Clive Sinclair died

[Andrew]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81

Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.

Andrew

[Andy Burns]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.

Got lent the BT "tonto" version to play with, it didn't immediately
inspire us to do anything with it ...

[Bob Eager]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-

pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Andrew
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.

Got lent the BT "tonto" version to play with, it didn't immediately
inspire us to do anything with it ...

I was selling the Sinclair Micro-6 ("radio the size of a matchbox") back
in the 1960s. And his PWM amp boards.

[newshound]

Post by Andrew

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-

pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Andrew
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.

Got lent the BT "tonto" version to play with, it didn't immediately
inspire us to do anything with it ...

I was selling the Sinclair Micro-6 ("radio the size of a matchbox") back
in the 1960s. And his PWM amp boards.

I built one of them, and used Z12's in my HiFi for a number of years.
Also built the ZX81 £50 kit. Never tempted by a Spectrum, though, much
less the QL.

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Post by newshound
used Z12's in my HiFi for a number of years.

Me too, they sounded good at the time :-)

Post by newshound
Also built the ZX81 £50 kit.

I was way ahead of ZX81's by that time.

Post by newshound
Never tempted by a Spectrum, though, much less the QL.

Likewise, but I was given a dud QL to see I could do anything with it.
It didn't seem to be worth the effort even then.

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Post by Bob Eager
I was selling the Sinclair Micro-6 ("radio the size of a matchbox") back
in the 1960s.

I built one of those.

[N_Cook]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the little tape microdrive thingy in the
QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

[Michael Chare]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy in the
QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built
him self about 1964. Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it
would kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

[N_Cook]

Post by Michael Chare

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy in
the QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built
him self about 1964. Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it
would kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

Sounds like the "Texas" amp, not Sinclair ISTR, (used Texas Instrument
power trannies ) that would blow whenever a fridge thermostat on the
same mains ring clicked over at peak mains voltage , otherwise bad
clicks in the speakers on clickovers .

[John Walliker]

Post by N_Cook

Post by Michael Chare

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy in
the QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built
him self about 1964. Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it
would kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

Sounds like the "Texas" amp, not Sinclair ISTR, (used Texas Instrument
power trannies ) that would blow whenever a fridge thermostat on the
same mains ring clicked over at peak mains voltage , otherwise bad
clicks in the speakers on clickovers .
--
Global sea level rise to 2100 from curve-fitted existing altimetry data
<http://diverse.4mg.com/slr.htm>

I had an IC10 audio amplifier. It was sold as a 10W amplifier, but after
peeling off the nice looking label (after it had died) it turned out to be
a Plessey chip rated at about 3W.
I also had a Sinclair Scientific calculator which for some calculations turned
out to be less accurate than my slide rule.
John

[alan_m]

Post by N_Cook
Sounds like the "Texas" amp, not Sinclair ISTR, (used Texas Instrument
power trannies ) that would blow whenever a fridge thermostat on the
same mains ring clicked over at peak mains voltage , otherwise bad
clicks in the speakers on clickovers .

Around 6 weeks ago I dumped 4 off Texas Instruments hard cover books.
One of the books had the circuit, board layout and full instructions for
building the the Texas Amp.

At the time of publication of these books I was working for a Marconi
company and the stores had been raided for the output transistors
(2N3055???)

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the circuit. I
used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would actually run
at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters used them in the pa
stages grin.


Brian
--
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
***@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!

Post by N_Cook
Sounds like the "Texas" amp, not Sinclair ISTR, (used Texas Instrument
power trannies ) that would blow whenever a fridge thermostat on the same
mains ring clicked over at peak mains voltage , otherwise bad clicks in
the speakers on clickovers .

Around 6 weeks ago I dumped 4 off Texas Instruments hard cover books. One
of the books had the circuit, board layout and full instructions for
building the the Texas Amp.
At the time of publication of these books I was working for a Marconi
company and the stores had been raided for the output transistors
(2N3055???)
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

[John Walliker]

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the circuit. I
used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would actually run
at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters used them in the pa
stages grin.

Most of the pirate radio stations near London were mobile and used
807 or 813 beam tetrode valves power by rotary converters and lorry batteries.

John

[The Natural Philosopher]

Post by John Walliker

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the circuit. I
used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would actually run
at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters used them in the pa
stages grin.

Most of the pirate radio stations near London were mobile and used
807 or 813 beam tetrode valves power by rotary converters and lorry batteries.

PROPER technology!

Post by John Walliker
John

[Andrew]

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the circuit. I
used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would actually run
at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters used them in the pa
stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

[Jeff Layman]

Post by Andrew

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the circuit. I
used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would actually run
at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters used them in the pa
stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there; it was a
useful substitute after the Tottenham Court Road and Lisle Street shops
in London disappeared. I've just come across this, but it isn't really
the same thing:
<https://www.vintage-electronics.co.uk/>

Perhaps in the UK only J.Birkett in Lincoln is left as the sole supplier
of government/military surplus electronic gear.

