Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[CitroJim]

Oh gosh Zel! Now that IS a proper computer

Is it functional?

[Hell Razor5543]

My Mum used to work for DEC (back in the Eighties), and I got to see PDP11s and other equipment.

[Zelandeth]

Oh gosh Zel! Now that IS a proper computer

Is it functional?

This one is a work in progress, but they have plenty of similar metal in their workshop and in storage which is fully functional.

Might have to see if we can get one of my era appropriate systems (Apple II? Using an IBM-PC compatible would be too easy) set up running a terminal emulator, hooked up to a similarly era appropriate modem (which I DO randomly have), and dial into a session on one of those systems like it's the early 80s. For absolutely no reason other than because we can. Or at least we think we can! Reasonably confident we have all the necessary bits.

[Zelandeth]

Just remembered that I meant to include something about the camera I mentioned a few posts ago but forgot.

This is the offending item.





The issue is pretty obvious - in that you can actually see contamination on the shutter blades.



Unlike modern cameras, it seems that all of the actual camera gubbins live entirely in here. Only thing in the body itself is the film advance mechanism.





Which in *theory* should make servicing easier I'd think. Though equally I've never had one apart so wouldn't know for certain.

[CitroJim]

Oh gosh Zel! Now that IS a proper computer

Is it functional?

This one is a work in progress, but they have plenty of similar metal in their workshop and in storage which is fully functional.

Might have to see if we can get one of my era appropriate systems (Apple II? Using an IBM-PC compatible would be too easy) set up running a terminal emulator, hooked up to a similarly era appropriate modem (which I DO randomly have), and dial into a session on one of those systems like it's the early 80s. For absolutely no reason other than because we can. Or at least we think we can! Reasonably confident we have all the necessary bits.

That would be great Zel Lots of memories would come flooding back!

On the camera, yes all is in the front part of the lens assembly and as far as I can determine, it's all pretty standard stuff. The big problem with those cameras are small holes in the bellows. Only real fix to that is new bellows.

[Zelandeth]

One mighty hunter.

[RichardW]

Thought you'd be interested in this Zel!

[John Pankhurst]

Might have been on they way back from here

[Zelandeth]

Turns out that the guy who I was helping shuffle some computing big iron around is going to be helping clear some kit out from a big collection later in the year. For some unknown reason I've asked them to keep an eye out for a "small" system for me and an appropriate terminal. I've actually wanted a proper terminal like a VT-100 for ages anyway. Aside from anything else I really want to set it up and use one as a user interface for my main PC just because I can. Being Linux based the OS is absolutely just as happy to be run from a terminal session as through a fancy GUI. The little bit where it says "User whatever logged in on tty1" even shows it's roots there the "tty" there dates back to when you'd be logging into a *NIX based mainframe via a teletype. So while it's absolutely not something I in any way need, a smaller minicomputer like a PDP 11/73 may at some point be heading my way. Hopefully an RL-02 disk drive and the necessary interface gubbins as well because who *doesn't* want a 35kg drive that uses 14" 10Mb disk packs?

No idea whether it will come to anything or what form it might actually take, but I have expressed my interest. Something like an 11/73 seems a reasonable stepping stone between the two worlds of microcomputer and minicomputer. Of course whatever it is will not have been in use for a significant number of years, so the resurrection will be half the fun of it. Including some slightly scary power supplies which can supply many, many tens of amps on the 5V (and probably 12V) rail.

Been very little else to report as we have been running around seemingly non stop dealing with medical nonsense over the last couple of weeks, and that's not looking likely to change any time soon sadly.

[CitroJim]

Absolutely love it Zel I hope it all works out...