The world's oldest intact computer is turning 60 in Victoria.

[Rod Speed]

Some gutless fuckwit desperately cowering behind
terryc desperately attempted to bullshit and lie its way out of
its predicament and fooled absolutely no one at all, as always.

No surprise that it got the bums rush, right out onto its lard arse.

 

[terryc]

Some gutless fuckwit desperately cowering behind terryc desperately
attempted to bullshit and lie its way out of its predicament and fooled
absolutely no one at all, as always.

No surprise that it got the bums rush, right out onto its lard arse.

Its okay, you can stop paying homage and go rake the leaves now.

 

[SG1]

Its okay, you can stop paying homage and go rake the leaves now.

Sorry it is Wash the Dunnies!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[keithr]

I really can't see the point in spending money on returning these things
to working status - particuarly as keeping them like that would likely
have significant ongoing costs - as it did when they were new.

Exactly the same reasons as restoring old cars, planes, steam engines
etc to working condition.

They're not doubt not the same as vintage aircraft in terms of the risks
of operating them, but surely occasionally these things went up in
flames. It seems a shame to risk a historical relic for the sake of
playing noughts and crosses, or something like that.

I've been working on computers from the largest down to the smallest for
the last 40 years, I have yet to see one even smolder let alone burst
into flame.

 

[Dr. Sir John Howard, AC, WSCMoF]

I've been working on computers from the largest down to the smallest for
the last 40 years, I have yet to see one even smolder let alone burst
into flame.

You obviously aren't using enough accelerant.

--

- KRudd at his finest.

"The Labour Party is corrupt beyond redemption!"
- Labour hasbeen Mark Latham in a moment of honest clarity.

"This is the recession we had to have!"
- Paul Keating explaining why he gave Australia another Labour recession.

"Silly old bugger!"
- Well known ACTU pisspot and sometime Labour prime minister Bob Hawke
responding to a pensioner who dared ask for more.

"By 1990, no child will live in poverty"
- Bob Hawke again, desperate to win another election.

"A billion trees ..."
- Borke, pissed as a newt again.

"Well may we say 'God save the Queen' because nothing will save the governor
general!"
- Egotistical shithead and pompous fuckwit E.G. Whitlam whining about his
appointee for Governor General John Kerr.

"SHUT THE **** UP YOU DUMB ****!"
- FlangesBum on learning the truth about Labour's economic capabilities.

"I don't care what you fuckers think!"
- KRudd the KRude Rat at his finest again.

"We'll just change it all when we get in."
- Garrett the carrott

 

[Rod Speed]

Some gutless fuckwit desperately cowering behind
terryc desperately attempted to bullshit and lie its way out
of its predicament and fooled absolutely no one at all, as always.

No surprise that it got the bums rush, right out onto its lard arse.

 

[Sylvia Else]

Some gutless fuckwit desperately cowering behind
terryc desperately attempted to bullshit and lie its way out
of its predicament and fooled absolutely no one at all, as always.

No surprise that it got the bums rush, right out onto its lard arse.

Rod, those macros are a bit worn. Must be time for some new ones, surely.

Sylvia.

 

[L.A.T.]

Exactly the same reasons as restoring old cars, planes, steam engines etc
to working condition.


I've been working on computers from the largest down to the smallest for
the last 40 years, I have yet to see one even smolder let alone burst into
flame.

I have seen a magnetic tape unit attached to an IBM 1401 pouring out smoke.

 

[Rod Speed]

Rod Speed wrote:

Rod, those macros are a bit worn. Must be time for some new ones, surely.

Fools like that dont qualify.

 

[Rod Speed]

L.A.T. wrote

I have seen a magnetic tape unit attached to an IBM 1401 pouring out smoke.

I've seen a PDP9 catch fire when the mains supply went way over voltage
when the county council's tap changer failed. Owned by the CSIRO too.

Fortunately someone was there when it happened in the evening and could turn it off.

The entire row of muffin fans right up the big door full of small logic cards all had the windings catch fire.

 

[keithr]

I have seen a magnetic tape unit attached to an IBM 1401 pouring out smoke.

If you want to include tape drives, I did see smoke once from a Potter
and Brumfield drive at Orrorral Valley Tracking station. The spring from
the open write ring switch was touching ground and burning up the write
amp. There was only one thing for it, shorten the spring with bolt
cutters, That was when the permanent under secretary for the Department
of Supply walked in on an inspection tour........................

 

[David Segall]

I really can't see the point in spending money on returning these things
to working status - particuarly as keeping them like that would likely
have significant ongoing costs - as it did when they were new.

They're not doubt not the same as vintage aircraft in terms of the risks
of operating them, but surely occasionally these things went up in
flames. It seems a shame to risk a historical relic for the sake of
playing noughts and crosses, or something like that.

Do you really think that preserving something should be the main goal?
That nobody should be allowed in the Sistine Chapel in case they
damage it? Do you think that Puffing Billy
<http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/> should be "preserved" rather than
provide the pleasure it gives the enthusiasts who keep it running and
the passengers that enjoy the ride? What is the point in "preserving"
my Quad 22/Quad II amplifier if it doesn't work?

