Wednesday May 4, 2011

Attendees: Ron Williams, Bob Erickson, Robert Garner, George Ahearn, Stan Paddock,  Frank King, Glenn Lea, Douglas Martin, Bill Newman, Joe Preston, Ed Thelen, Jim Hunt, Ron Crane, Judith Haemmerle and Don Luke.

Visitors: Five visitors found there way into the IBM 1401 restoration room for an informal visit.

Taking advantage of the warm weather, we enjoyed lunch in front of the Computer History Museum. We had the pleasure of John C Hollar, President & Chief Executive Officer, of the museum join us for lunch. (The only one with a shirt and tie.).

 Several months ago, Stan Paddock misplaced his leather hat. This is a common event and most of the time the hat never returns.

Last Week, Dave Wood from the San Jose Fire Museum, found it in an old fire truck I had been driving. Before returning it, Dave felt it necessary to decorate it. Stan had to wear it for a week which included today.

Judith Haemmerle and Bob Erickson continued work on a Williams Tube memory prototype.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_tube
Bill Newman and Ron Crane are also involved in this project.

Ron Williams and George Ahearn checked out the problem with the feed rollers on the Connecticut IBM 1402. To everyone's amazement, today it works just fine. 

Stan Paddock modified his Tape demo program to print while the tapes are spinning. The program performed different on the Connecticut machine from the German machine. The problem is associated with a little used instruction known as "Branch On Printer Busy."

Ed Thelen Don Luke and Glenn Lea are working to find the source of the error on the German Machine.

Joe Preston and Frank King repaired the head lift mechanism on tape drive number two of the Connecticut system. This brings the Connecticut machine back to 100% operational status.

A trip is planned in the next few weeks to retrieve the covers for the IBM 729 tape drives for the German machines. We are also going to try to retrieve some parts for use on our operational tape drives. Pictures and conditions for all our tape drives being stored will be recorded.

Ron Crane is continuing his study to reduce the reactive power being generated by the German system and documenting the  true power being used by the Connecticut machine. This information will be required for planning of the up coming modifications to the room.

Jim Hunt, and Doug Martin continued their work wiring the IBM Model B transmitting typewriter.  Bill Newman brought in the circuit board that will operate the typewriter when everything is complete.

Stan Paddock