> groups back and forth. >> >> Short story, his grandfather passed away and has a storage unit filled >> with items. >> PET 2001, hero robots (one of which is a Hero 1 still new in the box) >> Atari, Tandy portables, Model 1, Compact Mac through Mac II era, Apple II+, >> IIe, the list goes on, with lots of boxes still unopened. He’s trying to >> sell everything, and we are trying to avoid anything being thrown away or >> brought to recycle. >> >> Please contact me off list via email and I will put you in touch with him >> directly. >> >> Tony >> >> Sent from my iPhone >>

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: large # of Vintage items for sale
by Evan Koblentz 08 Nov '19

08 Nov '19

VCF would love to have the Hero 1 in its box. Our policy remains that we only accept donations, we don't purchase artifacts. Would someone like to acquire this for us? On Tue, Nov 5, 2019, 2:49 PM Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > All, I’ve been working with a young man from California who inherited a > large amount of vintage computers and other items. > He’s reached out to a number of Facebook groups, but I’m trying to help > him reach interested parties without having to go on a dozen different > groups back and forth. > > Short story, his grandfather passed away and has a storage unit filled > with items. > PET 2001, hero robots (one of which is a Hero 1 still new in the box) > Atari, Tandy portables, Model 1, Compact Mac through Mac II era, Apple II+, > IIe, the list goes on, with lots of boxes still unopened. He’s trying to > sell everything, and we are trying to avoid anything being thrown away or > brought to recycle. > > Please contact me off list via email and I will put you in touch with him > directly. > > Tony > > Sent from my iPhone >

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Gauging Interest: CompuGraphic MCS hardware
by Herb Johnson 08 Nov '19

08 Nov '19

> I'm helping to clear out a storage unit that belonged to a deceased friend, > and I've come across some CompuGraphic MCS hardware: Does anyone have any interest in this? Kenneth, If I recall these are early 1980's or late 1970's technology. While these may not be of interest within "vintage personal computing", they are a part of a segment of microcomputing and computing of typeography and digital publishing. I'm writing the following from memory, so I may have some ideas and references mushed up. But I'm making a point: this CompuGraphic stuff isn't just ugly boxes of boards and clunky mechanical stuff. Details, you can look up. There was a prior revolution in typesetting by use of PHOTOtypesetting instead of physical blocks of type laid out by hand. Wheels of typefonts were projected by character, onto photosensitive paper, to produce text masters. A textbook would be a good application example. You needed a lot of wheels (master fonts) and they were proprietary (hard to replicate) and not cheap. Big business only, and in a world of PAPER information ONLY there were a lot of them. But the next revolution, was to use a CRT instead of optical projection. The CRT was driven digitally; just bits on a screen. Minicomputers (PDP-8s) were the initial digital technology, and later microprocessors made that digital technology cheaper. A company or service could now produce quality text copy, in a unit that took much less space, and which stored fonts on digital media not mechanical font-wheels. Since all the visual stuff was "in the machine", one could drive this technology with a text-based description language, on a computer without all this typeset technology. This is why old schemes like DEC's "runoff" were popular. A lot of these applications, drove mechanical text printers like daisy-wheel, IBM Selectrics, and other such printers. One made do with overprinting on simpler printers. Other steps followed later of course: laser printing for direct production of text; and computers with the power to compose pages visually. Note that TeX was early software means to compose type-set text and arbitrary graphics (math symbols, etc). But once personal laser printers could produce bit images, and microcomputers could run complete page-editing software; and once this stuff became "personally" priced; all these "phototypsetting" services went away except for massive printing services. And all the mechanical and optical printing technologies became "junk". So the CompuGraphic stuff is at the junction of these events. It's small enough to be manageable by a person or small institution. And it has some hope of working. There may be people or groups interested in just this segment - mostly post-60-year-olds from the era, I imagine. That's my "any interest" comments. Regards, Herb Johnson retrotechnology.com -- 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 retrotechnology DOT info

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Festivus Buy Tickets Now!
by Jeffrey Brace 07 Nov '19

07 Nov '19

Pay for your Festivus tickets online via Eventbrite: <https://www. eventbrite.com/e/festivus-2019-tickets-77436696243?aff=VCFMailingList> Cost is $10 for Festivus, $15 at the door. Overnight stay is $25 via Eventbrite and $30 at the door. Tickets are available until Dec. 6 (day before Festivus). Dec. 7 you have to pay at the door. -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President Vintage Computer Federation

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Repair Workshop Sat Dinner
by laurakid 07 Nov '19

07 Nov '19

not sure about workshop. been doing craft fairs so busy with glue and paint n stuff. however i live super close to there so maybe I’ll drop by to say hello. No need to save a place for me though. I will probably eat before going Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Thursday, November 7, 2019, 8:59 AM, Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: I will not be going to the restaurant. Mike R. Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > On Nov 7, 2019, at 12:32 AM, Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > I took the liberty of making reservations at Asbury Festhalle and > Biergarten. I went there Wednesday night for my birthday and it seemed like > a great place that our group would like. Lots of great beer selections. > Good food. > I currently have reservations for 10 people. So if you are > definitely interested, then let me know and if you aren't going, then let > me know as well. > The reservation is for 7:30PM. > Yes, you have to pay for parking, but it is only about $1 per hour and you > can download an app "Asbury Park Parking" to "pay the meter" over your > smartphone. > -- > ========================================= > Jeff Brace > Vice President > Vintage Computer Federation > > > <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> > Virus-free. > www.avast.com > <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> > <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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Repair Workshop Info for Nov. 9 & 10
by Jeffrey Brace 06 Nov '19

