Another to repair

[RobertB]

     A few weeks ago Lord Ronin gave me his A1200 for the TOGA repair tech to investigate.  It was not recognizing any attached CD-ROM drive, no matter which CDFS was used.  Though the computer has a '030 board in it, it crawls very slowly through the apps.  Also as usual, the keyboard and casing was badly stained with LR's smoking pipe residue.  Duncan, the tech, will have field day with this one. 

                    Truly,
                    Robert Bernardo
                    Fresno Commodore User Group
                    http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                    The Other Group of Amigoids
                    http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                    Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
                    http://www.sccaners.org/

[Rorshach]

Its probably better not to ask whats been smoked in that pipe though that is the most likely cause. Smoke and computers do not mix.

[RobertB]

Its probably better not to ask whats been smoked in that pipe...

Ordinary tobacco, though LR would know the specific blend.

                      Truly,
                      Robert Bernardo
                      Fresno Commodore User Group
                      http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                      July 25-26 CommVEx v5 - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

[RobertB]

Smoke and computers do not mix.

Though I have not heard of any word on the ACUG A1200 from Duncan, Ray Carlsen has repaired and cleaned up three C128DCR keyboards for Lord Ronin.  They look brand new with no traces of tobacco or dirt!  Ray has mailed the keyboards back to LR.

                Ray telling that he runs the only website devoted to C= repair,
                Robert Bernardo
                Fresno Commodore User Group
                http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                The Other Group of Amigoids
                http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
                http://www.sccaners.org/

[Paul]

I've always found that Tobacco cleans up easily with some common non-corrosive and non-abrasive household cleaners; it tends to come off as a sticky goo.  That can't possibly be good for anyone (well, I suppose we all know that by now). 

[RobertB]

That can't possibly be good for anyone (well, I suppose we all know that by now). 

Last Saturday Duncan gave me a report as to why the A1200 was not recognizing any external CD-ROM drive through its SCSI port.  The A1200 uses a Cobra accelerator board which has part of its SCSI electronics on the connecting SCSI cable and part of its electronics on the board; the cable is held to the board with a strange, non-standard, rubberized connector.  The continual tobacco smoke has corroded the contacts between the board and the connector... so much so that no amount of cleaning of the parts can fix what is a very iffy connection.  And finding/buying a new connector is out of the question.
    As Duncan told me, "It's very delicate. It may work for awhile... but one bump to the cable (as in touching the cable) will stop the A1200 from communicating to the CD-ROM drive.  A Blizzard board with its SCSI connector would have been much better."

             Tobacco smoke kills,
             Robert Bernardo
             Fresno Commodore User Group
             http://videocam.net.au/fcug
             The Other Group of Amigoids
             http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
             Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
             http://www.sccaners.org/

[RobertB]

...Lord Ronin gave me his A1200 for the TOGA repair tech to investigate.

With the passing of Dave Mohr, his club members are now asking for the return of the A1200 and the A4000 Power Tower, repaired or not.  I was thinking that I can bring those back during my Spring Break.

                 Still no word on a memorial/service for Dave,
                 Robert Bernardo
                 Fresno Commodore User Group
                 http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                 The Other Group of Amigoids
                 http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                 Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
                 http://www.sccaners.org

[RobertB]

     Before I picked up another carload of C= goods yesterday, I met up with Duncan M. of TOGA and advised him about the late Dave Mohr's A1200 and the A4000 Power Tower (which came from another member).  He said that the A1200 with the Cobra and the non-working SCSI board would still fetch money and that there was an interested buyer in the area.  He also said that there had been no progress on the A4000PT, because nobody from Anything Commodore User Group (Astoria, Oregon) would pay for a new bridgeboard for it.
     Without any further instructions from ACUG, I told him that I was going through with my original plan to return both machines to the club during Spring Break.

                   Truly,
                   Robert Bernardo
                   Fresno Commodore User Group
                   http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                   The Other Group of Amigoids
                   http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                   Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
                   http://www.sccaners.org

[RobertB]

Without any further instructions from ACUG, I told him that I was going through with my original plan to return both machines to the club during Spring Break.

