News of the collection
25 June 2008.
Been given a Superbrain with a C compiler from Jonathan Stopes-Roe. Planning to pick up a 1960's transistor computer from the ex nuclear PowerStation on Anglesey - more when I have it.
4 June 2008.
Mike Ross (Core Store) has some pictures of his move here http://www.corestore.org/coremove.htm.
2 June 2008.
Had a large donation from the Core Store (Mike Ross). Includes a Convex C220 super computer, IBM AS400, Dec VT52, Apollo Domain, SGI Crimson. He is moving his collection to the US, so these were left over - thanks Mike! Pictures on soon. Take a look on his site http://www.corestore.org/convex.htm
22 May 2008.
The new shed is now sorted and moved a pile of stuff out of another shed and rediscovered a bunch of stuff. Will sort this soon. I have secured a transistor computer from a nuclear power station, and some other machines... watch this space.
23 March 2008.
Nice to hear about the 25th anniversary of the BBC. I have updated the information on the ICL system 25 thanks to a contributor. Working on a new shed(!), so some re-organisation (and discovery of lost machines) will take place over the next few months.
Have added a nice HP machine, and a smallish SGI Origin 2000 to the collection (thanks Stuart!), with RAID and DLT tape. Will list in the next few days.
I have acquired a brilliant Heathkit Analogue computer from the 1960's too.
1 Jan 2008
Happy new year!
Added the web pages for the new machines. Finally added a nice Sinclair ZX80 to the collection. Obtained a Sun 3/150 and a small Dec 11/73 for the collection.
15 December 2007
A few new additions. A Philips P354 an accounting machine from the early 1970s, and an IBM 5360 which is a small accounting machine, both from the Nederland. Also two mechanical adding machines. All will be up on the site soon. After a talk at Hull I was given a Rekursive single board machine, this is a rather special card that was the result of a research programme and never got anywhere.
21 October 2007
Its been a busy time. A Vax 11/780 has arrived, a machine that I have been after for ages. Its not complete, but its great!. I also go a husky portable military system and a master graphics art worker machine (that turned out to be a PET in a big box) from Westland helicopters. I have added all these to the site so you can take a look.
24 September 2007
A new Vax cluster arrives in the collection - made up of Vax 4000 and 3000 machines.
Parts of the collection to be shown at the University of York open day, 5th October.
13 September 2007
Great news, Cray US helped out and sent me a plug for the Cray EL98 machine. The system now boots up mostly OK. Just the main OS does not run (pity!). Working on that. (Richard Jennison also fixed the broken power supply... thanks!).
Also got a new Prime and a nice ICL machine. More on that when I get a moment.
Lots of other nice machines are possible, under discussion, watch this space.
26 June 2007
Well, the Cray almost works - found out that it has a plug missing from the control unit, that tells the machine that its a double cabinet machine. Without it, I dont think there is much hope of getting it going all the way. Just about boots the OS. Any one who has a double cabinet EL98, can I copy this plug! Its hidden in the main control box (the one with the big red button on), and is plugged into the upper ribbon cable - you will see it if you look inside. The other two EL98s sort of run also now.
Also added some recollections on the Elliott 903.
14 June 2007
Cray EL98 is a now booting most of the way, just a few more minor problems to solve!
29 May 2007
Have acquired a nice ACT Sirius 1 with software and manuals, working.
The Cray EL98 that I got from London is now just about working. Problem on one Power supply unit, but boots off the front end processor.
6 May 2007
Have taken delivery of a Commodore 8032 (pet like) machine, an IBM PC 500 System/390 - a small PC mainframe. These have been added to the web site.
Also a very large collection (over 40 home machines and magazines) from David Harrison.
24 Feb 2007
Added some information on the Cray and SGI machines. I have acquired another SGI Origin 2000 from the University of York. This machine was one I bought in 1997.
30 Dec 2006
Its been a good Christmas. I am to collect two Origin 2000 supercomputers from York, a Cray EL98 from London. I bought a SC/MP development system from Holland, and was given an iMAC by my sister. The SC/MP has been added to the web site so far.
12 Nov 2006
Four new machines and a massive collection of games added to the collection (over 1000 cassettes). The machines were two MZ80A, and A Tatung Einstein and a Genie 1.
At some point I will list all the games, also they include a good set of cover disks that add to the magazines nicely.
Oct 2006
Computer collection on show at University of York in the Computer Science open day. Added more magazines.
18 Aug 2006
Added a list of the 1800 magazines in the collection.
New donation of a Hewart 6800 from Peter Appleyard.
10 Aug 2006
Collection (and me!) filmed for BBC 10.00pm news to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch IBM PC 5150 PC, new page added about this.
7 Aug 2006
Shed getting sorted with nice shelves for display.
12 July 2006
Collection filmed for Discovery TV programme "How did we get here?" this is to go out early next year. Click here for details and photos!
28 June 2006
Computer collection gets filmed for a part of a programme on TV! More details later. Got PET 2001 and a Apple IIe going. Got data off the Covnex machines broken console machine.
