The rolodexes came from the now dispersed collection of former lab employee Ed Grothus, who operated a salvage company of lab cast-offs known as The Black Hole.
Many of my childhood science fair projects started at the black hole. You could always find something weird or interesting, and occasionally hot, while browsing through the place
Somewhere around 2004 I had an experience at the black hole that still amuses me.
I was digging through the store when I found a full pallet of computer punch cards. As a computer science undergrad, I thought, “ how cool, I want a bunch to use as bookmarks, or whatever”.
I went to haggle with Ed, and he outright refused to sell me any. He said he wouldn’t break up the pallet. I had to buy all or none…
That place is (was) a complete madhouse, in all the best possible ways. Piles and piles of crazy electronic bits, many custom builds, many of inscrutable purpose. It was like the prop room for 50s/60s pulp sci-fi movies.
Comments
Too good.
Many of my childhood science fair projects started at the black hole. You could always find something weird or interesting, and occasionally hot, while browsing through the place
Am I understanding correctly?
It depends on the exact definition of the word "hot" you mean.
No, wait, it doesn't, you'll find any kind of hot you like.
Quite ... the place.-
PS. I would like the record to show, excuse me for stating the obvious, that this was an actual place (!):
https://losalamosreporter.com/2025/06/29/black-hole-museum-a...
Radioactive in this case, but knowing the black hole, other definitions likely apply as well
Somewhere around 2004 I had an experience at the black hole that still amuses me.
I was digging through the store when I found a full pallet of computer punch cards. As a computer science undergrad, I thought, “ how cool, I want a bunch to use as bookmarks, or whatever”.
I went to haggle with Ed, and he outright refused to sell me any. He said he wouldn’t break up the pallet. I had to buy all or none…
That place is (was) a complete madhouse, in all the best possible ways. Piles and piles of crazy electronic bits, many custom builds, many of inscrutable purpose. It was like the prop room for 50s/60s pulp sci-fi movies.
Good times.