Hello From Australia 🦘

[anozzybum]

Hello all,
I have been interested in computers and electronics since I was in my early teens. Now being near 60, I've kinda come back to the field a s a bit of a hobby.
Have an interest in early systems (1970's through 80's), Australian engineered/made equipment (computers and electronics) and, of all things, Wang Laboratories minicomputers/systems.
Looking forward to meeting you and yarning
AnOzzyB*"

 

[syzygy]

Welcome!

The 70s-80s are also my favorite decades, computer-wise, and I think you will find plenty of shared interest on here. Feel free to post pics of any projects/pieces you already have. Also, note that your first 10 posts get approved by mods before posting, So, there will be a bit of a delay for a while, but I think the policy keeps the crap down and you can get over that hump quickly.

 

[daver2]

Welcome to VCFED.

Dave

 

[johnx993]

Welcome to the Forum!

That's my favorite era as well.
Great thing about this is it makes a great hobby when you are young as well as old.
-J

 

[1944GPW]

G'day AnOzzyBum, get a dog up ya and welcome to the forum. Where abouts in Oz are you located?

 

[anozzybum]

G'day AnOzzyBum, get a dog up ya and welcome to the forum. Where abouts in Oz are you located?

G'day '44GPW
Based in Queensland about 50km outside Brisneyland as the crow flies.

And we'd better stop there with the Stralin Slang - I fear how Google Translate will make a botch of it.
Cheers

 

[cj7hawk]

G'day '44GPW
Based in Queensland about 50km outside Brisneyland as the crow flies.

And we'd better stop there with the Stralin Slang - I fear how Google Translate will make a botch of it.
Cheers

Struth - Another banana bender!. Welcome to the forum

Do you have any favourite computers you've collected?

 

[anozzybum]

Struth - Another banana bender!. Welcome to the forum

Do you have any favourite computers you've collected?

G'day Hawk
Struth "Bruce" ya go'n too down the rabbit hole with the "Stralin" lingo. The other cobbers want have a Brass Raazo bout what we yarn'n bout!

As for computers I don't have much. Got a Wang terminal (2336DW) and hoping to get a BWD 530A oscilloscope.

BWD (Beesley, Wingett & Dewey) were an electronics test equipment manufacturer in Aus to the early 90's. Like Advanced Technology (Microbee) and Dumont (Kookaburra laptop), they made good equipment at a good price but died out to the big boys. Guess that says it all for my interests, good equipment, well made and engineered that died out. I'm a sucker for an underdog. I am an Ozzy after all!!

 

[anozzybum]

Welcome to VCFED.

Dave

Thanks Dave
Appreciate the welcome.

 

[cj7hawk]

G'day Hawk
Struth "Bruce" ya go'n too down the rabbit hole with the "Stralin" lingo. The other cobbers want have a Brass Raazo bout what we yarn'n bout!

As for computers I don't have much. Got a Wang terminal (2336DW) and hoping to get a BWD 530A oscilloscope.

BWD (Beesley, Wingett & Dewey) were an electronics test equipment manufacturer in Aus to the early 90's. Like Advanced Technology (Microbee) and Dumont (Kookaburra laptop), they made good equipment at a good price but died out to the big boys. Guess that says it all for my interests, good equipment, well made and engineered that died out. I'm a sucker for an underdog. I am an Ozzy after all!!

I haven't been able to find a reasonably priced microbee yet, but have a beautiful Amust Executive briefcase computer that is the pride of my collection - I recently got the floppy drive reading again on it, but still need to find a replacement controller IC of the same type since it doesn't like the replacements I got so I can troubleshoot the writing circuit. I used to use one of the newer wedge shaped microbees at work when I started back in 1987, but never got one myself - that was about the time KT technology starting selling 12MHz 286 clone PCBs and I saw where the future was going.

I don't have much vintage test equipment, but I do have an original Selby Scientific multimeter made here - About the size of a small briefcase and made entirely of wood, though the front panel is painted yellow like all of theirs. No selector knob or anything - no PCB, just different panel mounts and a resistor network for different measurements and an ammeter... Real early stuff. But I can't find much information on it. Probably the first multimeter they ever made.

Never seen a bwd530, but this baby was my go-to from 1988 until I bought a new one some time around 2010... It just swiveled it around on the shelf to take a pic... The side panel was loose and it was in this condition even in 1988, but it only cost me $200 secondhand at the time, and then I had my own personal oscilloscope... I was pretty proud of it. I haven't fired it up in 20 years though. Makes me wonder if it still works... Because it was so special to me, I never could bring myself to throw it away.

 

[inotarobot]

Hello all,
I have been interested in computers and electronics since I was in my early teens. Now being near 60, I've kinda come back to the field a s a bit of a hobby.
Have an interest in early systems (1970's through 80's), Australian engineered/made equipment (computers and electronics) and, of all things, Wang Laboratories minicomputers/systems.
Looking forward to meeting you and yarning
AnOzzyB*"

SHeeee Beeeeeeeeeeee Right Mate.. Big welcome from Healesville Vic I am sure you will fit in here really fine..

I visited BWD a few times, but due to the work I was doing as a Contractor in 1976's for Aus. Defense, needed International Traceability on Instruments I purchased. So I purchased mostly Tektronix or Marconi & Fluke.

I do have some Webster Computing bits somewhere in my Collection. So high possibility I will sell them this year.

You know down here in Country Victoria its amazing what 'WILDLIFE" one finds.

In fact I just went out my front door and across HIDING under the Acantus plant was a .......



