Herb's DEC, DG & other equipment

This page Last updated April 18 2010

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I mostly deal in Mac and old S-100 equipment (pointers later). But I also obtain other old computers in the process. This section of my Web site lists Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC) items, and some systems like Data General and others. Also, we list related equipment like terminals, tape media, SCSI drives and so forth. Some of this equipment was previously listed on my SGI and Sun systems Web page. Despite their age, there is still interest in these systems.

If you are interested in these systems, you might be interested in other older computers. Check my my S-100 Web page to see all my S-100 (Altair, IMSAI, etc.) docs. Also check my Intel Multibus, STDbus and VME lists of docs and hardware I have.Some of these are Sun related.

Meanwhile, I have other activities on this Web site: Check my Home page for links to other sections on Astronomy and Optics; Apple Macinstosh stuff; S-100 computers and 8-inch floppy drives; SGI, Sun and DEC equipment; some "odds and ends" computer stuff; electronic and other test equipment; and personal information.

DEC equipment: systems, accessories, monitors

I acquired some DEC items, including some DEC terminals, and DEC monitors. They have either been tested and appear functional to that extent; or not tested and as are described. I've also did a little work on other people's DEC systems.

DEC systems I've worked on recently

For the MARCH computer museum group, I spent a year developing an exhibit and researching the history of an early PDP-11/20 system. Here's a portion of the Web pages and work I did. The system is on exhibit at MARCH's museum. While working with MARCH, I worked on their Calcomp plotter, my own Calcomp plotter, and got help from other plotter owners.

PDP-8/F system

I picked up a PDP-8/f system some years ago. I'm just starting to work with it in 2009: check this Web page about it.

[LA-30P] Decwriter LA30-P, acquired early 2010. Nice match for the PDP-8. See this page for details.

LINCtape drive

A few years ago, I picked up this DECtape-like drive. In Aug 2009 I realized it's a LINCtape drive, probably produced in 1966 for a LINC computer of the period. Here's the bottom view. Some 2007-08 work on restoring LINC systems was done at Digibarn in northern California. Check the Digibarn site and other Web sites for the history of the LINC computer from its design and production in the late 1960's, through its influence on DEC and their early minicomputers. In August 2009 I'm corresponding with some LINC developers about the drive I have. See this LINC Web page for what I'm doing with this drive.

Flip Chips

[flip chips] In July 2009 I acquired a few early DEC "Flip Chips". This is a DEC trademark name for their logic modules of the 1960's and 70's. Each small circuit board has one or a few logic or analog functions. The earliest are transistor; most are TTL based. The PDP12.org Web site has a list of DEC modules, such as this list of G-series modules.

DM32 - TTL module, not DEC brand, built in 1971
G126 - dual 1KHz flip flop, built in 1972
G193 - programmable divider, built in 1969
G134 - one shot (pulse generator)
G192 - ???, built in 1970

PDP 11/73 systems!

I have two Micro 11/73 systems, rack mount. Both systems have TK50 tape drives, not tested. 1MB or 2MB memory apparently. Both come up and display at the console terminal. One has RSX-11 running some kind of "spectrometer" control/data acq. application; the other has a bad RD53A (Micropolis 1325D) MFM hard drive which shuts down. But the serial console is responsive andit runs through the start-up diagnostics.Check this Web page for photos and descriptions.

PGT System 4 with LSI-11

[PGT System 4] A few years ago I acquired a Princeton Gamma Tech "System 4", which includes an LSI-11 board and other QBus cards, in a "small" rack system with color monitor and keyboard. The purpose of these systems were to acquire & analyze signals and control a liquid nitrogen cooled x-ray detector mounted in a SEM (scanning electron microscope) port. When I got the computer system (but not the SEM!) it powered up and boots their operating software, which does chemical analysis. We disassembled this system in 2008 but kept the boards, rack, and monitor and drives. Look at this Web page for parts and details.

