This is my top-10 most wanted list — the Vintage computer hardware (or software) that I’m looking to acquire. These are all things that I would feature on my Blog if/when I acquire these items. If you have something on this list, then please let me know — you can respond by leaving a comment here, or email me direct at smbaker@gmail.com. Donations will usually make it on my youtube channel, and there are things that I would be interested in outright purchasing, if the price is reasonable.
The list below is not necessarily ordered.
Convergent Technologies Integrated Workstation (IWS)
I’ve done a ton of projects with the Convergent Technologies NGEN and a few with the AWS. The IWS is like an AWS on steroids. It has the same lectern design for the main unit, but with the provision for Multibus cards (my other hobby) and often makes use of external 8 inch drives. I actually saw one of these back in the day, at my Dad’s office. I remember it clearly because it looked like the AWS, but had the large free-standing drive units.
Intel MDS-800 or Model 220/225/230 development system
These were 8080 development systems with internal Multibus slots. They are big blue boxes. Multibus has been one of my hobbies, and I created a pseudo-MDS-800 by using a Multibus backplane, adding an emulated disk interface and display interface, etc. It would be nice to have the real thing.
Sharp PC-5000 with the CE-510F or a CE0513F external drive
I’m part way there. I have a PC-5000 but the display is really shot, so I need either a new LCD panel, or a donor PC-5000, or a good working one. Plus I really could use the disk unit for it. The reason I’m so interested in the PC-5000 is that it is another example of bubble memory technology.
Heathkit Hero 2000
These do show up on eBay from time to time, but the cost is always more than I can justify. I owned a Hero Jr back in the 80s, and I briefly owned a Hero 1 as well. The Hero 2000 was a more professional education robot that was a little bit closer in industrial appearance than the Hero 1 and the Hero Jr.
Votrax Votalker and the software that goes with it
I have a Artic SynPhonix which seems to be a very similar card, but the Votalker would be the ones that Votrax themselves sells. I know at least one person who owns a card, but to my knowledge nobody has the software for it. This is an ISA card for PC-Compatibles.
Epson TF-20 “Terminal Floppy”
The TF-20 is the external floppy drive that goes with the epson HX-20 portable computer. I have a few HX-20s that I have featured on my blog before, but the TF-20 remains elusive. One did pop on my eBay watch list once, but it was gone before I had a chance to buy it.
Rare Multibus cards and Multimodules
As mentioned above, I’m a big fan of Multibus. I’ve restored a few Multibus systems, as well as invented my own Multibus boards and multimodules. I’m looking for anything unique and intresting, especially alternative CPUs (there is a Z-8000 board, and I know at least one person has one) and speech synthesis boards.
Heathkit H-11
I had a lot of fun restoring the Heathkit H8. The H-11 has a superficially similar appearance. It’s like a kit version of the Dec PDP-11. It’d be fun to build one of these.
Heathkit H-10
This is the paper punch / reader that goes with the H8 and H11. I did have some fun using alternative paper tape punches, such as an industrial CNC unit and my aki typesetter, but I would love to have the H10, which is actually designed to go with the H8, and matches its aesthetics. I have seen these show up on eBay a few times, but I was never quite in the financial place that I could justify one.
Datavue SNAP 1+1 Memory add-on board
The SNAP 1+1 is a unique DOS laptop in that it can be split into two parts, one of the a diskless laptop with internal memory, and the other part being the FDD/HDD expansion unit. The really take advantage of this capability though you need an additional add-on card that goes in the diskless part, which includes an additional 512K and an internal NiCd battery. I have a SNAP 1+1, so I’m part way there, but I don’t have the add-on card. I owned one of these SNAP 1+1 computers back in the day, hence my fondness for it. I could also use the power brick.
Grid 2101 Hard Drive / Floppy Drive
I have a 2107 (tempest version of the 2102) for my Grid Compass. That’s a floppy unit. They also made the 2101, which featured both a floppy and a hard drive. This can all be obsoleted by an economical BlackGPIB raspberry pi based device, but it would be fun to have the real thing.
AT&T 3B1 / UNIX PC / 7300 Parts and Expansion cards
I have a 7300, but there are several things that I am either missing or I would like to add. These include the ethernet adapter board and the keyboard cable. I have the keyboard. I have the computer. I just don’t have the cable that goes between them, and I haven’t had the chance to fabricate one yet.
Convergent Technologies NGEN Modules (XBUS Cards) / aka Burroughs B25 modules
I made a youtube video series on the NGEN, and I have a nice selection of NGEN modules, but there are several that I still need including:
- Color Graphics Module
- Ethernet Module (I have a prototype, but I can’t seem to get it to work).
- QIC Tape Module (I have one, but it doesn’t work)
- Voice Processor / TeleCluster
- B25-1PC – PC Emulator
Rockwell AIM-65/40
I have an AIM-65 and made a nice youtube video on it, and I designed a few cards for it. The 65/40 has a wider display than the 65.
Most Wanted List successes
Here is a short list of things that were on my list that I’ve managed to acquire.
- Convergent AWS. The little brother to the IWS. Mine came with a display that was shot, but I managed to successfully restore it.
- Grid Compass. The holy grail of portable bubble memory computers. 384 KB of internal bubble memory storage.
- “Trump Card” Z-8000 IBM PC coprocessor. This was a Ciarcia Circuit Celler project that was commercialized. An add-in card for the IBM PC. Finding the card was hard enough, but finding the software was even harder.