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Earlier this month, I visited the Computer History Museum to explore their "Revolution" exhibit. While there are only two pieces of Tektronix gear on display in the museum (other than on Jim Williams's desk), there are a large number of pictures of old computer laboratories that include Tektronix gear. It is a sublimial exhibit of vintage oscilloscopes!
Here's a list of all the Tektronix gear that I found:
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I visited last month as well and was very impressed with the museum. Highly recommend it if you are in the area. Jim Williams bench is amazing!
George Plhak
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--- In TekScopes@..., Doctor Analog <doctoranalog@...> wrote:
Earlier this month, I visited the Computer History Museum to explore their
"Revolution" exhibit. While there are only two pieces of Tektronix gear on
display in the museum (other than on Jim Williams's desk), there are a
large number of pictures of old computer laboratories that include
Tektronix gear. It is a sublimial exhibit of vintage oscilloscopes!
Here's a list of all the Tektronix gear that I found:
|
Spoke to Dag, one of the curators of CHS... They are not interested in this analog instrumentation stuff.
Bernice
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--- On Sun, 1/15/12, Doctor Analog wrote:
From: Doctor Analog
Subject: [TekScopes] Tekscopes at the Computer History Museum
To: "tekscopes"
Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 12:23 PM
?
Earlier this month, I visited the Computer History Museum to explore their "Revolution" exhibit. While there are only two pieces of Tektronix gear on display in the museum (other than on Jim Williams's desk), there are a large number of pictures of old computer laboratories that include Tektronix gear. It is a sublimial exhibit of vintage oscilloscopes!
Here's a list of all the Tektronix gear that I found:
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And they've never heard of ANALOG computers?
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There would not be computers as we know them with out influence/use of scopes back in the day and up to current technology.
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I will definately have to get to the museum the next time I am at mother Trimble (work) in Sunnyvale!
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Jim
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--- On Sun, 1/15/12, Bernice Loui wrote:
From: Bernice Loui
Subject: Re: [TekScopes] Tekscopes at the Computer History Museum
To: TekScopes@...
Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 11:24 AM
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Spoke to Dag, one of the curators of CHS... They are not interested in this analog instrumentation stuff.
Bernice
--- On Sun, 1/15/12, Doctor Analog wrote:
From: Doctor Analog
Subject: [TekScopes] Tekscopes at the Computer History Museum
To: "tekscopes"
Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 12:23 PM
?
Earlier this month, I visited the Computer History Museum to explore their "Revolution" exhibit. While there are only two pieces of Tektronix gear on display in the museum (other than on Jim Williams's desk), there are a large number of pictures of old computer laboratories that include Tektronix gear. It is a sublimial exhibit of vintage oscilloscopes!
Here's a list of all the Tektronix gear that I found:
|
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I am second to "
There would not be computers as we know them with out influence/use of scopes back in the day and up to current technology". ?The clear evidence is all most all computer hardware designs involved the use of logic analyzers and of which Tektronix is the?pioneer. ?The museum is only down the road of where I live and it is in Mountain View California but not in Sunnyvale. ?My favorite look there is the very first system Google used. ?It is just amazing to see tons of the?motherboards?were on top of each others and spaced with just?card-boards. ?Hardly?America?industrial?approach?at all?but it works. ?I guess this is what we call now as thinking outside of the box. ?? ?
Doug
o: TekScopes@...From: nfeinc@... Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:31:16 -0800 Subject: Re: [TekScopes] Tekscopes at the Computer History Museum
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And they've never heard of ANALOG computers?
?
There would not be computers as we know them with out influence/use of scopes back in the day and up to current technology.
?
I will definately have to get to the museum the next time I am at mother Trimble (work) in Sunnyvale!
?
Jim
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--- On Sun, 1/15/12, Bernice Loui wrote:
From: Bernice Loui
Subject: Re: [TekScopes] Tekscopes at the Computer History Museum
To: TekScopes@...
Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 11:24 AM
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Spoke to Dag, one of the curators of CHS... They are not interested in this analog instrumentation stuff.
Bernice
--- On Sun, 1/15/12, Doctor Analog wrote:
From: Doctor Analog
Subject: [TekScopes] Tekscopes at the Computer History Museum
To: "tekscopes"
Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 12:23 PM
?
Earlier this month, I visited the Computer History Museum to explore their "Revolution" exhibit. While there are only two pieces of Tektronix gear on display in the museum (other than on Jim Williams's desk), there are a large number of pictures of old computer laboratories that include Tektronix gear. It is a sublimial exhibit of vintage oscilloscopes!
Here's a list of all the Tektronix gear that I found:
|
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They have heard of analog computers, sort of, but they're treated like the redheaded stepchild.? There are a few analog machines on display near the entrance of the exhibit hall (and there are a few analog circuits and a picture of Bob Widlar tucked in the corner of the "Digital Logic" section):
Sadly, the big, beautiful GPS Instrument Company machine that used to be on display in the "Visual Storage" exhibit hall is no longer on display, but they do have a giant photograph of it hanging in the museum lobby.
