[vcf-midatlantic] Vintage computer finds at the Sussex Hamfest

Herb Johnson hjohnson at retrotechnology.info
Mon Jul 18 21:42:45 EDT 2016


I was at Sussex as a buyer, got there about 9:30AM. Of course I saw Jeff 
Galinat, he showed me the KIM he obtained. It was a good show as is 
usually the case, Sussex is one of the largest hamfests in NJ now. But 
there was not much vintage computing there, or it was sold earlier in 
the day if brought. I left around noon, when most but not all the 
vendors left: by then it was hot, clear and muggy - probably upper 90's 
heat index.

I saw a 8086 in-circuit emulator, but I do very little with the 8086, 
more with the 8088, so I let it pass. A few books were on 70's computing 
or on robotics, I bought those. Parts were of all kinds, I got some 
discounted IC sockets and on a lark, 200 removed NE2 neon lamps. A Radio 
Shack bulk-tape eraser was cheap - the grey device that looks like a 
hand-mixer without the twirley-bits. Handfuls of parts, otherwise.

I see a number of 20Mhz-40Mhz oscilloscopes at the hamfests, which go 
begging. Most are secondary brand, some are not; most work. Seems to me, 
for not much more spent than for a logic probe, one can get a much MUCH 
more informative test instrument. I acquired two, which worked back home 
but need some mechanical repairs. I may make these available at a 
convenient venue.

I saw several people in our vintage-computing world who recognized me, 
or I them. It's a good opportunity to see people who live north of New 
Jersey. It's pretty low-mountain country up there, and there's good 
mid-20th-C. diner food. The geology in Sussex County is interesting and 
in some cases world-class (the Sterling fluorite mine, colonial iron-mines).

Herb Johnson

-- 
Herbert R. Johnson,  New Jersey USA
http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net



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