Vintage computers abandoned in factory
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My christmastide youtube viewing has included videos of abandoned places from two young guys called The Proper People.
In one video, they travel to Italy to explore a defunct textile manufacturer. Lots of abandoned computer stuff including what look like 1/2in ibm tape drives and rooms of tapes, and a huge pile of something like IBM 3270 terminals etc. https://youtu.be/rrx1tK5xcAk |
Re: Vintage computers abandoned in factory
What a sorry mess! The first image looks like they were once 3270 terminals (synchronous communications).
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The completeness of the installation blows the mind a bit. You would have thought that at the time of the closure, there would have at least been some residual value in the IT equipment !
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It must have closed recently enough that the IT equipment had little value.
Looking at the second photo shows that the floor tiles did have some residual value as they are gone. |
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A pity
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Sadly, obsolete computer installations have no value at all. In fact, they can't even be sold for scrap because their disposal comes under the WEEE regs.
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Re: Vintage computers abandoned in factory
The terminals in the first photo are mostly IBM 3278's which date from the late 1970's / early 1980's though there are a few slightly later ones hidden in there. At first glance the tape drives on the far left of the second photo look like IBM 3420's (mid/late 1970's) but a closer look reveals they are a 3rd party equivalent, the youtube video moves around too fast in the machine room to make out the manufacturers name. The 1980s fits in with the dates on some of the computer printouts in the video too.
The 3278 proved that someone in manufacturing had a sense of humor. Underneath the screen there is a cover that can be removed to reveal the large 'D' type keyboard connector, a BNC socket for the data coax, the usual kettle lead style power connector and a power supply fuse. Next to the fuse was a small label 'fuse 2amp slow blow p/n945374', the normal cause of a blown fuse was a defective power supply so the engineer would usually order a new power supply and half a dozen fuses. The next day a power supply would arrive - along with a little bag containing six labels. Still makes me smile even now. Mike |
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Falling into the trap of thinking IBM was being helpful!
David |
Re: Vintage computers abandoned in factory
We had a Systime PDP11 clone when I was at college 1987-88 with terminals in various buildings. 6 months after I'd left, I read in the 'Sentinel' about their new computer system, along with a picture of a huge skip in the carpark, filled to overflowing with all the terminals, printers, disc pack drives etc. All for the scrap man.
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With all those tapes and files left lyying around I guess data and IP rights protection wasn't much of a consideration for them back then.
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Re: Vintage computers abandoned in factory
A sad end to a once thriving employer. If it was privately owned, they may have just decided to close it down and abandon it. These days we're used to everything being picked clean by liquidators before the demolition men move in, a well rehearsed routine sadly.
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Re: Vintage computers abandoned in factory
One company I worked for, were bought out, and the new parent company was going to abandon the existing (expensive) London based premises. Unusually, they allowed the staff to have pretty much anything they wanted, as long as they were willing to remove it before the leasing company bought in the clearance people.
I took the Ford Galaxy (with the 5 rear seats removed) into central London on a Saturday, and helped myself to quite a bit of useful kit that day. Office chairs, laser printers, and yes, a few interesting items that will one day be 'vintage' equipment. Good times. |
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I have some Dexion shelving and a Kaymar workbench acquired when my employer abandoned a service centre during a reorganisation.
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Re: Vintage computers abandoned in factory
I think they're the Memorex tape subsystem 3220/3228
see here : https://mrxhist.org/docs/Ronc_5522.pdf along with IBMs 3420 tape drives, a wonder of mechanical tape transport - able to open the tape spool case, thread the tape and then shuffle it back and forth at alarming speed past a bi-directional capstan and up and down two vacuum columns. Mesmerising to watch ! Andy |
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Good grief, I've been looking for years for a 327X keyboard :(
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I was wondering some time back as to what to do with a number of DEC VT100 terminals. A friend who runs an underground bunker as a museum was glad to have them and set them up for punters to message each other. Despite the damp conditions, it seems they are still working years on!
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