Libe Computer Modules

Well, it's time to update this page!

First a little history of why I like these boards. When I was starting High School and just getting started in electronics, I was interested in computers. Big boxes with blinking lights that could go up in flames if you fed something illogical into it. I discovered these Libe Computer Modules through a commercial on a local kids TV show (Captain Satellite, thank you Bob March) and talked my dad into taking me to Al Lashers Electronics in Berkeley. I forget how much they cost but I could not buy many at a time. They were prettycool and helped me learn soldering, wiring and all sorts of stuff. Anyway, Burt Libe published a book called 'A New Approach to Digital Computer Logic' and I used it for many circuits that I built. Somehow I lost my original copy of the book and found a used one on Amazon several years ago. Unfortunately I could not find any of the Libe modules anywhere on line. I wanted to build up some these to play with and to that end I CAD'ed them up and designed circuit boards using ExpressPCB. I can't duplicate the swoopy doopy traces that the original boards had but I think I got the components in the right places. I added LEDs to the flip flop boards cause they are easier to get than the old 6volt lamps used on the original boards. I am presenting the book here so if you want to back to the good old days of DTL logic and germanium transistor logic circuits, here's your chance. I also have PDF's of the boards and posted the ExpressPCB files if you are so inclined to try rolling your own old logic circuits. Now if you can find Texas Instruments TI083 germanium NPN transistors in bulk, you're all set. And if you can find these transistors, please let me know. If you want to get ExpressPCB, you can find it Here.

At first I could find almost nothing on Burt libe and the kits he used to make. One day I received an e-mail from someone who said they had just met Burt and would I like his e-mail address? She had apparently met Burt one day and looked him up on the internet and my site was the only one that had any info on him. My first thought was that this was some sort of joke to get money or something but i took a chance and answered the e-mail and a few days later Burt answered me. We corresponded for a while and I asked him all about the kits and especially the 32000 year clock he made for the Expoloratorium in San Francisco in 1969. One thing led to another and I found out he had that old clock and was willing to sell it and would I like it. Yep, I would. So I ran down to his house and got the clock and will restore it online in the near future. I will put up a short page on it soon. Burt was Ok with me putting the 'A New Approach to Digital Computer Logic'book on line. Cool!