[jkn]

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Andrew

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the circuit. I
used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would actually run
at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters used them in the pa
stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there; it was a
useful substitute after the Tottenham Court Road and Lisle Street shops
in London disappeared. I've just come across this, but it isn't really
<https://www.vintage-electronics.co.uk/>

Interesting - I walk down Portland Road (not Street) in Worthing fairly regularly.
There's a tiny parade of shops in the middle, I assume it was one of those.

Growing up in Preston, Lancs in the '70s, my electronics Emporium of choice
was 'Jumbo's Korner', a wonderful place for an electronics-mad young teenager
to work out what to spend his pocket money on.

[Andrew]

Post by jkn

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Andrew

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the circuit. I
used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would actually run
at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters used them in the pa
stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there; it was a
useful substitute after the Tottenham Court Road and Lisle Street shops
in London disappeared. I've just come across this, but it isn't really
<https://www.vintage-electronics.co.uk/>

Interesting - I walk down Portland Road (not Street) in Worthing fairly regularly.
There's a tiny parade of shops in the middle, I assume it was one of those.

Where the emporium used to be has been redeveloped and is now a
Polish delicatessan or similar food outlet. 'Yogi' and one of the
other guys set up their own place on the one-way street that
leads to Worthing station, buying and selling electronic stuff
and repairing anything that was pre-'microprocessor inside'. This
closed over a decade ago.

[Bob Eager]

Post by jkn

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the
circuit. I used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would
actually run at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters
used them in the pa stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they bought
ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors for the
gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and other
goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there; it was a
useful substitute after the Tottenham Court Road and Lisle Street shops
in London disappeared. I've just come across this, but it isn't really
<https://www.vintage-electronics.co.uk/>

Interesting - I walk down Portland Road (not Street) in Worthing fairly regularly.
There's a tiny parade of shops in the middle, I assume it was one of those.

No; it was quite near the southern end. It was atatty building and it
looks to have been redeveloped. Somewhere near the Greek taverna.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by jkn

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Andrew

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the
circuit. I used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would
actually run at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters
used them in the pa stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors for
the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and other
goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there; it was
a useful substitute after the Tottenham Court Road and Lisle Street
shops in London disappeared. I've just come across this, but it isn't
<https://www.vintage-electronics.co.uk/>

Interesting - I walk down Portland Road (not Street) in Worthing fairly regularly.
There's a tiny parade of shops in the middle, I assume it was one of those.

No; it was quite near the southern end. It was atatty building and it
looks to have been redeveloped. Somewhere near the Greek taverna.

I remember now. It was called: G.W.M. Radio

[Jeff Layman]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Bob Eager

Post by jkn

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Andrew

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the
circuit. I used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would
actually run at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters
used them in the pa stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors for
the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and other
goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there; it was
a useful substitute after the Tottenham Court Road and Lisle Street
shops in London disappeared. I've just come across this, but it isn't
<https://www.vintage-electronics.co.uk/>

Interesting - I walk down Portland Road (not Street) in Worthing fairly regularly.
There's a tiny parade of shops in the middle, I assume it was one of those.

No; it was quite near the southern end. It was atatty building and it
looks to have been redeveloped. Somewhere near the Greek taverna.

I remember now. It was called: G.W.M. Radio

That's it. It was a few shops north of the Scholl shop.

It was pretty tight inside ("social distancing" would be an
impossibility there!), and there was an annexe out back, with rather too
much exposure to the elements.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Bob Eager

Post by jkn

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Andrew

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2N3055, actually were pretty robust, it had to be a flaw in the
circuit. I used to use those in my linear adjustable psus years ago.
There was a Fairchild version as well which if I recall would
actually run at several megahertz so pirate mw radio transmitters
used them in the pa stages grin.
Brian

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there; it
was a useful substitute after the Tottenham Court Road and Lisle
Street shops in London disappeared. I've just come across this, but
<https://www.vintage-electronics.co.uk/>

Interesting - I walk down Portland Road (not Street) in Worthing fairly regularly.
There's a tiny parade of shops in the middle, I assume it was one of those.

No; it was quite near the southern end. It was atatty building and it
looks to have been redeveloped. Somewhere near the Greek taverna.

I remember now. It was called: G.W.M. Radio

That's it. It was a few shops north of the Scholl shop.
It was pretty tight inside ("social distancing" would be an
impossibility there!), and there was an annexe out back, with rather too
much exposure to the elements.

I remember all of that! I used to get the bus because (a) it was cheaper
and (b) it was along walk from the station.

The only place in Brighton was Arthur Sallis, and he was a real rogue.
Although for components you could go to Technical Trading (where I had a
part time job for a while).

[Theo]

Post by Bob Eager
The only place in Brighton was Arthur Sallis, and he was a real rogue.
Although for components you could go to Technical Trading (where I had a
part time job for a while).

