A donation of vintage computers is always a special event for those who, like me, collect, repair and document the history of computing. Each component has not only a technical and historical value, but also an emotional one. In this case, the donation was even more significant because it included an item I had wanted for a long time: an original Commodore 1702 monitor.
The package received contained several elements of great interest:
- Commodore 1702 Monitor
- Commodore 64 complete with box, power supply and polystyrene
- Commodore 64 with double kernal
- Two Commodore 1541 floppy disk drives
- Datassette Commodore 1530 C2N
- IBM PS/2 Model 30, with Intel 286 processor and Intel 80287 coprocessor
- IBM 8513 12" VGA Color CRT Monitor
Commodore 1702 Monitor
After the initial checks, as soon as it was connected to the power supply, the Commodore 1702 monitor immediately gave positive signs: sharp, stable image, with excellent color rendering and perfectly functioning audio. After a thorough cleaning and disassembly, I replaced the damaged power cord. The monitor was accompanied by the manual and a cable with separate luminance and chrominance, for an even sharper image.
For more technical details on the Commodore 1702, You can consult the dedicated in-depth study.
Warning: Do not open CRT monitors unless you are an expert. There are very high voltages inside, even after switching off.
Vintage computer donation: No. 2 Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 with original box does not turn on. I have not deepened the diagnosis, considering that I already have other working specimens in the collection.
Instead, the Commodore 64 with double kernal works properly. At first it struggled to start, probably due to the oxide on the ignition switch, but after a few attempts it became operational again. On the back there is a switch to select the kernal, to be used when the computer is turned off.
Floppy Disk Drive Commodore 1541
Unfortunately, neither floppy disk drive Commodore 1541 is functional. One stays constantly on with the engine spinning continuously, while the other seems to behave more normally, but can't read the diskettes.
Datassette Commodore 1530 C2N
The Commodore 1530 C2N datasette included in the donation has not yet been tested. It will be subject to future verification. I already have several copies in the collection, some of which are working.
IBM PS/2 Model 30 – 286
Another element of great interest in the donation of vintage computers is theIBM PS/2 Model 30 – 286, equipped with an Intel 286 processor and Intel 287 math coprocessor. Although the keyboard was missing at the time of the donation, I was able to match an original IBM Model M from my collection.
The computer didn't work at first. The repair required several interventions:
- Power supply: I replaced the internal board with one of a modern Micro ATX power supply. Since the new power supplies do not provide the -5V voltage, I added an LM7905 regulator to get it from -12V. Important: The LM7905 requires an insulating mica between the metal part of its body and the power supply chassis. In fact, the metal fin of its body is not grounded.
- Replacement of the floppy disk drive: the original drive had an EDGE connector, while the spare in my possession (always original IBM) had a 34-pole header connector. I also had to replace the cable.
- Dallas DS1287: I modified the chip with the dead battery. Find all the details of the procedure in a dedicated article.
I was also able to recover the data from the original hard drive, as promised to Vittorio, the donor of the computer. After some initial uncertainty, the disk started and I was able to save all the files it contained.
IBM 8513 monitor
The IBM 8513 CRT monitor was in a very bad aesthetic condition: dirty and partially open. After thorough cleaning and reassembly, I adjusted the focus using the trimmer on the flyback transformer, as the image was completely blurry.
During testing, it only showed a couple of uncertainties, but after several hours of operation, it seems stable. I had written an in-depth article on cleaning this type of monitor.
Again, remember that the inside of a CRT monitor can be very dangerous. Do not open it if you are not qualified.
Unboxing
Here are the four video shorts of the unboxing of all this incredible donation of vintage computers and accessories! In the first package, I immediately discovered the Commodore 1702 monitor.
The second unboxing video is dedicated to the Commodore 64 and related accessories.
What a struggle to open all these packages! In the third video, it's the turn of the unboxing of the vintage IBM PS/2 Model 30 – 286 computer.
Finally, the fourth package was packed with the IBM 8513 CRT monitor.
This donation of vintage computers turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to enrich my collection, bring back some historic devices and have fun with restorations and repairs. I sincerely thank Vittorio for his generosity and for having contributed to preserving a piece of IT history.