Fairchild Curve Tracer
13 September, 2023

Newly added to the "Other Equipment" section of the Stuff Page is a Fairchild 6200-B Curve Tracer.  It's heavy!

We are also in the process of getting a number of Philips 6654C Programmable Counters tested and calibrated.  Feel free to contact us if you are interested in reserving one of these units.  We currently have six going for evaluation, and will post the final available stock count of this equipment once it returns from calibration.

Passing of Walter SHAWLEE II
04 September, 2023

Walter SHAWLEE II, 1949-2023 – Walter Shawlee II, as he said to tell the world, died with stunning inconvenience. More specifically, he passed away in Kelowna, BC, on September 4, 2023. Born in LA to Hollywood actress Joan Shawlee and artist Walter Shawlee, he is survived by his wife Susan, daughter Rosanne, son Walt, sister Angie, and niece Sydney.

Studying engineering at the University of California – Los Angeles, his life was filled with many adventures as an electronics engineer, teacher, entrepreneur, and slide rule aficionado. Long before he eventually settled in Kelowna, BC, Walter and Susan were married in Halmstad, Sweden. They would later immigrate to Canada, making multi-year pit stops in Vancouver and Prince George.

It was in Prince George in 1979 that Walter and Susan founded Northern Airborne Technology, an avionics and R&D company, which would later relocate to Kelowna. This was not without its difficulties, and Walter would be the first to sing the praise of every individual who ultimately made NAT successful. Avionics equipment that NAT produced for aircrafts is still flying today, and standards that Walter developed at NAT became global industry standards. Walter’s life spanned countries and businesses, and at each stage was deeply enriched by the incredible people who joined in his exploits.

After transitioning NAT to new owners, Walter founded Sphere Research Corporation, which set the course for 30 years of enthusiastic research and development, test equipment metrology, and slide rule preservation.

During his many years as a business leader, Walter dedicated himself to the development of future generations, chairing the BC Science Council, and mentoring young people on working in STEM fields as a teacher for OUC. His innovation, creativity, and charity have left a lasting mark on the world far beyond the borders of the city he settled in, and his work is still keeping the skies safe today.

Many thanks and much gratitude to the people who fearlessly participated in his hobbies and business escapades, and who were his comrades throughout. The Shawlee family extends their deep gratitude to all those people who supported Walter during his final days.

Important - Sphere Research will continue to remain open and will be conducting business, although we may be a bit slow in responding for the next week.

New Tek Equipment!
23 August, 2023

Newly listed on the Stuff page is a Tektronix 5006 frame with four modules, as well as some additional audio equipment.

We will try and publish site updates and new stock ate least twice a week, please contact us if there is specific hardware you might be looking for!

Announcements 03 August, 2023

As many of our customers are aware, Walter Shawlee 2, the founder of Sphere Research, the Slide Rule Universe, and a number of other enterprises throughout the years, has fallen on ill health.  We will be liquidating Sphere's inventory, and posting items for sale on a revised and slimmed down "Stuff Page".

Our ordering system will remain the same:

1. See something you like.
2. Send an e-mail to susan@okanagan.net with what you want.
3. Purchase is paid for and shipped.

The old site is still being kept online, but has not been maintained for some time and does not have accurate stock information.  Feel free to access the old site here:

            
If you are interested in tems that are listed on the old site, please let us know, and if we still have them in stock we will be only too happy to sell them to you!

We are grateful for the support that all of our customers have given us over the years, and we wish all of you the best.

IMPORTANT! This site is still under development, and we are continuing to add items and information on a regular basis.