Doug Crawford and his Univac Core stack:
I'm not finding anything thing relevant on web searches, internet archive, or any recent sales on ebay. Any recommendations on where else to look?
Doug, here's my recommendation, and it's posted in public for purpose. I suggest you photograph and describe whatever core thingy you have, as best you can; and either create a Web page about it or find someone to create a Web page for you (but creating a page isn't too awful). Then host it on a vintage computing relevant Web site. And, please, update it as you find more information. I myself run a Web domain for vintage computing with traditional Web pages. So I eat what I recommend. But Univac is too old and the wrong brand for my site, sorry. I imagine there's other Web sites where Univac content exists; maybe, core-memory content. Ask at those sites. The reason for creating a Web page with images and content, is to draw attention and interest. At some point, someone with interest or knowledge will FIND your content, and contact you accordingly. Also: with a Web page available, your "requests for help" need only be a brief statement and a Web link. The Web page does the work; not a thread of posts in some email archive. Over time, those posts and your page, will build a trail that Web search will find, leading "eyeballs" (persons searching for your interest) to your Web page and request. Those people will feed your interests; your interest feeds them. But Doug, nothing personal. If your interest is brief and limited, if this seems like a lot of effort, you need do nothing further. While I think you are missing an opportunity, it's entirely your call. You persisted and you asked "any recommendations?"; this is a recommendation. OK? End of response to Doug. Now, explanation to others. So: I posted this in public list, rather than a private email to Doug, for many reasons. 0) if someone knows a plausibly relevant Web site which will host Doug's "find", let Doug know. 1) To make a point about how to use the Web, in a 20th century sort of way; 2) to inform people who have forgotten or didn't know: this is how the Web used to be, before walled-gardens like twitter and facebook and other regulated Web domains; and before everything was a matter of chats that only last days or hours or minutes. There's another whole discussion about how the Internet used to be, versus how a lot of it operates now. I'm not gonna join that discussion, it's in my opinion a little off-topic for Vintage Computing discussions. It's a little hard-assed too, and I get tired of contentious discussions. These are, after all, opinions and analysis, not facts or Acts of God. And we in this group, are focused about vintage computing. Modern computing or critiques of it are not on-topic. But I saw a case in Doug's thread, where a brief lesson in 20th century Internet use *was* relevant and on-point. There's all kinds of activities on the Internet, including the kind I just described and suggested to Doug. One can create Web pages with VERY ordinary tools, and use sites focused on specific content, and not insistent on specific Web-development tools, just to make a simple Web page. Sometimes, in some places, "content is king" still works on the Web. The Web is not just one thing. 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 comcast DOT net
On Wed, Jul 7, 2021 at 1:04 PM Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Doug Crawford and his Univac Core stack:
I'm not finding anything thing relevant on web searches, internet archive, or any recent sales on ebay. Any recommendations on where else to look?
Doug, here's my recommendation, and it's posted in public for purpose.
I suggest you photograph and describe whatever core thingy you have, as best you can; and either create a Web page about it or find someone to create a Web page for you (but creating a page isn't too awful). Then host it on a vintage computing relevant Web site. And, please, update it as you find more information.
I myself run a Web domain for vintage computing with traditional Web pages. So I eat what I recommend. But Univac is too old and the wrong brand for my site, sorry. I imagine there's other Web sites where Univac content exists; maybe, core-memory content. Ask at those sites.
I know Doug already knows this, but to anyone who does not...As owner of vintagecomputer.net, I second Herb's view on how to solicit solutions to obscure problems. Posting a page of your own will attract random searches and responses. I get contacted daily about old articles and photos I posted on my site even 15 years ago. People supply info and suggestions, questions, stories, etc. I have learned a lot by simply starting a lot of little snowballs and letting them roll. I try to faithfully update the articles with these updates and let the persons who provided them know / give credit. One can also post onto the old vintage-computer.com/vcforum if you don't want to make or have a web site but you never know when the hatchet will fall and the site disappears. Just happened to cbm-hackers. Remember our old Yahoo forum? Agreed that social media posts are only good for immediate response and results, some solutions take more time than Twitter and Facebook allow. The web in one form or another *will* be here after we're all gone, individual sites hopefully will be archived, but it's a race against time in this hobby. The people who actually worked with this core board and remember it are probably few. Suggestion - Check Datamation magazine from the early 70's...you may find a review on the board in there. BIll
https://abitoutofplace.wordpress.com/ On 7/7/2021 3:11 PM, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Wed, Jul 7, 2021 at 1:04 PM Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Doug Crawford and his Univac Core stack:
I'm not finding anything thing relevant on web searches, internet archive, or any recent sales on ebay. Any recommendations on where else to look?
Doug, here's my recommendation, and it's posted in public for purpose.
I suggest you photograph and describe whatever core thingy you have, as best you can; and either create a Web page about it or find someone to create a Web page for you (but creating a page isn't too awful). Then host it on a vintage computing relevant Web site. And, please, update it as you find more information.
