Ancient Ampex core memory board

From: Boris Gimbarzevsky <borisg_at_unixg.ubc.ca>
Date: Mon Apr 8 02:19:25 2002

Hi:

During a search I did tonight trying to locate info on a core-memory module, I kept running into references to this list, so I thought I'd joing.

I've been going through some of my ancient electronics stuff and just came across a 42*100 bit Ampex core memory module. This module has P/N 3255780-01 S/N FA 2655 04570061.

It consists of 2 boards fastened together with screws and spacers with the core plane sitting on the lower board under a plexiglass cover. It appears to be made up of 2 separate core planes of 42*50 bits. The board is 5.5 * 5.5 inches by 9/16" deep.

The edge connectors are broken off, for their gold plating I suspect. I have a faint memory of picking up this board around 1976 in a computer surplus store. I've separated it into two boards (connections between the two boards are made by 12 wires soldered to the boards) and scanned it and these jpegs are available if anyone needs them to help out.

I was wondering if anyone had any information of where I can find more information about this core-memory module. I haven't been able to find out anything about the IC's which populate this board (TI AAAL4 and Fairchild AAVA1) and even info on what these IC's are would be usefull as the board appears to be a simple 2 layer circuit board with very wide (compared to modern boards) traces that are trivial to convert to a schematic by using the scans of the two sides of each board.

It would be neat to get this board up and running someday, and hopefully someone on this list has the info.

Regards,
Boris Gimbarzevsky
Received on Mon Apr 08 2002 - 02:19:25 BST

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