17 Jun
2004
17 Jun
'04
3:21 p.m.
Here is a bit of good mainframe junk recently obtained:
http://users.bestweb.net/~toober/images/3803.front.jpg
http://users.bestweb.net/~toober/images/3803.open.jpg
http://users.bestweb.net/~toober/images/3420.front.jpg
http://users.bestweb.net/~toober/images/3420.open.jpg
Basically, the big blue box is an IBM 3803 Tape Control Unit - the brain
that connects 3420 Tape Units (one of three is pictured) to an S/370 thru
a Bus & Tag channel. The 3803 and two of the 3420s are from 1972, and the
third 3420 may be from 1980. The 3803 apparently works - it was in service
quite recently - but all three of the 3420s have problems. Luckily, I
obtained a full set of MLMs (service binders) for the units, plus some Bus
& Tag cables.
Note the 3803 has a full control panel. It better, as it has more
electronics in it than most minis of the era.
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org