I quickly Captured the above pic before it took off up the Garden Path



However luckily I raced around up our other path and quickly captured it.. Its now peacefully snuggled up on my dressing gown on my bed. I cannot decide if I should "feed it" ?

Maybe it will like being fed 240vac as it could be hungry ??

{{{ Actually I have a recollection of powering it up very early this year; so I just powered it up now at 11am Sept 20th. NO nasty crackling nor burning smells. been n around 17 mins now.
I am getting display and can focus spots via xy mode. Just does not at moment appear to have time base running. I believe the HT is fine as I am getting a good sharp spot (one for each channel) and can move them fine}}}}


Now for the Quandry... Will she whom must be obeyed let me keep "it" ?? I am panning to get a Cat (NO NOT a D2 with logging winch ... I WISH) in the next few weeks so doubt they both would share my bed.

So I guess I need to find a NEW Home for this sweet BWD 539D. Wonder where ???


FYI pick below was taken of it earlier today in my workshop before it "escaped" into my garden.

 

[anozzybum]

SHeeee Beeeeeeeeeeee Right Mate.. Big welcome from Healesville Vic I am sure you will fit in here really fine..

I visited BWD a few times, but due to the work I was doing as a Contractor in 1976's for Aus. Defense, needed International Traceability on Instruments I purchased. So I purchased mostly Tektronix or Marconi & Fluke.

I do have some Webster Computing bits somewhere in my Collection. So high possibility I will sell them this year.

You know down here in Country Victoria its amazing what 'WILDLIFE" one finds.

In fact I just went out my front door and across HIDING under the Acantus plant was a .......

View attachment 1308079

I quickly Captured the above pic before it took off up the Garden Path

View attachment 1308080

However luckily I raced around up our other path and quickly captured it.. Its now peacefully snuggled up on my dressing gown on my bed. I cannot decide if I should "feed it" ?

Maybe it will like being fed 240vac as it could be hungry ??

{{{ Actually I have a recollection of powering it up very early this year; so I just powered it up now at 11am Sept 20th. NO nasty crackling nor burning smells. been n around 17 mins now.
I am getting display and can focus spots via xy mode. Just does not at moment appear to have time base running. I believe the HT is fine as I am getting a good sharp spot (one for each channel) and can move them fine}}}}


Now for the Quandry... Will she whom must be obeyed let me keep "it" ?? I am panning to get a Cat (NO NOT a D2 with logging winch ... I WISH) in the next few weeks so doubt they both would share my bed.

So I guess I need to find a NEW Home for this sweet BWD 539D. Wonder where ???


FYI pick below was taken of it earlier today in my workshop before it "escaped" into my garden.
View attachment 1308081

Alas, we Banana bender see few of this wonderful Australia wildlife up here in our gardens
If the BWD 530A gets away from me I'll be sure to come down "hunting" your way Sir.

 

[Robbbert]

Never seen a bwd530, but this baby was my go-to from 1988 until I bought a new one some time around 2010... It just swiveled it around on the shelf to take a pic... The side panel was loose and it was in this condition even in 1988, but it only cost me $200 secondhand at the time, and then I had my own personal oscilloscope... I was pretty proud of it. I haven't fired it up in 20 years though. Makes me wonder if it still works... Because it was so special to me, I never could bring myself to throw it away.

View attachment 1308058

Hi also from Land of Oz. I have a BWD 502 that looks just like yours, except that there's 3 banana jacks on the left instead of the "input". It's a hybrid unit with valves and transistors. It also looks much cleaner than yours, with all knobs present. Haven't used it for some time, but it was working then. There's also a Telequipment D65 which I've barely used.

 

[anozzybum]

SHeeee Beeeeeeeeeeee Right Mate.. Big welcome from Healesville Vic I am sure you will fit in here really fine..

I visited BWD a few times, but due to the work I was doing as a Contractor in 1976's for Aus. Defense, needed International Traceability on Instruments I purchased. So I purchased mostly Tektronix or Marconi & Fluke.

I do have some Webster Computing bits somewhere in my Collection. So high possibility I will sell them this year.

You know down here in Country Victoria its amazing what 'WILDLIFE" one finds.

In fact I just went out my front door and across HIDING under the Acantus plant was a .......

View attachment 1308079

I quickly Captured the above pic before it took off up the Garden Path

View attachment 1308080

However luckily I raced around up our other path and quickly captured it.. Its now peacefully snuggled up on my dressing gown on my bed. I cannot decide if I should "feed it" ?

Maybe it will like being fed 240vac as it could be hungry ??

{{{ Actually I have a recollection of powering it up very early this year; so I just powered it up now at 11am Sept 20th. NO nasty crackling nor burning smells. been n around 17 mins now.
I am getting display and can focus spots via xy mode. Just does not at moment appear to have time base running. I believe the HT is fine as I am getting a good sharp spot (one for each channel) and can move them fine}}}}


Now for the Quandry... Will she whom must be obeyed let me keep "it" ?? I am panning to get a Cat (NO NOT a D2 with logging winch ... I WISH) in the next few weeks so doubt they both would share my bed.

So I guess I need to find a NEW Home for this sweet BWD 539D. Wonder where ???


FYI pick below was taken of it earlier today in my workshop before it "escaped" into my garden.
View attachment 1308081

Hi inotarobot
Well that BWD 530A did evade my grasp (the seller broke their back,) so if you're ever interested in moving the 539D to a new Northern home, please DM me sir.
Regards
Anozzybum