storage auction...help!!!

[kristaheid]

Hello. I am not a collector of vintage computers. I actually know very little about computers in general. I was hoping that someone could help me out with some items that I received in a storage auction. The locker was full of vintage computing systems from Wright Patterson Air Force Base and some from the University of Cincinnati. I have over 100 motherboards (or boards that look like motherboards) of all sorts/types/sizes and they are covered with gadgets and gizmos that I have no idea about. I am going to attempt to post some pictures that are just a taste of what I have in the locker. I would GREATLY appreciate any info you may be able to provide. Thanks in advance!

 

[SkydivinGirl]

I'm certainly no expert but all the pictures you've posted look to be from communications equipment. Perhaps telephone systems. I hope you find out what everything is and you find it a good home.

Heather

 

[Chuck(G)]

The first board is an unknown to me. At first, I thought it might be a memory board, but all of those DIP resistor packs wouldn't fit. Some sort of 20/40 line digital I/O board, perhaps?
The second board is definitely a memory board to some Eurocard-type minicomputer--can't say that I recognize it.
The third card is a fiber-optic transceiver board to some unknown piece of equipment.
The fourth card is a mystery--perhaps a card from a 9-track tape drive?
The fifth card is an in-house lashup. Looks to be a couple of RTL BCD counters (MC780P) and some BCD-to-decimal decoders (MC770P) driving some TO-220 darlington transistors. Probably intended as some sort of clock display.

 

[NathanAllan]

All of it looks to have come from a ham radio user

 

[barythrin]

Cool find, you're a collector now ;-) One trick of course is to google around for any numbers you see on the boards in question. After a few results you'll sometimes come to a conclusion of what it came from.

 

[mcguire]

The second picture is an 8MB memory board for a Sun 3/200 or Sun 4/200 system. (they use the same memory)

 

[leaknoil]

The second board is definitely a memory board to some Eurocard-type minicomputer--can't say that I recognize it.

Pretty sure it's a Sun 501-1451 32mb card. Could be the 16mb one though. From early Sun VME systems like the 4/260. Looks like things are missing though.

 

[kristaheid]

Thank you all for the great info. I must say that I am a bit overwhelmed with this purchase. I am sure you would laugh at me if you saw the mess of boards in the back of my truck. I have them loaded to take for scrap/gold recovery but just cant muster up the courage to do it! I keep hoping my search will turn up something of great value! Ugh! . Again, I really do appreciate your time and knowledge.

 

[Chuck(G)]

Photos of all of the boards will definitely help. We'll do our best to identify--some may be worth well beyond their scrap value. In any case, if you're going to scrap a board, socketed ICs should be separated and saved, as they're worth very little as scrap, but can be worth real money if they're uncommon.

 

[mnbvcxz]

If you do remove the ICs, you should put them in anti-static foam, tubes or silver foil as they will be more likely to work for those buyers who need them as spare parts to repair equipment they may have.

 

[Druid6900]

Agreed. If you're willing to take the time to photograph the items, a lot of us will be willing to direct you in which ones you should scavenge and scrap and which you should save and sell.

Between a number of us, we should be able to ID most of it.

 

[barythrin]

If anything, find out what you can and offer them here or somewhere for purchase first for a while. Afterwards you can go that route if you don't get interest in whatever extra boards, or offer the left overs up for a price higher than scrap. Most folks need a few obscure cards but not all so it's probably more profitable with a little effort to offer them up, especially this group and we can link it a few other spots for ya.