Possibly a later era but there was Bull Electrical somewhere in Brighton -
all sorts of surplus stuff of various provenance. It appears they still
have a website listing their 'stock', not that it has any contact details to
order anything:

https://www.bullybeef.co.uk/

Their 'computer controlled warehouse' pictures look to be a cross between a
storage unit and a hurricane disaster zone.

Ah, some 'recent' pictures:
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/j-bull-electrical-west-sussex-june-2019.118790/
(oh, apparently it's in Henfield)

Theo

[Bob Eager]

Post by Theo

Post by Bob Eager
The only place in Brighton was Arthur Sallis, and he was a real rogue.
Although for components you could go to Technical Trading (where I had
a part time job for a while).

Possibly a later era but there was Bull Electrical somewhere in Brighton -
all sorts of surplus stuff of various provenance. It appears they still
have a website listing their 'stock', not that it has any contact
https://www.bullybeef.co.uk/
Their 'computer controlled warehouse' pictures look to be a cross
between a storage unit and a hurricane disaster zone.
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/j-bull-electrical-west-sussex-

june-2019.118790/

Post by Theo
(oh, apparently it's in Henfield)

Yes, I was about to say it wasn't that near to Brighton! Never got to go
there.

[Theo]

Post by Theo

Post by Theo
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/j-bull-electrical-west-sussex-

june-2019.118790/

Post by Theo
(oh, apparently it's in Henfield)

Yes, I was about to say it wasn't that near to Brighton! Never got to go
there.

It seems they had a shop in Hove (J. Bull Electrical Ltd), and later moved.
Went under in 2006 and the Henfield landfill site is their reincarnation.

Theo

[jkn]

Post by Theo

Post by Bob Eager
The only place in Brighton was Arthur Sallis, and he was a real rogue.
Although for components you could go to Technical Trading (where I had a
part time job for a while).

Possibly a later era but there was Bull Electrical somewhere in Brighton -
all sorts of surplus stuff of various provenance. It appears they still
have a website listing their 'stock', not that it has any contact details to

I ordered some stuff from J. Bull Electrical when I was a kid - and it was one
of those formative experiences where you realise how the description was
written to sucker you in, and that the world might have people in it who
just want to part you from your money.

When I much later moved to Brighton they had a shop on Portland Road (again!) in
Hove; but I suspect that wasn't their original address. They were selling a lot of,
ahem, 'hydroponics' gear. I think I remember going in and realising I didn't want to
be dealing with the sort of people who seemed to be running it.
Of course it helped that I had a bit more loose change by then.

Still missing H. Gee in Cambridge...

Post by Theo
https://www.bullybeef.co.uk/
Their 'computer controlled warehouse' pictures look to be a cross between a
storage unit and a hurricane disaster zone.
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/j-bull-electrical-west-sussex-june-2019.118790/
(oh, apparently it's in Henfield)
Theo

[tony sayer]

Post by jkn

Post by Theo

Post by Bob Eager
The only place in Brighton was Arthur Sallis, and he was a real rogue.
Although for components you could go to Technical Trading (where I had a
part time job for a while).

Possibly a later era but there was Bull Electrical somewhere in Brighton -
all sorts of surplus stuff of various provenance. It appears they still
have a website listing their 'stock', not that it has any contact details to

I ordered some stuff from J. Bull Electrical when I was a kid - and it was one
of those formative experiences where you realise how the description was
written to sucker you in, and that the world might have people in it who
just want to part you from your money.
When I much later moved to Brighton they had a shop on Portland Road (again!) in
Hove; but I suspect that wasn't their original address. They were selling a lot of,
ahem, 'hydroponics' gear. I think I remember going in and realising I didn't want to
be dealing with the sort of people who seemed to be running it.
Of course it helped that I had a bit more loose change by then.
Still missing H. Gee in Cambridge...

Yes thats been boarded up since the fire, just says;

"Fire damaged building keep out"!

How long can someone leave a building in that state?.

Just wondering if Phil Gee had it insured or not?...

[Bob Eager]

Post by Jeff Layman

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they bought
ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors for the gold,
but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and other goodies.
Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there;

I remember that; I lived in Brighton and used to get the Southdown bus
over there. Can't remember the name; began with a G?

Anyone remember Arthur Sallis in North Road, in Brighton?

[charles]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Jeff Layman

There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they bought
ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors for the gold,
but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and other goodies.
Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

In Portland Street, IIRC. I spent many an hour browsing there;

I remember that; I lived in Brighton and used to get the Southdown bus
over there. Can't remember the name; began with a G?
Anyone remember Arthur Sallis in North Road, in Brighton?

I certainly remember the name.

[Chris J Dixon]

Post by Andrew
There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

I never really did component stuff, but Shudehill in Manchester,
where Proops and other emporia were to be found, was the area to
browse when I lived in the area in the early 70s.

