Thermionics, futurology and Leo the Lion - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Radio Wrangler · 7th Dec 2019, 7:07 pm

I was amused by the timing of the thread with the link to Lyon's computer, Leo.

On Thursday, while my car was laid-up for repairs, I was reading my way slowly through a collection of Arthur C Clarke stories and read 'The lion of Comarre' for the second time in my life (the first time was in the sixties)

It was interesting that he wrote much of robotics in his imagined future and spoke of Lee DeForest's triode starting thermionics which led directly to robots. No mention of semiconductors.

He mentioned that in the future, all would be recorded on miles and miles of wire.

I need to check up. I think this one has to have been written pre-war. Tape recorders escaped from Germany at the end of the war, and semiconductors came not long after.

But Leo the lion was indeed a character in the story.

Prediction is obviously a difficult business.

David

M0FYA Andy · 7th Dec 2019, 8:44 pm

Was it in one of his sci-fi books where he wrote of information stored in little crystals in something small enough to be carried around...……….
I would have read this in the 60's when I couldn't get my head around the idea, but it stuck in my memory.

Andy

'LIVEWIRE?' · 7th Dec 2019, 11:53 pm

There were also Wire Recorders. I remember seeing on in a place I stayed the best part of 60 years ago. AFAIK the principle on which they worked was similar to that used by tape recorders, but instead of tape, reels of (soft iron?)wire were used. Never seen one since.
Andy- Arthur C. Clarke was indeed ahead of his time in basically predicting things like MP3 Players, I-pods and mobile phones!

M0FYA Andy · 8th Dec 2019, 10:58 am

I started a thread here a while ago, seeking information on a wire-recorder I acquired. It was intended for use by a test-pilot in the Hawker Hunter era to record his observations verbally rather than have to write them down.

Andy

Radio Wrangler · 8th Dec 2019, 2:55 pm

The best known wire recorder was the American Webster brand. Used by journalists pre-war and crop up in old American gumshoe movies.

During the War, Hitler speeches cropping up when he was known to have moved on from the place where a speech was given, but sounded live, created a bit of mystery until we discovered the Magnetophon tape recorders after the war. I think wire recording more than thermionic-controlled thinking robots dates the Clarke story with precision.

David

7th Dec 2019, 7:07 pm	#1
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Thermionics, futurology and Leo the Lion I was amused by the timing of the thread with the link to Lyon's computer, Leo. On Thursday, while my car was laid-up for repairs, I was reading my way slowly through a collection of Arthur C Clarke stories and read 'The lion of Comarre' for the second time in my life (the first time was in the sixties) It was interesting that he wrote much of robotics in his imagined future and spoke of Lee DeForest's triode starting thermionics which led directly to robots. No mention of semiconductors. He mentioned that in the future, all would be recorded on miles and miles of wire. I need to check up. I think this one has to have been written pre-war. Tape recorders escaped from Germany at the end of the war, and semiconductors came not long after. But Leo the lion was indeed a character in the story. Prediction is obviously a difficult business. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

7th Dec 2019, 8:44 pm	#2
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: Thermionics, futurology and Leo the Lion Was it in one of his sci-fi books where he wrote of information stored in little crystals in something small enough to be carried around...………. I would have read this in the 60's when I couldn't get my head around the idea, but it stuck in my memory. Andy

7th Dec 2019, 11:53 pm	#3
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Thermionics, futurology and Leo the Lion There were also Wire Recorders. I remember seeing on in a place I stayed the best part of 60 years ago. AFAIK the principle on which they worked was similar to that used by tape recorders, but instead of tape, reels of (soft iron?)wire were used. Never seen one since. Andy- Arthur C. Clarke was indeed ahead of his time in basically predicting things like MP3 Players, I-pods and mobile phones!

8th Dec 2019, 10:58 am	#4
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: Thermionics, futurology and Leo the Lion I started a thread here a while ago, seeking information on a wire-recorder I acquired. It was intended for use by a test-pilot in the Hawker Hunter era to record his observations verbally rather than have to write them down. Andy

8th Dec 2019, 2:55 pm	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Thermionics, futurology and Leo the Lion The best known wire recorder was the American Webster brand. Used by journalists pre-war and crop up in old American gumshoe movies. During the War, Hitler speeches cropping up when he was known to have moved on from the place where a speech was given, but sounded live, created a bit of mystery until we discovered the Magnetophon tape recorders after the war. I think wire recording more than thermionic-controlled thinking robots dates the Clarke story with precision. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done