Early memory board; Strand IDM-Q

Did anyone use a Strand IDM-Q (Instant Dimmer Memory-Cue), A North American cousin of the British Thorn Q-File?
We had one in Hamilton Place when it opened in 1973: Two 23"(A telco width standard) racks, a loud, irritatingly noisy, drum memory which was left spinning 24/7/365. The two racks generated so much heat a dedicated air conditioning system was installed in the basement purely to keep the two racks at a workable temperature. To my knowledge, I believe there were only six of these systems installed in Canada. Hamilton's was built for 80 dimmers expandable to 100 with the expansion occurring within two years. Others were in Ottawa, Stratford and British Columbia. Zero to ten analog output, no ability to memorize fade times. Yada, yada, One of Strand's earliest memory boards.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard

I seem remember something vague about this but totally faded from memory. Perhaps from one of those fun things from the old strand guys in the UK at that museum (name eludes me)?

http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/contentssearch.php?global=1&type=kit&search=6024

Here is the search page from our friends at The Strand Archive...

http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/documents/photo_idmdlrack.jpg

What a storage device! High Technology in the 60s! And yes the MANUAL is linked there. the IDM really was a neat idea in its day. Shows how the guys at Strand really did push development in lighting control time and again "back when".

Dionysus said:

I seem remember something vague about this but totally faded from memory. Perhaps from one of those fun things from the old strand guys in the UK at that museum (name eludes me)?

http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/contentssearch.php?global=1&type=kit&search=6024

Here is the search page from our friends at The Strand Archive...

http://www.theatrecrafts.com/archive/documents/photo_idmdlrack.jpg

What a storage device! High Technology in the 60s! And yes the MANUAL is linked there. the IDM really was a neat idea in its day. Shows how the guys at Strand really did push development in lighting control time and again "back when".

Click to expand...

Steven; Back in the early 80's, the main stage at the Grand had an MMS, Strand's big green Modular Memory System. This was before they bought a Palette.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.

RonHebbard said:

Steven; Back in the early 80's, the main stage at the Grand had an MMS, Strand's big green Modular Memory System. This was before they bought a Palette.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.

Click to expand...

You know I've heard that before. Would be a cool thing to see, however these days Id be glad that its long gone. A great deal of the building is still Strand (I forget how many a21 units are in the building, quite a few tucked away all over the building), however in the McManus we got rid of the Strand 300 and went to the ETC Element which I think is rather perfect for the space. As far as I know the Palette is still kicking around but I bought the 300 from the McManus for The Livery in Goderich.

Some of my first consoles were Strand... Lightboard M, Mantrix II, and of course my highschool's old resistance dimmers (I wonder if I still have a photo... They are still in use... somehow. Even after having been on fire, then repaired.).

Im pretty sure I would love to sit down with a beer and hear some of the many stories you must have Ron.

Cheers.