Doubtful that VW Bug was on the Autobahn at the time, and, while the
. . .
Now, if the Bug had a trailer hitch, it could tow a trailer behind it with
a gasoline or diesel powered generator with sufficient capacity to run
the PDP-8.
Are you suggesting some kind of, say, portable computer?
Runs, dodging and weaving.
I'm not sure that you could fit a complete Model 33-ASR Teletype in the
passenger seat of the Bug. I suppose if the Teletype was removed from
its stand, it might be able to sit on the seat, and be powered by the
same generator that runs the Straight-8.
It is truly easy to remove the passenger seat. Just unlatch the adjuster and
slide it forward off of the tracks. Then make brackets (out of the bottom of
an old seat) to mount the base of the teletype to the brackets.
I have known people who mounted equipment that way.
Many/most VW owners did not clean and lube the tracks, so it was often
difficult to slide the seat, and the latch spring did not re-engage. Ralph
Nader mis-represented that as "Of VWs in accidents, 60%? had the seat come off
of the track." The CORRECT statistic was, "Of VWs in accidents, IN WHICH THERE
WAS SEAT DAMAGE, 60%? were the seat came off of the track." Which was, while
still disconcerting and dangerous, trivial to repair by sliding it back on, and
cleaning and lubing the track and latch, with no other damage.
Removing the bottom of the back seat, and replacing it with a piece of plywood
also provides a roomier and more secure base for the payload.
Possibly even with enough room for a portable generator? (I don't know the
power requirements for the machine, but I do know that VW bugs are not very
amenable to trailering.)
Be careful about putting weight on the back seat! VW had the battery under the
back seat, and many owners did not have a cover over the battery to protect
against shorting by the seat springs!
A type 2 VW bus/van, preferably model 215 (with freight doors on both sides),
would be far more suitable. Or one with sunroof?
In some jurisdictions, the DMV would classify ones with any seats in addition
to the driver's seat, as "Station Wagon"!
To get commercial (lower cost) plates for my type 2 VW in Maryland, I had to
submit pictures showing that there were no other seats, and they even kicked
those back until I also included one showing that it did have a driver's seat.
It'd be really hard to operate the machine while driving, for sure. It'd be
far worse than messing with a smartphone while driving :-/. But, once
stopped somewhere pleasant, you could
actually develop programs using the punched tape reader/punch on the 33ASR.
It'd definitely be
an example of early "mobile computing". (Tongue firmly in cheek).
. . . and, if you caravaned/carpooled, other vehicles could carry peripherals.
No reason why we couldn't eventually have mobile computing!
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com
