Stoke on Trent

[MikeW]

Well I've drawn the short straw and have to spend my day off work driving the wife down to Stoke on Trent so she can visit her family. Despite living there years ago, I haven't been back in quite a while. So, can anyone suggest something to do in Stoke on a Saturday afternoon while I try to avoid the wifes famly? (If you're reading my love, Only joking your family are lovely ).

[PokeMon]

I would wait in a pub and drink beer.

[1024MAK]

Wrong end of the country for you, but this is interesting. And even older than a ZX80...

Now here is something that you don't see come up on eBay very often:
STC Private Automatic Telephone Exchange ( PAX ) 1949 Strowger

STC Private Automatic Telephone Exchange ( PAX ) 1949 Strowger.JPG (37.89 KiB) Viewed 4437 times

This is an STC Private Automatic Telephone Exchange , Type 4119 , Serial Number 397
It is dated January 1949 and is in reasonable condition for it's age, the paint work is chipped and marked as can be seen in the photos. It will require a 50v DC power supply.
It is working and although it comes with no telephones.
It has an added relay set for a 'Tie Line'.

Currently listed here

I have worked on similar equipment as part of my job. It is also of note that some early computers were build using relay sets and devices similar to the uni-selectors used on telephone equipment.

PS And no I am not the seller, nor do I know the seller

[MikeW]

While the thought of spending the day in the pub is appealing, I don't fancy the idea of having to drive the 170 mikes back afterwards... it just isn't going to happen

So will the telephone exchange make a good coffee table?

[RWAP]

Well you could always take the wife shopping (to RWAP Software of course) !!

Some great walks around Stoke - or you could go visit the Staffordshire Hoarde (no, that's not my loft)

[MikeW]

Me? Go Shopping? The chances of me going anywhere near the Potteries shopping center are approaching nill... Actually, the chances of me going anywhere near Hanley at all are nill. I'm alergic to shopping.

My plan, I think, is to dump the missus in Stoke and head down to Stafford where I used to love - see if the old place has changed any...

[Paul]

Maybe you can have a Look if some of your old stuff is still there?

[RWAP]

You're in luck then - I am on the way from Stoke to Stafford!

[MikeW]

Maybe you can have a Look if some of your old stuff is still there?

Nah, Most of my old stuff was left in a loft in north wales - long gone I think...

You're in luck then - I am on the way from Stoke to Stafford!

Hmmm, guess you're Trentham way then?

[RWAP]

Yes - just to the east of Trentham - although I trade from home, so it's not quite a shop!