The VTA is an electronics research and development group, based out of Dayton,
Ohio, which specializes in the study, preservation and implementation of obsolete industrial technology. In addition to
maintaining an electronics museum, the VTA also produces pre-fabricated
electronic instruments and provides custom design services. We are experienced at interfacing
even the most disparate technologies; there is no limit to what we can build, given a reasonable
development period and a source of parts.
The Museum
Like any museum, our goals are restoration, preservation and documentation.
We've spent decades researching and working with obsolete electronic hardware, and the museum is a reflection of those activities.
So, what exactly is vintage? As far this site is concerned, anything at least 20 years old can be considered vintage,
though occasionally a more recent device may see inclusion because of its rarity or historical relevance. We try to focus
on the technology of the 1940's through the 1980's, the meat and potatoes of the electronics revolution.
We currently have a backlog of literally thousands of instruments and components, waiting to be documented. We intend to
have the bulk of these pre-existing collections online in the next five years, but we also have a steady stream of new items
arriving continually. In other words, we will probably never get completely caught up; visitors can expect
a virtually limitless supply of new content.
You may be wondering where we get all of our information, what are our sources? Well, what it comes down to is, citing
every single source would be virtually impossible, so we don't even bother to try. We may have got the information from
another website, some old datasheet, or we may have read it in some anonymous electronics book 25 years ago. There is also
quite a bit of information on the site which originated through our own live experiments and some very
paleontological examination. We wish to have the absolute best quality information possible, and are constantly editing the site,
Wikipedia-style, with no notice made to the reader. All we can guarantee is that the information presented here is as
accurate as possible, and that we are very careful researchers. If we discover a mistake, we correct it immediately. If
you are looking for a reference for a particular bit of information, we will do our best to track it down, but we will
not be making a comprehensive list of citations available on the site.
Please do not E-mail us requesting price quotes on instruments or components. The items displayed in the museum portions
of this website are not for sale. All items currently available for sale are offered through our eBay store.
Facilities
The VTA component testing lab is specially equipped to test virtually any vintage
electronic component, from a DeForest Audion to an Intel polynomial error circuit. The testing lab is populated by precisely
calibrated vintage HP instruments, permitting us reliable examination of older devices using diagnostic instruments from the same era.
The testing lab is also equipped with a large component repository, comprised of several thousand specially selected tube and
semiconductor reference samples.
The VTA development lab is responsible for circuit design, assembly and testing. The development lab
is thoroughly equipped for circuit design and fabrication, programming, component selection and batch testing, and houses a tremendous
volume of specialized display devices, assembly components and associated hardware.
A stack of equipment in the component testing lab.
Computerized dekatron drive circuit prototype.
Site Contributors
Richard Kline, Senior Engineer (userid AnubisTTP)
Richard Kline is a professional electronics engineer from Dayton, Ohio. Richard has over 15 years of experience in circuit design,
fabrication and programming, and has an immense collection of obsolete industrial technology. Richard is our lead instrument designer,
and is responsible for the development of our custom electronic instruments. Richard also hand-coded the custom database system for this site.
Micah Mabelitini, Curator (userid Accutron)
Micah Mabelitini is an illustrator and technical writer from Dayton, Ohio. Micah has been working with computers and electronics for 25 years, and has a
large collection of vintage computers, test equipment and components. Micah is primarily responsible for the design, editing and maintenance of the VTA
website.
Other Contributors
Stephen Ritchie - Artwork and promotion.
Tony Ritchie - Photography and special projects.
