ebay - Minivac 601, 1st pers. digital computer 1960s

From: Doug Yowza <yowza_at_yowza.com>
Date: Mon Dec 14 00:24:36 1998

On Sun, 13 Dec 1998, dave dameron wrote:

> I do remember seeing ads for it (Edmund scientific?), if I can find what it
> cost then, I will post it.

It was made by Scientific Development Corp. The ads appeared in Science
Newsletter (which later became Science News). $135. There was also a
Minivac 6010, but I don't have more information about it.

> I would be interested in what the minivac did? There are 6 relays, one pole
> maybe used as a latch? I forgot what it takes in relays for a 1 bit adder, a
> single relay coil can be an exclusive or, foe example.

Yup, there are six DPDT relays, so you can make a 3-bit adder, logic
gates, etc. There's also a very cool 16-position motorized dial that can
be used for both input (manual control) and output (motor control), as
well as a means to clock sequential logic: a real computer, in short.

> My point is that I can still find relays for US$1 each, so building
> something like this isn't out of the question. The "speculation" value is
> less interesting to me... if I had one, under what circumstances would I
> sell it? Besides, a homebrew could be modified/improved without the
> speculation factor.

I had planned to build one myself until I recently bought one. Contact me
by private email with suggestions for trades for a copy of the manuals so
you can build your own!

-- Doug
Received on Mon Dec 14 1998 - 00:24:36 GMT