Is there any way to look up DEC internal part numbers of the format ##-#####-##?

[oktology]

So many of the surplus resellers insist on listing DEC gear with these part numbers instead of module numbers or names, which makes it nigh-on impossible to tell what a given item actually is when they don't post photos.

Is there anywhere these part numbers can be searched? I assume they're DEC-internal service part numbers.

 

[Wildfire]

The "##-#####-##" format part numbers are common in the DEC world.
Normally every item should have one.
I once saw some kind of "bible" where at least during the PDP-11 days everything was listed.
For myself, i always found information needed with a classic google search...

 

[davidrg]

Common to the point where some things were widely referred to/known by their part number rather than the often quite generic product names DEC chose, if they even had a product name at all.

The part number scheme is covered by:
DEC STD 012-0 Part Identification Standard
DEC STD 012-2 Unified Numbering Code for Part Identifier Class Codes

I'd be quite interested to get hold of a copy of their part number database. Given the big part number listings some of the resellers produce I guess it must have been available/distributed in some form at some point but whenever I've looked for it I've never found anything. I suppose the computer history museum may have it given HP apparently gave them DECs corporate archives at some point.

 

[oktology]

For myself, i always found information needed with a classic google search...

That was my first recourse, too, but searching these part numbers turns up no references of what they actually are, just other resellers' listings for those items (without additional info).

The part number scheme is covered by:
DEC STD 012-0 Part Identification Standard
DEC STD 012-2 Unified Numbering Code for Part Identifier Class Codes

I'd be quite interested to get hold of a copy of their part number database. Given the big part number listings some of the resellers produce I guess it must have been available/distributed in some form at some point but whenever I've looked for it I've never found anything. I suppose the computer history museum may have it given HP apparently gave them DECs corporate archives at some point.

I do love that there is at least a taxonomy to the numbers, but without the part number listing, unfortunately doesn't help solve the mystery of which "CONTROLLER, BD, DEC" a given xx-xxxxx-xx is. :/

 

[saipan59]

FWIW, the 50-class (bare PCB) is often clearly marked on a board etch, the 54-class (board assembly) may or may not be marked with a paper sticker.
I've never seen a list of those PN's out in the wild. And I don't remember ever seeing a printed version. I would suggest that it was never needed back then. If someone needed to know the DEC PN for an item, it was easily found on the associated Print Set; or for an Assembly, it could be queried/ordered by it's product name. There was no reason to ask "what is a 54-12345-01?".

The OML (Option Module List), which indexes Mxxx (and many other) products, was printed and distributed. It can be found online, of course.

PEte

 

[saipan59]

On second thought, I'm starting to remember that there WAS a printed part number list.
My memory is fuzzy, but it was 3 volumes, paperback, gray/brown color. Each volume was about 1" thick, but one of the volumes was closer to 2" thick.
Would have been used by folks in Component Engineering, but for some reason I had a copy of it on my shelf...

Just checked: Here is the books I'm thinking of:


Pete

 

[oktology]

FWIW, the 50-class (bare PCB) is often clearly marked on a board etch, the 54-class (board assembly) may or may not be marked with a paper sticker.

This was my understanding, yet most of the surplus resellers seem to have the mistaken impression that the long number on the board etch (or the part number on the box, I guess) is the identifying number, and won’t publish any other identification. Like I seriously saw one list “70-xxxxx-xx HARD DRIVE,” no picture, no other info. No one is ever going to be able to find that. You might as well throw it away.

It’s frustrating.

 

[saipan59]

This was my understanding, yet most of the surplus resellers seem to have the mistaken impression that the long number on the board etch (or the part number on the box, I guess) is the identifying number, and won’t publish any other identification. Like I seriously saw one list “70-xxxxx-xx HARD DRIVE,” no picture, no other info. No one is ever going to be able to find that. You might as well throw it away.

It’s frustrating.

What happens when you explain this to them. Do they ignore you? Surely they *want* to sell stuff...

 

[oktology]

What happens when you explain this to them. Do they ignore you? Surely they *want* to sell stuff...

The answers so far have ranged from “thanks” and then no change, to just the module number with no further message.

I’m going to try to call a couple of the online sellers this week and see if I can get through to someone who has the juice to actually make the website change. These folks have to be losing thousands of dollars doing this, there are enough PDP-11s in industrial applications still being limped along to result in sales if people could actually find the parts. And that’s leaving aside how many VAXen and AlphaServers must still be chugging along holding up their little corner of the Internet.

 

[vrs42]

I do love that there is at least a taxonomy to the numbers, but without the part number listing, unfortunately doesn't help solve the mystery of which "CONTROLLER, BD, DEC" a given xx-xxxxx-xx is. :/

The first two PDF referenced here:

DEC Part Substitution

give part the number references for various things, mostly DEC part numbers for replacement parts supplied to DEC by various vendors.

I'm not aware of anything that enumerates the part numbers for DEC-built sub-assemblies. Perhaps some sort of price list somewhere would give part numbers for some of those?

 

[rjarratt]

The answers so far have ranged from “thanks” and then no change, to just the module number with no further message.

I’m going to try to call a couple of the online sellers this week and see if I can get through to someone who has the juice to actually make the website change. These folks have to be losing thousands of dollars doing this, there are enough PDP-11s in industrial applications still being limped along to result in sales if people could actually find the parts. And that’s leaving aside how many VAXen and AlphaServers must still be chugging along holding up their little corner of the Internet.

I would imagine that if you are looking to replace a part that is broken you will know the part number already and can just search for it to find someone who has it. It doesn't help the hobbyist as much though....

 

[saipan59]

The first two PDF referenced here:

DEC Part Substitution

give part the number references for various things, mostly DEC part numbers for replacement parts supplied to DEC by various vendors.

Those referenced PDFs are very useful for a lot of discrete parts - thanks for pointing that out, I'd never seen it before. Too bad it's from 1970 -- a 1985 version would be really nice...

I'm not aware of anything that enumerates the part numbers for DEC-built sub-assemblies. Perhaps some sort of price list somewhere would give part numbers for some of those?

See my earlier post above. The Component Index books list basically EVERY part. For the parts on a specific module, the Print Set for the module normally has an itemized parts list.

I don't know where to find an online copy of the Component Index, but there are some folks that have Field Service microfiche sets, and it should be in there. I used to have a very large fiche set (given to me by a F.S. friend and colleague), but I sold it off about 10 years ago.

Pete

 

[djg]

Not the best descriptions and don't know how comprehensive but I have this from DIGITAL parts exchange web site from 1997 that may be some use.