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Vintage Computers Any vintage computer systems, calculators, video games etc., but with an emphasis on 1980s and earlier equipment. |
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20th Feb 2008, 6:25 am | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Melbourne Australia
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LEO
I am curious as to how many bits of this computer are still in the hands of collectors. I came across one item in Australia many years ago and have been unable to find a site that can tell me the significance of a piece of this history.
Thanks, John |
20th Feb 2008, 8:51 am | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,770
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Re: LEO
Hello John
On the basis of size and the fact there weren’t many of them built originally, I would have through that they would be pretty rare beasts. I mean, they are now pretty useless as an article, except, perhaps, as a space heater and won't exactly fit on your sideboard like a “cute” Bakelite wireless. This site is pretty good on info, and shows you what the beast looked like: - http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/LEO-Computers.htm Wikipedia has an over view: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Computers
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Chris |
20th Feb 2008, 4:09 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
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Re: LEO
I met a chap quite recently who is in software. He told me that a close relative was involved in designing the original Leo and seemed surprised that I knew about Lyon's Tea Houses. I will see if he is still around. Dave
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20th Feb 2008, 4:27 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
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Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW
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Re: LEO
I do know where to find some memory modules that were used in LEO.....
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Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished |
20th Feb 2008, 5:38 pm | #5 |
Retired Dormant Member
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Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 837
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Re: LEO
Evingar's wiki link leads to a BBC link about a series on the early computer industry, which I remember being broadcast a few years back. There was an entire programme on the LEO computer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/...icbrains.shtml I had a boss who worked for Lyons in their O&M department in the early 60s. He said that a lot of the stuff they were doing was very advanced. I'm sure he told me they had a form reader so that orders taken by their salesmen didn't have to be re-entered. He also said that they had a page printer, which was based on a Xerox process with the format of the page, headings, table cells and so on, on a transparency. I don't know how they did the variable bits. Anyway, it was a prototype and had paper from a huge roll whizzing under a thing like the element of a 2KW electric fire to set the toner. It seemed to work pretty well, but one weekend, the operators were a bit dozy, there was a paper jam and it caught fire causing serious damage to the building it was in. They dropped the idea pretty soon after. This was 20 years before laser printers. I think the LEO story is very sad. Joe Lyon's Tea House's were a grim experience as I recall them. Pete. |
20th Feb 2008, 8:05 pm | #6 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Dorset, UK.
Posts: 947
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Re: LEO
I saw it during a college visit.
Very impressive. At the time they were changing / replacing one of the mercury delay lines. Massive objects.! |
24th Feb 2008, 10:14 pm | #7 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Shropshire, UK.
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Re: LEO
Some time ago I read a very interesting book detailing the development of LEO against the background of the Lyons business interests. Fairly comprehensive technical details were given.
Unfortunately, I can't remember the title and author, but I'm sure that someone here will know them. |
24th Feb 2008, 11:54 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,770
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Re: LEO
May have been this one :-
http://www.foyles.co.uk/display.asp?...k/d&m=5&dc=522 Whether it is or not, it's an interesting read - Bought it a year or so ago and lent it to someone after I read it - I can't remember who though
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Chris |
6th Jun 2008, 7:35 pm | #9 |
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Location: Haverhill, Suffolk, UK.
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Re: LEO
We have some LEO computer tape reels and centre lock cases as well as some other internal components at the Centre for Computing History in Haverhill, Suffolk. Their not catalogued on our website yet, but they will be fairly soon ... Click here to see our computer museum website.
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