www.theoldcomputer.com

Hey guys, It's Autumn time, getting dark early, we need something to fiddle with,So we had this plan to pick up a old IBM AT/XT, remove it's innards and rivet in a ATX chassis etc for a new retro cool looking pc.

Managed to find a IBM 5170, little bit rough and dirty but complete.


So before we start butchering the poor thing I thought we would give it a clean up and see what we have here.
And what we have is 26 years of filth








Nice leaky battery



Mother of all power supplys



(Note to self, cleaning around rather large capacitors with an artists brush isnt very bright.....owwww!)

Much less painful



All apart and clean



Back together again



Other than being dirty and the legs discoloured (removed for retrobrite) & half a dozen paperclips inside the keyboard, it's spot on



After a really good scrub up it looks really good, Hard drives are out for the son to find the spec sheet for, as the battery is dead the system wont find the hardisks until the drive type, mem size etc are typed back in with a new battery fitted.....



Now it's alive....I cant bare to gut the poor thing

I am gald to hear that you did not gut it. An excellent peice of retro hardware and worth keeping. The keyboard would fetch you $80 alone on ebay if you look.

Good work now go get another one and do it again

Hot Trout wrote:I am gald to hear that you did not gut it. An excellent peice of retro hardware and worth keeping. The keyboard would fetch you $80 alone on ebay if you look.

Is that "YOUR" clicky keyboard HT? how did Bumcake get it?

Its not but it should be

It really does produce a most pleasant and satifying 80's quality click

Its called a buckling spring keyboard and is considered one of the best keyboards ever manufactured. Its little brother was the IBM AT keyboard which is regarded as the best by many users. A rare and very nice thing to own.

Hot Trout wrote:Its called a buckling spring keyboard and is considered one of the best keyboards ever manufactured. Its little brother was the IBM AT keyboard which is regarded as the best by many users. A rare and very nice thing to own.

Also have that one and it is indeed great!

Thanks for the post btw; it's good too see people appreciating, and fixing up, old computers .

Bigger house required...........

Forgot about the adjustable keyboard/phone cord .Arghhhhhhh the Father Time is merciless.