12 May
2002
12 May
'02
7:11 a.m.
I've run into an IBM Series/1 computer available for the hauling. I
need advice as to whether it is worth saving. Space is somewhat tight
and it is a large rack (requiring 220 VAC), printer and, supposedly, a
console terminal. Relevant part numbers are:
4955 IBM Processor, Series/1
4963 IBM Disk Subsystem
4965 IBM Diskette Drive and I/O Expansion Unit
4975 Printer
Some googling indicates that it ran an OS called EDX (Event Driven
Executive?). I found some mention of a *nix that ran on it. The
computer was released around 1976. This one was working when retired
years ago.
The rack and printer are in a basement and the console terminal, some
manuals, etc. are supposed to be in a storage unit. Specs that I have
found show that the disk is a 68 MB drive that weighs about 150 pounds
alone.
Is saving this computer worth the aching back? Anybody have advice, war
stories, links or other information on this old beast?
Thank you,
Martin Marshall
12 May
12 May
7:49 a.m.
I will be driving from Houston, TX to St. Paul, MN next week with a
return on the 17th. If it's located anywhere on my route I can pick it
up if you do not want it? Please let me know before Monday as I leave
here around 4AM on the 13th heading up there.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Marshall" <martinm(a)allwest.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 11:11 AM
Subject: IBM Series/1
I've run into an IBM Series/1 computer available
for the hauling. I
need advice as to whether it is worth saving. Space is somewhat tight
and it is a large rack (requiring 220 VAC), printer and, supposedly, a
console terminal. Relevant part numbers are:
4955 IBM Processor, Series/1
4963 IBM Disk Subsystem
4965 IBM Diskette Drive and I/O Expansion Unit
4975 Printer
Some googling indicates that it ran an OS called EDX (Event Driven
Executive?). I found some mention of a *nix that ran on it. The
computer was released around 1976. This one was working when retired
years ago.
The rack and printer are in a basement and the console terminal, some
manuals, etc. are supposed to be in a storage unit. Specs that I have
found show that the disk is a 68 MB drive that weighs about 150 pounds
alone.
Is saving this computer worth the aching back? Anybody have advice,
war
stories, links or other information on this old
beast?
Thank you,
Martin Marshall
9:03 a.m.
John:
It's in Evanston, Wyoming - not really on the way from Houston to
Minnesota.
Martin
"John R. Keys Jr." wrote:
I will be driving from Houston, TX to St. Paul, MN next week with a
return on the 17th. If it's located anywhere on my route I can pick it
up if you do not want it? Please let me know before Monday as I leave
here around 4AM on the 13th heading up there.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Marshall" <martinm(a)allwest.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 11:11 AM
Subject: IBM Series/1
> I've run into an IBM Series/1 computer available for the hauling. I
> need advice as to whether it is worth saving. Space is somewhat tight
> and it is a large rack (requiring 220 VAC), printer and, supposedly, a
> console terminal. Relevant part numbers are:
>
> 4955 IBM Processor, Series/1
> 4963 IBM Disk Subsystem
> 4965 IBM Diskette Drive and I/O Expansion Unit
> 4975 Printer
>
6:22 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was almost dead. "Almost"
because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT near-ultrasonic buzz -- just
for a second -- and then nothing. I'm hoping it's just a fuse -- any
ideas?
-W
8:30 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
If it's "just a fuse" then there's a reason. That's the challenge.
Of course
you can get another "classic" here for $5-10. That might be cheaper.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne M. Smith" <wmsmith(a)earthlink.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 9:22 PM
Subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was
almost dead. "Almost"
because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT near-ultrasonic buzz -- just
for a second -- and then nothing. I'm hoping it's just a fuse -- any
ideas?
-W
8:19 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
If it's "just a fuse" then there's a
reason. That's the challenge.
Of course
you can get another "classic" here for
$5-10. That might be cheaper.
Dick
Probably not -- it's color. Should've mentioned that.
-W
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne M. Smith" <wmsmith(a)earthlink.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 9:22 PM
Subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
> I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was almost dead.
"Almost"
> because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT
near-ultrasonic buzz --
just
> for a second -- and then nothing. I'm hoping
it's just a fuse --
any
ideas?
-W
13 May
13 May
6:12 a.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
Well ... Monday and Tuesday are the "senior discount days" at thrift stores
here in Denver. I'll see perhaps 25 different Mac's in the price range $5 ..
$25, and the majority of those over $10 will probably be around for a week or
so, and then be tossed into the dumptster because nobody has bought them. The
stores that discount today offer 25% off, and the ones tomorrow offer 50% off
to seniors.
I'll be leaving in half an hour ...
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne M. Smith" <wmsmith(a)earthlink.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 11:19 PM
Subject: Re: Mac Classic - almost dead
If it's "just a fuse" then
there's a reason. That's the challenge.
Of course
you can get another "classic" here for
$5-10. That might be cheaper.
Dick
Probably not -- it's color. Should've mentioned that.
