- Delivery Options
- Local Pickup Only
For sale is a vintage Sol-20 computer from the late 70s. I personally built this from a kit in 1978 and have been the only owner. It is in exceptional condition, dust free with hardly any amount of oxidation (mostly screws). For several years it was packed up and stored inside a dry environment as well. The computer is 100% operational, very clean, and was never used in a smoking environment. The inside is like new. During the early years of ownership, I made a couple significant, third-party (Micro Complex) upgrades to the onboard video output to increase the lines and characters from, 16 x 64 to 80 x 24. The Intel 8080 CPU was also upgrade to a Zilog Z-80. These were both commercial upgrades and worked perfectly after installation. They both still work fine today. In addition to those 2 upgrades, I recently (2021) refreshed the original keyboard with all new capacitive internal foam keypads. They all work great. This computer is designed around the S-100 buss that supported add-in cards of the day. The buss is horizontal in orientation and supports up to 5 cards. The SOL-20 also uses a 'Personality Module' for the basic OS. This module is removeable and could be changed. More about this below.
There are two working and operational S-100 cards in the system that are used to make the computer more functional. (1) The first is a Dual Density Floppy disk controller - Phase Lock II - (PLII), and the 2nd is a 64K Static RAM board that adds additional, useable memory to the system for software. The PLII controller board is based-on, and compatible with the popular NorthStar floppy disk system of the era. Plus, it offers double density disks read/writes. The PLII floppy controller was a product by Micro Complex. In addition to the Micro Complex (MC) hardware, a new custom personality module was also offered that enhanced the original SOLOS module and tied all of MC products together. The new Dual Personality Module (DPM) integrated more OS features to the SOL, and also supports full compatibility with the PLII/NorthStar controller, the video and processor upgrades mention earlier. Micro Complex also included a McDOS OS that enhanced the original NorthStar OS with a few new commands.
To go along with the disk controller, I modded a double 5 1/4" drive enclosure by repurposing a similar enclosure I had. This double drive system is very compact and sit nicely on top of the SOL. It adds more flexibility to the useablility of the SOL, by allowing the user to store programs and data on a floppy disk. It also allows for loading other OSes of the day like CP/M. The drive unit comes with its own PSU brick and controller ribbon cable. It interface both electrically, and software wise with the PLII controller.
The only hardware required is a video display. This is up to the user as to how 'vintage' they want to keep the overall system. Some will want an older CRT display, but the SOL will also work with a modern LCD panel with the proper interface.
I also have a Disk Jockey 2D/B by George Morrow that I used with dual 8" floppies I had at the time. One more, very useful little gadget (not pictured, but will be included), is the VSG by MikeS (Mike Douglas) of this forum. It allows the floppy based system of that era to use the 'more modern' soft-sectored disks still available today. Sadly, over the years all the documentation I had got separated from the computer. When I refurbished the SOL (Fall of 2021), I gathered together and printed a lot of what I could find online. All of this documentation is included in the 3-ring binders pictured.
That's pretty much what I'm offering. This will ONLY be sold as a bundle - including all related hardware mentioned above and any misc, items (floppy disk, software I have available.)
This is a computer many collectors covet. You will not find many (if any for sale today), yet it remains a sought after computer). They are a rare find in any condition, and very, very rare in the excellent condition of the one I'm offering and everything that's being included with it.
As noted below, I WILL NOT ship this computer and everything that goes with it. Shipped it would weigh over 100lbs and be very costly. However, as I'm in the New England Region, I will gladly accept anyone within driving range, that's serious about an offer, to see it and examine it locally, or meet somewhere at a mutually agreed location.
Please PM me if you are interested in this bundle, or have any questions about it.
NOTE1: THIS COMPUTER IS NOT IBM PC Compatible.
NOTE2: THIS ITEM IS ONLY OFFERED AS A LOCAL PICKUP, or a suitable location within the Danbury, CT area/region.
NOTE3: No shipping.
