Classic Computer Available

From: Alexios Chouchoulas <alexios_at_vennea.demon.co.uk>
Date: Wed Apr 9 07:46:56 1997

On Tue, 8 Apr 1997, Brett wrote:

> Actually I got all involved in this *hobby* when I started working for
> Western Electric testing #3 ESS and #4 ESS in - oh 78?? - and had the
> PRIVILEDGE of walking by the loading dock on the day the crushing - YES -
> Crushing PDP-8's. There must have been 10 of them. It was the last load
> of about 50 total.

  (inarticulate noises as the paramedics try to revive me)

  I think messages like this should be forbidden on this list. :-/ They're
just too depressing. Only joking of course, but they're still depressing.


> > Nah, just go on collecting. Get as many machines as you can, every
> > machine acquired is a machine saved from a fate worse than death (i.e. the
> > dump).
>
> You OBVIOUSLY have NOT met my kids 8-)

  No, but I *have* met my girlfriend's brothers. Lovely OKI IF-800 with 8"
drives sitting about for 15 years in perfect shape, with all software and
manuals and things. Then they discover it's a nice toy. You know: let's
stick pencils into the drive slots and move them about. Let's take the disks
out of their jackets and play. In the end the machine had to stay *outdoors*
for *two* years *in the rain* *with* *all* *disks*. It was a nightmare when
I got it and started cleaning it. All the software is long gone, of course,
and the built-in printer's head assembly is so rusted I can't move it no
matter what. But the machine *worked* after cleaning it up. :-)

  By the way, anyone in this list know about this machine? I'm looking for
8" CP/M boot disks for it, but can't find any (the closest I got was 5.25"
ones, but they won't do, unfortunately -- different FORMAT.COM etc).

  Oh, the _evil_computer_destroyers_ (the grillfiend's brothers) now have a
modified Sinclair ZX-81 (with real keyboard) in their hands. Wonder how long
*that* will last. Time for another rescue operation, I think.

  Now. Are you beginning to appreciate your kids? :-)

--------------------------- ,o88,o888o,,o888o. -------------------------------
Alexios Chouchoulas '88 ,88' ,88' alexios_at_vennea.demon.co.uk
The Unpronouncable One ,o88oooo88ooooo88oo, axc_at_dcs.ed.ac.uk
Received on Wed Apr 09 1997 - 07:46:56 BST