After 10 years of good and faithful service the FR80 microfilm recorder was switched off on 1 August 1985. This was one year later than expected.
Installed in 1975 it was the state of the art technology which could produce hardcopy, film, both 35 mm and 16 mm, including colour and microfiche. The late Paul Nelson was mainly instrumental in seeing the machine in and tested.
David Greene, the Engineer, has been with the Laboratory for 17 years so he was almost a member of staff. Before this machine he engineered the Benson Lehner Plotter and the Stromberg Carlson (Datagraphix) SD 4020, so for him it truly was a sad day. We wish him well.
Members of staff who had worked on the machine gathered for the last time at 10.30 on 1 August to hear Doug House extol the virtues of the machine and tell a few stories about it. They were welcomed by the machine playing music. After Doug's eulogy the machine played Auld Lang Syne.
It was then switched off jointly by Maureen Smith, who was the last full time operator, and Sally Nichols, who popped out of retirement to help officiate. RIP.
