[GreenKeys] FW: Computer Memory Lane

[Scott Johnson]

An even more pointed example is the TRC-75 RTTY HF setup that was placed in
the back of M38A1 jeeps.  The radio installation was over $60,000, the Jeep
was about $2200. (1958 $)  I don't know if that included the Mite TTY or
not, but I had to be expensive!

Scott W7SVJ

-----Original Message-----
From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of NNN7DXB at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 5:26 PM
To: tomkleinschmidt at comcast.net; djk852 at comcast.net;
sean.kleinschmidt at gmail.com; jim.danielson at gmail.com;
greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] FW: Computer Memory Lane

Tom and Group:

Tidbits:

FWIW, "computers" these days are a steal pricewise, compared to the "new"
cost of a 1966 production model Kleinschmidt ASR teletype built for the US
Army. The ASR was the AN/FGC-25 or 25X and its DoD list price (1966 dollars)
was $3600.00, new, complete, crated.

Note that the 25s were 1955 designs but were still in full production due to
the Vietnam War build-up requirements.

Compare this to prices of a few years earlier:

a 1960 Chevrolet Nomad stationwagon (new) retailed for $3600.00. (That is
the price my father paid for his in 1960, new)

a 1962 Comet or Ford Falcon could be had for around $2000.00 (+ or - a few
dollars).

In 1963, my folks purchased a house in Miami, FL for $36000.00. (Sold it in
2007 for over $240,000.00).

Point is, teletype machines were EXPENSIVE even then, which is probably why
so few new ones ended up in ham and hobby shacks (this in addition to the
fact that the mfrs didn't sell to those groups anyway; teletypes were
considered commercial or industrial grade machines, and their sales and
distribution were often highly restricted).

I have no idea was an eqivalent Model 28 ASR sold for during that time.
The Army model for the Model 28 would have been the AN/FGC-58 and I suspect
it was closer to around $4000.00.

The price for the 25X was the list price quoted on our Signal Units
inventory list in 1966 when we received about 30 of them as brand new units,
with all of the organic components and running spares. The KLI machines
replaced an equivalent number of German-built Siemens T-100s that we were
using in Frankfurt, Germany at the time.

Dave
______________________________________________________________
GreenKeys mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html