The following exchange has just taken place regarding the PDP-8 items just listed on e-bay. Though some people here might be interested.. ----- Original Message ----- From: dvcorbin(a)optonline.net <blocked::mailto:dvcorbin@optonline.net> To: burgyman41(a)bellsouth.net <blocked::mailto:burgyman41@bellsouth.net> Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2004 8:30 AM Subject: Question for item #5128002772 - DEC PDP-8 COMPUTER CHASSIS/RACK with POWER SUPPLY It appears that you are "parting out" some model of CNC machine (possibly a punch). I am really questioning why the computer (PDP-8) was not listed as a single item (which typically can be placed back into operation). When the items are split like this it often indicates that there was something seriously worng with the unit as a whole, this MAY indicate that many of the partes themselves are damaged. Any information or history gladly appreciated. _____ From: Bill [mailto:burgyman41@bellsouth.net] Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2004 10:15 AM To: dvcorbin(a)optonline.net Subject: Re: Question for item #5128002772 - DEC PDP-8 COMPUTER CHASSIS/RACK with POWER SUPPLY Yes, this particular PDP-8 was removed from a CNC machine tool. A K&T horizontal machining center to be exact. It had been purchased by my customer, a machine shop, from one of his customers, a large company that was downsizing. Some where in the transition from one to the other I am told, part of the system software and most of the documentation was lost. After some period of frustration at not being able to use the machine they contacted us to quote on retrofiting it with a conventional CNC control. We removed the PDP-8 and replaced it with a Fagor model 8050M and set the old computer on a shelf in our warehouse where it sat for about 10 years until I closed the business and must now dispose of many items that I didn't have the heart to throw away. I decided to sell it in three separate groups of parts after observing the selling activity of other DEC items on ebay. Without a front panel my feeling is that it's attraction as a complete computer would be limited. As to someone putting it back in service after all these years, why would anyone want to do that? Hope I answered your concerns, Bill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ Thanks for the response. Believe it or not, there are a significant number of people dedicated to the restoration (and operation) of the older computers, not just DEC/PDP stuff, but old IBM, Honeywell, Hewlett Packard, and all of the rest. There are also a number of musuems that are dedicated to this (their budgets are very limited, but many donations are tax deductable!). I am award that many CNC machines did not have the front panel (although a number that used PDP-8/M's DID!). While the individual parts are usefully as spares and replacements, too many of them end up being turned into "ART" and destroyed from a restoration point of view. Also many of the machines (not so much the PDP-8) required various tweaks to the boards to get them to play together or work in a specific backplane. This is why a complete (or near complete system is much more desirable). I see that you are closing your shop, but I hope you will pass this information on to ANYONE who may have access to old computer and electronic equipment. Feel free to use me as a point of contact, or I can provide the names of collectors pretty much anywhere in the world [including one in Antartica!] Earier this year I was at a convention [Vintage Computer Festival] where one of the original developer of the original developers of the Univac was giving a presentation [he is over 80]. It turns out that hist wife and he were selling their house, and it looked like all of his notebooks, and other documentation from the 1950's thru the 1970's was going to be "dumpstered". Fortunately arrangements were made with a computer musuem in California [the conference was in Boston!] to archive all of this ir-replacable stuff. earlier most of the interested parties are either individuals or musuems running on very tight budgets. I do find it intersting that most people understand the collecting and restoration of items such as old cars, but are very suprised to find that there are people interested in vintage computers. Good luck in your sale, I hope this message will provide some valuable information, and you can help prevent other classic hardware [and even more DOCUMENTATION and SOFTWARE] from going to the scrappers, or straight to the dumps. David V. Corbin Sayville, NY 1-632-244-8487 <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> Question about your item <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/aboutme/v3/ebay_logo_39x18.gif> <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> Dear techseller41, Please respond to the question on eBay by clicking the button below. You'll have the option to display your response directly on the listing. <BLOCKED::http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?RespondToQuestion&iid=512 8002772&qid=253245692&SSPageName=PageRespondToQuestion_Email> Respond Now <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> Item # Item Title Listing end date <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> 5128002772 DEC <BLOCKED::http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5128002772> PDP-8 COMPUTER CHASSIS/RACK with POWER SUPPLY Oct-08-04 <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> Thank you, dvcorbin8ioy <BLOCKED::http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/x.gif> Need help calculating shipping cost? 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