For the ones who knew what were CASSETTES

[ericgibbs]

hi,
This was THE first programmable electronic computer, 10 off made during World War 2.

British, colossus computer, Circa 1944

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

When I was at college they had a computer in a room, an entire room! - it was valve based, never saw it running though. The ONLY time we did anything about computers was with a teletype connected to the Open University mainframe.

 

[Vizier87]

but you must have been able to see the moths within the fuselage!!! hehehee

 

[Reloadron]

well you sound like an old chap yourself.. how bout it?

Let's see... Hmm, I guess so as I turned 60 a few weeks ago. My interest in electronics dates back to the late 50s as my dad was an electrical engineer and the trons just captivated me. I was the kid using paper route money to buy a CK722 and 1N34.

Eniac fascinated me to no end especially the use of dual triodes for logic states.

Ron

 

[ericgibbs]

well you sound like an old chap yourself.. how bout it?

hi Viz,
Does 78 this year count as an old chap.?

 

[Vizier87]

OMG I should call you gramps Ron then...

 

[Reloadron]

OMG I should call you gramps Ron then...

LMAO and Eric has me beat by how many years? Heck, I mentioned a 1N34 diode but I bet Eric has used an actual cat whisker.

Ron

 

[Vizier87]

give a bedtime story please gramps... "once upon a time a transistor..." okay I got carried away.. sorry. Bet you have built a diode out of a razor blade, eh?

 

[Vizier87]

hi Viz,
Does 78 this year count as an old chap.?

well you're out of the equation... you're already stenciled in ETO!!! Eric The Old-Timer!!

 

[ericgibbs]

LMAO and Eric has me beat by how many years? Heck, I mentioned a 1N34 diode but I bet Eric has used an actual cat whisker.

Ron

hi Ron,
How did you know I had used a cats whisker.
My dear old Dad used to build radio's in the 1930's, thats where I caught the electro-bug from.

Used to get BBC radio on 1500 mtrs during the 40's with a very long aerial and a whisker.

I did have some mid 1930 Electronics magazines 'Camms Comics' radio construction.

 

[Reloadron]

hi Ron,
How did you know I had used a cats whisker.
My dear old Dad used to build radio's in the 1930's, thats where I caught the electro-bug from.

Used to get BBC radio on 1500 mtrs during the 40's with a very long aerial and a whisker.

I did have some mid 1930 Electronics magazines 'Camms Comics' radio construction.

Oh yeah, I was serious about that. You had a cats whisker poking a chunk of rock looking for that sweet spot. While I, being much, much younger had the benefit of a 1N34 germanium diode. Look Ma, no battery and music in the headphones. A good ground and an antenna. I built my first ham radio station with all the great WWII surplus available. Growing up in NYC I had plenty of radio stations.

Ron

 

[ericgibbs]

give a bedtime story please gramps... "once upon a time a transistor..." okay I got carried away.. sorry. Bet you have built a diode out of a razor blade, eh?

hi viz,
You forgot to list the 'cork' thats needed to make a home made transistor,

Two pieces of razor blade, one broken Ge diode, one cork and a 100nF cap.

You get a gain of about 3 if you have done the job right.

 

[Vizier87]

hi viz,
You forgot to list the 'cork' thats needed to make a home made transistor,

Two pieces of razor blade, one broken Ge diode, one cork and a 100nF cap.

You get a gain of about 3 if you have done the job right.

Hmm I'll keep that bookmarked.. You'll never know what'll happen next.. Thanks grampa Eric!!