Alcyon system

I have an Alcyon computer system, a non-DEC Qbus design with a 68000 processor. Check this Web page for details.

PDP-11 repair pulls

PDP-11 repair pulls In late 2005 I got some boards originally from PGT, which built some PDP-11 based equipment and so still serviced it. Many are tagged "good (some date)". But I can't test so sold AS IS. "SMS" is Scientific Micro Systems.

(four) SMS boards w/40 pin connector. dual width labled FAB 0003772-0001/f, 10011939-00001P, 0003770-0001F, 4220-0001. probably disk controller?
(two) SMS boards, quad width, 0004220-C, has flatcable connectors for 50 pin, 2X20 pin, 34 pin, 40 pin. 8085 chip, AM2910 chip. 1985 date codes

DEC M8192, dual width, KDJ11-A Processor (2) boards, 1991 chip dates
DEC M7504, dual width, DEQNA. With apparent test or loopback jumper.

Sigma, dual width, 400200 looks like quad serial card, with TR1865 chips.
quad width extender card. (1) has board edge connector, (1) does not.
Clearpoint RAM board, quad width QRAM-2 SAB-1. has 18 X 8 array of socketed TMS4256-15NL which I read as 256K 150ns DRAMs

Princeton Gamma Tech, TV-3I or TV-3K board. Quad width, twelve 2114's, five ROMs, AD7541 chips.
- I/O of some kind, 1 40pin, 2 20 pin connectors. (3) boards
Princeton Gamma Tech, IBD II, TMS (32)4256-12 DRAMs (soldered) 40 pin connector.(3) Boards.
Princeton Gamma Tech, Model 4000 DAC driver 61-723-A. TVC, MEG1 MEG2 are noted on the board
-- three 40 pin, one 10pin "monitor" and one 20-pin connector. three TRW 84221P chips.

In March 2006 I acquired some DEC boards, mostly quad width, probably small VAX stuff. references to KA630 suggest MicroVax II systems. Condition unknown but look physically OK, they were nicely anti-stat bagged and labled. Sold AS IS. Prices modest, in 2006 these are apparently being dumped by the dealers.

M7608 BP, quad width, "4Meg" lable. 50-16495-01, 144 count of 256Kbit RAM chips M5M4256P-15.
M7608 similar to above "4Meg for KA630"
M7608 similar to above
M7609 quad width "8 Meg" lable. Piceon 3MC94V0, SIP RAM chips.
M7606 -AF quad width, 5016523 01 E1. Apparently MicroVAX/VAXstation II CPU
M7606 as above "KA630"
M7606 as above
M7168 quad width 5016745-01. hasd 32 each M5M4464AP-12 RAMs
M7169 quad width. with 7168, apparently the VCB02-B 4-plane (16 colors) video system.
M3104 "DHV11 8 line"
M7602, quad width, apparently a graphics board.

DEC core memory boards

Among my core memory collection, in May 2009 I stumbled across this pair: a H219A core memory card and attached G649A Core x-y driver & sense/inhibit card. Don't know if they work of course; and "pdp-8.org"'s list of modules says this pair is "too slow for an 8/E" and presumably too slow my PDP-8/F. Additionally, the faster 8/A has the necessary hex bus width backplane and as an option the power supply to power this core. So, these boards are available as they won't fit my (or any other) 8/f system.

I also have two H217 PDP-11 core boards. One is a H217-B, one a H217-C. Here's the front and here's the rear of them. -B or -C look the same. The "lists" say "16-Kword 16-bit memory stack (with G114 and G235)", but I think one of these is 18-bit.

Vax 3500 system cards



I picked up a Vax system model 3500 a few years ago. It powered up and at the terminal displayed and provided diagnotics via the console serial port; it has 32Mb of RAM, an RK71 cartridge tape drive, a SCSI controller and a small internal SCSI drive, and some networking capability.