After the TOGA meeting, I went over to tech Duncan's workshop and was given back the late Dave Mohr's A1200.  Because the Cobra's SCSI connector was still bad and no further work was authorized on it, it was given back unrepaired, and I will return it to ACUG next Sunday in Astoria.
     The Amiga 4000 Power Tower is a different matter.  Duncan has spent hours and hours on it, cleaning it, repairing it, replacing parts in it.  It is working pretty well now.  All Duncan has asked is $50 to cover the cost of parts.  Even with repeated e-mails, no response from the owner of the Amiga PT (the PT is not from Dave Mohr but from another member of the club); I doubt that he has $50 to pay for it.  And so, Duncan will hang onto the PT.

                   Truly,
                   Robert Bernardo
                   Fresno Commodore User Group
                   http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                   The Other Group of Amigoids
                   http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                   Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
                   http://www.sccaners.org

[RobertB]

     At the Sunday memorial dinner for Dave Mohr, the A1200 was given to Scott Farley, #16.  As to the disposition of the A4000 PT, nothing was decided, though Scott was inclined to pay the $50 for the original owner who cannot up with the cash.

          It's up to them now... I won't be returning to Astoria for a long time,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          The Other Group of Amigoids
          http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
          http://www.sccaners.org

[Rorshach]

ACUG guys always seem to be eternally broke for some reason.  Even in college on student loans I was never *THAT BROKE*  little wonder ACUG is in a sad state of affairs having held meetings in Dave Mohrs shop and never having more than $40 to the clubs name.  Its really unfortunate situation for them.

[RobertB]

...little wonder ACUG is in a sad state of affairs...

ACUG has dissolved.

             Temporarily back from CommVEx,
             Robert Bernardo
             Fresno Commodore User Group
             http://videocam.net.au/fcug
             The Other Group of Amigoids
             http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
             Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
             http://www.sccaners.org

[Rorshach]

Unfortunate for the remaining ACUG but not surprising, with poor finances, the loss of the only person who did much in the club and their meeting place. There was hints of one or two problem people who did drive people away from ACUG as well.

[RobertB]

Unfortunate for the remaining ACUG but not surprising, with poor finances...

You continue to equate finances/treasury/money with the quality of a club.  That is a fallacy.  Yes, ACUG had a very small treasury; however, that did not mean it was a viable club with caring, productive members.  I am a part of or know of other clubs that have no treasury -- Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network, The Other Group of Amigoids, Manteca Order of RetroGamers, Portland Commodore User Group, and the Fort Colllins Commodore Club, to name a few.  None of those clubs deal with money matters... in fact, they don't have officers.  However, not having a treasury does not make them less of a club, less than Commodore enthusiasts.  To sum it up, not having money does *not* equal a low quality club.

There was hints of one or two problem people who did drive people away from ACUG as well.

All the local members of ACUG were very loyal.  If anybody was driven away, those would be the on-line creeps.

         Now let the matter of ACUG drop,
         Robert Bernardo

[Rorshach]

RobertB,

Your missing a very important point, a clubs finances can and does affect how it operates or even survives. As acug had very little finances it could not afford facilities once Dave Mohr was no longer there to lend the use of his shop.  How do you expect them to rent facilities anywhere with no money. You also missed one other important point, namely the activity level of the clubs members.  Dave Mohr was doing everything himself. Upon his Death the club folded.

Come to think of it how do you suppose TPUG would continue putting on its World of Commodore event every year if it had no money to do so and nobody to organize it? or for that matter how would they maintain their website, newsletter, and storage of the clubs equipment which often provides users with Commodore equipment at very reasonable rates?

Like it or not for Commdore clubs (or any club) to maintain itself there is a minimum of finances and organization required.  It does not happen by magic, relatively small contributions from members, both financial and effort is required. I can dig up literally hundreds of other examples both retro-computer and not that failed on one or both fronts and soon failed utterly.