Chris

[Steve Walker]

Post by Chris J Dixon

Post by Andrew
There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

I never really did component stuff, but Shudehill in Manchester,
where Proops and other emporia were to be found, was the area to
browse when I lived in the area in the early 70s.

What was the one near the Daily Mail printworks? Newcross supplies?
Newcross electronics? Something like that.

[Jeff Layman]

Post by Chris J Dixon

Post by Andrew
There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

I never really did component stuff, but Shudehill in Manchester,
where Proops and other emporia were to be found, was the area to
browse when I lived in the area in the early 70s.

I wonder if that was the same Proops who had a shop in Tottenham Court
Road in London for many years in the 50s and 60s? Anyone remember Z & I
Aero (also in TCR, almost opposite Heals IIRC).

I just found this:
<https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=30691&d=1259594129>
I never knew they had a shop in Westbourne Grove.

It seems they might still be around:
<http://vacuumtubesuperstore.com/z-i-aero-services.html>

[Andy Burns]

Post by Jeff Layman
<http://vacuumtubesuperstore.com/z-i-aero-services.html>

Vacuumtubesuperstore just seems to be an "aggregator" of eBay listings

[Jeff Layman]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Jeff Layman
<http://vacuumtubesuperstore.com/z-i-aero-services.html>

Vacuumtubesuperstore just seems to be an "aggregator" of eBay listings

No doubt. It was just that the name actually appeared on an internet
search as a current business which surprised me.

[Chris J Dixon]

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Chris J Dixon
I never really did component stuff, but Shudehill in Manchester,
where Proops and other emporia were to be found, was the area to
browse when I lived in the area in the early 70s.

I wonder if that was the same Proops who had a shop in Tottenham Court
Road in London for many years in the 50s and 60s?

Absolutely so. I think I bought my first record deck (Garrard
SP25) from them.

Chris

[Adrian Caspersz]

Post by Chris J Dixon

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Chris J Dixon
I never really did component stuff, but Shudehill in Manchester,
where Proops and other emporia were to be found, was the area to
browse when I lived in the area in the early 70s.

I wonder if that was the same Proops who had a shop in Tottenham Court
Road in London for many years in the 50s and 60s?

Absolutely so. I think I bought my first record deck (Garrard
SP25) from them.

I remember I bought a rather crap BSR turntable from them.

Was sold and now is a Leicester based purveyor of craft materials and
engineering tools. No more electronics.

https://www.proopsbrothers.com/about-us-1-w.asp

[N_Cook]

Post by Jeff Layman

Post by Chris J Dixon

Post by Andrew
There used to be an electrical emporium in Worthing where they
bought ex-mod stuff and mostly salvaged the backplane connectors
for the gold, but some MOD stuff had gold-plated transistors and
other goodies. Wonderful place for old electronic bits and bobs.

I never really did component stuff, but Shudehill in Manchester,
where Proops and other emporia were to be found, was the area to
browse when I lived in the area in the early 70s.

I wonder if that was the same Proops who had a shop in Tottenham Court
Road in London for many years in the 50s and 60s? Anyone remember Z & I
Aero (also in TCR, almost opposite Heals IIRC).
<https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=30691&d=1259594129>
I never knew they had a shop in Westbourne Grove.
<http://vacuumtubesuperstore.com/z-i-aero-services.html>

A collection I put together about 2005, perhaps all gone now
GWM Radio Ltd,Worthing (legacy site? http://gwmradio.netfirms.com "page
info" dates all 2003);Techno Trade,West St, Fareham ; Greenweld, Shirley
Southampton (trading name
continues ); Afflecks ,Shirley Southampton; Fraser Electronics, Southsea
; a shop with forgotten name in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth.
Some details nationally for anyone nearby to these, but they may not
have shop-type premises
and may have ceased.
N R Bardwell Ltd, 288 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield,
http://www.bardwells.co.uk/aboutus.asp
Aitken Brothers ,High Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne
E.S.R. Electronic Components ,Cullercoates, Newcastle http://www.esr.co.uk
Bargain Buy , Great Yarmouth
Modern Radio, Derby St, Bolton, www.modernradio.co.uk
Semiconductor Supplies International Ltd
128/130 Carshalton Road, Sutton, Surrey
Farnell's trade counter on the Maybrook industrial estate in Leeds is
usually worth a look if you're in the area. They have a "Bargain Bin"
M&B Radio used to be pretty good too. Used to be under the Dark Arches
(Swinegate) under the train station, but that shop closed ages ago.
Apparently they've reopened in Addingham.
Potts, Derby, http://www.rfpotts.com/
Anchor Supplies , Nottingham .
AH Supplies
Birketts , Lincoln
John's Radio
Bull Electrical

RIP "Forum Stores" in Southampton
it is no more. That is the electronic junk emporium that over the years
moved
from the tram shed and Nissen huts of Richard Taunton School, probably
started late 1960s, to Bellemoor
School to the defunct boiler room of Montefiore Hall, Wessex Lane and
finally
a shed tucked behind the chemistry section of the university in 1990s.
When at taunton school
and it was late afternoon and sunny and quiet in the shed, Dougie would
sometimes
open up the tram shed. No lighting inside so required sunlight through
the tram sized
doors to see around. Like a small scale Wroughton airfield Science
Museum hanger
of earlier technology, like Holorith punch card "typewriter" etc .
The overlying educational trust Southern Science & Technology Forum
seems to have
expired about 2002, the stores closed a bit before that.

