Hi Christian,
Get any takers yet? I might be interested in one of the PDP 11 machines, or
the VAX 750 if you don't want it. Maybe the VAX 730 but that's a bit iffy.
Drop me a note and let me know.
Dave
> ----------
> From: Christian Fandt[SMTP:cfandt_at_servtech.com]
> Reply To: classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu
> Sent: July 03, 1998 6:05 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: DEC Bonanza! Anybody want a system??
>
> Okay gang, here's the story:
>
> A week ago on Wednesday I literally stumbled across a Usenet advertisement
> listing a VAX 11/750, PDP's, etc available for sale. It was *nearby*!
> (Well, 50 miles is 'close' compared to any other DEC classics I've seen
> for
> sale.) And it was in what is generally considered an even more backwater
> area in north-western Pennsylvania! I therefore humbly apologize for the
> rant a couple of weeks ago stating that virtually nothing of interest to
> me
> is available around me.
>
> To make a short story long, I contacted him regarding buying any RT-11
> documentation he may have plus I made an offer on the hardware listed. He
> replied saying my offer was acceptable (Great! :-)). Plus, he said he had
> more stuff available. We talked on the phone and he mentioned another
> system available. Yet other hardware was put into my pile. When I got
> there, and after he had a chance to go thru a storage room, more hardware!
>
> Well, yesterday (3 July) I took a rental truck with a 15' x 7.5' box and
> my
> uncle, who's in town for the holiday, to pickup the gear. Only truck
> available in the area amongst 8 rental truck shops. I thought it might be
> more than large enough. I came back home with that thing actually
> *stuffed*
> full, all for my original bid. NOW there probably is nothing of interest
> left around my area <g>.
>
> We spent about 6.5 hours loading the stuff. Hauled down from second floor
> via elevator, through building and down a sidewalk to parking lot. Thank
> Heaven the truck had a hydraulic lift gate. Took 2.5 hours to offload into
> the garage.
>
> Now I have two problems:
>
> 1. My wife. She was not too happy with how the amount of equipment grew
> from what was originally expected. Can you blame her?
>
> 2. My garage. It now is completely full! We've just moved into that house
> on 28 March. Beverly wants to park her Jeep in the garage. (See problem
> #1)
>
> Why did I take such a large amount of equipment? The person selling had no
> other persons seriously interested. Somebody wanted the uVAX but never
> followed through to close a deal. Recall I said that this was a really
> backwater area. Nobody like us types in ClassicCmp around there for sure
> even though he advertised the DEC stuff in the area newspapers, as I
> understand him saying, in addition to at least several newsgroups
> (pgh.forsale is the one I stumbled onto while searching DejaNews for
> anything about RT-11). He had to close out his offices because he's
> located
> in California now. Obviously could not take the DEC stuff with him as
> you'll understand from the list below. He and his wife are going back home
> to California Monday or Tuesday.
>
>
> Therefore, the dumpster would be the final location of this equipment.
>
> So, this has turned into one of those Classic Computer Rescues to which
> some of the members of this list dedicate themselves.
>
> Problem number 3: I cannot keep everything (again, check the length and
> content of the list below and problem #1 above). This is where you folks
> can help!
>
> So, please contact me to come and get some of this equipment for
> yourselves
> or others. This is urgent as I need to clear out the garage again.
>
> We got done unloading just before dark last night. Today, I made just a
> quick list of major pieces to post. Had NO time yet to look at stuff
> further.
>
> Here's the list. See notes below list.
>
> 1. VAX 11/750-CA
> 2. TU80 and RA81 in short rack, p/o the 750.
> 3. RA81 in short rack, p/o the 750.
> 4. PDP-11/24 with two RL02s in short rack.
> 5. PDP-11/34A
> 6. RK07 in short rack, p/o -11/34A.
> 7. RK07 in short rack, p/o -11/34A.
> 8 VAX 11/730-CA. Covers off chassis, may not work.
> 9. PDP-11/34 in 6'rack w/TS03 and RL01-A.
> 10. RK07 in short rack.
> 11. RK07-PA rack (rack only)
> 12. RK07 not in rack. Said to possibly not work.
> 13. RA60-AA in short rack.
> 14. BA-11 chassis, with several boards inside.
> 15. BA-11 chassis, with several boards inside.
> 16. BA-11 chassis, with several boards inside in a short rack.
> 17. 1-LP25 Band Printer
> 18. 3 units: Decwriter III (LA120? gotta check this)
> 19. 1-Decwriter II
> 20. 4 units: VT100 terminals
> 21. 1-VT220 terminal
> 23. 2-ADM 11 terminals
> 24. RL02, no rack.