As of Sept 2005, I pulled the cards and power supplies. The card list is below:
Make offer for one or all cards, plus shipping
KA650-AA, two cards M7620-AA and M7621-AA, MicroVax IIICPU, w/serial console cable
(3)MS650-AA, the memory
DESQA-SA M3127-PA (thin thick Ethernet)
DELQA-SA M7516-PA, more ethernet?
TQK70 M7559-00, the tape controller
KDA50 M7164-00 dual SDI disk controller
KDA50 M7165-00 goes with above module
..and what is probably two power supplies, one from either end of the cage.

Data General systems

In late July 2005 I acquired four Data General Nova 4 systems. They were banged up a bit but appeared to be intact. They were set up for 220V AC operation. Indications are these were built in the late 1980's, they may have been operating in the mid 1990's. I sold two of them in 2007, and traded the other two (detailed below) in 2008. I've kept in touch with the person who has the two. If anyone else interested in them I can pass along any inquiries. The 2008 recipient intends to work on them.

For identification, read this quote from Carl Friend's site:

"Three models of Nova 4 were produced, the Nova 4/C, 4/S and the 4/X. The 4/S was the "standard" machine without a memory map and supported a maximum of 32 kW of mainstore. The 4/X, for "eXtended", had a map and could have up to 128 kW of mainstore. Hardware multiply/ divide was optional on both models. The map and MDV options were "adds" to the microcode control store. 4s came in both 5 and 16 slot backplane models. The Nova 4/C is a "compact" 4 which has the mainstore on the CPU card; the others used separate memory boards."

#3 Nova 4 system s/n E1134982 obtained fairly intact as follows: SOLD MAY 2006
interlan NI4010A ethernet card
MS-10 card, apparently serial/parallel card as described above
MCT-2410 from Microtech as described above
DGC 12V0 20711, CPU and memory card, 4 banks of 8 chips, 8116 RAM
power supply at bottom of cage 220 VAC

#4 Nova 4 system s/n E136518 obtained fairly intact as follows:SOLD MAY 2006
E-NEt PC10 ethernet card with 80C186 processor, (c)1992
MS-10 card rev AD, apparently serial/parallel card as described above
MCT-2410 rev Cfrom Microtech serial card as described above
DGC 12V0 20712, CPU and memory card power supply at bottom of cage 220V AC

Contact me if you have an interest in the above.

Terminals

Tektronix 4001 graphics display terminal. This is the small model, green screen about 10 inches diagonal. Got it April 2001, at that time it would power up but was not functional. These were used in the 1970's for graphics, X-Y or vector drawing not raster scan.

LSI ADM-3A terminals

LSI ADM-3A terminals, the little blue Lear/Seigler terminals so popular and cheap in the early 1970's! A few available, let me know of your interest, but we don't plan to give them away. These will have lower case text, display 80 X 24 characters, and have basic cursor control and scrolling. Here's a 2008-date WEb page about the ADM-3a.

Units we sell will be clean and working as described, with little cosmetic damage to cabinet and keyboard. Price will depend on the CRT display. Our "best CRT" will have modestly bright and unfuzzy text; our "good CRT" will have dim but usable text, some "mottled" CRT problems. Our "poor CRT" will have CRTs which are working but too dim and not usable, or with a lot of screen burn, and/or a lot of "mottled" problems. Terminals with good or poor CRTs are intended for CRT replacement. Also, some of these CRT's are obscured by a "mottled" or "moldy" appearance. This is due to some changes in the material between the front glass plate and the CRT, not the front which can be cleaned. The material between the layers is a kind of gel, which over time LOOKS like it is getting moldy and translucent. Here's a slightly mottled CRT and text. I have some CRT's which look like partially frosted glass.

Please don't ask for "perfect" or "like new", these are 20-25 years old! We test for basic functions but we don't guarantee EVERY function or EVERY feature. Cover for DIP switches NOT INCLUDED.

