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I'm posting this for a friend, who can't post to Alt.* groups.
If you reply to this article by email, please don't send any mail to
me but to mag...@thep.lu.se

Jan.

=============================================================================

I was browsing through an Edmund Scientific catalog from 1978, when I saw the
following: 


    WORKING MODEL ELECTRONIC DIGITAL COMPUTERS

These 3 kits have our highest recommendation. Each is       
exciting to assemble and program. No. 72,105 requires       
some soldering but is offered at nearly 1/3 its original    
assembled price. No. 71,434 has snap-fit construction       
and performs over 50 experiments. For whiz-kids we          
recommend the advanced models, Nos.71,403 & 7l,706.         

(A) Build An Electronic Digital Computer!                   

Normally sells for $45 assembled. With basic electronic     
know-how you can build it. Includes 2 manuals: 1 for        
games and experiments; 1 for advanced experiments.
features 3 movable registers, patch cords & plugs, visual  
readout of results. Also incl. cards, dice, instr 14x15"    
assembled. Uses 3 "C" batteries (not incl.) Soldering       
required. No. 72,105 $15.95 Ppd                            e

(B) Snap-Fit Digital Computer Kit                           
You build it, program it and learn from it. Perform 50
experiments-play computer casino, predict weather,
test intelligence, solve mysteries, try to outwit it, play
chess with it and much more. Illuminated control panel
readout. Includes everything needed except 3 "C"
batteries. Step-by-step instruction book incl
             No. 71,434 $31.50 Ppd.


(C) Advanced Model Digital Computer
Uses circuit modules--assembles in minutes.
Patch cords slide on/off from one patch point to another to
change circuits. Work with nand gates, memory cells flip
flops. Experiment with 2 stage binary counter, reaction
time, computer clock--23 computer experiments. 
70 page instr. manual details assembly and all experiments
(clock-switch. flip-flops. quad 2-input nand display), 20
patch cords, all necessary parts. Requires one 6V battery
(not incl.) 
No.71,403 $56.50 Ppd. 
                                      
[There are also some pictures of things that look a bit like plastic toy
typewriters, but with a plugboard instead of a keyboard, and a stand for
some cards with pictures on them]

(The text above was scanned directly from the catalog, so any strange
spellings are not my fault.)

I remember when I was in eighth grade and very interested in computers.
The interesting thing was that I'd never even seen a computer in real life - I
had read a lot of books about them, and even learnt a little Basic from a book
- so getting my fingers on a real computer was one of my hottest desires.
I seriously considered bying one of these - they were the only thing I could
afford. Luckily, I didn't, but bought a TI 57 programmable calculator 
instead. Probably, I learnt more about programming from the '57 than from one
of these "model computers". (Also, when I started high school, my new school
had an ABC 80 computer which the pupils could use - guess where I spent most
of the lunch break!)





Now, my question is:

Is there anyone out there who's actually used one of these "model computers"?
Were they really computers (and not just a digital experiment kit)? Since the
catalog is form '78, they could just conceivably be some very primitive micro
processor-based computer, but somehow I doubt it. I also recall seeing
something like them in Swedish toy catalogs in the early seventies. Our
neighbour talked about getting one to control his model railroad. I don't
think he ever did, though.

Any information about how these machines worked, what kind of games you could 
play with them, and so on, is appreciated.

Magnus Olsson		     	| \e+ 	   /_	      
Dept. of Theoretical Physics 	|  \  Z	  / q	      
University of Lund, Sweden	|   >----<	      
Internet: mag...@thep.lu.se	|  /	  \===== g    
Bitnet: THEPMO@SELDC52 		| /e-	   \q