> 25. RL02, no rack.
> 26. RL02, no rack.
> 27. RL02, no rack, marked "Bad?".
> 28. RL01-A, no rack.
> 29. RX02-BA, no rack.
>
> 30. RL02 in short rack w/some sort of Genigraphics chassis.
> 31. MicroPDP-11
> 32. MicroVAX II
> 33. Empty 6' rack from old -11/34, labeled Model H960-CF.
> 34. Empty 6' rack from something else, labeled Model SM-30LLA-LA.
> 35. Bunches of tapes for the various systems. I gotta sort through them
> first!
> 36. Bunches of RL01 and RL02 disc paks. Several RK07 paks. I gotta sort
> through them!
> 37. 7' tall tape storage rack.
> 38. About 10 to 15 shelf-feet of DEC documentation.
> 39. Bunch of spare Unibus and Q-bus boards.
>
> End.
>
> Notes:
> * I refer to 'short rack' or simply 'rack' as the one which is about 4'
> tall. Same styling as VAX cabinet, etc. as some of you already know.
>
> * The -11/34A, -11/24 and 750 booted okay the day before.
>
> * I'm still so tired.
>
> * Types of boards in BA-11's and assembled machines are not listed. Will
> do
> that when time available or opportunity offers a chance.
>
> * Same for the bunch of spare boards.
>
> Now before calling me, I must state the following for you to know up
> front:
>
> ** The uVAX and uPDP are staying here! Beverly thinks they are just fine
> (as in 'small' <g>).
>
> ** One OR two of the bigger systems I want to keep. Don't know which, but
> the 750, 11/24, 6-foot 11/34 and 11/34A are in the running for being my
> choice along with their appropriate peripherals. I'm asking for advice
> from
> the DEC gurus in the group on this by private email if you can. Don't
> clutter up the list with the advice unless you feel it is necessary to get
> opinions.
>
> **NO documentation will be let go unless it is redundant. That was the
> original reason for checking this sale out. I got the RT-11 docs I was
> hunting for anyway.
>
> ** I need to: first sort through the documentation; next organize the
> original systems and their spares; finally evaluate what I want to keep.
> There will be questions posted here as I've never owned DEC hardware up to
> now. I've just been aware of DEC for years and have listened to the many
> informative technical discussions here (but I never *retained* much of it
> in my mind since I never had any hardware/software to practice it on! Now
> there's suddenly a garage-full. Go figure!) Be aware that I'll need help
> and may unintentionally come across as a 'newbie', so be nice. I have to
> work quickly at resolving this but do not have very many DEC-related URLs
> or other reference sources lined up yet. (Send me yours!)
>
> ** Plan on taking the rest as soon as you can get one or more "Rescue
> Brigades" arranged.
>
> Just pitch-in a few bucks to help with part of my costs (only paid a
> little
> over 400 dollars for everything *including* truck rental and diesel fuel,
> ibuprofin, Coca Cola). Will consider horsetrading.
>
> ** _Please_ do not hesitate calling me at our home number below 09:00 to
> 21:30 this weekend. We have an answering machine if we are outside the
> house. We will not be traveling as we have relatives visiting. If you
> _really_ have to, you may call me at my office on workdays but I am often
> rather busy in other parts of the manufacturing areas. If you *really,
> really* have to call during the work day and need to talk to me, my wife
> works at the same company and can take the message. Ask for Beverly, phone
> 716.661.1843. But try to call the house and find me or leave message
> first.
> BTW: Don't let Bev tell you to come take _everything_ while I'm at work!
> <g> Email is okay too, but I will not be able to read it until sometime
> Monday or Tuesday.
>
> It all has to be out of the garage as soon as possible. Bev is very
> understandably kinda pissed off. It's payback time for me. I am not too
> happy with the garage either but I could NOT bear to see this stuff
> dumpstered. As it was, I had to leave one LP26 Band Printer behind. There
> was only exactly one to three inches of space, depending upon which point
> you checked, left for the truck door to be pulled down. Truck was piled up
> to my height (6', 0"), and even higher in spots.
>
> Forgive my long message. I'm rather tired and a bit sore yet which causes
> me to not be concise or able to organize my thinking well.
>
> Thanks for helping me rescue DEC equipment.
>
> --Chris
> -- --
> =======================================================
> Christian R. Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
> 31 Houston Avenue, WE Phone: +716-488-1722 -Home
> Jamestown, New York +716-661-1832 -Office
> 14701-2627 USA Fax: +716-661-1888 -Office fax
> email: cfandt_at_servtech.com
> Member of Antique Wireless Association
> URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/
>
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