California IBM 1401 Mainframe

[Brubaker]

Closest Major City

Los Angeles

I have recently come into some money, and while I am investing in other things, I am looking to build back up my personal collection

This is probably next to impossible, but I want an IBM 1401 Mainframe, even if it needs restoration. I know these are basically museum pieces, but I thought I would try here

Cameron

 

[NeXT]

You're asking a lot, even with deep pockets. I think at this point any off-lease 1401's are now accounted for.

 

[Hak Foo]

The way you say "off-lease" makes me think of the news articles they used to run every few years saying "It's 199x and there are still XX thousand landline phones that the local Baby Bell is collecting a rental charge for."

I know there are stories of firms with machines 10-20 years outside their normal lifespan still somehow generating support inquiries-- I wonder what the longest service life for a single computer is, and I suspect that gets into Ship of Thesus territory eventually, where it's just a Raspberry Pi in a blinkenlights box because the service contract was too lucrative to give up.

 

[Brubaker]

You're asking a lot, even with deep pockets. I think at this point any off-lease 1401's are now accounted for.

Yes, I know this is going to be very difficult to find, but I imagine there has to be one somewhere, probably stored away

This has been my grail machine for a very long time, and want it even if not in working condition

 

[fat265]

Well I also wanted to buy a 1401.
I managed to find a control panel and purchased it.

I wish you luck.

This sold for about USD$100k ( and it included a 1401 ) maybe whoever purchased this would sell the 1401

AN IBM 7090 MAINFRAME COMPUTER

Comprising an IBM 7151 console control unit with IBM 7155 switch control console attached to side, an IBM 711 card reader, two IBM 7617 Data Channel Consoles, an IBM 7608 power converter, thirteen IBM 729 magnetic tape units, an IBM 1401 mainframe computer, an IBM 7302 core storage, an IBM 7606...

onlineonly.christies.com

 

[Ty_Blunt]

Hey - I think I just found a full set. Tucked away in a warehouse in the middle of the country. 1401, 1403-N1 printer, multiple 1402 readers/punches, and extras. We should connect

 

[gslick]

Hey - I think I just found a full set. Tucked away in a warehouse in the middle of the country. 1401, 1403-N1 printer, multiple 1402 readers/punches, and extras. We should connect

 

[NeXT]

prelovd.com sounds like a U-ship site with a commission on sales. I'm suspicious, if not because their website is incredibly obnoxious to read with all the HTML5 garbage.
You know, ty. With an offer like that it would be preferred you posted photos so we could verify what you found.

 

[Ty_Blunt]

Visible so far: IBM 1403 printer and IBM 3340 disk storage, plus additional IBM cabinets/components. Untested, warehouse condition. Looking for help identifying exact models and completeness before discussing value. Believe there is even more there.

 

[NeXT]

Oh my god I'd be scared to stand next to a wall of IBM 3350's. There's enough mass there to crush a person and leave an impact crater.

 

[Ty_Blunt]

What do you think. It is a 3125?

 

[NeXT]

At least the cabinet for one, but I'll agree you have at least part of a System/370 model 125, a card station and a LOT of very rough looking disk drives. (seriously though I'm impressed they stack that well. Each drive is probably around 400lbs each)
That would probably be worth someone visiting to take a better look if this was still close to what Brubaker was hoping to find.

 

[NineOh]

Visible so far: IBM 1403 printer and IBM 3340 disk storage, plus additional IBM cabinets/components. Untested, warehouse condition. Looking for help identifying exact models and completeness before discussing value. Believe there is even more there.

Oh my, what you going to do with that massive pile of clean tech junk?