Need info on EC-1 analog computer

[Doug Yowza]

On Mon, 24 Aug 1998, Rankin A. (Army) Curtis wrote:

> I had the pleasure of building one of these back in the late 60's. Don't
> have anything left of it now except the memories. In my mind, it's
> usefulness was pretty limited. I do remember programming it to simulate
> a bouncing ball, but that's about it.

Modern computers aren't much more useful :-)

> The worth of one is what the buyer is willing to pay. For myself, I
> don't think it would exceed about $50. The EC-1 would make an
> interesting conversation piece, but that's about all.

I would happily fill my house with EC-1's at $50 a pop.  It's hard to put
a price on these things, but early computers are starting to be viewed as
collectors items.  These are historic times, and it's getting harder to
find some of the earlier computer stuff since most of the original users
consider it obsolete junk and dumpstered it long ago.  I'm one of those
strange people that try to preserve old computers (I've got over 100 of
them clutterring my place).

The EC-1 isn't really considered to be historically important, but it
certainly is one of the earlier "home computers".  Most of the other home
computers of that era were pretty simple toys (the cardiac, brainiac,
digi-comp, etc), and the EC-1 is certinly the most sophisticated of the
lot.

I'm going to be showing a few of my old machines in Santa Clara, CA next
month.  I hope to have the bouncing ball demo running on my newly acquired
EC-1 by then.
        http://www.siconic.com/vcf/

If anybody has an old machine they'd like demonstrated at the festival,
let me know, and I might be able to arrange something.  BTW, if you have
any of those toy computers I mentioned from the 50's and 60's, please
let me know -- those would be great to demo!

-- Doug

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