[newshound]

Post by Michael Chare

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy in
the QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built
him self about 1964.  Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it
would kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

Yes, it was the Z12.

Their advert said "If you ever break it, we will repair it for (iirc)
50p". Eventually they stopped honouring that offer. I broke a couple
when I tried to use them on a carnival float and managed to disconnect
the speakers. I forget whether you had to be putting a signal through it
at the time.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Post by newshound

Post by Michael Chare

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy
in the QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built
him self about 1964.  Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it
would kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

Yes, it was the Z12.
Their advert said "If you ever break it, we will repair it for (iirc)
50p". Eventually they stopped honouring that offer. I broke a couple
when I tried to use them on a carnival float and managed to disconnect
the speakers. I forget whether you had to be putting a signal through it
at the time.

Z12 is the only power amp I have ever seen that you could actually see
the crossover distortion on, on an oscilloscope.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

Which was why most people put it into class AB, and sacrificed power.

Brian
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Post by newshound

Post by Michael Chare

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy in
the QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built
him self about 1964. Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it
would kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

Yes, it was the Z12.
Their advert said "If you ever break it, we will repair it for (iirc)
50p". Eventually they stopped honouring that offer. I broke a couple when
I tried to use them on a carnival float and managed to disconnect the
speakers. I forget whether you had to be putting a signal through it at
the time.

Z12 is the only power amp I have ever seen that you could actually see the
crossover distortion on, on an oscilloscope.
--
The lifetime of any political organisation is about three years before its
been subverted by the people it tried to warn you about.
Anon.

[Fredxx]

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
Which was why most people put it into class AB, and sacrificed power.
Brian

I used to do the same with LM324s. Simple pullup resistor to the +ve
power supply solved the crossover.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

Not if you followed the advice in its manual, and did not try to run it at
almost its max supply volts. He always a bit optimistic about his power
ratings, as they were peak power, not rms power, thus the z12 was a six watt
amp really. You could also tweak the biasing so it ran closer to class A/B
to remove some of the crossover distortion it could generate when cold. It
used mostly Germanium transistors, and they were notorious for their drift
with heat, despite a thermal probe on the heat sink, this was far too slow
to make the difference other then stopping overcooking.
You obviously sacrificed some power buy running the output this way, so you
then probably had a 3 watt amp instead!

Brian
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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy in
the QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built him
self about 1964. Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it would
kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

[Andrew]

Post by Michael Chare

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the littlt we tape microdrive thingy in
the QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I recall a friend having a Sincair sound amplifier which he had built
him self about 1964.  Apparently if you disconnected the speakers it
would kill some of the electronics, maybe the output transistors.

Well I tripped over the speaker leads on my 1978 Aiwa AX7400
tuner/amp and yanked one of them out and not long after it
blew an internal fuse which turned out to be because one of the
mains diode rectifiers had blown. Not sure if this was coincidence.

[Vir Campestris]

Post by N_Cook

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the little tape microdrive thingy in the
QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I had a brief association with ICL's One Per Desk (which BT bought as
Tonto).

Some of the guys at ICL made the microdrives work.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Per_Desk

Andy

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

The later QLs had a better psu, that did not corrupt microdrives. It was
just poor design. you got a transient that could write to a drive even if it
was not rotating. Oddly you never had that problem with ZX Spectrum drives.


Brian
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Note this Signature is meaningless.!

Post by Vir Campestris

Post by N_Cook

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the little tape microdrive thingy in the
QL and switch off, yet another corrupted file results

I had a brief association with ICL's One Per Desk (which BT bought as
Tonto).
Some of the guys at ICL made the microdrives work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Per_Desk
Andy

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
The later QLs had a better psu, that did not corrupt microdrives.

I used microdrives, on my own system - a partial design of my own,
before Sinclair began using them.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

I had very little issue with Microdrives on the Spectrum, the main problems
I had with them were dodgy edge connectors.The later carts were a lot
better. The early ones use BASF Chrome, the later ones used Maxell hi bias
tape. The latter being a better product in my opinion. Ablex who made the
actual plastic bits seemed to have the reliability sussed quite fast, but
being wound a bit like an 8track cart they could of course eventually seize
up as the used lubricated tape.
Not enough storage space killed them off, Waferdrives were a bit better, a
kind of bigger version of Microdrives often found in midi instruments of
that era, but loading was slower of course as there is no random access on a
loop of tape!

