Bit by Bit

For a great history of computing, visit Bit by Bit. This site was put together to augment the Computer Science 147: History of Mechanized Thought class at Haverford College

Quote from their site: "The site provides an historical overview of mathematical and computational technology, spanning from the abacus to the Apple computers." The pictures alone make it worth the visit.

The Institute for Advanced Study computer (above) is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The protruding cylinders at the base of the machine are CRT storage tubes, each capable of holding 1,024 bits. There were twenty tubes on each side of the machine.

Click the above image to see more detail. 

Electronic Hobbyist Essentials 1968

Simpson 260 VOM - out of my price range at the age of 13 but considered the standard by the telephone company, TV broadcasters and electricians everywhere.

 

RCA VoltOhmist VTVM - also a standard but I had a Conar model. Later I used a Heathkit model in 1980 at Carver Corp., before they switched to nice Fluke DMMs.

Weller standard issue 100/140W soldering gun - I used mine so much that the transformer inside it would bubble it's oil. I quickly discovered that I could make the tips from #12 house wiring. The tips were soft and burned out quicker but dirt cheap. In retrospect, this may be why the transformer bubbled so much.