Tube Dreams

[Keith Rowland]

Gary:  This is a fascinating conjecture.  I wish I were a better
writer.  This concept could be woven into a great "alternate future"
science fiction story. Maybe one of the established writers will happen
onto it.  I'd love to read it!

73, Keith



Gary Pewitt wrote:
>
> Anyone ever speculate about how tubes might have developed if
> transistors had never been invented?  I am sure the trend toward
> smaller lower voltage receiving tubes would have continued.
> Cold cathode tubes would have drawn less current, produced less
> heat, and lasted much longer. The Compactron tubes suggest a movement
> in the direction of multiple circuits in a single enclosure.
> I can envision photo reduction masks being used to etch hundreds or thousands of pin head size cathodes and plates on metal strata.
> Multiple layers allowing grids and beam directors.
> I doubt that they would have looked much like conventional tubes.
> Probably flat rectangular metal boxes with hundreds of pins on the bottom and fins on the top. Sound familiar?
> The chips (or cans?, tubs? or dare I say integrated circuits?)
> would probably contained complete sub assemblies or entire radios.
> Frequency synthesizers, phase locked loops, audio amps, etc..
> There's really no reason it couldn't still be done.
> The tube manufactures tried with the Nuvistors and such but didn't
> really change their paradymes.  They were still thinking single
> unit analog devices with higher voltages and currents.  The techniques
> used for solid state devices would have worked just as well for vacuum technology.
> It might not have reached the level of large scale integration
> needed for personal computers but who knows?
> Sort of like what might have happened if steam powered cars had won
> out over internal combustion engined vehicles.  We wouldn't be
> driving crude Stanly steamers but sophisticated steam turbines.
> I sure would like to have a new Hammarlund HQ-1800 with 4 "cans"
> synchronous detection, phase locked loop, frequency synthesized
> tuning, etc.  I'm sure some of our better educated list members
> could think of developments far beyond my efforts.
> 73  and happy dreams.  Gary
>
> -------------------------------------
> Name: Gary Pewitt N9ZSV/KT
>       6120 W. Calumet Rd. Apt 204
>       Milwaukee, WI  53223
>       414 355 8147 Home 414 297 4307 Work
> E-mail: gpewitt at execpc.com
> Date: 01/03/98
> Time: 18:34:59
>
> -------------------------------------
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