The Jim Austin Computer Collection
Digital PDP 8/A400
This machine was obtained in March 2010, where it came from Peter Sinclaire, who still fixed the systems. Here is a sound byte of an ASR 33 teletype and the reel to reel paper tape system running.
The full spec is as follows:
H9300 Chassis and Backplane
G8018 Core Regulator
KK8-A (M8315) CPU Module Board
MM8-AB 16K Core Memory (G650)
DKC8-AA I/O (M8316)Option Board
KM8-A (M8317) Extended Option Board
KC8-AA Programmers Console
Limited Function Panel
A remex tape reader came with the system, type RRS7200 BEI/660/D-A/U000
Paper tapes:
Manuals:
A note from the previous owner:
I have salvaged the original fans for the above. They are dated August/Sept 1978. This would make the production date of the computer 1979. I have noticed over the years that most of the computers that were fitted to the machines had small test labels with 1979 dates on them so I think you can be quite confident of the date. There were a few that were built later but they were fitted with a current trip instead of the fuse.
Unless Charmilles bought a large number of computers in advance of production, DEC must have had a lot of PDP8s in store because my records show that the machine (EF-330 ser/no 1215) was not built until July/August 1981. It was then exported from the USA to Switzerland where it remained in store until early 1983.
In March 1983 it was sold to Middlesex Polytechnic and the installation was completed on the 6th April. It was in regular use there until June 2001. After this date Middlesex University, as it had then become, closed down their Engineering School. The machine was sold to a tool dealer a few months later. At this time the machine had done about 1200 machining hours.
In early 2002 the machine was sold to a new own owner, Davjon Engineering Ltd in Essington near Wolverhampton. The machine was re-commissioned on 29th March. It was used occaisionally, clocking up about another 1000 hours until the business closed in early 2010. The machine was last used in October 2009.
The system was a part of the machine shown below, a wire cutting systme that cut very thick steel. Its said that these are still running (2010).
The Remex tape drive can be seen in the middle picture below.