Here's some images of a "best CRT" ADM-3A terminal:
the front
the back
the side
the CRT's light "burn in" It is less noticable than this photo suggests.
the back ID plate and connectors
the screen with text displayed
the quality of character display

Prices will depend on what we have available, our time available, and market value. But in 2009 a price for ANY ADM-3A would be no less than $149 plus shipping. We will also charge $15 for handling and packing, plus actual shipping costs. This covers packing materials and box, to protect these fragile CRT's in transit. THIS IS NOT A CURRENT OFFER OR QUOTE and WILL change. Shipping weight for an ADM-3A terminal is 45 lbs; that and your location relative to New Jersey USA will determine shipping costs.

For weak or cosmetically damaged CRTs, replacements have been available from a CRT vendor. These will have thinner fronts. The glass on these terminals is about 3/16 inch back from the cover. The CRT's on my ADM-3a's have an extra heavy (1/16 inch + thick) added glass plate "glued" over the tube glass. The "glue" seems to be quite thick (1/16 inches +), and over the years develops opaque "spots" or areas which look like "mold" but is probably not. Replacement CRT's can be made flush by adding a few washers, spacers, and / or elongating 2 holes in the original aluminum clips which hold in the tube.

The typical ADM-3A CRT is Samsung 12ZBY4N, white phosphor. If you plan to replace the CRT with a new/unused one, we can refer you to a source for CRT's. As of 2008 a rebuilt CRT was offered by them for $75 plus shipping. VDC1201DPWFBE (white phosphor) was one model they provided a 2008 customer. (Note: they shipped UPS and the first tube arrived broken. Advise them accordingly to improve packing, ask for double-boxing, consider FedEx.) For a fee plus CRT costs we MAY be able to replace a CRT in a terminal we sell you; but we'd charge labor plus cost of CRT and its shipping - over $100.

Some ADM manuals are available as photocopies, ask for costs of a copy:
..ADM-2 operator's handbook, polling descript. 80 pgs (half sized)
..ADM-3A operator's handbook, 50 pgs (half sized)
..ADM-3A Maintenance Manual, schematics, 110 pgs (full size)
Prices depend on whether you want full page copies, or half-page copies. Please describe the manuals and format you want.

Electrolabs ESAT 200B terminal card Docs only. 12 pages, no schematics.
--- also includes price list, 4 pages on 10MBy tape controller card.

Other terminal manuals:
Hazeltine 1400/1410 reference manual, 45 pages, no schematics.
Teleray 10 series CRT Data terminal, Research Inc
Freedom 200 User's Manual, Liberty
Freedom 200 VDT User's manual, Liberty
Tlevideo 950 Operator's Manual
TECO TM-12 PC miontor, Data Electronics Devices
MicroScan 5aP, 5EP Intelligent Display System, ADI

Printer manuals

Xerox 800 800 C ETS documenation for their daisy wheel printer. Schematics and other technical docs. Service manual. COpies of copies. Ask for a descripion.

Omingraphic series 2000 X-Y recorder manual 24 pages with schematic.

SCSI drives

We have some small SCSI hard drives from our SGI systems. We don't reformat and retest these on SGI systems; we will see about other testing methods. But we can pull working drives from our various SGI and Sun systems and offer them as follows below. The "SCSI-1" drives have the old 50-pin flatcable connector used on Indy's and such; the "SCSI-2" have the D-shaped 68 pin connector such as used on O2's.

1GB SCSI-1, 1" tall, working, from SGI systems: $xx plus shipping, ask
2GB SCSI-1, 1" tall, working, from SGI systems: $xx plus shipping, ask
4GB SCSI-1, 1" tall, working from SGI systems; $xx plus shipping, ask

I have several of the following drives, from a SCSI array:
micropolis 2217: 1.7Gb formatted, 5400 RPM, 10ms avr seek. $20 plus shipping
Micropolis 4221: 2.0Gb formatted, 7200 RPM, 8.9ms avr seek. $25 plus shipping
Both drives are "half height", typical 3.5 inch drives about an inch tall.
These drives have the usual 50-pin flat cable (SCSI-1) connector on them.

