[time-nuts] HP 5360A History?

[Tom Van Baak]

John,

I agree with Paul, an absolutely amazing instrument. The early models have nixie display, later ones plasma. 11 digits! In 1969! It was the first hp instrument that was capable enough to compute stability statistics. In real-time! Like Paul I have a couple, along with various the accessories. Built like a tank, even the keyboard.

You'll find mention of the counter in old technical articles, sometimes including the programs people would write for automated statistics. I've always thought the 5360 was uniquely at the cross-roads between hp as an instrument company and hp as a computer company (not to mention hp as a printer ink company). You can see the DNA of each of these in the 5360 & its accessories.

You were probably reading this major 5360A Computing Counter issue:

http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1969-05.pdf

Here's all about the 5375A keyboard:

http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1970-03.pdf

And this is where the diode and punch card interface is shown, as well as ADEV from 1 us to 1 s (see page 4, fig 4).

http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1970-12.pdf

More on ADEV on the 5360:

http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1971-11.pdf

Select high-res page scans from my own hardcopy HPJ collection are here:

http://www.leapsecond.com/hpj/

For example, the 79-step ADEV program is here:

http://www.leapsecond.com/hpj/v22n4/v22n4p10.jpg

Finally, do not miss HP AN116 "Precision Frequency Measurements":

http://www.hpmemoryproject.org/an/pdf/an_116.pdf

/tvb

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Ackermann N8UR" <jra at febo.com>
To: <time-nuts at febo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 9:38 AM
Subject: [time-nuts] HP 5360A History?


>I was browsing through the HP Journal archives and came across the May, 
> 1969 issue, dedicated to the new 5360A Computing Counter -- "An 
> Electronic Counter for the 1970s!"
> 
> I don't recall hearing much about these in time-nuts lore.  I can guess 
> from the Journal articles that it was a beast to keep running and was 
> very expensive (500 ICs and a 10A 5V power supply).
> 
> Is anyone here familiar with the story of this product?
> 
> John