Honestly, I think that the analog computers are some of the best looking machines in the museum (until you get to the Cray section).
On Sun, Jan 15, 2012, Jim Reese wrote:?
And they've never heard of ANALOG computers?
?
There would not be computers as we know them with out influence/use of scopes back in the day and up to current technology.
?
I will definately have to get to the museum the next time I am at mother Trimble (work) in Sunnyvale!
?
Jim
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In the Navy in '65 I was treated to a visit inside an F4 Phantom simulator trailor. That was one big analog electromechanical maise on wheels. Analog computers laid the ground work for digital to take off from.
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......They have heard of analog computers, sort of, but they're treated like the redheaded stepchild. .......
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Friend worked on the F16, Fly-By-Wire control system and computer. It is an Analog Computer. Turns out, digits were simply not fast enough and powerful (number crunching) enough to deal with the real time requirements of fly-by-wire at that place in time.
Some how, the whole analog computing ideal has been set aside and forgotten by many binary computer centric folks.
Bernice
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--- On Sun, 1/22/12, phosphorphile wrote:
From: phosphorphile
Subject: [TekScopes] Re: Tekscopes at the Computer History Museum
To: TekScopes@...
Date: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 5:22 PM
?
In the Navy in '65 I was treated to a visit inside an F4 Phantom simulator trailor. That was one big analog electromechanical maise on wheels. Analog computers laid the ground work for digital to take off from.
> ......They have heard of analog computers, sort of, but they're treated like the redheaded stepchild. .......
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--- In TekScopes@..., "phosphorphile" <gumbear@...> wrote:
In the Navy in '65 I was treated to a visit inside an F4 Phantom simulator trailor. That was one big analog electromechanical maise on wheels. Analog computers laid the ground work for digital to take off from.
Another interesting example of analog computer technology was the flight path computer for Nike missiles. The Nike was an early anti-missile system. These were closed loop systems which used radar readings of incoming missiles and the Nike after it was launched. An analog computer computed the trajectory of both and sent information to a telemetry uplink to change the steering vane positions on the missile. This was designed in the early 1960's, and amazingly it actually worked in tests. You can see an example not to far from the Computer history museum in the park directly north of the golden gate bridge – do a Google search to learn more. While analog computers made some amazing advances for their day, I disagree with the comment that they laid the groundwork for modern digital computers. The early designs of digital computers did not leverage anything from analog computers, and took totally independent paths. Probably the only connection is that one of the early digital computers – ENIAC, was designed for the purpose of computing trajectory tables for large field artillery – a similar task the Nike flight path computer performed. The latter provided correction information in real time, while ENIAC actually computed tables of numbers that were published in field manuals. ENIAC had a couple of oscilloscopes stationed near its bays to assist in troubleshooting failed tubes. Some say they were Tek scopes, but I don't think the timing works. ENIAC became fully operational in February 1946 – before Tektronix was founded. - Steve
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In 1967 I worked at Bendix Aerospace and saw this F4 autopilot on the floor
of one of the factories. I believe Bendix designed it. It is indeed an
electromechanical monster. I always wondered how they figured it out it. It
must have been a nightmare with all those layers of rods, gears, actuators,
and servos.
All the autopilots I worked on at Bendix were analog computers. Fortunately
when I started there all the new designs use the new uA709 IC OpAmps. That
was a revolutionary leap in technology. But before I could fully appreciate
the beauty of OpAmps everything changed again.
2 years later autopilots were being designed with digital logic. The
Concorde autopilot used DTL.
Then they started building B52 subsystems with ROM lookup tables. I used to
have to blow out diodes in those tiny ROM packages one bit at a time.
They were exciting times to be in electronics.
Dennis
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-----Original Message----- From: phorphile, Sunday, January 22, 2012 9:22 AM In the Navy in '65 I was treated to a visit inside an F4 Phantom simulator trailor. That was one big analog electromechanical maise on wheels. Analog computers laid the ground work for digital to take off from. ......They have heard of analog computers, sort of, but they're treated like the redheaded stepchild. .......
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I defer to your superior knowledge of the history of computers, Steve, but I think you contradicted yourself. During the Civil war the new battefield howitzers didn't have the help of digital computers to aim them. What was learned and the mathematics developed for ever more complex artillery aiming schemes, as an example, laid the groundwork for which digital technology later took over and refined the job. Sir Isacc Newton didn't have an Apple ;-)
Arden
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While analog computers made some amazing advances for their day, I disagree with the comment that they laid the groundwork for modern digital computers. The early designs of digital computers did not leverage anything from analog computers, and took totally independent paths. Probably the only connection is that one of the early digital computers – ENIAC, was designed for the purpose of computing trajectory tables for large field artillery – a similar task the Nike flight path computer performed. The latter provided correction information in real time, while ENIAC actually computed tables of numbers that were published in field manuals.
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I worked at Bendix Communications Division from '66 to '71. Even had my own
545 Tek scope. They were the days. DTL had just arrived and a lot of military
systems were just being converted to the pure digital domain. It was around 1971
that the 8080 came out and the world was about to really change.