I myself run a Web domain for vintage computing with traditional Web pages. So I eat what I recommend. But Univac is too old and the wrong brand for my site, sorry. I imagine there's other Web sites where Univac content exists; maybe, core-memory content. Ask at those sites.
I know Doug already knows this, but to anyone who does not...As owner of vintagecomputer.net, I second Herb's view on how to solicit solutions to obscure problems. Posting a page of your own will attract random searches and responses. I get contacted daily about old articles and photos I posted on my site even 15 years ago. People supply info and suggestions, questions, stories, etc. I have learned a lot by simply starting a lot of little snowballs and letting them roll. I try to faithfully update the articles with these updates and let the persons who provided them know / give credit.
One can also post onto the old vintage-computer.com/vcforum if you don't want to make or have a web site but you never know when the hatchet will fall and the site disappears. Just happened to cbm-hackers. Remember our old Yahoo forum? Agreed that social media posts are only good for immediate response and results, some solutions take more time than Twitter and Facebook allow.
The web in one form or another *will* be here after we're all gone, individual sites hopefully will be archived, but it's a race against time in this hobby. The people who actually worked with this core board and remember it are probably few.
Suggestion - Check Datamation magazine from the early 70's...you may find a review on the board in there.
BIll
I'm good, Duane and David Gesswein got me what I needed to know, thanks. On 7/7/2021 3:11 PM, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Wed, Jul 7, 2021 at 1:04 PM Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Doug Crawford and his Univac Core stack:
I'm not finding anything thing relevant on web searches, internet archive, or any recent sales on ebay. Any recommendations on where else to look?
Doug, here's my recommendation, and it's posted in public for purpose.
I suggest you photograph and describe whatever core thingy you have, as best you can; and either create a Web page about it or find someone to create a Web page for you (but creating a page isn't too awful). Then host it on a vintage computing relevant Web site. And, please, update it as you find more information.
I myself run a Web domain for vintage computing with traditional Web pages. So I eat what I recommend. But Univac is too old and the wrong brand for my site, sorry. I imagine there's other Web sites where Univac content exists; maybe, core-memory content. Ask at those sites.
I know Doug already knows this, but to anyone who does not...As owner of vintagecomputer.net, I second Herb's view on how to solicit solutions to obscure problems. Posting a page of your own will attract random searches and responses. I get contacted daily about old articles and photos I posted on my site even 15 years ago. People supply info and suggestions, questions, stories, etc. I have learned a lot by simply starting a lot of little snowballs and letting them roll. I try to faithfully update the articles with these updates and let the persons who provided them know / give credit.
One can also post onto the old vintage-computer.com/vcforum if you don't want to make or have a web site but you never know when the hatchet will fall and the site disappears. Just happened to cbm-hackers. Remember our old Yahoo forum? Agreed that social media posts are only good for immediate response and results, some solutions take more time than Twitter and Facebook allow.
The web in one form or another *will* be here after we're all gone, individual sites hopefully will be archived, but it's a race against time in this hobby. The people who actually worked with this core board and remember it are probably few.
Suggestion - Check Datamation magazine from the early 70's...you may find a review on the board in there.
BIll
You could also send a question to the UNIVAC VIP club; an organization of retired UNIVAC employees: VIP Club Home Page (vipclubmn.org) <http://vipclubmn.org/> There is a comments and links selection on the left of their home page. They could put it out to their membership. On 7/9/2021 12:36 AM, Douglas Crawford via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'm good, Duane and David Gesswein got me what I needed to know, thanks.
On 7/7/2021 3:11 PM, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Wed, Jul 7, 2021 at 1:04 PM Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Doug Crawford and his Univac Core stack:
I'm not finding anything thing relevant on web searches, internet archive, or any recent sales on ebay. Any recommendations on where else to look?
Doug, here's my recommendation, and it's posted in public for purpose.
I suggest you photograph and describe whatever core thingy you have, as best you can; and either create a Web page about it or find someone to create a Web page for you (but creating a page isn't too awful). Then host it on a vintage computing relevant Web site. And, please, update it as you find more information.
I myself run a Web domain for vintage computing with traditional Web pages. So I eat what I recommend. But Univac is too old and the wrong brand for my site, sorry. I imagine there's other Web sites where Univac content exists; maybe, core-memory content. Ask at those sites.
I know Doug already knows this, but to anyone who does not...As owner of vintagecomputer.net, I second Herb's view on how to solicit solutions to obscure problems. Posting a page of your own will attract random searches and responses. I get contacted daily about old articles and photos I posted on my site even 15 years ago. People supply info and suggestions, questions, stories, etc. I have learned a lot by simply starting a lot of little snowballs and letting them roll. I try to faithfully update the articles with these updates and let the persons who provided them know / give credit.
One can also post onto the old vintage-computer.com/vcforum if you don't want to make or have a web site but you never know when the hatchet will fall and the site disappears. Just happened to cbm-hackers. Remember our old Yahoo forum? Agreed that social media posts are only good for immediate response and results, some solutions take more time than Twitter and Facebook allow.
