Restoration of a 1959 IBM-1620 Computer

Hardware
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Many close-up photos of the panels. And an Arduino using to run it.


https://www.pictorialism.com/IBM1620.html
I don’t have the luck to find those on ebay, especially in good condition. But I assume it wasn’t cheap.

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I wish i had something particularly insightful and or useful to add as that is a rather lovely piece of iron.

However all that comes to mind is ‘Das Blinkin Lights.’

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If you want blinking lights, try here. retro-205 Emulator Hosting Site
The Burroughs 205 and the IBM AN/FSQ- are the classic movie blinking lights Sorry IBM-1620
https://rescue1130.blogspot.com/ is a IBM 1130 being restored. Lights everwhere:
IBM 1130 light panel upgrade - YouTube

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A machine as old as me…

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I would say older than 97.6% of the people here. That other 3.4% have original vintage
equipment. :smile: Does the Arduino do any thing more than blink the lights?

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I’m not sure. He had wired up all the buttons and switches and there are several Arduinos. And the AUX Panel on the left, but probably just displaying what he entered.
But even if it can do more than blinking the lights, without the real other i/o devices like card reader it’s not complete, but still very nice.

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