Here's some ACTUAL computers from my job

Posted by Bladestorm_@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 79 comments

Sort of a repost but w/e

Yall enjoyed the thing I posted earlier despite it's dubious connection to the sub so here's the office we've filled with all the computers we've been finding across the complex.

Were working on turning this old mill into a makerspace, it was last used by a plastics molding company in the late 90s

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Gutmach1960@reddit

Is that plotter in the background ? If so, does it have a ieee488/hpib interface ?

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Here's a couple better pics, not sure about the interface tho

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Yes it does have the hpib interface, I looked it up. I have a 7470A desktop plotter, and a usb to hpib cable. Those plotters are worth the time to clean up and get running again. You can still get the pens for that plotter.

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Electrical_Note_6432@reddit

I'd take that plotter all day long. What a workhorse! I put miles of paper through a similar one back in the 90's.

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50-50-bmg@reddit

Separate "worth restoring", "take to parts" and "junk" piles before someone gets overwhelmed with it and throws everything out!

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wbpayne22903@reddit

Nice HP plotter in picture # 5.

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NataniButOtherWay@reddit

I know of one company that runs multi million dollar production lines using Dosbox because the Windows 3.1 computer running them in the early 90s died.

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msalerno1965@reddit

Mmm... Textronix terminals ... w/mice?. I have a decent one, no keyboard or mouse.

At least I know they exist out in the wild now ;)

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superdefence@reddit

Some of them are ill-fated Tektronix UNIX workstations. Definitely a collector’s item.

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Dcas_pcs_381@reddit

Just uh...send one my way lol

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the123king-reddit@reddit

The blue box under the microfiche(?) reader. Is that a paper tape punch/reader?

Those can be quite desirable to the right folks

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

This guy?

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LaundryMan2008@reddit

Wow they take cartridges, that’s quite interesting.

What kind of punch tape/tape is inside?

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FrozenOnPluto@reddit

I was sure this was going to be a pic of Usagi Electric; but yeah, he would like a word with you :)

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Velocityg4@reddit

That brings back memories of the library when I was a kid.

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noimtherealsoapbox@reddit

I think that whole thing is the microfiche reader

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JoJoGaminG1936@reddit

I'm pretty sure there are some really rare vintage computers.

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inf0man1ac@reddit

The switches on those kbs might be worth a bit...

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Parking_Jelly_6483@reddit

If any of the keyboards show being made by Honeywell or say MicroSwitch on them, those are the valuable ones. The keyswitches in them were Hall effect switches - a small magnet and a non-contact Hall effect sensor. So, no mechanical switch contacts to wear out. Search “MicroSwitch or Micro Switch” keyboard on eBay to see what they sell for.

Also, I see what look like manual input drawing pads suggesting that computer-aided drafting (CAD) was being done - the plotter also goes along with that. Also, Tektronix made a series of graphics terminals (4000-series) in the 1970s that used a memory CRT and a light pen. If there are any of those, there is also a resurgence of interest in them.

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Also were in Mass so if anyones wants to come take a look at em or knows some good homes for em drop me a dm!

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CuriouslyInventing@reddit

Going down there soon! Save me one?!

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leppardfan@reddit

Just DM'ed you

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evert@reddit

What's Mass?

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Massachusetts!

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evert@reddit

Ah makes sense! couldn't find it on google maps

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vengefultacos@reddit

Where in Mass? Also, you guys can make bank if you haul those to the MIT flea coming up in a week or two. Great place to sell old computers.

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Were out kinda near springfield, that might be a good option tho I know that's a crowd who could give this stuff another life, also not a bad place to tell people about the makerspace

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LeakySkylight@reddit

Momentum divided by velocity?

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nicoleole80@reddit

Gosh dang it if you were in Iowa I’d be there in a heartbeat… hope it goes to a good home ❤️

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Laser_Krypton7000@reddit

Thanks for sharing 👍

I'd love to get my hands on some of the DEC things but wrong part of the world.

