> With all of the commotion on pdp8-lovers concerning old HP stuff in
> Michigan, I decided to take a look at what I have. I have no software or
> paper with my "pile" (no rack, that was kept by the previous owner), so I
> am basically stupid about the thing. Maybe someone can help.
>
> 2100A Computer #1304A02190 "Option 008"
How to read HP serial numbers, in case you are interested:
1304A02190
13 == year, since 1960 (in this case 1973)
04 == week within year
A == country of manufacture (A = USA)
02190 == serial number
The year/week are supposed to be date of manufacture, but I think I
have seen it used to mean date of last revision. Either that or HP
managed to turn out a lot of some things in a week. It's also not
clear whether a change in year/week resets the "counter" portion of
the serial number.
I'm not sure what option 008 is on a 2100A.
> 7900A Disk Drive #1527A04334
> 2895B Tape Punch #1632A03303 FACIT model 4070
Yep, this is a badge-engineered Facit paper-tape punch.
> 2748A Tape Reader #1133A01747 "System Serial 0815F"
> 13215A Disk Drive Power Supply #1435A04338 "Option STD"
> ????? Line Printer #? (Way too buried to investigate)
Hmm, 2613A, 2617A maybe?
> Inside the 2100A are cards:
[elided]
In row 1, A1 through A9 are the CPU. I am thinking that A9 and maybe
A8 are options (DMA?), but will need to pull manuals to look.
Likewise I will need to pull manuals to tell you more than obvious
bits (e.g. DISC INT'F 1 and ...2 are how it talks to the 7900A) about
the other things in row 1.
Row 2 is where the memory lives. I am thinking that you have 32KW in
that system; the XYDs should be the X-Y drivers, the SSAs should be
core stacks, and I can't remember exactly what the ID (16K), IDL, or DC
cards do.
I do recall that there is also another flavor of the ID (16K) card for
smaller memory configurations.
There should be five-digit product IDs on each of those cards, most
likely of the form 12ddda, where the "d"s are digits and the "a" is an
alpha character. Those would help me when I have the manuals handy.
Might even help me figure out which ones to pull.
> The processor boards date to 1972, yet others date to the early 1980s.
> Apparently this thing was upgraded (or repaired) several times during its
> life doing secret things.
>
> OK, what do I have? Any input would be helpful.
Well, you have more than I do in the way of hardware. My 2100A was
part of a Fourier analysis system, and so I have some cards that do
some sort of fast crunching on some sort of input signal, but all of
the other I/O and memory was removed. So otherwise I just have the
CPU cards.
But I have manuals. Bug me, I'll pull 'em out and look through them
and try to find out more for you.
w/r/t the rack -- as near as I can tell HP used the same style of 19"
rack for lots of stuff, from various 2100-based systems (including HP
1000s) to the early HP 3000s. I see them from time to time but they
usually have been gutted already and are just empty racks.
-Frank McConnell
Yeah Im the "computer guy" at the salvation army store I frequent. I think
i've yet to pay full price for anything yet. I like to "haggle"
----------
> From: Scott Ware <s-ware(a)nwu.edu>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: RE: On the hunt at Goodwill . . . .
> Date: Tuesday, September 23, 1997 12:10 PM
>
> On Mon, 22 Sep 1997, James Willing wrote:
>
> > Now on the other hand, the Salvation Army store could not sell gear to
Bill
> > Gates based on the way they price stuff. An Apple IIgs for $495?!?
Really
> > now...
>
> Here (in Chicago), the Salvation Army store that carries computer
> equipment tends to price everything computer-related at $45, regardless
of
> what it is. There was (until it recently closed) a Salvation Army
"as-is"
> store in the building with one of their warehouses that had some great
> deals, primarily on items that they couldn't easily classify. It may be
> worth looking for these in other cities, since the one here had items
such
> as oscilloscopes and Nixie tube DMMs that never made it into the normal
> stores.
>
> Sometimes, thrift store pricing and procedures are hard to understand. I
> once saw a thrift store employee deliberately damaging items with a
hammer
> before marking them down. I guess the theory is that you don't deserve
> all of the keys if you're paying $2 for a computer instead of $20.
>
> Is anyone else here recognized as "the computer guy" at thrift stores?
At
> one store (admittedly only a block from my apartment, so I visit it
> regularly), they save documentation for me and often mark down computer
> equipment the day after I've passed it up. Prices have risen slightly
> since they've realized that there is demand, but they seem to be stocking
> more old computer equipment now, and if something is too expensive, it's
> easy to wait a day or two!
>
> --
> Scott Ware s-ware(a)nwu.edu
>
>
>
Hello,
I'm trying not to buy too much more of this stuff but this guy made me a
heck of a deal on a Model 100 along with a video camera I wanted. I put
it in the auction. It's really nice and is still in the original box!
Radio Shack Model 100 Laptop Computer (photo)
Current bid: $42.01
Auction ends on: 09/28/97, 14:36:03 PDT
http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/ItemISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=511656
Actually, I've had great success at goodwill here on the east coast. i picked
up a complete platinum //e machine, a colour composite monitor with two
undisk 5.25 drives, a trs80 model 3, an IBM PC RT, and the rare <?> printer
attachment for my pc convertible and my uVAX II ! the pickings have been slow
lately, but its always a luck of the draw kind of thing. i usually hit the
stores about once a week and hope for the best. I regret not getting a plus/4
i saw in the original box last month.
david
In a message dated 97-09-22 23:33:48 EDT, Sam Ismail put forth:
<< Here's a hint for everyone...don't waste your time at Goodwill (well,
usually). All the good stuff is at those for profit or non-chain thrift
stores. Look for places like Thrift Town, Thrift Center, Thrift This,
Thrift That, etc.
