Introduction and IBM 1130 replica project

I just joined the group, although I have had a long time appreciation of vintage computing technology. I spent most of my career on the software, marketing and most other aspects of computers but not hardware. I have put together systems, hacked at things, but at a light level, until recently. I decided to really learn how to design and engineer, choosing a project that would expose me to many aspects and be a forcing function for developing quite a few skills. Not that this makes me a full bore EE or able to design at a current technology professional level, but enough so I could envision, design and make hobby items of pretty much any scope I wanted. The project is a replica of an IBM 1130, a low end mainframe contemporaneous with S/360 and sharing the same logic and other technology. My aim is to build one that is an experiential replica - one that brings me as close as I can get to the experiences and behavior I had sitting in front of the console hand stepping through code back at the end of the 1960s. The internals are based on modern FPGA but producing a cycle by cycle accurate system, faithful to the timing on the real machine. I have a blog detailing the work, my current state and goals, if anyone is interested, at ibm1130.blogspot.com Currently I am adapting an IBM Electronic Typewriter model 50 - a late model of the Selectrics - to serve as the console printer since the 1130 used a 1053 (Selectric based printer). The keyboard is being adapted from a keypunch keyboard, since the 1130 used the keyboard from an IBM 029 punch, and even where I am using more modern devices (a streaming link over USB to a PC to present card images to the peripheral adapter logic, I have made it timing and behavior faithful. The processor itself is working quite well, which is why I have moved the focus to peripherals. It is a very similar effort to that of Lawrence Wilkinson who has built a 360 model 30 and is also building peripherals at this time. You can read about the 360/30 project at http://www.ljw.me.uk/ibm360/vhdl/ I am hoping that members of this group will be able to share advice and information as I look to adapt something like an RK-05 disk drive, since it is very similar to the IBM 1130 drive, in a later phase. It is a truly quixotic project with no clear end, but will give me the excuse to dabble in all manner of old technology along the way. Hopefully many of you will have fascinating projects and experiences that I can enjoy. Carl ________________________________ This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the person to whom it has been sent, and may contain information that is confidential or legally protected. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, you are not authorized to copy, distribute, or otherwise use this message or its attachments. Please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and permanently delete this message and any attachments. Gartner makes no warranty that this e-mail is error or virus free.