Recent content by NF6X

I think I saw that document listed while searching for other stuff, but stupidly assumed it was too new to cover the 1960s machines I was interested in based on its date. I’m happy to be wrong about that. Thanks again for the reference.

Well, it’s not quite working yet. The panel was in bad shape, with lots of lint stuck in the switches (not surprising, considering what it came out of) and most of the switches not working properly. I laboriously disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated each switch several years ago. I think I got...

Thank you! Searching for one of the PDP-12 color codes in that standard led me to this page, which also looks helpful: http://chdickman.com/pdp8/DECcolors/

If DEC wasn’t that consistent anyway, then I guess it’s not so important to match the original colors perfectly. Maybe I just need to find the nearest museum with a green DEC computer and go there with a Pantone book?

Is there any known authoritative source for the official color definitions (such as Pantone colors, etc.) used on DEC toggle switch programmer’s panels? I’m particularly interested in the two-tone green scheme used on PDP-12 and LAB-8/E systems, and the two-tone blue scheme used on some of the...

I have several generic readers and punches from the CNC world. I do care about the PC04 etc. specifically. My level of care doesn’t quite reach $9,500, though. :)

I also have a PiDP-8 kit on the way right now. Can’t have too many toys!

It’s real! https://www.nf6x.net/2014/02/look-at-what-ups-brought-me-today/

I already have a 33 ASR which I’ll use as the console for my PDP-8/M. I’m not sure if its keyboard has the right parity and if it is configured the DEC way with two loops plus reader run control, so I may need to tinker with it. I’d like to also add other correct DEC peripherals such as a high...

I would like to add a high speed punch/reader to my PDP-8/M one of these days. I do have a couple of serial interfaced fast punch/readers from the CNC world, and a few reel-to-reel readers from the CNC world which I could consider building a PC8E-compatible OMNIBUS card for. But it would be a...

Thank you. If enough of them change hands for there to be a going rate, and that going rate is usually around the admittedly off-the-rails post-COVID prices you mention, then I may consider making an offer on it. I guess I should also post in the wanted topic on the off chance that there’s...

What I’m really interested in is having DECtape/LINCtape drives and experiencing them fully. I have the impression that there are approximately zero of them available at most moments, and that when they do appear they’ll sell for about as much money as a used car. So I have to wonder whether it...

I’d like to add a high-speed punch/reader to my PDP-8M project. I’m drooling over a PC04/PC8E (plus documentation, tapes, and other extras) listing on eBay with an asking price of $9,500. Is that a crazytalk eBay price, or is that in line with the market value of vintage DEC punch/readers in...

I would like to hang on to these LINCtapes for now. I still dream (probably in vain) of getting a matching computer for them. :) Dang, somebody just paid a silly amount of money for that “games” DECtape on eBay. Ok, it was me. I’m not a smart man. :)

I’m interested in making unobtanium read/write heads for DECtape/LINCtape, as well as other silliness.