Bob Widlar, who started at Fairchild, was my childhood hero. I literally last week built a power supply with a µA723, a 1967 Fairchild originated part (although mine was an SGS Thompson clone) because it's still pretty damn well one of the best parts out there even after 50 years. Good times. I wish I was born a lot earlier than I was if I'm honest.<p>Bob Widlar, for reference, was quite a character: <a href="http://www.electronicdesign.com/analog/what-s-all-widlar-stuff-anyhow" rel="nofollow">http://www.electronicdesign.com/analog/what-s-all-widlar-stu...</a>
I’m pretty sure that “R&D facility in Palo Alto” was just Vic’s garage, at least for the first several months. My dad told me stories about all the guys coming over when he was a kid. That’s back when Los Altos was mostly orchards. We still have the workbench from that garage.
When I worked at the new Netscape Campus (which was partly built on the site of the old Fairchild Mt View campus) in the 90's there were still some buildings standing from the old days. The Wagon Wheel was also still there, afaik much the same as it had been in the 60's. Had lunch there once. Now all that's left is the superfund site..
Still a Superfund site <a href="https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/case-summary-settlement-reached-middlefield-ellis-whisman-mew-study-area-address-tce" rel="nofollow">https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/case-summary-settlement-reac...</a>
In addition to all other greatness, I'd argue that Fairchild had crucial role in West winning the Cold War; Soviets did not have a silicon valley and they never got very good at semiconductor engineering. I'd imagine most people on HN can understand the importance of electronics and computers in 70s and 80s.
I made a Fairchild shirt <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/traitorous_8_t_shirt-235544860993734327" rel="nofollow">https://www.zazzle.com/traitorous_8_t_shirt-2355448609937343...</a>
No story about Fairchild is complete without a larger tribute to Dave Fullagar:<p><a href="https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/yarns/designing-741-dave-fullagar-2017-02/" rel="nofollow">https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/yarns/des...</a><p>He went on to found Maxim. He's rather under appreciated in TFA. The 741 was absolutely brilliant.
Random aside: In the end they mention an exhibit at the Computer History Museum. I have to say, this is a great museum, and if you ever have the chance to go, go!<p>They have a lot of great history, including the military/cold war type history of computing (things like computing fire control and artillery trajectories).
More by the author, <a href="http://www.computerhistory.org/atchm/author/dlaws/" rel="nofollow">http://www.computerhistory.org/atchm/author/dlaws/</a>