GEC Marconi Rochester Archives

[Mike Pryce]

Well worth a look:

http://www.rochesteravionicarchives.co.uk

 

[Tridac]

That rochester link is a really good resource, full of info and pics of
early air data and ins / gyro related kit. Rochester was originally an
Eliott site and coincidentally, have just been reading the Moving Targets
book by Simon Lavington. A lot of stuff which probably isn't relevant to
this group, but covers early analog computer fire control systems at
Eliott as well as their avionics developments, including TSR2 related
work. They licensed the Autonetics Verdan design from the US for TSR2,
which used germanium transistors, discreet components and a fixed disk
store. A local university dept were given one of the computers and some
of the miniaturised analog computer assemblies, (slant range, for example)
when TSR2 was canned and remember being totally amazed at the standard of
construction. The servo assemblies translated analog to digital vi contact
shaft encoders, synchros and servo loops, something that would be done in
software and minimal hardware now.

One of the few tech books bought in the last few years that i've read
almost cover to cover and a fascinating read...

Regards,

Chris