?
Regards.
Tom
?
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 7:35
PM
Subject: RE: [TekScopes] Re: Tekscopes at
the Computer History Museum
?
In 1967 I worked at Bendix Aerospace and saw this F4 autopilot on the
floor
of one of the factories. I believe Bendix designed it. It is indeed
an
electromechanical monster. I always wondered how they figured it out it.
It
must have been a nightmare with all those layers of rods, gears,
actuators,
and servos.
All the autopilots I worked on at Bendix were
analog computers. Fortunately
when I started there all the new designs use
the new uA709 IC OpAmps. That
was a revolutionary leap in technology. But
before I could fully appreciate
the beauty of OpAmps everything changed
again.
2 years later autopilots were being designed with digital
logic. The
Concorde autopilot used DTL.
Then they started building
B52 subsystems with ROM lookup tables. I used to
have to blow out diodes in
those tiny ROM packages one bit at a time.
They were exciting times to
be in electronics.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From:
phorphile, Sunday, January 22, 2012 9:22 AM
In the Navy in '65 I was
treated to a visit inside an F4 Phantom simulator
trailor. That was one big
analog electromechanical maise on wheels. Analog
computers laid the ground
work for digital to take off from.
> ......They have heard of analog
computers, sort of, but they're treated
like the redheaded stepchild.
.......
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On 1/22/2012 8:29 PM, Thomas Miller wrote: I worked at Bendix Communications Division from '66 to '71. Even had my
own 545 Tek scope. They were the days. DTL had just arrived and a lot of
military systems were just being converted to the pure digital domain.
It was around 1971 that the 8080 came out and the world was about to
really change. Hello, Tom and the group-- IIRC, the 8080 was introduced in 1974; the 4004 was introduced in 1971. In the early 1960s, I worked as a co-op student at a company that manufactured magnetic-core logic (nonvolatile, radiation-resistant, very low power consumption). Four bits per cubic inch. 73-- Brad AA1IP
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These dates sound correct: I remember reading the introductory data sheet
for the 4004 in 1971 or 1972. It made no sense at all. I couldn't figure out
what it was. I was used to logic gates and this was alien to me.
1974 sounds right for the 8080. I missed the introduction of that chip but I
was building a Z80 system 3 years later.
Dennis
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-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Thompson, Sunday, January 22, 2012 5:34 PM
Hello, Tom and the group--
IIRC, the 8080 was introduced in 1974; the 4004 was introduced in 1971.
In the early 1960s, I worked as a co-op student at a company that
manufactured magnetic-core logic (nonvolatile, radiation-resistant, very low
power consumption). Four bits per cubic inch.
73--
Brad AA1IP
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I also think he is right about the 8080. I do remember the 4004 and for a
short time the 8008 chip sets. We were looking at them to use in an IFF
transponder.
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In '84, I bought an 8080 chip for $200. That was a lot of money then. Also,
a 1702 EPROM. Just 256 bytes.
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And 2102 static ram chips with 1x1k bits ( I think).
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The next microprocessor I had was the SWTPC 6800. I really liked doing
assembly with the Motorola instruction set.
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I know Tek used a lot of the Mot CPUs in many different products.
?
?
Fun, fun, fun! :)
?
?
Tom
?
?
?
?
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 11:55
PM
Subject: RE: [TekScopes] Re: Tekscopes at
the Computer History Museum
?
These dates sound correct: I remember reading the introductory data
sheet
for the 4004 in 1971 or 1972. It made no sense at all. I couldn't
figure out
what it was. I was used to logic gates and this was alien to me.
1974 sounds right for the 8080. I missed the introduction of that chip
but I
was building a Z80 system 3 years
later.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Thompson,
Sunday, January 22, 2012 5:34 PM
Hello, Tom and the
group--
IIRC, the 8080 was introduced in 1974; the 4004 was introduced
in 1971.
In the early 1960s, I worked as a co-op student at a company
that
manufactured magnetic-core logic (nonvolatile, radiation-resistant,
very low
power consumption). Four bits per cubic
inch.
73--
Brad AA1IP
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Tom, in 82 we redesigned/copied the SWTPC Computer on EURO-cards (100x160mm) and sold it here in germany. Last year, by chance i found one of our constructed/manufactured computers in a dumster ;-) Now it's in my store for the next 100 years ;-) Peter ============================ The next microprocessor I had was the SWTPC 6800. I really liked doing assembly with the Motorola instruction set.
--
Empfehlen Sie GMX DSL Ihren Freunden und Bekannten und wir
belohnen Sie mit bis zu 50,- Euro! https://freundschaftswerbung.gmx.de
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Or was it the predecessor 8008? I went to work for a company in '75 and everything there was TTL. No microprocessors except one of the engineers was clacking away on a teletype terminal that was connected to a chassis box with a circuit board mounted on top. My recollection was it was an 8008 but it certainly could have been an 8080.
Arden
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.......It was around 1971 that the 8080 came out and the world was about to really change. .....
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GeorgeP
KB6NAX