Category Archives: Personal History

The Armatron

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While RadioShack is famous for its eclectic tech history, the Armatron stands out as one of the most mechanically impressive toys of the early 1980s.

Origin and Manufacturing

The Armatron was originally manufactured by the Japanese company Tomy (where it was known as the Edge) and was licensed to RadioShack for the North American market in 1982. It became a staple of the “Tandy” catalog throughout the decade.

Mechanical Ingenuity

What makes the Armatron a significant piece of toy history is its strictly mechanical design.

  • Single-Motor Operation: Despite having six degrees of freedom—including rotation at the base, shoulder, elbow, and wrist, plus a functioning gripper—the entire unit is powered by a single DC motor.
  • The Transmission: The complexity lies in its gearbox. The dual joysticks engage different sets of gears and shafts to distribute power from that single motor to the various joints.
  • No Microprocessors: Unlike modern robotics, there are no computers or sensors inside. It is a masterclass in analog gear-driven engineering.

Features and Variations

  •  The Timer: The “Energy Level” scale on the front (1 through 10) acts as a countdown timer. Once the timer runs out, the motor stops, challenging the user to complete “missions” within a set timeframe.
  • Accessories: Original boxed sets usually included “nuclear fuel” canisters (small plastic cylinders), a module to move, and a tray to test the user’s dexterity.
  • Mobile Armatron: A later version was released that featured a remote control and treads, allowing the arm to drive around the room.

Legacy

The Armatron was more than a toy; it was often used in educational settings to demonstrate the basics of robotics and mechanical linkage. Its rugged build and distinct “industrial” color palette of grey and orange have made it a highly sought-after item for vintage tech collectors today.

We were so much older then

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I came across this photo from the late ’70s and the lyric above popped into my head. For no particular reason, I shared the photo and the lyric with Gemini.

(Gemini) We’re younger than that now. It’s funny how Bob Dylan managed to capture a universal truth in “My Back Pages.” There’s a certain brand of youthful certainty that feels incredibly heavy and “old”—that phase where you feel like you have to have a definitive, hardened stance on everything. 

Realizing you don’t actually have all the answers is usually the moment you start to lighten up. It’s the ultimate “growing down.”

Dashboard Confessions: The Gap Years

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UPDATE: As I edited this video, one thought kept occurring. God DAMN I look old. Why, I wondered, did this need to be video? What does my ancient talking head add to my story? Zip. Nada. 

Spring 1970 – Summer 1972

  • April, 1970: graduated from college; draft physical
  • September-December, 1970: Law school
  • Early 1971: US Postal Inspection Service (3 mo training; 7-8 months in Oregon
  • December, 1971: Resigned from Inspection Service
  • December 1-15, 1971: Cross-country with Charlie Peck
  • January-June, 1972: Memphis, TN
  • •July, 1972: KBOA, Kennett, MO

Watch on YouTube

Twenty years on YouTube

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I created my YouTube account on February 12, 2006. (It officially launched to the public on December 15, 2005) I’ve uploaded 604 videos in those twenty years. As difficult as it is to believe, YouTube says the channel has 1.13K subscribers. Collectively the videos have been viewed 1,238,880 times. Playlists include:

  • Movies & TV
  • Learfield
  • KBOA
  • People (interviews)
  • SteveTV (goofy shit)
  • Land Rover
  • Yard & Garden
  • Travel
  • Dogs
  • Uke Songs
  • Screencasts

If someone asked me to describe my channel, I guess I’d say it’s like that cardboard box in the hall closet where you throw old Super 8 movies nobody watches twice. Here’s the description I posted:

Might be easier to explain what my YouTube channel is NOT. I’m not trying to build an audience. I’m not trying to make money. I’m not really trying to “engage.” On that point I should explain why I block most subscribers. In my experience, most just want to use the comments on my videos to spam. (I can’t recall the last time I got a benign or useful comment) When I remember check the NO COMMENTS box when posting a video.

Getting back to my fighting weight

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Coming up on three weeks since surgery and for the last week I have had a voracious appetite. Thinking three meals ahead! A good thing because I’ve lost weight in the last six months. Down from 140 to 125. (Yes, I look like Nazi death camp survivor) 

I now know this weight loss was almost certainly due to undiagnosed acute diverticulitis which got tossed into the medical waste receptacle with my benign mass. Where was I? Right, my weight.

My goal is to get back to 140 by my 78th birthday (March 8) which means I need to gain ~1 pound every week, which I’m told is doable. Bowl of butter pecan ice cream at bedtime, big Towne Grill breakfast… easy peasy. 

1920 Kennett High School Yearbook

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My friend John got his hands on a copy of the 1920 Kennett High School yearbook and took the time to copy every (?) page. Here are a few of the images that caught my eye. Click the thumbnails below for larger image.