[sdiy] Buchla joysticks

[Peter Grenader]

Grant Richterwrote:

<<That is done so the Joystick shaft lights up.>>

Yes, these joysticks were IMHO, solid evidence that the were simultaneous
experiments going on in the Buchla factory on the effects of stimulants
(legal or otherwise) within the design environment. These photocell
joysticks were (almost) unusable in that they were so sensitive, just
unintentionally running your hand past them (as if to go for another control
somewhere else on the machine), you would immediately effect the voltage
settings on the stick itself, and any condition you may have been wishing to
hold by their position along with it.

If Grant ever wonders why the joystick photocells in the machine he acquired
from B-303 were unoperational - I was told it was intentional - John Payne
killed them because of constant complaints he was getting about this
problem.  The funny thing is, our professors simply told us the joysticks
'didn't work' - so we barely touched this module, which was quite
unfortunate.  It wasn't until my second year that I tested this proclamation
only to find they worked just fine, accept the photocells were kah-put.

- P