The web in one form or another *will* be here after we're all gone, individual sites hopefully will be archived, but it's a race against time in this hobby. The people who actually worked with this core board and remember it are probably few.
Suggestion - Check Datamation magazine from the early 70's...you may find a review on the board in there.
BIll
-- DuaneCraps sdɐɹɔ ǝuɐnp
On 7/7/2021 12:58 PM, Herb Johnson wrote:
I suggest you photograph and describe whatever core thingy you have, as best you can; and either create a Web page about it ....
Doug says: https://abitoutofplace.wordpress.com/ So I went there, didn't see "the core" or "sperry". I did a Web search like this: sperry site:abitoutofplace.wordpress.com and found one reference. No core. Doug says:
I'm good, Duane and David Gesswein got me what I needed to know, thanks.
Weeeelllll, you got my attention. Now I'm curious. So what is this thing about? What's your plan? Or is it "now I know, now it goes on my shelf"? (shrug) Core used to be a thing. And as I said: someone may need one someday, let them know. Regards, Herb -- 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
So, right. Here's the whole post mortem on this.
What's your plan? Or is it "now I know, now it goes on my shelf"?
Yes, likely on the wall, with other memory technology boards. I've wanted to take a crack at making an interesting display of the evolving of memory tech and density. Maybe it will find its way to the museum, or a vc fest. So with Duane and D. Gesswein's help I can properly label this item. I bought the board as it was Univac and presented very well by itself. Its a handsome build. Is the AN/UYK-20 computer it came from that interesting? Maybe. I don't intend to pursue any further research on the computer itself. There is a possibility of making a jig that writes and reads data to and from it; that was briefly discussed in this conversation. To that end I mentioned there were two broken ICs on the board that would have to be replaced. Duane replied with a source. If I work on that, it will likely go on my page. Dave Gesswein gave some other helpful input. The interface to the board would have to be understood and I think the manual that Duane provided contains what we would need to figure it out.
So I went there, didn't see "the core" or "sperry".
Right. Its not there. The suggestion that I should create a website for this seemed to me to imply that I don't already have one. So I demonstrated that I do. Sorry I did not mention I did not put the board on there. But as you can see there, I concentrate on restoration process and projects, it would be out of place to post the artifact and request info. I get very little messages sent to me there though the pages get a fair amount of looks from time to time. So I would not expect to receive any info about this board from that site so I was not inclined to just post the board there with questions. The board photos were put on a IMGUR site and a link was provided in the conversation. https://imgur.com/a/KOOhJPx So how'd you like my site? Read my bio? Here's a few more: https://adventuresinrov.wordpress.com/ https://douglascrawford.wordpress.com/
And as I said: someone may need one someday
Interesting. It didn't occur to me that I should document this board so that someone can find it if they need it. That isn't something I've ever considered with my items unless I'm selling them. I'll have to think about that. I guess this mail system isn't indexed by the search engines so these posts won't help. Maybe my memory artifact wall will get detailed on my site. I'm a bit out of practice due to the pandemic, if I did this all over again I would have posted on the VCF website board. I forgot that had been my usual place to pursue details about systems. Used to spend a lot of time there. But since I haven't been restoring anything during my move I lost track. But thanks to Duane and Gesswein everything I needed to know was answered here. That's a recap of the entire successful conversation. Links to the board pics, and the UNIVAC manuals and such are in the conversation. Hence, "I'm good". Thanks! On 7/9/2021 3:59 PM, Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On 7/7/2021 12:58 PM, Herb Johnson wrote:
I suggest you photograph and describe whatever core thingy you have, as best you can; and either create a Web page about it ....
Doug says:
https://abitoutofplace.wordpress.com/
So I went there, didn't see "the core" or "sperry". I did a Web search like this:
sperry site:abitoutofplace.wordpress.com
and found one reference. No core. Doug says:
I'm good, Duane and David Gesswein got me what I needed to know, thanks.
Weeeelllll, you got my attention. Now I'm curious. So what is this thing about? What's your plan? Or is it "now I know, now it goes on my shelf"? (shrug) Core used to be a thing. And as I said: someone may need one someday, let them know.
Regards, Herb
I spotted an LA36 controller board, on a Web site for sale. The LA36 is the DEC Decwriter II. I recall helping repair one at a VCFed/MARCH workshop a few years ago. So if you have an interest, contact me privately and I'll forward the reference. Regards, Herb -- 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
Thanks Herb. I dont need one Bill On Fri, Jul 9, 2021, 4:03 PM Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
I spotted an LA36 controller board, on a Web site for sale. The LA36 is the DEC Decwriter II. I recall helping repair one at a VCFed/MARCH workshop a few years ago. So if you have an interest, contact me privately and I'll forward the reference.
Regards, Herb
-- 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
Thanks Herb. I dont need one Bill Degnan
Yours was not the one I fixed, but that's OK. I got a "could use a spare" inquiry so I'll respond to that. - Herb -- 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
participants (4)
-
Bill Degnan -
Douglas Crawford -
Duane Craps -
Herb Johnson