F-Robert Trépanier and the story of his work in
the (Canadian) Computer Business
Monsieur Trepanier
(on right) working on the REAC 400 (Reeves Electronic Analog Computer)
circa 1960
A note from Vincent Trépanier
who kindly arranged for the donation of a marvelous KIM-1 to the DigiBarn:
The Kim-1
was in fact donated by my father, who was in charge of the first analog
computer bought by the Canadian National Defense (the computer was a
REAC Reeves Electronic Analog Computer). At 84 years he is the oldest
retired sysop.
I have
finally found the picture of my father working on the REAC 400 (Reeves
Electronic Analog Computer) circa 1960, dad is the guy on the right
(see above).
This picture
was taken at the Defense Research Establishment of Valcartier. I think
it's an official (propagand) picture because nobody was allowed with
a camera in a defense research establishment (specially during the cold
war era).
More about F-Robert Trépanier
from his son Vincent:
My father's
name is F-Robert Trépanier but everybody called him Bob He worked
at DREV from october 1952 to november 1984 where he retired at 65.
Before
that he was working at Canadian Marconi as an inspector on a radio assembly
plant (at that time Marconi was making military airplane radio equipment,
lamps of course, no transistor yet).
Bob was
a geek before time, so when the Kim-1 was introduced to the market having
a computer at home became affordable he ordered one and started building
a lot stuff around it, I also learned machine language on it.
Soon the
Kim was followed by (not sure of the order) a Sinclair ZX-80 (bought
in a kit) an Apple II, a Radio Shack MC-10... and so on...
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