22 April 2006
Sun 3/280 arrived, lots of terminals too. Also new MicroVaxII and a Sinclair spectrum + 2.
8 April 2006
Awaiting a new Sun for the collection. Added some Nascom manuals and some software for the Altair.
22 Jan 2006
One of my own computers has arrived in the collection. I have been working on neural network machines for some time (see University web site). Cortex I is a neural network associative memory machine, containing about 30 PCI neural network cards. Its now been superseded by Cortex II (sold by Cybula Ltd. www.cybula.com).
8 Oct 2005
Vast collection of old HP machines arrives - it will take me ages to sort. Thanks go to Bryce Kearey who carefully collected and looked after these machines. With this the collection has about 440 machines.
26 September 2005
The IBM S/360 Enterprise Server Generation 5 - has arrived! Thanks to Pete Turnbull and Mark Lodge we got it out of the lorry.
Take a look here.
4 September 2005
Really bad news, Freeserve deleted my account. Now moved to demon, and so all should be back - new domain name registered - pity about the last one. All those who have it will not find me any more.
So PS3 is now converted to a nice snug shed. First class job done. Just need to put down the raised floor then we can kit it out. May be delayed a bit as I am doing some work on a land rover for a short while.
Next delivery is an IBM mainframe from Warwick University, that should come in the next week or so. More details then.
A big collection of HPs is awaiting collection, that should be a great addition to the collection.
April 2005
Bought a MONROE 990 calculator, Nixi tube and discrete login, 1971 machine, very nice.
A donation of three machines from Brian Tompsett at Hull University, an SGI machine, Data General Nova 2 and an i860 machine --- more details to come.
Seems that I cant keep the Tabulator. Trying to get a home for it in the Computer Science Department (University of York).
The next phase of getting the collection into a nice building is happening, PS3 (pig shed 3) is about to be converted.
March 2005
Have acquired a collection of 11 machines from David Harrison near Brighton. They are:
HP 9000 216, Apple III, Osbourne portable, Superbrain QD, Tandy TRS 80 Model 4, Two IBM 5155 portable PCs, Compaq portable II, LinoType Paul APL 100/200 (apple II in a box) and Commodore PET 2001. All are now on the web site.
Found out that the tabulator belongs to the UK Science museum, seems that they lent it to ICL some time ago. Asking if I can keep it for them.
Jan 2005
A number of Sun Sparc's have been added to the collection along with a quantity of s-bus cards and memory for Suns. A dedicated page to the Elliott 903 has been added with some more details.
Dec 2004
John Copper has contributed a complete HP 1000E system, with two tape drives, 4 disk units, screens, manuals and tapes. This was given by DTZ who wanted it preserved. John Looked after it for 5 years in his front room! See here for details.
Oct 2004
A number of new machines, in particular a mits altair 8800b - great machine in very good condition, some new laptops have been added.
Also a nice Nascom 2 machine, Sinclair ZX Spectrum+, Atari 1024 and an Amstrad128K personal computer.
March 2004
Started work on a new web site. Demo version is at austinfs.fsnet.co.uk/test/Front.htm
Feb 2004
Donation of some small items (Atlas core plane and brushes, IBM and Amdahl chips in resin blocks) by Bob Hopgrove who is working on a web site on the history Atlas Computing Labs (see http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/acl/).
Jan 2004
Added many more details to the IBM 3084 machine and the HP 1000 and 3000 machines that came from Bristol.
December 2003
I have had delivery of a Powers-Samas Tabulator and Sorter, as well as a EMI waveform monitor. Also added pages on madas, Brunsvlga and Bell calculators. Also an avid Xerox 6805 enthusiast sent info on these machines. See the page for details.
Nov 2003
Had a visit from Kevin Haydon with a car full of computers including a Sun 2/120 made by computervision, and a Cadlinc system. Both will be added to the list in due course. Also Gary Morgan decided to clear his house out and donate a few Suns to the collection. Thanks to every one for these.
Some of the guys helped get the Cray T3E back in to PS 2 (Pig Shed 2) for re-commissioning. All cards are now back in place and I now just need a big cable to get 3 phase to it!
June 2003
Two portable computers have been added, kindly donated by David Sterratt from Edinburgh. These are Psion MC400. 1989 portable computers. Also added some pictures of the Jupitor Ace (complete with a moonlander cassett!).
May 2003
Data General Eclipse S/120 and SWTPC S/60, Sun 3/80 machines have been added. The former from Bristol University.
Jan 2003
On Jan 4th, took delivery of Cray T3E AC with 28 Processors from the UK met office. See the main image link to find details.
December 2002
A Convex SPP 1000 super computer has been added. Collected from Tularik Ltd. and given by kind donation. The machine is said to run, but not booted it up yet. Its probably the best looking machine in the collection! Photo to follow.
Just obtained parts from a Pegasus 2 machine (1962 vintage)!
November 2002
Development of a new building to house the machines is continuing with the delivery of 2000 sq feet of raised flooring.
Peter Cowley has donated a Nascom 2 single board computer. One of those 'I remember them' type machines. This is rather nicely housed in a wooden box and has some expansion fitted.