Powering ancient computers (was: Happy Holidays!)

From: Merle K. Peirce <at258_at_osfn.org>
Date: Thu Dec 27 15:45:05 2001

When we first moved into our mill, some circuits with the original wooden
insulator mounts were still in use. The main floor had exposed copper
knob and tube 660 lines. There was even an enormous knife switch in the
ceiling of the old generator room to convert from mill generated power to
outside power. I think I liked it better that way.

On Thu, 27 Dec 2001, Roger Merchberger wrote:

> Rumor has it that Clint Wolff (VAX collector) may have mentioned these words:
>
> >I was sympathizing with the checkout chick at home-depot today... Can you
> >imagine working someplace that plays christmas music 24 hours a day, 7
> >days a week, since mid November?!!!???!
>
> I really do think there should be a law (in the US) that no christmas
> decorations/music/advertising/etc. should be used until after Thanksgiving.
> In Canada, the law should read that non should be used until after the US's
> Thanksgiving. (Canadian Thanksgiving is in October.)
>
> I also think that it should be kept in mind that Native American people
> shouldn't be chastised for disliking Thanksgiving - remember, it was a
> "going away party" to the Europeans, they never left... ;-)
>
> [[ And yes, being primarily of Native American & German descent, I really
> wasn't sure which way to word the above paragraph... ;-) ]]
>
> >On the other hand (and to bring us slightly closer to topic), I got my
> >200Amp load center installed and wired up. Now I just need to get an
> >inspection (ummmm.... Yup, thats a load center.... Your wire is the
> >improper shade of red, you'll have to replace it all...), and get PSCo
> >out to hook the feed wire up. Then I'll have an extra 80Amps to run
> >VAXEN!!!!!!
>
> Pfffft. You call that an upgrade??? The house I'm buying has [ahem] 2
> 30-amp services - hell, that won't run my sawzall! And most of the wiring
> is the original "knob & tube" wiring that was used back when many parts of
> the US (and this house) ran on 50 Hz. [Yes, the town I live in ran on 50 Hz
> for around 20 years, before the US standardized on 60.]
>
> Needless to say, the very, *very* first job of mine is to install a new 200
> Amp service & rewire the whole place... the better to run my computers
> with! (At least my Tandy 200 runs on batteries, so I won't be completely
> computerless... ;-)
>
> Happy incr(Year)!
> Roger "Merch" Merchberger
> --
> Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers
> Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an *older* .sig.
>
> (circa 1997!) Why does Hershey's put nutritional information on
> their candy bar wrappers when there's no nutritional value within?
>
>

M. K. Peirce

Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
Shady Lea, Rhode Island

"Casta est quam nemo rogavit."
              
              - Ovid
Received on Thu Dec 27 2001 - 15:45:05 GMT