[ARC5] Annual *Real Bench Challenge

[Robert Nickels]

On 4/28/2020 9:40 PM, Charles wrote:
>
> Let's see if this actually works: 
> https://charlessharedpictures.shutterfly.com/pictures/1963

It did, and I have to applaud the prominent appearance of the ADM-3 
terminal!   I still have one sitting on a high shelf in my garage, just 
because.   I wonder if it would still work?    I actually have a nice 
Televideo terminal on one of my basement benches, both of which were 
part of my 70s-vintage CP/M systems (which I also still have, North 
Start hard-sectored floppies and all).   Maybe some day old computers 
will become vintagey-enough to attract my attention again, but $3 
Arduinos and R-Pi has kinda spoiled me.

I also like seeing the "cross-collectibles", several tube audio amps and 
hi-fi gear for example.   there's a Knight 3-way speaker and Bell 2122 
amp under my bench, ostensibly for testing purposes but in fact mostly 
used with an MP3 player for in-shop entertainment.   Interested also in 
the transistor curve tracer used for tubes as I have the older model 575 
- it's not the high voltage model but can go to 200 volts and  I think 
it should work.    Analog, digital, VOM, VTVM...I also see that I'm not 
the only one who believes "you can't have enough meters".  Nice to see a 
good mix of old and new test equipment too.   Probably the oddest thing 
in my shop is my calculator - which is an HP-85. They were mainly used 
to control IEEE-488 instruments but I got tired of wasting time looking 
for a calculator every time and the HP-85 definitely doesn't get lost in 
the clutter.

Speaking of which, having enjoyed looking at the pics I see confirmation 
of my own theory:  that benches are good for holding test equipment, 
tools, and "stuff" but abhor open horizontal surfaces, especially where 
a project ought to be!   I have visions of a conveyor belt that would 
move projects from storage into my work area, but that's just a reminder 
of my short attention span.

73, Bob W9RAN