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Vintage Computers Any vintage computer systems, calculators, video games etc., but with an emphasis on 1980s and earlier equipment. |
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2nd Sep 2022, 6:00 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 528
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Computing at Chilton
Not sure if this counts as 'vintage', please move if not.
I came across this site, it takes me back... http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/ Originally found it looking up information about remote job entry to a system I once used. You need to explore lots of menus to get a feel for all the content as the top menu changes based on context and the 'literature' tab points to a lot of material. |
2nd Sep 2022, 6:36 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,005
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Re: Computing at Chilton
That brings back memories. I had a number of remote job entry workstations linked to RAL computers in the pre-JANET days, and then looked after a bunch of CAMTEC X.25 PADs and SEEL TelePac / Transpac gateways.
Building R20 (Atlas Centre) was full of interesting people and things. I thankfully avoided any involvement with the disaster that was the ICL PERQ.
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I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk. |
2nd Sep 2022, 6:57 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,311
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Re: Computing at Chilton
Indeed. I cycled/walked/was driven past R20 every day I was on the main RAL site, where I worked for 20-odd years.
I remember once being shown into a room with a false floor and my guide then lifted one of the floor panels. Underneath was a layer of loose 1/4" co-ax cabling (RG59 or some such ?). Apparently it was a couple of feet deep ! Cheers, GJ
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2nd Sep 2022, 7:03 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,005
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Re: Computing at Chilton
That coax would have been RG62A/U 93 Ohm stuff used to feed IBM 3270 display stations. Plenty of buildings in the City of London were only supported by the mass of such cables in the vertical riser ducts...
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I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk. |
3rd Sep 2022, 11:23 am | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Perth, Scotland
Posts: 1,813
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Re: Computing at Chilton
Some of the support staff who decommed equipment in a DC at a place I worked used to simply stuff the cables under the false floor. After some time (many years) we had to spend a lot of time lifting and (carefully) pulling it out as it started to cause dew problems under the floor.....
Colin. |
14th Sep 2022, 3:10 am | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire, UK.
Posts: 1,440
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Re: Computing at Chilton
Thanks for the useful link. I only found out about the Atlas, on a visit to a (quire-rare) open-day at Harwell-RAL a few years ago.
Although the original Harwell Dekatron (later re-homed and re-christened WITCH) , can be seen running at Bletchley Park's TNMoC - Where it is apparently the World's oldest original complete Electronic Computer (As earlier ones there are replicas, as originals were mostly all destroyed) |
19th Sep 2022, 2:39 pm | #7 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East London, UK.
Posts: 231
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Re: Computing at Chilton
I still have the last GEC 4070 Mini from RAL that was saved from the skip.
I still think it's a great bit of kit. I've had some success in getting it to do something of interest as well..... Alan. |
19th Sep 2022, 3:55 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Duffort, Gers, France
Posts: 714
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Re: Computing at Chilton
I vaguely remember using one of those sometime around 1980. One of the most interesting programs was a thing called Adventure ...
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Stuart The golden age is always yesterday - Asa Briggs |
21st Sep 2022, 9:45 pm | #9 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East London, UK.
Posts: 231
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Re: Computing at Chilton
Hi Stuart,
I would so much like to find some programs that ran on the GEC, there is next to nothing out there and i have really tried all different things. I have some old core memory boards that i believe may still contain something of interest. What was your connection with the GEC's ? Alan. |