-W
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne M. Smith" <wmsmith(a)earthlink.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 9:22 PM
Subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
> I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was almost dead.
"Almost"
> because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT
near-ultrasonic buzz --
just
> for a second -- and then nothing. I'm
hoping it's just a fuse --
any
ideas?
-W
15 May
15 May
8:05 a.m.
New subject: [CCTALK] Re: Mac Classic - almost dead
--- Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> wrote:
Well ... Monday and Tuesday are the "senior
discount days" at thrift
stores here in Denver. I'll see perhaps 25 different Mac's in the price
range $5 ..$25, and the majority of those over $10 will probably be
around for a week or so, and then be tossed into the dumptster because
nobody has bought them.
Ever see stuff as new as a 7200? I just got one for $10 at the local
Uni surplus w/96MB of RAM, and I didn't pick up its mate. Now, I'm
trying to populate another (bigger) machine, and I wish I had gotten
both.
I have all the SE/30s I'll ever use (two) and plenty of Mac IIci
and other Motorola-based Macs. OTOH, if you start to see PPC Macs,
I'm interested for $10-$25.
Thanks,
-ethan
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience
http://launch.yahoo.com
16 May
16 May
7:08 p.m.
New subject: [CCTALK] Re: Mac Classic - almost dead
C'mon Ethan. Dick sees bargains that most of us only dream about.
And I expect also Dick has the same imaginary dreams. Denver is not
exactly the mother-lode of computing.
Now John Keyes jr I believe, but not sure how he does it. The SOB.
Lawrence
--- Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> wrote:
lgwalker(a)mts.net
bigwalk_ca(a)yahoo.com
Well ... Monday and Tuesday are the "senior
discount days" at thrift
stores here in Denver. I'll see perhaps 25 different Mac's in the price
range $5 ..$25, and the majority of those over $10 will probably be
around for a week or so, and then be tossed into the dumptster because
nobody has bought them.
Ever see stuff as new as a 7200? I just got one for $10 at the local
Uni surplus w/96MB of RAM, and I didn't pick up its mate. Now, I'm
trying to populate another (bigger) machine, and I wish I had gotten
both.
I have all the SE/30s I'll ever use (two) and plenty of Mac IIci
and other Motorola-based Macs. OTOH, if you start to see PPC Macs,
I'm interested for $10-$25.
Thanks,
-ethan
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience
http://launch.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________
cctalk mailing list
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk
17 May
17 May
1:19 p.m.
New subject: [CCTALK] Re: Mac Classic - almost dead
--- Lawrence Walker <lgwalker(a)mts.net> wrote:
C'mon Ethan. Dick sees bargains that most of us
only dream about.
Dream? I passed on a working Quadra 800 for $5 last week. I saw someone
cart one away at Dayton today for the same price. I _bought_ a 7200
for $10 and wished I'd bought both... that's why I'm looking for VSIMMs...
I have one; I need one or three more.
> I have all the SE/30s I'll ever use (two) and
plenty of Mac IIci
> and other Motorola-based Macs. OTOH, if you start to see PPC Macs,
> I'm interested for $10-$25.
That was not a wish to only pay $10 to $25... I see them every week
for that price. I just don't always see newer ones.
There was a pallet marked "Choice $20" at Dayton today, including a
SPARC10,
some misc Quadras and a few 9500/120s. The two I could look at were
missing memory, so I passed on them, but these prices are not "rare".
-ethan
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience
http://launch.yahoo.com
12 May
12 May
8:44 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
If your'e not getting any picture or even raster on the display your flyback
may be dead.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Wayne M. Smith
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 10:23 PM
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was almost dead. "Almost"
because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT near-ultrasonic buzz -- just
for a second -- and then nothing. I'm hoping it's just a fuse -- any
ideas?
-W
8:52 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
"Wayne M. Smith" wrote:
I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was almost dead. "Almost"
because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT near-ultrasonic buzz -- just
for a second -- and then nothing. I'm hoping it's just a fuse -- any
ideas?
-W
Sounds like a marginal current overload in the power supply, it just
takes a while to trip the overcurrent circuitry. Dried out
electrolytics???
Gary Hildebrand
ST. Joseph, MO
13 May
13 May
4:35 a.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
At 08:22 PM 5/12/02 -0700, you wrote:
I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was
almost dead. "Almost"
because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT near-ultrasonic buzz -- just
for a second -- and then nothing. I'm hoping it's just a fuse -- any
ideas?
-W
The first thing I'd do is to check the pram battery. A dead battery
will prevent it from turning on.
carlos.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Carlos E. Murillo-Sanchez carlos_murillo(a)nospammers.ieee.org
7:29 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
At 08:22 PM 5/12/02 -0700, you wrote:
>I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was almost dead.
"Almost"
>because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT
near-ultrasonic buzz --
just
for a second --
and then nothing. I'm hoping it's just a fuse -- any
ideas?
-W
The first thing I'd do is to check the pram battery. A dead battery
will prevent it from turning on.
carlos.
4:03 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
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7:37 p.m.
New subject: Mac Classic - almost dead
> I turned on my Mac Classic today and found it was
almost dead.