NOTE4: Asking price is $3800USD. I've been very reluctant to get rid of it over the past 4 decades, but now the time is right to let some collector enjoy it. To that end, I would like to see it go to someone that will continue to care for it as I did. This is an exceptional piece of computer history during the dawn of the micro computer age in the 70s and 80s. As this is a very vintage item, there is no guarantee offered or implied. It was working perfectly when I semi-restored it in 2021. This is a cash only transaction and no returns are offered.
Please: ONLY SERIOUS INQURIES or OFFERS CONSIDERED.
More pics in 2nd post below.
There are two working and operational S-100 cards in the system that are used to make the computer more functional. (1) The first is a Dual Density Floppy disk controller - Phase Lock II - (PLII), and the 2nd is a 64K Static RAM board that adds additional, useable memory to the system for software. The PLII controller board is based-on, and compatible with the popular NorthStar floppy disk system of the era. Plus, it offers double density disks read/writes. The PLII floppy controller was a product by Micro Complex. In addition to the Micro Complex (MC) hardware, a new custom personality module was also offered that enhanced the original SOLOS module and tied all of MC products together. The new Dual Personality Module (DPM) integrated more OS features to the SOL, and also supports full compatibility with the PLII/NorthStar controller, the video and processor upgrades mention earlier. Micro Complex also included a McDOS OS that enhanced the original NorthStar OS with a few new commands.
To go along with the disk controller, I modded a double 5 1/4" drive enclosure by repurposing a similar enclosure I had. This double drive system is very compact and sit nicely on top of the SOL. It adds more flexibility to the useablility of the SOL, by allowing the user to store programs and data on a floppy disk. It also allows for loading other OSes of the day like CP/M. The drive unit comes with its own PSU brick and controller ribbon cable. It interface both electrically, and software wise with the PLII controller.
The only hardware required is a video display. This is up to the user as to how 'vintage' they want to keep the overall system. Some will want an older CRT display, but the SOL will also work with a modern LCD panel with the proper interface.
I also have a Disk Jockey 2D/B by George Morrow that I used with dual 8" floppies I had at the time. One more, very useful little gadget (not pictured, but will be included), is the VSG by MikeS (Mike Douglas) of this forum. It allows the floppy based system of that era to use the 'more modern' soft-sectored disks still available today. Sadly, over the years all the documentation I had got separated from the computer. When I refurbished the SOL (Fall of 2021), I gathered together and printed a lot of what I could find online. All of this documentation is included in the 3-ring binders pictured.
That's pretty much what I'm offering. This will ONLY be sold as a bundle - including all related hardware mentioned above and any misc, items (floppy disk, software I have available.)
This is a computer many collectors covet. You will not find many (if any for sale today), yet it remains a sought after computer). They are a rare find in any condition, and very, very rare in the excellent condition of the one I'm offering and everything that's being included with it.
As noted below, I WILL NOT ship this computer and everything that goes with it. Shipped it would weigh over 100lbs and be very costly. However, as I'm in the New England Region, I will gladly accept anyone within driving range, that's serious about an offer, to see it and examine it locally, or meet somewhere at a mutually agreed location.
Please PM me if you are interested in this bundle, or have any questions about it.
NOTE1: THIS COMPUTER IS NOT IBM PC Compatible.
NOTE2: THIS ITEM IS ONLY OFFERED AS A LOCAL PICKUP, or a suitable location within the Danbury, CT area/region.
NOTE3: No shipping.
NOTE4: Asking price is $3800USD. I've been very reluctant to get rid of it over the past 4 decades, but now the time is right to let some collector enjoy it. To that end, I would like to see it go to someone that will continue to care for it as I did. This is an exceptional piece of computer history during the dawn of the micro computer age in the 70s and 80s. As this is a very vintage item, there is no guarantee offered or implied. It was working perfectly when I semi-restored it in 2021. This is a cash only transaction and no returns are offered.
Please: ONLY SERIOUS INQURIES or OFFERS CONSIDERED.
More pics in 2nd post below.
