[J3] Fwd: Re: Dick Weaver (was Re: GE-225 Programming Reference Manual
Van Snyder
van.snyder at sbcglobal.net
Thu Feb 17 20:59:08 UTC 2022
Are there any X3J3 denizens left who remember Dick Weaver?
-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Robert Garner <robgarn at mac.com>
To: Dave Weaver <davidcweaver at gmail.com>
Cc: Ed Thelen <ed at ed-thelen.org>, Robert Garner <robgarn at mac.com>, Ron
Mak <ron.mak at sjsu.edu>, Marc Verdiell <marc.verdiell at gmail.com>, Ken
Shirriff <ken.shirriff at gmail.com>, Dag Spicer
<dspicer at computerhistory.org>, Stan Paddock <stpaddock at sbcglobal.net>,
Van Snyder <van.snyder at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: Dick Weaver (was Re: GE-225 Programming Reference Manual
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2022 17:47:39 -0800
Dave,
I’m so sorry to hear that your father, Dick Weaver, has passed. :((
Over email exchanges and conversations over the years, Dick took the
time to listen to/answer my ill-formed questions and educate me about
the history of unit record computing, particularly how best to describe
it.
He was an inimitable (and sought after/appreciated!) editor of my
attempts to interpret and write about early unit-record computing
history.
He always had something incisive to say. (The unit record machines
were/are not easy to understand.)
I’d be happy to forward some or all of his email exchanges with
me if you’re interested.)
I’ll never forget visiting his home in Cupertino: Every wall in every
room was lined with filled bookcases!
His huge inventory was primarily focused on computing and physics it
seemed.
(I believe he had hopes of opening a used book store someday.
It’s all right that the Internet Archive now has them.)
I still have a pair of unit record encyclopedic tomes that he lent to
me.
With his wry sense of humor, he referred me to a small book of funny
essays titled
“A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown and Other Essays
for a Scientific Age.”
Some of the essays would come across as socially ill-
advised in this day and age.
The “Univac to Univac” essay is cute.
He also gave me a 1950 Tektronix 513 Oscilloscope (a follow-on Tek’s
very 1st product, the 511).
https://vintagetek.org/513-oscilloscope/
It’s currently in storage, awaiting restoration someday.
(If you’re interested in it, please me know.)
I/we look forward to meeting you.
I’d like to cordially invite you to a 1401 demo some Saturday, 11am.
(The CHM is just reopening weekends, beginning this Saturday.)
Sincerely,
- Robert
p.s. We also look forward to checking out your selection of his books
that you retained.
> On Feb 10, 2022, at 7:09 PM, Dave Weaver <davidcweaver at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
> Thank you, Ed. Honestly, it’s great to connect with people who knew
> him, or knew of him. I wish we had been in touch a month ago before
> the books were donated.
>
> Yeah, the IA doesn’t return donations. I’m really looking forward to
> seeing everything online.
>
> Great 1401 page, especially this gem!
>
> http://ibm-1401.info/WeaverD-.jpg
>
> Much of what I retained is in boxes. I’m happy to let good folks
> like y'all have a look once it’s more accessible.
>
> Thanks,
> Dave
>
> > On Feb 10, 2022, at 4:57 PM, ed ed-thelen.org <ed at ed-thelen.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > I'm sorry to hear of Dick's death -
> > not just words
> >
> > Robert had mentioned the house full of books
> > and that Dick Weaver was quite a character -
> >
> > Maybe twenty years ago I had borrowed
> > actually had permission !!
> > a book from the Computer History Museum
> > likely this one or definitely one of this series
> > http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/BRL.html
> >
> > I thought that it should be scanned by Internet Archive
> > and presented as .pdf there -
> > (At the time, most folks had dial-up modems and
> > I was also going to OCR it, and others,
> > with the slow modems.)
> > My telephone contact with Internet Archive
> > said that anything they scanned, they retained.
> > Two things:
> > a) The book wasn't mine to donate
> > b) many major scanners at the time
> > - cut off the bindings
> > - scanned the flat sheets
> > - trashed the binding and sheets
> > c) my begging and pleading resulted in surly responses.
> >
> > I have no idea what they do now -
> > At one time I was thinking of volunteering at Internet Archive
> > but it is near the Presidio in San Francisco
> > and a difficult commute from my home in Fremont.
> >
> > > I did hang onto a few bookcases of “treasures?” partially
> > pictured below.
> >
> > Great !! I imagine Robert Garner
> > http://ibm-1401.info/TeamBios.html#Garner
> > is drooling at the prospect of visiting you
> > and viewing the goodies.
> >
> > > Are you local?
> >
> > Fremont CA,
> > Have "kids" residing in Willow Glenn ,S.J.
> > and Mountain View
> > Also I'm sure we could arrange some drop-off, pick-up
> > with the Computer History Museum.
> >
> > > I’m in Scotts Valley and much better at dropping things off
> > personally vs. packaging things up to mail.
> >
> > Yeah !! I'm that way also !! :--(( ;--))
> >
> > Thanks much
> > -Ed Thelen
> >
> >
> > From: Dave Weaver <davidcweaver at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 4:14 PM
> > To: ed ed-thelen.org <ed at ed-thelen.org>
> > Cc: Robert Garner <robgarn at mac.com>
> > Subject: Re: GE-225 Programming Reference Manual
> >
> > Hi Ed,
> >
> > Yes, this is the same Dick Weaver. I wish we had connected sooner.
> > The vast majority of his collection was donated to the Internet
> > Archive who will scan everything into an online collection named
> > for my dad. No ETA on that task as we donated 750 boxes of books
> > and docs. I did hang onto a few bookcases of “treasures?”
> > partially pictured below.
> >
> > You are welcome to the 225 manual, just let me know how to get it
> > to you. Are you local? I’m in Scotts Valley and much better at
> > dropping things off personally vs. packaging things up to mail.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Dave
> >
> > <IMG_3090.jpeg><IMG_3091.jpeg>
> >
> > > On Feb 10, 2022, at 3:02 PM, ed ed-thelen.org <ed at ed-thelen.org>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > My dad, Dick Weaver, passed away in October. Do you have any
> > > idea is anyone would be interested in this?
> > >
> > > BitSavers
> > > http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ge/GE-2xx/
> > > has two versions -
> > >
> > > I don't have any,
> > > I would like that manual as a souvenir,
> > > and if BitSavers doesn't have that particular version,
> > > I will be delighted to scan it for Al Kossow for
> > > presentation on his web site :--))
> > >
> > > Is this the Dick Weaver of Silicon Valley
> > > with a house full of old books ???
> > > If so, several people are VERY Interested
> > > in looking for special and unique documents !!!!!!
> > >
> > > I'm CCing one of those people
> > >
> > > -Ed Thelen
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > From: Dave Weaver <davidcweaver at gmail.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 2:49 PM
> > > To: ed ed-thelen.org <ed at ed-thelen.org>
> > > Subject: GE-225 Programming Reference Manual
> > >
> > > Hi Ed,
> > >
> > > My dad, Dick Weaver, passed away in October. Do you have any
> > > idea is anyone would be interested in this?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Dave
> > >
> > > <IMG_3088 2.jpeg><IMG_3089.jpeg>
>
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