First look at new 1130 system coming in for restoration

INFOAGE MUSEUM (VCF) IBM 1130 FOR RESTORATION

The machine was dropped off and I began an initial assessment to identify areas for early intervention. Overall appearance is good for its age. A few signs of rust especially inside the disk drive and on the display pedestal above the rotary Mode switch. 

POWER WIRING RODENT DAMAGE

The main power box in the machine where the 230VAC is routed, with the power contactors, power sequencing relays and related parts, has openings in the back where the power cable comes in and where AC power is routed out to terminal blocks inside the machine for distribution to the rest of the machine. 

It appears that rodents chose to gnaw there way inside the box to nest, chewing the insulation off some of the AC wires going in and out of the box. I suspect I will have to remove everything and wire it anew with appropriate wires, or at least inspect carefully after removing all the bundles and looms. 

Gnawed wires going to upper relay

Signs of rodent inhabitation

Gnawed insulation to open entry hole

1053 TYPEWRITER FIRST LOOK

I was pleasantly surprised by the completeness of the console printer. The acrylic top plate is cracked but present. The metal cage that fits on the rear to route paper into the printer is missing. Otherwise, everything appears intact.

The condition appears quite good. The rotate, tilt and carrier movement tapes are all intact. Even the ribbon color shift tape is intact. No signs of major damage or corrosion. 

There is the usual crumbling IBM insulation and undoubtedly the oil and grease have solidified in all the joints. However, this gives me optimism that it was well adjusted when it began its decades of quiet moldering. I know how to deal with the lubricant issues and the foam.

cracked acrylic cover

ribbon color shift tape is intact

Rotate, tilt and carrier return tapes intact

Looking promising

Solid condition

Even the nylon piece that maintains tension on the carrier movement cord is intact, although that may not last. These break on most machines and need replacement; not a very challenging replacement. 

SLT COMPARTMENT AND BACKPLANE FIRST LOOK

All of the backplanes, signal cables and power distribution cables appear to be in excellent condition, just a bit dusty. 

Third party modification installed on the machine

DISK DRIVE NEEDS A LOT OF WORK

The drive has covers that should have protected it from the worst of the environment where it was stored, but that area is not sealed in any way. There has been substantial surface rust inside and tons of dirt everywhere. If this can be restored to operation, it will take a pretty major rebuild and cleaning. 

Card cage and rear doesn't look too bad

Rust and dirt everywhere

More rust and dirt

Disk head dirty

My guess is no head crash damage, just filthy

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

The display pedestal with the IBM original lamp holders is in the usual condition I find when I look at 1130 systems, with some of the lamp boards having worked their way out of the honeycomb. It is painfully tedious to reinsert them all but they can't remain as they are.

No rear cover on this one machine either, so back to the designs for the cover I put on the SSM 1130. 

The power supplies and regulators appear in sound condition. Once I repair the damaged wiring, my first priority is to fully test and adjust all power supplies before anything else in the machine receives power. 

The ball head that latches the right rear cover is missing. 

Round hole where the missing ball end post should be

There is a mystery cable which I believe is hooked to the third party modification I spotted in the machine. Of course I have no documentation for this change, but hopefully I can either figure out its interface to the 1130 in order to work with it, or perhaps disable it so that the rest of the system can be made to work.