The four tracks across such a narrow tape with such basic engineering always
fascinated me.
Brian
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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
***@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I wouldn't if I was you, leave the little tape microdrive thingy in the QL
and switch off, yet another corrupted file results
--
Global sea level rise to 2100 from curve-fitted existing altimetry data
<http://diverse.4mg.com/slr.htm>

[Steve Walker]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.

I had one. In fact I probably still have it in the loft. I certainly
still have the dedicated Microvitec monitor.

I also had the 512K memory pack (to take it to 640K) and twin, 3.5",
720K floppy disk drives (the Microdrives were somewhat iffy, although
useable).

I did my O-level computer studies (the first time our school had offered
it and only in the 6th form) project using it. No compatible printer, so
I had to type the whole listing (about 16,0000 characters) out on a
mechanical typewriter - throwing the sheet away and starting again if
there was a typing error :( And as the typewriter had no $ sign, using
an S, backspacing and using a / had to do ... but as the / (Shift-7
IIRC) key stuck, it often messed up the sheet.

I then had to take my QL and monitor in to school to demonstrate the
program, as they only had BBC model Bs.

The upside is that I sold the program to QL World magazine and was paid
enough to buy my first CD player and some CDs. I might have got more
(50p per copy sold by them) over time, but the magazine collapsed later on.

The SuperBasic language was quite elegant for a BASIC of the time, with
proper functions and procedures, parameter passing, output windows,
loops, etc., so my whole program (unlike many of the time), did not have
a single GOTO or GOSUB in it and it set my up nicely for learning PASCAL
during part of my degree a couple of years later, although moving from
the "coercion" of SuperBasic (being able to assign the contents of one
variable to another regardless of the variable's type, as long as the
contents could be converted) was completely opposite to the hard-typing
of PASCAL.

[Tim Streater]

Post by Steve Walker
The SuperBasic language was quite elegant for a BASIC of the time, with
proper functions and procedures, parameter passing, output windows,
loops, etc., so my whole program (unlike many of the time), did not have
a single GOTO or GOSUB in it and it set my up nicely for learning PASCAL
during part of my degree a couple of years later, although moving from
the "coercion" of SuperBasic (being able to assign the contents of one
variable to another regardless of the variable's type, as long as the
contents could be converted) was completely opposite to the hard-typing
of PASCAL.

Not the only issue I had with Pascal:

1) No return statement, so no early return from a function or procedure.

2) Strings of different lengths were different types.

3) A single compilation unit - no libraries.

Pascal was OK to a point as a language to teach concepts, but not much use as
a practical language unless extended.

[newshound]

Post by Tim Streater

Post by Steve Walker
The SuperBasic language was quite elegant for a BASIC of the time, with
proper functions and procedures, parameter passing, output windows,
loops, etc., so my whole program (unlike many of the time), did not have
a single GOTO or GOSUB in it and it set my up nicely for learning PASCAL
during part of my degree a couple of years later, although moving from
the "coercion" of SuperBasic (being able to assign the contents of one
variable to another regardless of the variable's type, as long as the
contents could be converted) was completely opposite to the hard-typing
of PASCAL.

1) No return statement, so no early return from a function or procedure.
2) Strings of different lengths were different types.
3) A single compilation unit - no libraries.
Pascal was OK to a point as a language to teach concepts, but not much use as
a practical language unless extended.

Pascal was *designed explicitly* as a teaching language. Even so it was
infinitely preferable to any the versions of basic that I used, because
it protected you from so many run-time errors.

[Rod Speed]

Post by newshound

Post by Tim Streater

Post by Steve Walker
The SuperBasic language was quite elegant for a BASIC of the time, with
proper functions and procedures, parameter passing, output windows,
loops, etc., so my whole program (unlike many of the time), did not have
a single GOTO or GOSUB in it and it set my up nicely for learning PASCAL
during part of my degree a couple of years later, although moving from
the "coercion" of SuperBasic (being able to assign the contents of one
variable to another regardless of the variable's type, as long as the
contents could be converted) was completely opposite to the hard-typing
of PASCAL.

1) No return statement, so no early return from a function or procedure.
2) Strings of different lengths were different types.
3) A single compilation unit - no libraries.
Pascal was OK to a point as a language to teach concepts, but not much use as
a practical language unless extended.

Pascal was *designed explicitly* as a teaching language.

That’s overstated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal_(programming_language)#Pascal

Post by newshound
Even so it was infinitely preferable to any the versions of basic that I
used, because it protected you from so many run-time errors.

