iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I've been ignoring updates for a little while because this one actually has usable cruise control.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Good plan! Then you know where it is at all times!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

An automotive neon spark tester doubles as a great CRT high voltage indicator!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Saturday afternoon keyswitch cleaning....

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Those can be very relaxing days.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Here's a video I took of our setup form #vcfwest - 8000 Dandelion, two 6085 Daybreaks, 1100 Dolphin, Dicentra sitting on top, and finally the Alto. Thanks to everyone who stopped by - @dectape.bsky.social and I had a great show!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Day one of #vcfwest was a hit! Thanks everyone that stopped by my and @dectape.bsky.social 's exhibit!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Xerox gear deployed. (Josh is standing in front of the Alto, I'm in front of the Dolphin)

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Next weekend Josh and I will be giving a demo of Xerox systems at VCF West - every generation of computer hardware they sold form the Alto, to the Dorado, the Dolphin, Dandelion, and Daybreak. A rare chance to see the whole lineage in one place - working!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Here's the laser path on a 1981 Xerox 8040 Electronic Printer - the one sold with the Star office system. Note the helium neon laser - a modulator bends the beam. That's why there appear to be 2 beams in the photo. Light strikes the spinning polygon mirror causing it to scan.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

After reseating connectors inside the raster output scanner.... !!!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Success!! Some parts were assembled out of order, and bent, preventing the registration rollers from gripping the page.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

The printer design started out life as the model 3300 copier. The optical assembly on top was removed and a helium neon laser bolted in its place.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

There are signs of life in the laser printer! Yes, it has a chain and 2 belts driven by a large synchronous motor.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I've got an interesting restoration ahead of me: a Xerox 8000 server and 8040 Laser Printer!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Ya it's strange! The elevator across the pedestrian bridge doesn't have CB. You might be on to something with proximity to a medical facility, perhaps it's for people riding the train to the sports medicine facility?

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

I should've been more clear: there's a UW medical center across the street:

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

@deviantollam.bsky.social thanks to your great talks I know what this jewel is for! You might've ridden this elevator actually... and it's not in a hospital!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

eBay biddings have arrived 🤩

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

2 out of 3 ain't bad :) despite some issues with the disk controller in one Daybreak #vcfwest is going well!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

After some fussing, all my VCF West systems are cooperating 😎

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

I bet the number is very small! PS: this system is using the PC Emulation board you found for me. It works great!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

The kinds of documents you can make on modern computers, like the Xerox Daybreak, are almost limitless!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

They are for the Xerox optical mous, which tracks a white / black grid. They're printed on a 600dpi laser printer on normal paper, then glued to cardboard so they don't scoot around the desk. The Xerox mouse is super interesting- the sensor is in a clear DIP package w/ a 4x4 sensor!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Getting prepped for @vcfederation.bsky.social VCF west. Printed up some nice mouse pads!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

I'm using @celgen.org 's method for making KeyTronic keyboard foams. Double stick truck bed topper tape, and Mylar. Omit the mounting circle, just double stick them to the key sliders!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Couple more photos. The tube is NEC, I suspect they did the chassis too.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Some photos comparing the AppleColor 100 digital RGB monitor to a composite Tek / Sony display. The RGB display really looks great!!

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Behold the power tilt mechanism on the Apple RGB monitor.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

I spy with my little eye... Rifa Madness 💥

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Washed my 88 Audi 5000. Cleans up nice for 280,000 miles! I do want to get it repainted... up close it's in rather poor shape.

A pearl white Audi 5000 Avant, with white wheels and no roof rails.

The center stack of a C3 Audi. Even though the car is a 1988, it has the heated seat switches and fader dial from an 84.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

IIRC the Miracle branded display just fit length wise, and the curve was close. The monitor chassis fouled on the Mac's metal supports and the wires were too short to re-arrange it. I wanted to keep the Mac metal piece to mount a slot load dvd. A few years ago I found the bits and reassembled.

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I'd wanted to do a color one. I even had a 9" color crt ready to go into a Mac Classic. Here's a circa 2004 photo, you can see some of the Classic hiding behind the Lava Lamp

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compu85 🌈 @compu85.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

So I guess I'm migrating here now, too 🙃

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