Electric Eraser article

This article:

https://spectrum.ieee.org/electric-eraser

reminded me of the time someone got the idea at GTE to re-use EPROMs - maybe there was a supply problem ?  - one problem was that we had been printing the part numbers on the chips with epoxy ink.  So I started looking through the McMaster-Carr catalog to find ways to clean off the ink, we tried soaking the chips in thinner and then used electric erasers to clean off the marking.

What a nightmare !

It didn't work very well, they had extra people come in and after using the eraser they had to use a rag wetted in solvent to try and wipe up the residue.

We eventually changed from printing the part number with epoxy ink to somewhat expensive impact printed labels from the WH Brady company.  I remember the sales rep for WH Brady was the slowest walker - the plant was BIG, I didn't have time to waste strolling along :)

The erasers we used were AC powered and bigger but similar to this:

source: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/erasers/erasers-1~/

I don't remember what that solvent was but yikes, it must have been a workout for everyone's liver !  One time I tried carrying some from the red safety can where it was stored over to the next bench - I didn't make it, the stuff ate the bottom of the cup !

Electric eraser also reminds me of this episode of Vic and Sade:

https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/comedy/vic-and-sade/aunt-besses-5th-letter-1944-06-15

Jab-jab-jab-jab !

Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm