What to wear?

[John Kennedy]

I feel very underdressed when I use the PiDP-1 whilst wearing a t-shirt.

What is the appropriate outfit? White shirt with half rolled sleeves, suit trousers, black shoes and socks? Is the tie optional?

-John

[Glenn Babecki]

Don't forget the pocket protector. 😉

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[Haritech (Gmail)]

And tuck your tie into your shirt so it does not get caught in the tape drive or printer. 

Or wear a bow tie. 

Lawrence

On Sep 10, 2025, at 14:17, Glenn Babecki <glenn....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Brian Jamieson]

Also remember, Mr Kennedy, to address people with their full honorific.

Kindest regards,
Mr Jamieson

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[John Kennedy]

Mr. Jamieson.

Re: Your message

Many thanks for your recent reminder. 

I will add honorifics to my list:

* Thin black tie

* Pocket protectors (both are available from the reseller known as "Amazon")

* Black belt

* Cuban heels

* Ashtray (cleaned, preferably with a DEC or similar logotype) 

Yours,

Mr. Kennedy.

[Randy Eubanks]

The ashtray might be a fitting place to store burnt components and tantalum shrapnel.

[Randy Eubanks]

Not exactly correct, but in the right direction.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/335717114839

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187468232479

[Unibus]

If you were performing hardware maintenance down to component level then you would not be wearing a wedding ring on your hand.

The PDP-1 was still being used into the 1970s slider rule era then as an early adopter in the last years of operation the pocket protector would have been replaced by a highly visible HP-35 which is then upgraded to a HP-65 pocket computer.

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[AB]

I think the tie is very important.  A very flat, narrow one would be ideal? 

Not sure if they're black due to the photography :-)

cheers!  Andy

[Bill E]

Heh, I remember getting an HP35 right when they came out. With the belt case. I think I had to borrow money from my parents. By that time, sliderules were already pretty much out, although I did have one. I also experienced the transition from everyone having to wear suits to 'forget that nonsense'. I did some hourly programming (IBM 360/TSO) at Prudential Insurance, just across the river. Everyone had to wear suits and ties, even the programmers. That was the last time I wore one, except for some interviews at graduation. I did have a pocket protector, but I don't remember actually using it.

[Unibus]

Certainly this was the era when ties were mandatory. Luckily I never had to wear a suit. Tech roles meant suits were optional. I refused to be promoted into a role which required wearing suits. The only time I couldn't escape being promoted was when the whole department was abolished before my paperwork worked its way through the system. 

On Fri, 12 Sept 2025 at 21:28, Bill E <wjegr...@gmail.com> wrote:

Heh, I remember getting an HP35 right when they came out. With the belt case. I think I had to borrow money from my parents. By that time, sliderules were already pretty much out, although I did have one. I also experienced the transition from everyone having to wear suits to 'forget that nonsense'. I did some hourly programming (IBM 360/TSO) at Prudential Insurance, just across the river. Everyone had to wear suits and ties, even the programmers. That was the last time I wore one, except for some interviews at graduation. I did have a pocket protector, but I don't remember actually using it.

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[Bradford Miller]

Well I was working with a tie and sport coat until about 82. Even with a pure tech role, if there was even a hint of customer (or shareholder) interaction, one had to dress the part… But rules were different on the WC.

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[Unibus]

If your role included a requirement to wear a dust coat then you weren't expected to wear a suit even when interacting with subcontractors or customers. Climb the management ladder and a suit was expected.

[Randy Merkel]

Don’t forget the horn rimmed glasses!

[Randy Eubanks]

The AVNET DEC Marble Desk Pen/Pencil Holder sold a couple of days ago. If someone here grabbed it, congrats!

[Norbert Landsteiner]

I guess, for a style guide, see these two images. Spacewar! apparently requires a more formal attire, while programming may be done in a more casual outfit. 😀

(Photos: Dan Edwards and Peter Samson playing Spacewar!, Dan Edwards at the PDP-1, people playing Spacewar! at the AFIPS Fall Joint Computer Conference, ca.1964 – all images CHM.)

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[Randy Eubanks]

Dan Edwards and Rick Moranis. Separated at birth?