> > Yeah, yeah, we know who you are. You're the only living person with a
> >real Tektronix 31 calculator. Welcome to the list. Where've you
> been hiding?
Not really hiding...just lazy.
>
> You've got a Tek 31 Rick?! I thought I'd never hear of another
> one. Welcome to the list.
Thanks for the Welcome!
Glad to hear that there's at least another Tek 31 out there!
>
> I got mine out of a heap of stuff auctioned from the old IBM
> Endicott plant back in '85. The I/O cable was with it too.
> Still worked, had a tape cart
> with some sort of test controller program on it. Controlled a
> large rack of
> in-house-built test gear for some of those square modules one sees on IBM
> pc boards.
Wow! Amazing that they would have used a machine like the 31 as a test
system controller... I would have thought that someone like IBM would have
built something of their own to test out their circuit modules.
It's clear that Tek influenced the design of the 31 as an instrument
controller...kind of the conjunction of Cintra's calculator technology,
and Tek's instrument knowledge...all rolled together.
The amazing part of it is that Tek literally *gave* these machines away
in the '80's at the Tektronix 'country store'. There were lots of these
machines sold off 'by the pound' in the original boxes with all the docs,
etc.
Most were claimed by scrap dealers, as there was a bit of value in the gold
used on the edge connector fingers, as well as for scrap metal.
>
> Finally found an Operating Manual in '97 --but it's in French! :-) Still
> looking for another tape cartridge to act as backup to the only
> one I have.
The docs for these machines are few and far between, sadly. I found a
manual set (in English), and also a 'guide to interfacing' that explains
the electrical and software aspects of interfacing devices to the 31's
I/O system. Also found one of the 'math pack' libraries, with program
listings. I also have some tape carts, too.
If you'd like to chat more about the 31 (it probably doesn't merit a whole
lot of discussion on the list, as it *barely* qualifies as a computer), drop
me an EMail: rickb_at_pail.enginet.com
If you want to see my Web page on the 31, visit:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7510/tek31.html
Now...I've got to find me a Tek 21!
Rick Bensene
Received on Sat Feb 20 1999 - 18:57:00 GMT