Clark Foley 7804: Difference between revisions

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Ex-Tektronix engineer Clark Foley built a ``7804'' using part from a [[7854]], [[7834]], [[7603]], and a custom front panel.
Ex-Tektronix employee Clark Foley built a "7804" using parts from a [[7854]], [[7834]], [[7603]], and a custom front panel.


Regarding this project, Mr. Foley explains:
Regarding this project, Mr. Foley explains:
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Many years past.  It was now 2022 and I had resigned from Maxim Integrated Products and had no other demanding obligations.  It was time to do something with my stash of electronics; either recycle or build something.  I decided to see what I could do with the 7854 carcass.  A close examination of the digital mother board revealed a couple of crunched connectors.  That was actually a relief to me as I did not want to try to troubleshoot all of the digital boards that I had acquired and try to integrate A-phase, B-phase and pre-production hardware.  It wouldn't work with firmware anyway!  I decided on something far easier and yet useful.  I decided to assemble a 7804, with the classic stroke-style readout from a 7603 and with a new front panel design.  I also replaced the bulbs behind the Vertical and Horizontal Mode select buttons with white LEDs.  If you look closely, you will see where I repaired two of the Vertical Mode switches with little wire loops to re-attach them to the board.
Many years past.  It was now 2022 and I had resigned from Maxim Integrated Products and had no other demanding obligations.  It was time to do something with my stash of electronics; either recycle or build something.  I decided to see what I could do with the 7854 carcass.  A close examination of the digital mother board revealed a couple of crunched connectors.  That was actually a relief to me as I did not want to try to troubleshoot all of the digital boards that I had acquired and try to integrate A-phase, B-phase and pre-production hardware.  It wouldn't work with firmware anyway!  I decided on something far easier and yet useful.  I decided to assemble a 7804, with the classic stroke-style readout from a 7603 and with a new front panel design.  I also replaced the bulbs behind the Vertical and Horizontal Mode select buttons with white LEDs.  If you look closely, you will see where I repaired two of the Vertical Mode switches with little wire loops to re-attach them to the board.


In the end, the 7804 is a bit like Johnny Cash's car from the song "One Piece at a Time," although nothing was smuggled.
In the end, the 7804 is a bit like Johnny Cash's car from the song "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece_at_a_Time One Piece at a Time]," although nothing was smuggled.


As with the work of Dr. Frankenstein, it might be considered blasphemous or merely a good use of scraps.
As with the work of Dr. Frankenstein, it might be considered blasphemous or merely a good use of scraps.