#70) Help Support Librascope Memories With a Free Dropbox

If you are an active computer user, you've probably heard about Dropbox, a simple but reliable computer data storage company that has grown to over 50 million users since 2008. Librascope Memories has been a very satisfied user since 2009. The product works on nearly all platforms, including Windows, Mac OS-X, and most smartphones.

Dropbox offers its users both free and paid accounts that provide up to 200 GB of storage, and there is no limit on individual file size. The first 2 GB is free to new subscribers, but additional free storage is given to current users who sign up new users. Librascope Memories uses several GB of storage, which currently requires that we have an expensive paid account. Future additions to the Librascope Memories website will require that we have even more storage. However, if enough Libravets sign up for a new free account via the special link provided below, we'll have enough free storage to support our website far in to the future.

When you sign up for a free account by clicking the special link below, you'll receive 2 GB of free storage immediately after you complete the installation of Dropbox. In addition, I'll receive 1 GB of additional free storage. Note, after you complete your installation, you too can receive additional free storage by signing up your friends and relatives.

To get started, you must click this special Dropbox link: http://db.tt/3LOdTmT

Note, after you click on the above URL, you'll see a new link at the bottom of the sign up page which will quickly and simply explain Dropbox in more detail.

#69a) 2012 Librascope Reunion - Only 96 Days Away!

Angeles National Golf Clubhouse in Sunland, CA

As announced last February 24th in Blog Post #54 (click here), the 2012 Librascope Reunion will be held on Saturday November 3rd, at the Angeles National Golf Clubhouse in Sunland, CA. Please help us spread the word to all former Librascope employees and their guests. Former associates of Librascope are, of course, welcome too.

Detailed invitations will be sent out in late August, shortly after Georgine returns from vacation. Meanwhile, please mark Saturday November 3rd on your calendar and await further information next month.

#68) Important News about Librascope Memories

Our main Librascope Memories website at www.librascopememories.com (click here) is now hosted by a new website hosting service, Rage Software in Canada. This change was necessary because our previous host (Apple's MobileMe) is being discontinued this coming Friday, June 30th. 

Consequently, a few minor feature changes to our website were necessary, but probably no one will notice their absence. The elimination of MobileMe’s Gallery feature, a supplemental photo/video option we provided for viewing our Libravet videos and photo albums on an Apple TV or separately on a computer screen, was the most significant change. You may, however, continue to view this Gallery at http://gallery.me.com/sonofsoren (click here) until June 30th. A new supplemental Photo and Video feature will be announced in the future.

Nearly all direct and indirect website references to MobileMe and its various discontinued features have now been converted so as to be compatible with our new host's requirements, including the information our domain forwarder requires. In addition, the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing have all been advised of this hosting change.

This conversion should be totally complete soon; however, if you experience any problems in the meantime, please let me know so they can be corrected. You may, for example, receive the following error message during the next few weeks ----

"Looking for something on MobileMe? We can't find the page you requested. Please make sure the URL is spelled and capitalized correctly, and try again".

Finally, I should mention that we are continuing to use Apple’s iWeb website design program to maintain and update the Librascope Memories website. Thus the Apple logo continues to appear at the bottom of each page.

Enjoy!

Carl

#67) In Memoriam - Paul Porco

Paul Porto

Larry Knowles reported recently that Paul Porto passed away on May 26, 2012 at the age of 88. Paul worked at Librascope from 1948 until he retired in 1988 after 40 years.  His obituary was published in the Los Angeles Daily News at:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ladailynews/obituary-print.aspx?n=paul-porco&pid=157867921

#66) In Memoriam - Jack Kelley

Jack Kelley

John (Jack) F. Kelley passed away June 14, 2012 at the age of 81. Jack worked at Librascope for 36 years - starting in 1956 and retiring as a Senior Engineer in Specialty Engineering in 1992. There are many pictures of him in the Librazettes on-line, including a retirement picture with his wife, Chickie, in the June, 1992 issue. Jack last attended the 2008 Libravet Reunion.

Thanks to Joe Sanfilippo for sending me the following link to Jack's obituary, where you can leave a message in the guest book.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/the-signal/obituary.aspx?n=john-jack-f-kelley&pid=158120350

#65) A New Librascope Blog Format For Your Smartphone

Librascope News Blog on an iPhone 4

Up until now, when the Librascope Memories - News Blog was viewed on a smartphone such as an iPhone, the information was too small to read or control comfortably.