06 Nov '19

As a reminder the workshop is $10 *per* person, *per* day. Sorry this is InfoAge's rule and not our decision. So that means for two days it is $20. Sign up quickly to guarantee a table. DATE: November 9 & 10 LOCATION: InfoAge Building 9059 (CDL Hackerspace (formerly IXR)- (2201 Marconi Road, Wall Township, NJ) TIME: Start about 10 A.M. on Saturday and ends whenever we go to sleep. End about 5 P.M. on Sunday. (Starts around 10 A.M. Sunday morning) SIGNUP: < https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Le5_EtutRBgnOc9_4gLxJb7CGGEpIuTQWjZ… > COST: - $10 per person, PER day. This is required by InfoAge for us to pay for renting the space. - $25 for those wanting to stay overnight (Money goes to InfoAge). Please pay ME (Jeff Brace) when you get there so that I don't forget. Credit cards accepted. I will be using VCF's PayPal Here tablet with bluetooth credit card machine. OVERNIGHT: Bring your own pillow, blankets, soap etc. We provide a bed frame and an uncovered mattress. There are showers and a kitchen for your use. - You can pay via PayPal to paypal(a)vcfed.org. or to me via cash or credit card in person. EQUIPMENT: - VCF will provide a table and you can use any available electrical outlet. - Bring your own tools, power strips, power cords, and supplies etc. - If you need particular tools that you don't know or particular parts, please post to the list for those going. They may have what you need. Let them know ahead of time. - Please bring an extra one or two power cords as these are often forgotten by people. DRINKS: You should bring your own. I would recommend bringing a cooler of some type. FOOD: Bring your own, but we will usually order pizza or go out to eat for dinner. If the weather is nice, then we might cook burgers out back. GATE: During the hours from 1 pm to 5 pm close the front gate behind you. We want museum visitors to go to the front lobby and not wander through the middle of the campus. Outside of those times, you can feel free to leave the gate open. PARKING: Park in the main parking lot, unless you are unloading in front of 9059 (CDL / IXR Hackerspace). InfoAge doesn't like us parking on the lawn anymore. QUESTIONS? Contact Jeff: 732-759-1783 jeffrey(a)vcfed.org Have fun everyone! -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President Vintage Computer Federation

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: large # of Vintage items for sale
by Tony Bogan 05 Nov '19

05 Nov '19

These items are for sale, (from Dom, not from me) not donation. Tony Sent from my iPhone > On Nov 5, 2019, at 2:49 PM, Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > <mime-attachment>

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OT: large # of Vintage items for sale
by Tony Bogan 05 Nov '19

05 Nov '19

All, I’ve been working with a young man from California who inherited a large amount of vintage computers and other items. He’s reached out to a number of Facebook groups, but I’m trying to help him reach interested parties without having to go on a dozen different groups back and forth. Short story, his grandfather passed away and has a storage unit filled with items. PET 2001, hero robots (one of which is a Hero 1 still new in the box) Atari, Tandy portables, Model 1, Compact Mac through Mac II era, Apple II+, IIe, the list goes on, with lots of boxes still unopened. He’s trying to sell everything, and we are trying to avoid anything being thrown away or brought to recycle. Please contact me off list via email and I will put you in touch with him directly. Tony Sent from my iPhone

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Gauging Interest: CompuGraphic MCS hardware
by Kenneth Gober 05 Nov '19

05 Nov '19

I'm helping to clear out a storage unit that belonged to a deceased friend, and I've come across some CompuGraphic MCS hardware: 2 dual 5.25" floppy drives (I assume these are the system units) 2 CRT displays, ~12" diagonal (one with white bezel, one with black bezel) 1 keyboard with a DB-something connector (I hope to unearth another) 1 8204/HR phototypesetter 1 8216/HR phototypesetter many phototypesetter font cartridges several boxes of documentation, including some CP/M-86 manuals floppy disks Does anyone have any interest in this? Is it something VCF would want? I prefer for everything to stay together (i.e. a request for just the keyboard and nothing else isn't generally welcome, with one exception). Note that the phototypesetters are fairly large -- bathtub sized. While researching what this stuff is, I found a very old request from Al Kossow for a CompuGraphic keyboard needed for some reverse engineering work. So far I've only found one, and if I can't find another I'd consider sending the one I have to Al on extended loan (assuming the one I have is what he wanted, and he's still interested) but I really don't have space to store the rest (especially the phototypesetters) and I would really really hate to break up this set. -ken

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VCF @ Brickfair NJ report
by Evan Koblentz 05 Nov '19

05 Nov '19

Friday I gave a lecture at Brickfair on the history of Lego robotics from before Mindstorms (1980-1997). Only 5 people attended, but they were all enthusiastic about the subject. One guy knew about VCF. Another said he came to Brickfair solely because he heard about my topic. So that's cool. IMO the event management did a terrible job of advertising their Friday sessions. Saturday I demo'd my favorite of the various pre-Mindstorms sets, #9700, using the Apple II platform. I didn't bring the IBM version. The demo worked well until about 4pm. I troubleshooted it as best I could while also talking to visitors. Some of the basic diagnostics between the computer and the interface box stopped working. I know it's not the computer, so this will take more fixing than I can do. I will bring it to the workshop next Saturday. I told the show managers there was no point in me coming back today without having a working demo. My table was in an island of its own, so they understand and said it's fine. The show traffic Saturday was pretty good. I had a steady stream of visitors all day, most of which liked what I had to show them. Lego is an excellent gateway drug to vintage computing. :) Tons of parents my age (40s) came over to reminisce about 8-bit computers. Only one person ever heard of Laser. A lot of people came over and told their kids it's a "Mac II". I enlightened them... I found out there are several dozen Lego shows nationwide. They experts said Chicago and DC (Northern Virginia next summer) are the biggest. I'll look into Virginia next year. My goal is to have a schematic of the interface box done by then (Nevell agreed to do it) and a working replica made in time.

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