 

[Sylvia Else]

Do you really think that preserving something should be the main goal?

There's no general rule. But in this case, I believe the answer is
"yes". Unlike your Puffing Billy and Sistine Chapel examples, the
benefits of running it would be limited to the few involved in
maintaining it.

That nobody should be allowed in the Sistine Chapel in case they
damage it? Do you think that Puffing Billy
<http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/> should be "preserved" rather than
provide the pleasure it gives the enthusiasts who keep it running and
the passengers that enjoy the ride?

What is the point in "preserving"
my Quad 22/Quad II amplifier if it doesn't work?

Probably none.

But what if it were the first ever electronic amplifier? It would have
some historical value then, which would be destroyed if you replaced all
its components over a period of time to keep it in working order.

Sylvia.

 

[Phred]

L.A.T. wrote

Sylvia Else wrote [snip]
I really can't see the point in spending money on returning these things to
working status - particuarly as keeping
them like that would likely have significant ongoing costs - as it did when
they were new.
Exactly the same reasons as restoring old cars, planes, steam engines etc to

working condition.

I have seen a magnetic tape unit attached to an IBM 1401 pouring out smoke.

I've seen a PDP9 catch fire when the mains supply went way over voltage
when the county council's tap changer failed. Owned by the CSIRO too.

Fortunately someone was there when it happened in the evening and could turn it
off.

The entire row of muffin fans right up the big door full of small logic cards
all had the windings catch fire.

I once knew an SR-72 (twin 8" floppies, running CP/M) that shorted
somehow in the vicinity of its mains switch when the operator turned
it on, and blasted a hole clean through the casing. It remained
functional after the event (with a bit of tender love and care) and
was in use pretty much until it was ceremoniously burried once PCs
with 5.25" floppies, 10 MB HDDs, and MSDOS, took over the world.

Cheers, Phred.

 

[Bob Larter]

I have seen a magnetic tape unit attached to an IBM 1401 pouring out smoke.

I've seen smoke pouring out of quite a few systems over the last 30
years, but then I've spent lots of time as a field service engineer.

 

[Bob Larter]

ISTR one of the Commodore computers had a habit of letting the magic smoke
out of the 7805 in its power pack.

The first generation of Commodore 64 floppy drives (1541?) used to do that.

 

[keithr]

I've seen smoke pouring out of quite a few systems over the last 30
years, but then I've spent lots of time as a field service engineer.

Maybe I've been lucky, but, in the 25 years that I spent as a field
service engineer, I saw one tape drive smoke, and one 3 phase power
transformer that nearly did (we switched it off before it came to that -
it didn't like the 70 amps of neutral current). Maybe the difference is
that I spent my time working major mainframe sites, the quality of the
big iron may well differ from the smaller stuff.

 

[Dr. Sir John Howard, AC, WSCMoF]

Maybe I've been lucky, but, in the 25 years that I spent as a field
service engineer, I saw one tape drive smoke

Menthol or regular?

--

- KRudd at his finest.

"The Labour Party is corrupt beyond redemption!"
- Labour hasbeen Mark Latham in a moment of honest clarity.

"This is the recession we had to have!"
- Paul Keating explaining why he gave Australia another Labour recession.

"Silly old bugger!"
- Well known ACTU pisspot and sometime Labour prime minister Bob Hawke
responding to a pensioner who dared ask for more.

"By 1990, no child will live in poverty"
- Bob Hawke again, desperate to win another election.

"A billion trees ..."
- Borke, pissed as a newt again.

"Well may we say 'God save the Queen' because nothing will save the governor
general!"
- Egotistical shithead and pompous fuckwit E.G. Whitlam whining about his
appointee for Governor General John Kerr.

"SHUT THE **** UP YOU DUMB ****!"
- FlangesBum on learning the truth about Labour's economic capabilities.

"I don't care what you fuckers think!"
- KRudd the KRude Rat at his finest again.

"We'll just change it all when we get in."
- Garrett the carrott

 

[SG1]

Maybe I've been lucky, but, in the 25 years that I spent as a field
service engineer, I saw one tape drive smoke, and one 3 phase power
transformer that nearly did (we switched it off before it came to that -
it didn't like the 70 amps of neutral current). Maybe the difference is
that I spent my time working major mainframe sites, the quality of the big
iron may well differ from the smaller stuff.

I replaced a power supply in a P4 that a friend purchased for $5 from the
then local school. One of the large caps you know 2 inches high & 3/4 inch
across had a hole that was about 3/4 round. Glad I was not there when it
went. BTW a new PS & the PC went great.

 

[Mr.T]

For a while I got a fair bit of work from local schools & colleges replacing
burst electrolytics and repairing smoked SMPSU primaries - some students
apparently thought it was funny to lean round the back of the PC and flick
the 110/220 switch.

As the switch only closes for 110V I offered the service of removing the
wires to prevent repeat sabotage.

Araldite would have been a cheaper fix for them I imagine. I bet you didn't
suggest that though

MrT.