Stackable CD-ROM cabinets with drives, the cases "lock" together. Each case has an independent power supply and a pair of SCSI-1 connectors. We also have short SCSI-1 cables to connect them together. Add $10 to include the CD-ROM drive.
one CD-ROM case, 3.5" high, SCSI-1. $15.
two CD-ROM case, case 7" high, SCSI-1. $20.

We have a few Insite SCSI 3.5" floppy drives, I325VM, untested. check this linked Web page for specifics.

External SCSI hard drives with SCS1-1 type connectors (like on the Indigo, the "Centronics" 50-pin D) are available on my Mac Web page's SCSI drive section.

We have several Toshiba 4X CD-ROM drives, model XM-5301B. Some SGI-supporting Web sites say that these are compatible with some SGI systems (one says not the Indigo 2). I have them available, check this link to my Mac section for prices and availability. Let me know if these are good for SGI's or not.

It seems some of my old Mac/Apple drives will also support some old DEC equipment. The Apple CD150 drive for instance is actually a Sony CDU-541-25 drive. The Apple CD-300 drive is actually a Sony CR-503C. I also have some 4X Toshiba XM-5301B drives. Check other sources to see if these drives can be used on your old DEC equipment.

SCSI-2 external drives, cases, cables, terminators

"SCSI-2" refers to the SMALL narrow D-shaped 50-pin connector. (NOT the LARGE 50-pin Centronics SCSI-1 connector!) The following are small white cabinets for external SCSI 2 drives. General measurements: about 10 or 11 inches wide by 10 or 11 inches long, 3 inches tall for the one-drive cabinets. They include an AC power supply, and they use a standard "computer" A/C power cord. While these held 5.25 inch SCSI drives, you can add "rails" to fit 3.5-inch SCSI drives. Cabinets have SCSI address switches but the wiring for these may not fit your drive's SCSI address jumpers. Prices do not include shipping. Shipping weight for single-drive cabinets is about 9 lbs; for double-drive cabinets about 12 lbs.

Photos of the one-drive cabinet:
Here's the outside; here's the inside; here's the back with SCSI-2 connectors.

external SCSI CD-ROM drives
SGI Grey cabinet, SCSI-1 connector (Centronix 50 pin) with Toshiba XM-5701 12X CD-ROM drives.
....Two units but only one power supply, has 5V & 12V three pin connector.
....CD-ROM drive and A/C supply $45 plus shipping. Drive only, $35 plus shipping.
PLextor PX-12TSe external CD-ROM, 12X drive, SCSI-2 connector. $35 plus shipping.
Glyph external CD-ROM, SCSI-2 connector, caddy-type drive. $25 plus shipping.
For more external SCSI CD-ROM drives, check my Apple Macintosh drives page

I have a number of SCSI-2 cables and terminators available. Contact me about SPECIFIC cable needs, especially for the drives and systems on this page.
SCSI-2 to SCSI-2, 12 inches to 24 inches, $8 with drive, $12 without.
SCSI-2 to SCSI-2, greater than 2 foot, $15 with drive, $20 without.
SCSI-2 passive terminator, $3 with drive, $6 without

Digital tape drives

Also check my odds Web page, for data tape media and drives.

Links to useful sites

This list is far from comprehensive. A Google search will find many good Web sites regarding the items listed on this page.

The Linux MIPS Web site has info on running Linux on SGI systems. Go there for details. It may be a little dated. There is a mailing list there. A voice says "plugh".

DBIT company supports PDP-11 emulation and also running PDP-11 cards from Intel/Pentium based computers. Check there for details.

References

My references for SGI, Sun and other sales are on my SGI Web page.

Herb Johnson
New Jersey, USA
follow this link to email @ me

Copyright © 2009 Herb Johnson