From: Phil Payne 

> I've spent many happy hours (and dollars) there over the last few years,
> fossicking around for the occasional "gem". For example, I
found a broadband
> router for $5 that now connects me to my ISP.

When I first got into the Audi quattro seriously, I bought the official
factory documentation.

This arrived in two forms:

a) The wiring diagrams in a HUGE binder - at least four inches think.  If
you're minded, I've scanned them in and you can see tham at
http://www.isham-research.com/quattro/wiring/Typ85/index.html - over the
years I've added a lot of content, errata, etc.

b) The service documentation.  All on "jumbo" microfiche.

I enquired how much a reader for this would cost.  The recommended one is
made by Minox in Germany, part of the Leitz organisation and accustomed to
similar pricing.  A couple of thousands dollars, more or less.

So I started looking around in jumble sales, refuse tips, auctions, anywhere.

One day I was at the RAF Molesworth (actually USAF) disposal sale.
Molesworth was a cruise missile base disbanded after Reagan.  They had a
pile of microfiche readers perhaps four yards across, eight yards long, and
a yard high.  So I dug in.

After about ten minutes, right on the bottom, I came across a Minox
clamshell (portable) "jumbo" microfiche reader.  It had
"$5" chalked on the side.

I walked up to a watching Marine with this thing and said: "Have you
any idea what this thing is worth?"

He said: "It says five bucks, bud.  You pay over there."

So I took it home.

But it was broken.  Only a tiny part of the centre of the screen lit up.
Inside the cover was a phone number for Minox (Giessen, Germany) so I
called them.  It seemed obvious that I was missing a condensor lens.  After
a few minutes I got through to an expert, described the light path and she
said: "You're missing part number nnnnn, I'll put you back to the
spares department."

No problems there, but they suggested I call their UK depot - if memory
serves, MDS in Portsmouth.

I got through to "Brian".  "Hello," says I, "I
need part number nnnnn for a Minox yyyyy."

"Oh, you don't!" sez he.  Several times - I won't bore you with
the repitition.

"It's become a friend.  It's been here eleven years - I do my
stocktaking once a quarter and I've ticked it off 44 times now.  It's my
longest resident part."

"Uh huh."  (Not very interested)

"Well, if you want it, do you want the other stuff that RAF Molesworth
ordered - spare bulbs, car cigarette lighter lead, 42 loupe, spare carrier
glass?"

Thank you, US taxpayer.  You saved me around $1500.

--
  Phil Payne
  http://www.isham-research.com
  +44 7785 302 803
  +49 173 6242039

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