I've heard that Goodwills take all the computer junk and auction it off.
I never, ever find any computer stuff at Goodwills or Salvation Army's.
I used to find stuff at the Salvation Army, and occasionally find some
software (found an MSX cassette of all things at one recently) but never
any hardware.
>>
This sounds like the Houston GW ?? I lived there a few years back and was a
great place to find items. I like your help idea may try it here.
At 09:41 PM 9/22/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Sam Ismail wrote:
>
>> I've heard that Goodwills take all the computer junk and auction it off.
>> I never, ever find any computer stuff at Goodwills or Salvation Army's.
>> I used to find stuff at the Salvation Army, and occasionally find some
>> software (found an MSX cassette of all things at one recently) but never
>> any hardware.
>
>A friend of mine gave me a really good idea. In our area Goodwill does
>auction off a bunch of stuff every Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30AM.
>The idea is to go in and help them to work on the computers. This
>accomplishes a number of things. 1) It can help train some of the people
>they are trying to help. 2) Fixed machines are worth more money hence a
>larger income for Goodwill. 3) If we are helping, we will most likely have
>the opportunity to see what is coming in and thus might be able to salvage
>some classic machines!
>
>
>
>
Sorry you feel that way as I find a ton of items at the GW, such hardware,
manuals, parts (new and used), and software (new and used). The prices range
>from .25 to 35.00.
At 08:23 PM 9/22/97 -0700, you wrote:
>On Mon, 22 Sep 1997, Zane H. Healy wrote:
>
>> I guess I'm in the wrong part of the West Coast! In the Portland area I've
>> only gotten lucky enough to find stuff that cheep once or twice. Plus it
>> seems like most stuff is either a C64, a 1541 drive, or a TI-99/4a, and
>> they are always bare. You can't find stuff like power supplies, cables, or
>> whatever else it takes to make them function without a LOT of looking. The
>> average price at GW in this area for any item of this class is about $10!
>> I think my best find ever around here was a TI-99/4a with PS, modulator,
>> cassette cable, and 3 carts (which included extended BASIC) for $4.
>> Needless to say this wasn't at GW it was another local Thrift Store which
>> happens to be litterly next door to GW.
>
>Here's a hint for everyone...don't waste your time at Goodwill (well,
>usually). All the good stuff is at those for profit or non-chain thrift
>stores. Look for places like Thrift Town, Thrift Center, Thrift This,
>Thrift That, etc.
>
>I've heard that Goodwills take all the computer junk and auction it off.
>I never, ever find any computer stuff at Goodwills or Salvation Army's.
>I used to find stuff at the Salvation Army, and occasionally find some
>software (found an MSX cassette of all things at one recently) but never
>any hardware.
>
>Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
>
> Attend the First Annual Vintage Computer Festival
> See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
>
>
>
Well this week is not starting off as well as last week: items that were free:
commodore 1541-II disk drive, flat C64 computer with a Epyz Fast Load
cartridge still in it, Power supply for 1541-11,1571-II, or 1581; old metal
transfer box for the apple from inmac it's blue/black metal; various
appletalk cables; Hayes 1200 baud ext modem with power supply. Purchased the
following items: HP utility disk for print srceen on the IBM PC/XT boxes for
LaserJet and ThinkJet units; C16 ower's manual; apple mac book by Cary Lu;
and last a copy of PC DISK Magazine with the manual 5 1/4 disk other items
that were mailed with it, it si Vol 1 No 4 sold for $29.95 cost me $3.50.
Well that's it for today hope to hit 3 more shoes tomorrow. Keep computing !!
<Original ][
this is 1978 ish starting point (possibly earlier)
<"Expanded" //e (1987, the one with 64Kx4 RAM)
If anything the //e was likely 1983 or so.
You could still buy these in late '85 along with IIc.
1987? the two series was almost dead by then with the IIgs (maybe //c).
This was mid 80s
<IIGS ROM 00, 01, 03, and the prototype-only 04
<IIGS Upgrade Kit for //e, especially what it cost
<If there=92s a model I=92m missing, and I don=92t think there is, please=
what's with the (=92)?
Allison
At 08:54 PM 22/09/97 -0300, you wrote:
>I could use some advice here...
>
>I'm starting to sort through the misc. parts and accessories that I've
>collected over the years and am wondering if certain things are really
>worth keeping, such as:
>
> 1200 baud modems (Hayes external, Racal Vadic VA212LC)
> CGA cards
> Hercules and MDA mono cards
> Generic XT floppy controllers
>
1200 baud external modems? Hell yes keep them! You never know when they
will come handy, i wish i had a few lying around now. Great for Minix boxes
to check your mail...
As for the assorted cards, well i am going to use the mass of cards i have
here to bolt into my stell shelf units as book ends (i am going for the
"inside the mainframe" look in my apartment :)
"Linux users are people who would convince you that 10 steps are better
than one"
----------------------------------------------------------------
______________________________________________Live from the GLRS
The Man From D.A.D
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