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From: mitchalsup@aol.com (MitchAlsup1)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers,comp.arch
Subject: Re: Signetics 25120 WOM
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:03:40 +0000
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On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:10:29 +0000, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

> Back in the 1970s, Signetics put out a joke data sheet for a “Write-Only
> Memory” chip. Basically any data you sent to it would be simply thrown
> away, and attempts to read from the chip would never return anything.
> They
> were surprised to get a few serious queries from prospective customers
> wanting to make use of this component.
>
> Bitsavers has just included a multi-page ad that the company put in an
> issue of “Electronic Design” from 1973, for a competition where entrants
> would submit a description of the most creative use for a WOM they could
> think of, with the winner being featured in upcoming ads. The ad even
> included the data sheet.
>
> Even entrants that did not win (a limited number, obviously) would
> receive
> a “WOM Kit” containing a set of Groucho Marx fake glasses, a bumper
> sticker, a button and a fortune cookie. But no mention of an actual
> 25120
> WOM chip ...

The best part was the complement chip-destruct pin.

I remember reading this in school n an engineering magazine.