Now, a new reformatted blog design is available for smartphones (and iPod Touches), which has been considerably improved for accessability. If you already have the Librascope Blog bookmarked, it should automatically convert over to the new format the next time you view it. The new format is shown here on an iPhone 4. You will note that the text is much larger than before. Blog posts are viewed by simply scrolling downward, and selecting the ones to be read.

If you don't already have the Librascope Memories - News Blog on your smartphone, just bookmark: www.librascopememories.blogspot.com in your browser and you'll be done. Note, on most smartphones today, you can also elect to have a dedicated bookmark icon placed on your "Home Screen" and labeled "Librascope Blog". Finally, I should mention that for those who may wish to return to the old format temporarily, there is a "web version" link provided at the bottom of each page.

#64) Oxman's Surplus, Inc. - 51 years in Santa Fe Springs, CA

Did you know there is still an old time war surplus store/museum operating for profit in Southern California? It's run by its 96 year old founder and his family. Earlier this year, Libravet Stan Bucklien sent me a copy of an LA Times article describing the place, which was then celebrating its 50th anniversary. Click here to read the very interesting story (less photos) that Stan found.

According to the newspaper article, one of the items in the museum's collection is a Librascope B-17 Balance Computer from WWII. If you'd like to visit, Oxman's is located at:

14128 E. Rosecrans Ave.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
1-562-921-1106
1-888-569-6257
Hours, etc. are posted on Oxman's website at - click here.

#63) Librascope Mk 13 Mod 0 Angle Solver - RFI

The following e-mail was recently received from a new subscriber to this Blog that I did not recognize:

Carl

The reason you do not have my email in your database is because I was never connected to Librascope. I subscribed so that I might be able to find out some information about a Librascope item I have in my collection . Perhaps you can help me find out the history and purpose of this creation.

What I have is an Angle Solver MK13 MOD 0, Serial Number 2. It also has a tag above this stating "Prototype". The unit weighs 984 pounds and I bought it from a person in Norfolk, Virginia who evidently bought it surplus from the government. The unit is set up for a motor torpedo boat. What I would like to find out is why it was made, and if any documents still exist that might show how to take the unit apart as the dials need some work because of some surface rust plus some of the wheels do not turn as freely as they should. I would be happy to send you pictures of the unit if that would help.

I thank you for any help you can render about this unit.

Richard Dembinski 

Note, I Googled "Angle Solver" for Richard, and found an interesting writeup on Wikipedia that may be of interest. Click here. I have asked  Richard to send me a photo of his unit to post on this Blog. In the meantime, if you have any information or questions for Richard, please e-mail me and I will forward them to him. Thanks, Carl 

June 1, 2012 update. 

Mr. Dembinski provided the above photograph of his Angle Solver.

#62) In Memoriam - Ronald L. Norton

Ron Norton - 1982

The following obituary was received recently from Ron's wife Nancee:

Ronald L. Norton, age 78, passed away peacefully at home on April 4, 2012 with his loving wife at his side. Fortunately his courageous struggle with cancer was short and relatively pain free.

Ron was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. He loved his Country and proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1957. He joined Librascope in 1967 where he retired as a Provisioning Support Engineer in 1992. Ron also loved the outdoors. He loved to tell stories about backpacking and fishing in the Sierras with his three daughters and his dog Grenny.

In 1980 Ron met and married his wife Nancee. Their friendship and love was strong and true until he took his last breath with her at his side. When they moved from Southern California to Pocatello, Idaho in 1993, it made life perfect. 

Ron leaves behind his wife Nancee, his two loving and devoted friends Mark Samuelson and Linda Smith, his three daughters, Christianne, Gabrielle, Danielle and his loyal and now lonely pups, Hooch and Murphy.

The family wants to thank all our friends and family, both near and far, who have been so supportive and the wonderful caregivers who did so much to make him comfortable from the time this whole ordeal began a little over two months ago. A special thanks to our angels at Creekside Home Health and Hospice. To our Niki, our Toni, our Brandie, our Kara and especially Susan, Thank You so much. We would have been lost without you.

At Ron’s emphatic request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. He will be cremated and come back home. Instead of flowers, a donation to the Pocatello, Idaho Animal Shelter would make him smile.

#61) John Brower Passed Away

Terri Brower reports that Jonn Brower passed away on April 1, 2012 in the state of Washington. Don Tubbs worked with John in the Design Department for many years. Further information is not available.