New find, Edax PDP 11/23 system available.

[Ethan Dicks]

On 1/5/07, Bob Shannon <bshannon at tiac.net> wrote:
> I've just found an interesting vintage system.
>
> The machine is an Edax 9100 / 70.  It contains a PDP 11/23 with MMU and FPP
> chips installed running RT 11 V4, circa 1980...

Interesting.

> Keyboard / Console unit:
>
> A very retro-looking, nice keyboard with extra function keys, and a row of
> alphanumeric LED display modules for programmable legends over the
> function keys.  All apparently controlled by standard RS-232 links to the
> 11/23.  The displays look like old Litronix DL-1414 modules.

Nice.

> Video Display unit:
>
> Uses a portrait-format CRT in a (then) futuristic tilt-swivel metal chassis.
> This interfaces to the special video display system in the main chassis...
>
> This same display is also used to talk to the PDP/11, I'm thinking that the
> UART in the display section (I have full schematics) is used to emulate
> a dumb terminal with the ASCII keyboard section on the Keyboard / Console unit.

That's an interesting way to do it.  I'm curious how _dumb_ the
emulated terminal is (VT52/VT100, totally dumb glass TTY, etc.)
Portrait displays are quite unusual in vintage gear, and I'm curious
to learn about any examples.


> Better still, if someone wants a little RT-11 box, and does not care if
> the DEC logo is nowhere to be found, this might be
> a fun and funky little box to hack around on.

I'm in Ohio, so I'll give this a pass to someone who is much closer,
but it sounds cool.

> Its really got killer retro looks, the styling of the thing is really
> something (photos are possible).

I'll "third" the request for photos, especially of the keyboard and display.

-ethan