[Peeler]

On Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:01:37 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the abnormal trolling senile pest's latest trollshit unread>

[John Rumm]

Post by Tim Streater

Post by Steve Walker
The SuperBasic language was quite elegant for a BASIC of the time, with
proper functions and procedures, parameter passing, output windows,
loops, etc., so my whole program (unlike many of the time), did not have
a single GOTO or GOSUB in it and it set my up nicely for learning PASCAL
during part of my degree a couple of years later, although moving from
the "coercion" of SuperBasic (being able to assign the contents of one
variable to another regardless of the variable's type, as long as the
contents could be converted) was completely opposite to the hard-typing
of PASCAL.

1) No return statement, so no early return from a function or procedure.
2) Strings of different lengths were different types.
3) A single compilation unit - no libraries.
Pascal was OK to a point as a language to teach concepts, but not much use as
a practical language unless extended.

Which to be fair most real world implementations were.

And by the time you get to implementations like Turbo Pascal or Delphi,
you can do pretty much anything you can do in C/C++ (except make it look
as fugly!)
--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

[Tricky Dicky]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I built the stereo amp in 1969, remember the ball ache involved in twisting the shaft connecting the twin potentiometers to get the balance right once done it soldiered on for a fair few years. I cannot remember what happened to it as I left it with my parents who were not really into listening to music and probably ditched it after I moved out.

Richard

[pinnerite]

On Thu, 16 Sep 2021 20:02:59 +0100

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81

He was self-taught. He designed lots of simple but interesting circuits that were published by Babani.

During the early 60s I was working for the Stern-Clyne group. Although I was designing Hi-Fi systems for the Waycox subsidiary, I and my colleague Roger Steele were sometimes asked by one of the directors to test proposed purchases for their wholesale or retail companies.

Oner day we were asked to test a class-D amplifier. It was a clever design because it could output considerable power from cheap transistors.

It worked but the harmonic distortion was horrendous. It also affected all AM radios within a considerable distance and even FM models could not cope.

When we reported back, we were instructed to contact Mr Sinclair (not yet a knight).
His office was conveniently not far away in the square close to Angel Underground station. However we had to lug our demonstratio equipment up the front steps and even more once inside.

He was very gracious but it transpired that he couldn't hear the distortion but accepted the instrument displays in front of him.

Hilariously, he bought all our test equipment thus saving us from lugging it all down again.

Great guy.

I am sorry he has passed away.








Mint 20.04, kernel 5.4.0-42-generic, Cinnamon 4.6.7
running on an AMD Phenom II X4 Black edition processor with 8GB of DRAM.

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Post by pinnerite
He was self-taught. He designed lots of simple but interesting circuits that
were published by Babani.

He began, buying sub-standard transistors in bulk, testing them and
reselling the usable ones.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Post by Harry Bloomfield, Esq.

Post by pinnerite
He was self-taught. He designed lots of simple but interesting
circuits that were published by Babani.

He began, buying sub-standard transistors in bulk, testing them and
reselling the usable ones.

He began, buying sub-standard transistors in bulk, testing them and
reselling the unusable ones.

[Harry Bloomfield, Esq.]

Post by Harry Bloomfield, Esq.
He began, buying sub-standard transistors in bulk, testing them and
reselling the unusable ones.

Did he bin the usable ones? :-)

[The Natural Philosopher]

Post by Harry Bloomfield, Esq.

Post by Harry Bloomfield, Esq.
He began, buying sub-standard transistors in bulk, testing them and
reselling the unusable ones.

Did he bin the usable ones? :-)

There were no usable ones.
He bought rejects.
I remember when my schoolfriend put a Z12 on the scope, and we looked at
the sine wave and one half was 20% bigger than the other, we tested the
output transistor gains. One was 20 the other was just 5. Well below the
spec for any germanium output transistor of that time

Later on I worked on the microvision. It couldnt work. I proved it. He
constructively dismissed me by demoting me down to the repair department
where a container full of calculators was waiting to be fixed.
Impossible task. He carried on taking advanced orders for the
microvision. It never ever really went into production.

Clive was a cunt. So was Jimmy Saville. They both were knights, they
both were self publicising con men and criminals and they are not the
only dodgy characters with knighthoods I have met, and yes, I met Jimmy
Saville too.

People believe what they want to believe. And people like Clive told
them what they wanted to believe, that they have bought works of genius
from a brilliant man, instead of shoddy crap from a Rattners style con
man and complete cunt.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Harry Bloomfield, Esq.

Post by pinnerite
He was self-taught. He designed lots of simple but interesting circuits
that were published by Babani.

He began, buying sub-standard transistors in bulk, testing them and
reselling the usable ones.

I worked for a company in Brighton, in the 1960s, that did that with
valves. The valves were mostly secondhand, so they were cleaned and
reprinted.

[alan_m]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

I built his scientific calculator from a kit. Key entry was reverse
polish logic and an answer appeared after a delay of a second or two.

[John Rumm]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81

Yup, saw that - another figure from my tech formative youth gone...

Post by Andrew
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.

I built a ZX80, but then jumped ship to a VIC-20 later...
--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

typical business UK failure...

[Andrew]

Post by Jim GM4DHJ ...