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rad2018@reddit

It would take some serious work to get those devices working again - if they still even work.

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RO4DHOG@reddit

You're a Fireman?

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generalemiel@reddit

Nice

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Purple_Building8666@reddit

I think they’re done depreciating…

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grassesbecut@reddit

They're back on an upswing at this point.

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Some are in FAR worse shape, most of these at least are just dusty and dirty

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Year3030@reddit

How is it working at 1991 Inc?

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shrikelet@reddit

That first photo gives me chills. Circa 1986 the equipment in that room probably cost more than house.

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ipk9@reddit

Anything from IBM around? :)

Sincerely, an IBMer who works on the IBM Hursley Museum

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raxnahali@reddit

Oooh, a plotter!

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mrspelunx@reddit

Now that’s a serious plotter.

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algaefied_creek@reddit

Have you tried reaching out to the Vintage Computing Federation to see if anyone is available to come rescue those?!

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Salt_Try_8327@reddit

can I have them?

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possumK@reddit

Ah yes, the machinery that's still running most of the American infrastructure.

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Xenolog1@reddit

The four button mouse looks vaguely familiar. Any info about it?

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KestinFox@reddit

Fuuuuck I want one of those. Would be so cool to boot up one of these when people ask what my gaming setup is! XD

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Beneficial-Ebb-2319@reddit

Wicked bando come-up

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

I went from exploring places like this (still do) to getting to fix this one up, its been awesome

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Beneficial-Ebb-2319@reddit

Dude yes that is epic. I urbex a lot, tech finds like this are so exciting. Bet the process of fixing a place up is super rewarding. Best of luck

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FartingSasquatch@reddit

Man, I really hated working in those plotters.

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cbelt3@reddit

Vt220 ! The keyboard on those was awesome!

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steverikli@reddit

I am fairly convinced that the very rectangle VT220 keyboards I used at university are part of why I'm useless with a modern "ergo" keyboard.

And I'm fine with that.

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GogglesPisano@reddit

Old DEC goodness. There must have been a VAX on the premises at some point.

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LeakySkylight@reddit

Man, I miss the VAX/

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GogglesPisano@reddit

Loved the VAX.

I used to be able to make DCL scripts jump through hoops.

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SimpleIronicUsername@reddit

You sure that's your job and not Chernobyl? 😂

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LeakySkylight@reddit

Oh, the digipads! You can tell this was an environment for professionals, or at least training them.

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younawolf@reddit

Oooo what I would do for those

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Lol where are you at? I would love to get some of these to good homes, we can't really appreciate them here as is, nobody has real technical knowhow, we mostly do industrial arts

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younawolf@reddit

Wdym with industrial arts ?

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

We have shops like welding, metal fabrication, woodworking, blacksmithing, jewelry making, textiles, machining, that sort of stuff, we teach classes and have open shops for members (or we will when we reopen) but we don't really do anything technical related right now as we don't have anyone who has the know how to run the shops and teach

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younawolf@reddit

Netherlands

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Damn! We're not quite on the same continent

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Ok-Hotel-8551@reddit

Do you work at bank?

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LeakySkylight@reddit

No, those machines are way too new for that.

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eulynn34@reddit

Looks like something out of the Chernobyl exclusion zone

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Feels like it, and only mildly less toxic

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rambald@reddit

I wanna save ‘hem all!

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Same!

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Ornery-Practice9772@reddit

Are you pipboy?🤣👌

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

What a massive compliment, I wish

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HexagonWin@reddit

you're not getting rid of them right?

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Not tossing or scrapping them, id love to see them go to good homes

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Updatebjarni@reddit

"ACTUAL computers" as in printers and terminals and a microfilm projector.

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Bladestorm_@reddit (OP)

Lmao listen 😂 compared to the power supply I posted last i think it's an upgrade, im a woodworker and leather worker so I'm doing my best over here hahaha

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