[Fwd: I remember when...]

[Carolyn Stallard <cstallard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Dick Gaskill wrote:
> 
> Our dumb Outlook server adds an HTML attachment so I can't post to the
> list until IT figures out how to fix it... :-(
> 
> ----------------------
> 
> Hee hee, I gotcha all beat.
> 
> I wrote my first computer program in machine language on an IBM 650 in
> 1960, and used punch cards.  The computer had no transistors or
> chips.  They weren't invented yet.  It had TUBES.  Hundreds and
> hundreds of little triode tubes and a huge air conditioning system to
> keep the monster cool.  And we had "scientists" running around the
> building in white coats.  And badges of course.  Well, after all, it
> WAS a government lab.  Nobody else had computers in those "olden"
> days.
> 
> I wrote my first technical manual on (what else?) a MANUAL typewriter
> in 1972.  Electric typewriters were not invented yet either, never
> mind software.  When I finally got an IBM Selectric (and I still own
> it BTW) I was documenting MINICOMPUTERS.  But there was no software
> for the computer to write manuals on.
> 
> And even when we got selectrics, we gave the hard copy to a nice lady
> who typed it all in again on a Compugraphic typesetting machine.  She
> gave the galleys to a layout gal, who hot-waxed the galleys onto a
> form.  Only she didn't read anything.  She just cut the galleys to
> fit.  And the title would be on the last line of a page and the
> associated text on the next page.  No such thing as "Keep with Next"
> in those days.  And yes, she cut her fingers with the exacto knife
> too.
> 
> BTW, speaking of dark ages, did you know that the very first technical
> writer existed even before LIGHT was invented?  It's true.  Ever
> notice how the Bible starts out?  In the beginning was the WORD....
> 
> :-)
> 
> Dick (the ancient one) Gaskill
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carolyn Stallard [mailto:cstallard@surfnetusa.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 4:26 PM
> To: framers@FrameUsers.com
> Cc: Framers List
> Subject: Re: I remember when...
> 
> Keypunching FORTRAN programs for an IBM 1620 in 1963...
> 
> --C
> 
> CRONE CONSULTING - Technical Writing / Editing / Design / QA
> Carolyn Stallard - cstallard@surfnetusa.com / Phone: 831-475-0466
> 
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