Using vintage computers in the classroom

[Andrew Burton]

----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Roger Holmes" <roger.holmes at microspot.co.uk>
> To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 2:56 PM
> Subject: Re: Using vintage computers in the classroom
>
> I can't describe the reactions of those who visit my classic car show and
then walk into a > barn and find a five ton 1962 mainframe working away
twirling tapes, reading and
> punching 80 column cards, reading and  punching paper tape whilst making
ghostly
> noises through its built in speaker.

Sounds like the closest you'd get to being in the Jupiter 2 (Lost In Space)
with some aliens!


> I should maybe give them ear defenders because its so
>  noisy and I haven't even displayed the 600 line per minute printer
working yet until I fix
> it. The heat and smell of hot electronics is a bit overpowering too. I
have never worked
> out where the smell comes from, is it gas escaping from the components,
the paxolin or
> the solder/flux.

I think hot metal gives off a distinctive smell, but why I don't know.


> I know a lot comes from the magnetic tapes, we had a walk in safe full of
> tape where I worked once and when it was opened after a month or two
locked up it made
> a hell of a stink, like Tutenkamen's tomb.
>

I don't know what Tutenkamen's tomb smells like, but certainly video tape
(as in VHS tape) does give off a unique smell when warm. I used to take out
the videocassette after watching something, turn it upsidedown and give it a
sniff (no, I don't know why I started doing that!). I started doing that
quite a bit (not sure whether it was habit or addiction!) for a while, but
eventually stopped.


Regards,
Andrew B
aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uki