It’s a raster image processor. Looks like there’s small/medium/large models, looks like for image processing for something not mentioned here https://greenharbor.com/LHTIfolder/lhti9318.pdf
To add to this, and in case it’s not clear, these were used in the printing industry. A previous version of me was a pre-press technician — which is a fancy term for a person who take computer files from graphic designers and fixes / recreates them so they can actually be printed on a press.
These machines were used to take said fixed files and convert all the fonts, vector graphics, and bitmap images into a giant bitmap that was then output onto metal plates used on the printing presses. They were a stuuuuuuuuupid amount of money, and very finicky about what could and couldn’t be sent to them. Part of the pre-press skill was having esoteric knowledge that bordered on dark magik, often driven by vibes, that allowed a file to be output to plate.
It was a fun time. And by fun, I mean I ended up hating every minute of it and quit the industry, and never looked back.
In the nineties and through most of the first years of the new millennium it was indeed a dark art! But I still have mostly fond memories of that time.
oh god, flashbacks. I used to be an IT guy that basically specialized in supporting pre-press stuff. Stumbled onto a situation where centrally-managed imagesetters' RIPs created their own bogus network amongst themselves... worked fine if the whole area was on a hub that just rebroadcast whatever the hell packets were sent... as soon as you went to a switch, they all quit. Turns out, assigned bogus IPs like 500.500.500.4 to yourself is bullshit and shouldn't happen. That was a fun day with production manager hovering. This was in like 2010, not 1992...
Me too. Same industry but pre-computer (except the room sized mainframe for the drum scanner of course). All of the layup was done by hand. It was actually one of the better jobs I had.
Me too... These connected to film imagesetters. and the film developing units. I really do miss those days. Worked for a large newspaper. We set a lot of film. 450,000 daily newspapers.
I'm also remembering hot swapping parallel cables between imagesetters if one went down. you could pull it off if you did it fast enough between images. if you were to slow, you had to finish the partially sent/garbled image and resend the file.
Yup - a raster image processor. Takes postscript over the Ethernet and converts it into a bitmap image the typesetter (large, fast laser printer) can use.
If those are Tektronix oscilloscopes on the floor next to the Hell Linotype computers, there are a lot of folks interested in vintage Tek equipment. I don’t know if there is a Tektronix subreddit, but there certainly is on groups.io. These folks will buy even non-working Tek scopes for parts (many of which are “unobtanium” now - like the CRTs and Tek custom-made ICs). Better than throwing them in a dumpster.
These are linotype machines that were used in newspapers to print fancy font paste-up art. During the transition of letter-flex over to linotype, you need a computers to do this so that you could then create the press plates. I remember these from the early 1980s we used to keep them in a special room that Halon sprinklers so that if there was ever a fire, it could easily be put out.
These are PostScript image processors that were connected to Linotype image setters. They essentially converted the postscript files to a raster format the the Linotype printers would print onto a type of film. In an eaa when 300 DPI laser printers were still new and expensive, these could do 2400 DPI and above depending on the printer it was attached to.
Linotronic imagesetter for 260/330/560/630 Hercules and Hercules M
System Description: Raster Image Processor in stand-alone tower
3.5 "floppy disk for software maintenance
Input interfaces: RS 232, Centronics, LocalTalk
Ethernet, SCSI for external disk
Outputs: LI2, LI5, SpeedWay
Grid technologies Oiginal PostScript Level 2 Interpreter from Adobe
Control over Output Manager from Mac or PC
Dimensions (W x H x D) 36 x 64 x 55 mm
Weight about 27 kg
Tac_Collector@reddit
might be a computer
YungLandi@reddit
Lynotype / Typesetting 🤨
bd1308@reddit
It’s a raster image processor. Looks like there’s small/medium/large models, looks like for image processing for something not mentioned here https://greenharbor.com/LHTIfolder/lhti9318.pdf
aroneox@reddit
To add to this, and in case it’s not clear, these were used in the printing industry. A previous version of me was a pre-press technician — which is a fancy term for a person who take computer files from graphic designers and fixes / recreates them so they can actually be printed on a press.
These machines were used to take said fixed files and convert all the fonts, vector graphics, and bitmap images into a giant bitmap that was then output onto metal plates used on the printing presses. They were a stuuuuuuuuupid amount of money, and very finicky about what could and couldn’t be sent to them. Part of the pre-press skill was having esoteric knowledge that bordered on dark magik, often driven by vibes, that allowed a file to be output to plate.
It was a fun time. And by fun, I mean I ended up hating every minute of it and quit the industry, and never looked back.
MartinDamged@reddit
In the nineties and through most of the first years of the new millennium it was indeed a dark art! But I still have mostly fond memories of that time.
Older_is_Better@reddit
oh god, flashbacks. I used to be an IT guy that basically specialized in supporting pre-press stuff. Stumbled onto a situation where centrally-managed imagesetters' RIPs created their own bogus network amongst themselves... worked fine if the whole area was on a hub that just rebroadcast whatever the hell packets were sent... as soon as you went to a switch, they all quit. Turns out, assigned bogus IPs like 500.500.500.4 to yourself is bullshit and shouldn't happen. That was a fun day with production manager hovering. This was in like 2010, not 1992...
