Pat Flannery writes:

David Spain wrote:
I remember following it that year whilst programming my 1st 'electric brain'
and Xmas present that year:

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/...bs&Qis=XL#qdig

By the time Apollo 8 was on its way back, I was already deep into plans
to overclock it with my Erector set motor...

That sounds like you were converting it to something related to the principle
used by the Turing Bombe to break the Enigma Machine codes during WW II:
http://jproc.ca/crypto/bombe_turing.html

I was intrigued by ways of speeding up the GENIAC's rotary switches long before
I knew anything about Turing machines or the Turing Bombe. Mechanically, I doubt it
would have been up to it or have held out for long.

I always wanted one of the ones Edmund Scientific sold, although I can't even
remember what the thing looked like (I think it used phone jacks of some sort)

My first 'real' telescope was an Edmund Scientific 6" reflector!

As for computer kits, well there's this catalog picture, but IIRC it used
regular hookup wi

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...talogs_70s.jpg

(I really, really wanted that LASER shown in the background)...

But you sure you aren't thinking of the Heathkit EC-1 Analog Computer?
It had phone jack hookups like you describe...

http://www.heathkit-museum.com/computers/hvmec-1.shtml

There were also these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digi-Comp_I

I think you 'programmed' these using soda straws. I didn't care for them because
they weren't electric and never owned one.

There's a interesting history page on PCs here that includes your Geniac:
http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml

The only 'personal computer' predecessor to the $20 GENIAC considered by this
website was the $300 Simon. And that would have been definitely outside of Santa's
budget for me.

I've always wanted to see one of these in action:
http://www.vcalc.net/cu.htm

I've a friend who has a working Curta calculator and also one that needs repair.
IIRC, these were very popular with road rallyists in the days before minis and
GPS'es because of their portablility.

Which looks like some sort of crank-driven time machine Dr. Who might be
dragging around with him, or a high-tech miniature multi-spice mill for use by
a gourmand in the uncivilized parts of the world.


Good luck getting one through airport security these days.

"A calculator? Yeah sure buddy, get over there in that line, behind the bearded fellow..."

;-)

Dave