Some computers I have owned

and other stuff
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If you are looking for help with an older computer I recommend the Obsolete Computer Helpline.

Dick Smith System 80. (TRS-80 clone.)


The TRS-80 page is a great resource for System 80 information and programs.

Wang PCs (various configurations)
Wang minicomputer (2 MB RAM, 16 BNC TNC ports, external tape drive)

The IBM System 34 was introduced in 1977 and withdrawn from the market in 1979.

This computer system was advertised on the net. It belonged to an insurance broker in Perth city. Sitting on top of the system unit is a workstation, and to the right of that is a printer. On top of the workstation are some of the manuals. The blacked out section near the top left of the system unit is the door to the floppy drive, which is a jukebox style device that can take 20 x 8" floppy disks.
The workstations and printer connect to the system unit by an IBM method known as Twinax. That particular unit had two 65 meg hard drives.
See http://web.screenart.es/tomeu/mcomputers-S34.php3 for more S34 information.


Honeywell System 8 mini computer (Pre 1980, 48K RAM, 4.9 meg hard drive)

I don't know the vintage of this one, but it is pretty old. You can get an idea of the size from the kitchen chair. The four cabinets are each the same size. The left most cabinet is a "Multi workstation adapter" which allows for up to seven terminals to be connected. On top of that are some of the manuals. Next to that is the hard drive unit. It has two by 14" platters, one fixed and one removable, for a total capacity of 4.9 megabytes. The operators console is next to that with a daisy wheel printer and a qwerty keyboard. On the far right is the CPU cabinet. Sitting on top of the CPU cabinet is a dual software controlled cassette data tape drive. A boot tape is needed to start the computer up.

TRS-80s Model 2, 3, 4, 16.

The TRS-80 page is a great resource for TRS-80 information and programs.

Superbrain CPM with 2 by DSDD 80 track floppy drives.
Various PC ATs (286, 386)
Vimnet unix minicomputer (68020/16MHz, 4 megs RAM, 140 meg HD, 16 tty ports)

Most of my computers came from auctions in Perth.

I recommend auctions as a source of very cheap second hand electronics. One lot I bought was a pallet load of electronic bits that was piled higher than me. It took two trips with my station wagon to get it all home. I got that lot for $10. Dot matrix printers in perfect working order were routinely being sold for $5 each. While I sometimes paid too much for a lot I did manage to sell some things for more than I paid for them. I paid $90 for a lot that contained a 386DX/20 system unit with mouse, telix machine, label maker, ink jet printer, and HP plotter. I was offered, and accepted, $50 each for the printer and the plotter. Another lot for $40 had some 8 and 16 mm film equipment, and three video cameras. I sold one projector for $40. I bought 3 lots for $47. Included was 3 TRS-80s with hard drive units, and an electronic PABX with insruction book and 7 standard telephones. I sold the PABX and 3 phones for $140.