Wire Looms and Core Memory

[GAD]

Edit - these posts were moved from this thread because the veers got out of hand and it was all my fault.

Original thread: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/80s-de-500-reissues.218579/

Post that started it all was this one commenting on the term "wire loom".



I’ve heard the term wiring loom in the US but never for a guitar harness. Interesting. I’ve got a good example of what I’d call a wire loom that I’ll post a pic of later today.

 

[GAD]

This is an example of what I would call a wire loom.

Thinking about it I find that interesting because I’ve only ever seen the term used for hand-tied bundles of wire or cable. In telephony the wires would be bundled with 9-cord (wax string).

If it’s something pre-made and bundled with zip ties (ew) or even electrical tape I’d probably call it a harness.

 

[GAD]

This article from Austrailia says otherwise (though it smells like it wasn’t written by a human). Fascinating:

Difference Between Wire Harnesses | Cable Assemblies | Wire Looms

Wiring Solutions explains the differences between between wire harnesses, cable assemblies and wiring looms. Contact us today for more info.

www.wiringsolutions.com.au

 

[Rocky]

This is an example of what I would call a wire loom.

Thinking about it I find that interesting because I’ve only ever seen the term used for hand-tied bundles of wire or cable. In telephony the wires would be bundled with 9-cord (wax string).

If it’s something pre-made and bundled with zip ties (ew) or even electrical tape I’d probably call it a harness.

Looks like an organ. <veer>interesting there's a little kink in the black (resistor/diode?) lead, for thermal expansion, or possible predicted failure and easier grasping for replacement </veer>

 

[GAD]

Looks like an organ. <veer>interesting there's a little kink in the black (resistor/diode?) lead, for thermal expansion, or possible predicted failure and easier grasping for replacement </veer>

Better pics of diodes on the board:

The board is from something called a Lectrascan which was an enormous Nixie display.

 

[chazmo]

This is an example of what I would call a wire loom.

Thinking about it I find that interesting because I’ve only ever seen the term used for hand-tied bundles of wire or cable. In telephony the wires would be bundled with 9-cord (wax string).

If it’s something pre-made and bundled with zip ties (ew) or even electrical tape I’d probably call it a harness.

That's just beautiful work!!! What's that from, GAD?

I used to have a core memory at my house from an old Data General Nova computer... In my life, I've never seen anything more amazing/beautiful/fragile in electronics... I believe those cores were hand-wired. Wish I still had that...

 

[GAD]

That's just beautiful work!!! What's that from, GAD?

I used to have a core memory at my house from an old Data General Nova computer... In my life, I've never seen anything more amazing/beautiful/fragile in electronics... I believe those cores were hand-wired. Wish I still had that...

Answered in the next post: The board is from something called a Lectrascan which was an enormous Nixie display. I'll post more on that in the Nixie thread when it's time.

I have a core memory module somewhere. I did experiments with macro photography on it many years ago:







I believe the one I have was cut out of a soviet computer, but it's been 20 years since I bought it. The even older ones had larger cores and I believe were actually threaded by hand. These may have been as well but I suspect it was more some kind of loom machine.

BTW the pics aren't great because it wasn't a real macro lens but an old Sigma 50mm lens wire-tied to the camera backwards with electrical tape to prevent light leaks. Very high tech.

 

[GAD]

And now we have a veer to a veer. Gonna move these posts to their own thread in Misc.

Edit: done.

 

[chazmo]

Oh, I so wish I still had that Nova memory... I think it was a 4K "loom" (or whatever you call it). The lattice was just like you showed above.

Ever see the stupid (but fun) movie "Wanted?" The whole premise of the movie was based on textiles made on a loom where imperfections in the weave were supposed to contain hidden messages to assassins.... Very stupid, but very entertaining. Anyway, any "imperfections" in a core memory circuit were flaws. How they ever made these without flaws is completely beyond me.

 

[GAD]

Oh, I so wish I still had that Nova memory... I think it was a 4K "loom" (or whatever you call it). The lattice was just like you showed above.

Ever see the stupid (but fun) movie "Wanted?" The whole premise of the movie was based on textiles made on a loom where imperfections in the weave were supposed to contain hidden messages to assassins.... Very stupid, but very entertaining. Anyway, any "imperfections" in a core memory circuit were flaws. How they ever made these without flaws is completely beyond me.

I love that stupid movie!

 

[GGJaguar]

I have a core memory module somewhere.

This is cool vid (and not very long).

 

[chazmo]

THank you for that vid pointer, GG. I've never seen that history. Brilliant. I don't think I've ever seen electrostatic memory that he was talking about... He's 100% right that core memory is precisely what made the modern computer possible... This is known as the Von Neumann architecture. I mean, there are a lot of components to build a computer, especially the CPU, but without reliable memory a Von Neumann computer is not practical.

 

[GAD]

I always loved when in SciFi they would say things like, "We'll have to check the memory core!" or something similar. "Memory core" sounded great so the phrase got thrown around like crazy. It's like the 23rd century computer in Star Trek TOS sounding suspiciously like a teletype.

 

[Stagefright]

A company I worked for years ago experienced a high failure rate from wiring looms that were produced by prison labor in South Carolina. The root cause effort found that the timing of the defective looms was identical to suspension of Television privileges at the prison. The theory at the time was that the prisoners frustration was expressed via excessive tension on the lacing. I can’t recall the specific TV show that got the prisoners worked up, but privileges were given back and the problem went away.

 

[GAD]

A company I worked for years ago experienced a high failure rate from wiring looms that were produced by prison labor in South Carolina. The root cause effort found that the timing of the defective looms was identical to suspension of Television privileges at the prison. The theory at the time was that the prisoners frustration was expressed via excessive tension on the lacing. I can’t recall the specific TV show that got the prisoners worked up, but privileges were given back and the problem went away.

That is an awesome troubleshooting story! I love stuff like that.