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

typical business UK failure...

Was it made in the Timex factory up near Glasgow ?

[charles]

Post by Andrew

Post by Jim GM4DHJ ...

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

typical business UK failure...

Was it made in the Timex factory up near Glasgow ?

Dundee isn't that near Glasgow.

[Mark Carver]

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81

Just dragged out of storage my Sinclair Oxford 300 scientific
calculator. I found it in the loft a couple of years ago, and it still
worked.
Today, stick a new 9v battery in and it's dead. (It draws 20mA when
switched on, so not a case of the batter clip wire having fractured etc.)

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

I built the zx 81 with my limited sight, and had a Spectrum, indeed many of
them even some of the Amstrad ones. I learned a lot about computers since
both machines came with excellent manuals for actually writing your own
software. Yes it was slow and had blocky graphics by today's standards, but
it showed the principals. I was also unfortunate enough to be at the Ally
Pally launch of his C5 electrically assisted pedal car, which I think would
have been a great summer recreational vehicle, but it was launched in a
blizzard and it was white so the press had a field day.
QL, well, never really tempted since it was a very restricted 16 bit
computer with an 8bit buss.
It had many incarnations of course, TheICL One per desk had the same basic
innards plus a telephone and a modem. There were third party keyboards,
even replacement motherboards that allowed full 16 bit versions of the
Motorola processor, but it was killed off by the Atari ST and Commodore
Amiga designs in the end.

It is a real shame that nobody packages an easy to understand basic
programming language with their computers any more, as a lot of people are
now users, but understand nothing about how the thing does what it does and
are always frightened of busting it.

His other Successful computer of course being the first viable portable for
Journalists etc, the almost indestructible Z88, coffee resistant machine

Long before computers he published books of circuits for home electronics
projects and sold cheep audio gear aimed at the diy market. All seemed to
work well, I still have a couple of his IC12 amps in my shed. I had the
IC10, and his z12, and his fm tuner and stereo decoder as well.

I met him on a couple of occasions, once when he wads plugging the z88, and
earlier when he visited where I worked looking for a company to build his
pcbs for the diy market.

.
Brian
--
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
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Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!

Post by Andrew
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/16/home-computing-pioneer-sir-clive-sinclair-dies-aged-81
Never did get a QL, something I was tempted by at the time.
Andrew

[Steve Walker]

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
I built the zx 81 with my limited sight, and had a Spectrum, indeed many of
them even some of the Amstrad ones. I learned a lot about computers since
both machines came with excellent manuals for actually writing your own
software. Yes it was slow and had blocky graphics by today's standards, but
it showed the principals. I was also unfortunate enough to be at the Ally
Pally launch of his C5 electrically assisted pedal car, which I think would
have been a great summer recreational vehicle, but it was launched in a
blizzard and it was white so the press had a field day.
QL, well, never really tempted since it was a very restricted 16 bit
computer with an 8bit buss.

While it had an 8-bit bus, it was a full 32-bit processor internally.
The Motorola 68008 was basically the same as a Motorola 68000, except
for the 8-bit external data bus. The latter being the chip (with a 16
bit external bus) that Apple was using in its Macintoshes at the time.
Internally, the full range (including those with 32 bit external buses),
were the same.

The biggest restrictions were that it shared the memory with the
display, so could not run at full speed without ceding priority to the
display whenever both needed to access it and when talking to slower
peripherals plugged into the expansion slot, many needed to momentarily
slow the processor down to 1MHZ while they interacted.

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
It had many incarnations of course, TheICL One per desk had the same basic
innards plus a telephone and a modem. There were third party keyboards,
even replacement motherboards that allowed full 16 bit versions of the
Motorola processor, but it was killed off by the Atari ST and Commodore
Amiga designs in the end.
It is a real shame that nobody packages an easy to understand basic
programming language with their computers any more, as a lot of people are
now users, but understand nothing about how the thing does what it does and
are always frightened of busting it.

There are plenty of freely downloadable BASIC interpreters (and
compilers) - plus almost any other language people might want to try.

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
His other Successful computer of course being the first viable portable for
Journalists etc, the almost indestructible Z88, coffee resistant machine

Yes, they did seem to be pretty popular for journalists.

[Max Demian]

Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
I built the zx 81 with my limited sight, and had a Spectrum, indeed many of
them even some of the Amstrad ones. I learned a lot about computers since
both machines came with excellent manuals for actually writing your own
software. Yes it was slow and had blocky graphics by today's standards, but
it showed the principals. I was also unfortunate enough to be at the Ally
Pally launch of his C5 electrically assisted pedal car, which I think would
have been a great summer recreational vehicle, but it was launched in a
blizzard and it was white so the press had a field day.

I don't think I ever saw one actually being propelled electrically. I
saw one being pedalled once, and most days I passed one being hauled on
a rope up the hill leading to Beaconsfield. He must have had fun on the
way down.