FS (US) 70's aerospace/military computer cards for art, reverse-engineering, etc - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: D Straney
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2023, 04:43:57 pm
content: Interesting vintage plug-in cards from some kind of old aerospace/military computer system, with some nice gold-plated hybrid modules. Made the mistake of buying a batch of these recently when I only wanted 1 or 2, figured I'd pass the rest on at cost to other people.Unknown origin but there's some clues. Date codes are 1977, and marked "IBM FSD" (Federal Systems Division), the same people who made the AP-101 aerospace computers that got used in the Space Shuttle, as well as some military aircraft. Too small to be part of the AP-101 itself, so these are probably from some kind of I/O unit or peripheral, either related to that computer or a completely different IBM FSD project. They're also marked "Translate Receiver", so I assume this particular card has something to do with level-shifting of an external serial bus input. I'm working on figuring out a rough circuit diagram from one of the hybrid modules where I removed the lid.7x available, $35 each + $5 USPS mailing by padded envelope to anywhere in the USA; I take Paypal. All in good shape, there was only one bent-up one (shown in the photos) that I kept to saw off the lid. I won't de-lid the hybrids for you, though, you have to do that yourself

author: D Straney
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 05:08:59 pm
content: SoldHere's some more, from an old fire control computer (National Stock Number was created 1979, this unit was manufactured in 1985). $40 for board #1 with the special Analog Devices ADC hybrid, $40 for board #2 memory array(?) as it's potentially rad-hard memory (see "nuclear hardened" athttps://www.wbparts.com/rfq/5998-01-074-5827.html), and $15 for each of the other boards.Full set of photoshere, will be doing a full analysis and writeup on this computer much later when I have time.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 05:34:52 pm
content: Don, unfortunately I am short on cash (early year committments such as taxes, kids' school gizmos and other unimportant things) but I love these older boards and devices. Good luck with your sales!

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 05:42:47 pm
content: on one pcb last picture between 2x ic's you have an badly burned part ??

author: D Straney
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 05:49:48 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on January 15, 2024, 05:34:52 pmThanks!Quote from: coromonadalix on January 15, 2024, 05:42:47 pmThat's right, the burned part is a diode.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2024, 11:02:50 am
content: not being rude, but your pricing is way too much for old stuff like this, trying to take avantage of some vintage effect for thesessimply put, there's nothing to do with this stuff, even trying to grab old part is not woth ityou posted many threads and i dont think you'll get some momentum on theses

author: D Straney
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2024, 03:16:31 pm
content: It depends what you're looking to do with itI agree parts salvage would be a terrible idea for these, esp. considering they're conformal-coated. Some people like to collect interesting-looking old stuff as art. Personally I like finding old circuitry from unusual sources that's old enough it's not just a single SoC, to trace out the circuitry and figure out how it works as a mental puzzle. Some people like finding unusual old chips (like the Analog Devices hybrid above) to de-cap and look at the silicon dies.Not inflating any prices though, these are all listed at what I paid for them - did I overpay? Sure, you could make an argument for that.I do see similar stuff go for more all the time though on eBay or on the cpu-world forums, just figured I'd try here first as it's more pleasant dealing directly with people than through a company. If the "many threads" refers to the 2(?) others, same principle with those, that stuff's half or less the price of what I see similar things listed for (I did actually, as an experiment, try listing some of those Bruker boards from the other thread on eBay to see how it would work, and somebody bought the ADC one). If no bites for a while, then oh well, I try it on eBay instead or drop the price, that's how it goes.