Manp82@reddit
I’d say it’s called linotype-hell for a reason
Skunki_@reddit
Yep. I used to work with a RIP 40.
Justthisguy_yaknow@reddit
Me too. Same industry but pre-computer (except the room sized mainframe for the drum scanner of course). All of the layup was done by hand. It was actually one of the better jobs I had.
CLE-Mosh@reddit
Me too... These connected to film imagesetters. and the film developing units. I really do miss those days. Worked for a large newspaper. We set a lot of film. 450,000 daily newspapers.
CLE-Mosh@reddit
I'm also remembering hot swapping parallel cables between imagesetters if one went down. you could pull it off if you did it fast enough between images. if you were to slow, you had to finish the partially sent/garbled image and resend the file.
compu85@reddit
Yup - a raster image processor. Takes postscript over the Ethernet and converts it into a bitmap image the typesetter (large, fast laser printer) can use.
bd1308@reddit
I saw it was a 68k machine, I really want it to run something on it but Germany is far away from me
vincentplr@reddit
...to 220V, and made in Germany. I think your initial thought was correct. Plus the inventory stamp with an eagle feels German, maybe government ?
zilog88@reddit
You are right. It was produced in Germany but with double-use PSU for selling outside of Europe, that is why it carries certifications from FCC and BZT/Federal Office of Approvals in Telecommunications.
tekscopes@reddit
Where are you located? Those Tektronix scopes are desirable.
Parking_Jelly_6483@reddit
If those are Tektronix oscilloscopes on the floor next to the Hell Linotype computers, there are a lot of folks interested in vintage Tek equipment. I don’t know if there is a Tektronix subreddit, but there certainly is on groups.io. These folks will buy even non-working Tek scopes for parts (many of which are “unobtanium” now - like the CRTs and Tek custom-made ICs). Better than throwing them in a dumpster.
tekscopes@reddit
I can attest this is all true. WANT.
r0xx0rd_teh_x0xxOr@reddit
Bundesrasterbildprozessor
boluserectus@reddit
Hatte dieser Datenverarbeitungsanlage eine Festplatte?
r0xx0rd_teh_x0xxOr@reddit
Vor Anschluss an das Netz die Aufstellungsanleitung beachten!
JoJoGaminG1936@reddit
Cool, these would make a nice Bench or similar.
TerminalCancerMan@reddit
Idk but what's the deal with that stack of PC/XTs? If there's a 5161 in that stack, I'd be very interested in it.
Littlegoblin21@reddit (OP)
Everything is on ebay right now. I'm selling the lot of IBMs as local pickup only.
BarneyBungelupper@reddit
These are linotype machines that were used in newspapers to print fancy font paste-up art. During the transition of letter-flex over to linotype, you need a computers to do this so that you could then create the press plates. I remember these from the early 1980s we used to keep them in a special room that Halon sprinklers so that if there was ever a fire, it could easily be put out.
Away-Squirrel2881@reddit
Old PCs that were used for newspapers or magazines printing most likelyÂ
RepresentativeCut486@reddit
Computers!
zzzxtreme@reddit
Get those oscilloscopes!!
orion3311@reddit
The names on these have some historical significance, is Hell the same Hell as Hellscriber?
Littlegoblin21@reddit (OP)
I found this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergenthaler_Linotype_Company
orion3311@reddit
Interesting, but it doesnt delve into the Hell side. Ill have to look into that.
CLE-Mosh@reddit
HELL was a machine manufacturer.
https://www.cryptomuseum.com/manuf/hell/index.htm
orion3311@reddit
Well that answers my question, and it seems yes. The same Hell that made Hellschreiber, which was an interesting radio protocol.
The_Conn@reddit
The ol' Rasterbator
paprok@reddit
something similar to this but more dedicated/further removed from ordinary PC.
i believe Linotype was a make of polygraphics machines and a RIP is (as others mentioned) -> Raster Image Processor
r_sarvas@reddit
These are PostScript image processors that were connected to Linotype image setters. They essentially converted the postscript files to a raster format the the Linotype printers would print onto a type of film. In an eaa when 300 DPI laser printers were still new and expensive, these could do 2400 DPI and above depending on the printer it was attached to.
Now you just need a very big printer.
https://wirebids.com/lots/view/linotype-hell-linotronic-330-with-rip-50/13582
Linotype-Hell RIP 50
Specifications
Linotronic imagesetter for 260/330/560/630 Hercules and Hercules M
System Description: Raster Image Processor in stand-alone tower
3.5 "floppy disk for software maintenance
Input interfaces: RS 232, Centronics, LocalTalk
Ethernet, SCSI for external disk
Outputs: LI2, LI5, SpeedWay
Grid technologies Oiginal PostScript Level 2 Interpreter from Adobe
Control over Output Manager from Mac or PC
Dimensions (W x H x D) 36 x 64 x 55 mm
Weight about 27 kg
Littlegoblin21@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
JimJohnJimmm@reddit
Sexy