UPDATE: Just found schematics to a Tube Mini! 1958! WOW!

From: John B <dylanb_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed Nov 24 10:42:50 1999

Just found the clock module: It ran at 5 Khz.

john

-----Original Message-----
From: John B <dylanb_at_sympatico.ca>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 12:35 PM
Subject: Just found schematics to a Tube Mini! 1958! WOW!


>This unit is not listed anywhere on the web and have not found it in the
>list of Digital Computers (though I can't find the page I usually look at).
>
>In going through my PDP-8 stuff I found a book called "RCL".
>
>This *mini* was built in 1958.
>
>I uses delay line memory, has a number of mini-computer functions (many
tube
>flip flops) and it's programmed with wires (i think). It has a bulb front
>panel with some program control switches.
>
>Interfaced to it was a printer and a CRT (maybe more, I am just getting
>through the memory control schematics).
>
>Its memory control system contains:
>
>Set address, decimal decoder, subtract 1, read , add, write (all
>these three have many other function control flip flops), address overflow,
>decode, print, carry, add+1, end storage...
>
>
>Address system is 8 bit. (256 bits of address space)
>
>OOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. (just flipped the page) it *does* have a core memory
array.
>(5 stages X 256 bit)
>
>OOOOOOOOOOOOoo (just flipped the page again)... It has a 16 bit A/D
>converter (tubes)
>
>(sorry but OOOOOOOOOO - just flipped the,,,,,....) it has a data register
..
>Ahhh, this is a 16 bit mini, with core (just found more core memory)
>
>Getting an instruction set here - (so far):
>
>Add +1
>Add
>Add -1 (subtract)
>Compliment
>Add with carry
>reset (jump?)
>stop
>
>
>next page - A/D unit (yikes!) many tubes.....
>
>CRT display (uses delay line memory ... I think.. if not , no idea yet)
>
>Power supply is nasty
>
>printer control modules - yuck!
>
>Okay, indicator panel (found it) has: 16 bit data bus, 8 bit address bus
>(light bulbs)
>
>Programming - weird, user has access to core memory, has "START, RESET
>switches), it has a *really weird* tube for "real time".. looks to be a
>cesium tube or delay tube... many sensors for "real time"
>
>more programming instructions:
>
>print
>clear to zero
>display
>
>
>I thought at first this unit was a counter but I see a whole programming
>area with different op codes, two types of storage and a printer with CRT.
>This should qualify as a *kind* of mini... It was meant to work with A/D
and
>D/A with some coded instructions in core memory/wires.
>
>Anyone hear of such a unit?
>
>Part of it is called "multichannel analyzer" but that is only the a/d
>subsystem. I only have the schematics so I have to figure stuff out from
>there.
>
>john
>
>
>
>
Received on Wed Nov 24 1999 - 10:42:50 GMT