"Almost"
Mono or Colour? If the latter, then you might be hearing the
degaussing
coil (which runs straight off the mains), so the PSU
might not be
starting at all.
> because I can hear the smallest bit of CRT near-ultrasonic buzz --
just
> for a second -- and then nothing. I'm hoping
it's just a fuse --
any
ideas?
If the fuse has blown, then there's a good reason for it (shorted
semiconductors in the mains side of the PSU?). But check it anyway.
Then see if any of the DC outputs from the PSU are pressent (check the
+5V line at the power pins of just about any chip on the logic board, example). If not, then you've got a PSU problem.
It doesn't sound like
a
short on one of the outputs (this will normally make
the PSU 'tweet'
as
it starts up, detects the problem, and shuts down
again). Maybe the
startup resistor is open.
-tony
Thanks, Tony. I'll check these out right after I check the PRAM
battery. It is Colo[u]r.
-W
1:43 p.m.
On Sun, 12 May 2002, Martin Marshall wrote:
I've run into an IBM Series/1 computer available
for the hauling. I
need advice as to whether it is worth saving. Space is somewhat tight
and it is a large rack (requiring 220 VAC), printer and, supposedly, a
console terminal. Relevant part numbers are:
4955 IBM Processor, Series/1
4963 IBM Disk Subsystem
4965 IBM Diskette Drive and I/O Expansion Unit
4975 Printer
Some googling indicates that it ran an OS called EDX (Event Driven
Executive?). I found some mention of a *nix that ran on it. The
computer was released around 1976. This one was working when retired
years ago.
Many other examples of the Series/1 are still in production use.
The rack and printer are in a basement and the console
terminal, some
manuals, etc. are supposed to be in a storage unit. Specs that I have
found show that the disk is a 68 MB drive that weighs about 150 pounds
alone.
Is saving this computer worth the aching back? Anybody have advice, war
stories, links or other information on this old beast?
Absolutely.
Peace... Sridhar
--
"How do you fight such a savage?"
"With heart, faith, and steel. There can be only one."
-MacLeod and Ramirez, "Highlander"
15 May
15 May
11:03 a.m.
New subject: [CCTALK] [CCTECH] Re: IBM Series/1
--- Martin Marshall <martinm(a)allwest.net> wrote:
I've run into an IBM Series/1 computer available
for the hauling. I
need advice as to whether it is worth saving. Space is somewhat tight
and it is a large rack (requiring 220 VAC), printer and, supposedly, a
console terminal. Relevant part numbers are:
4955 IBM Processor, Series/1
4963 IBM Disk Subsystem
4965 IBM Diskette Drive and I/O Expansion Unit
4975 Printer
The computer was released around 1976...
Anybody have... war stories, links or other information on this old
beast?
Not directly, but indirectly...
I used to make/sell bisync communiations boards. Our last product
was for the VAXBI. One of the few customers in the late 1980s who
*wanted* such a product was a auto parts mfgr in WI that needed to
submit purchase orders to WalMart, K-Mart and the DoD electronically
over EDI (Electronic Document Interchange). As it turned out at the
time, the standard underlying protocol for exchanging these 80-col
strictly-formatted text files was the IBM 3780 protocol. It breathed
one last puff of new life into the place I worked. The customer
bought a brand new, expensive VAXBI serial board, software, license
*and* installation. It was my week in the barrel.
I go up to Fond-du-Lac, WI, at the southern tip of Lake Winnebago
(no kidding) and install our product. It rolls over and dies. We
had been selling 3780 products since I was in grade school, long
before I ever worked there. It's not a difficult protocol to get
right, unlike HASP, which has some subtleties. You have one input
stream, one output stream, and that's it (HASP supports 4 printers,
4 readers, console, etc., etc.). We were very surprised that our
product could not establish a session with the host on the other
end of the modem, an EDI service run by IBM itself, kinda of a
private dial-up WAN for purchase orders.
You are probably wondering why this is relevant... the central "host"
was a Series/1. IBM had managed to violate its' own 40-year-old
protocol when some engineering group ported the 3780 protocol to it.
We had the IBM docs for a *real* workstation, IBM part number 3780
(I still have them!) and we were doing exactly the right thing. We,
of course, to keep the customer, modified our product with a config
parameter to talk to a "broken" central host. I don't think I got
one support call per month from those guys. They were very happy
with our stuff. Ran like a top. I think they only ever called when
they upgraded VMS and needed new programs linked against the latest
VMS Kernel (every major version IIRC)
So... I've done battle with a Series/1, regrouped and won. Never saw
the enemy, though. Just heard it whistle...
-ethan
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17 comments
11 participants
participants (11)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
carlos_murillo＠epm.net.co -
edick＠idcomm.com -
erd_6502＠yahoo.com -
ghldbrd＠ccp.com -
jrkeys＠concentric.net -
lgwalker＠mts.net -
martinm＠allwest.net -
rhb57＠vol.com -
vance＠ikickass.org -
wmsmith＠earthlink.net