1970s IBM Mainframe 3705 Control Unit Panel

[ander]

Wow, this looks damn cool:

Vintage 1970's IBM Mainframe Computer System 3705 Control Unit Front Panel (eBay)








From Wikipedia:

The IBM 3705 Communications Controller is a simple computer which attaches to an IBM System/360 or System/370. Its purpose is to connect communication lines to the mainframe channel. It was a first communications controller of the popular IBM 37xx series. It was announced in March 1972. Designed for semiconductor memory which was not ready at the time of announcement, the 3705-I had to use 1.2 microsecond core storage; the later 3705-II uses 1.0 microsecond SRAM. Monolithic System Technology components, similar to those in S/370, were used... The 3705 normally occupies a single frame two feet wide and three feet deep. Up to three expansion frames can be attached for a theoretical capacity of 352 half-duplex lines and two independent channel adapters.

Vintage photo of a 3705 in action:





Current bid at time of this post: 99 cents plus $45 shipping.

I'd make a case like that one for it, wire it to light up, and stencil an IBM logo on it even though they didn't come that way.

[engicoder]

Holy moly...it would take you a weekend just to document that wiring harness!!

[1391406]

I have no clue what it does, but it sure looks cool.

[chyros]

Wow. Anyone have any idea what it does? =o

[E TwentyNine]

Wow. Anyone have any idea what it does? =o

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_3705_Communications_Controller

The IBM 3705 Communications Controller is a simple computer which attaches to an IBM System/360 or System/370. Its purpose is to connect communication lines to the mainframe channel. It was a first communications controller of the popular IBM 37xx series. It was announced in March 1972. Designed for semiconductor memory which was not ready at the time of announcement, the 3705-I had to use 1.2 microsecond core storage; the later 3705-II uses 1.0 microsecond SRAM. Monolithic System Technology components, similar to those in S/370, were used.

[ander]

I think that all of us who love IBM keyboards should have a corner of a room set up to look like the command center of an old IBM mainframe. It must include a desk with an IBM typewriter and/or funky period monitor. And if you don't have a beamspring, at least an F-122.

And definitely a phone. There was always a phone. People assumed it was there to call a system admin or some other IT staff people, but it was actually so you could call your friends and say, "You should see how cool this is!" and describe it to them.



(Note the panel in that 370 similar to this one, but in a wider format.)

[ander]

Well, people are definitely bidding on it...

[SamirD]

I think that all of us who love IBM keyboards should have a corner of a room set up to look like the command center of an old IBM mainframe. It must include a desk with an IBM typewriter and/or funky period monitor. And if you don't have a beamspring, at least an F-122.

And definitely a phone. There was always a phone. People assumed it was there to call a system admin or some other IT staff people, but it was actually so you could call your friends and say, "You should see how cool this is!" and describe it to them.

Show Image

(Note the panel in that 370 similar to this one, but in a wider format.)

So please tell me you have made one of these somewhere.  That would be so cool!

I wish we never threw out all the rotary phones we had from our first hotel.  Who knew those things would be worth something?

[E TwentyNine]

Up to $1000 with a day left...

[1391406]

I'm curious what the winning bidder plans to do with it.

[E TwentyNine]

Me too.  I suspect it may be targeted for a museum or display in an educational environment, but knowing how long some IBM hardware stays running, there might be a 370 out there still in use that needs spare parts.

/still have my 370 yellow card

[Snowdog993]

Weren't those just used for telephone networks, I believe they had "blades" that went in adding more lines in the batch?  It could be used for hotel switching, and/or business modem relays?
But I believe the primary use was for operator switching?
And when it was full, it could support up to 9600 baud transfer rates if it were used for data transfer??
I might be thinking of something else?

That is: the predecessor of the modern T1 and E1 networks.

[Vanilla]

but knowing how long some IBM hardware stays running, there might be a 370 out there still in use that needs spare parts.

I heard best-korea needs spares for theirs

[E TwentyNine]

It sold for almost $1900 shipped.

[SamirD]

Wow, someone really needed this.

[chyros]

But what for?! XD

And don't tell me a 3705 control unit .

[SamirD]

But what for?! XD

And don't tell me a 3705 control unit .

Not sure, but something tells me it was a replacement part in some underground military bunker, lol.

[Connly33]

I have a friend that has a fairly large collection of 50's- 70's IBM mainframe pluggable units and stuff. Actually he worked in the telecommunications engineering field for 45 years. so he has a lot of vintage IBM mainframe/server, and telephone system equipment. He has his entire house wired up with early solid state stuff to run all of his lighting and everything through ham radio and phone lines. Basically Pre- micro controller home automation. Ill just sit and listen to him talk about telephone infrastructure for 3 hours and learn a lot, but a lot goes over my head and i imagine thats what it feels like when i'm trying to explain a relatively new electronic's concept to someone that isn't into the field at all.

  There is a lot of this stuff still out there being used in industrial and government system's. But my guess would be a collector of some sort.

[SamirD]

Sounds like your friend is an awesome wealth of knowledge that will be gone when he is.  I'd record every session with him just so others will be able to learn after he's gone.

[Connly33]

I really need to next time i'm up in washington. Even if it is knowledge that does not have a wide use anymore, i really hate it when any kind of history is lost, who knows if it will ever be needed again. The internet kind of gives a false sense of security of knowledge but so much is still undocumented, and as much as everyone says what gets put up on the internet is there forever it really isn't, all it takes is one server to go down, or even a hard drive with data that is seeming unimportant die to lose a lot.

But anyway semi relevant rant aside. He is a really awesome person just to talk and listen to, he's about 87 now and still doing good but who knows what could happen tomorrow.

[SamirD]

I really need to next time i'm up in washington. Even if it is knowledge that does not have a wide use anymore, i really hate it when any kind of history is lost, who knows if it will ever be needed again. The internet kind of gives a false sense of security of knowledge but so much is still undocumented, and as much as everyone says what gets put up on the internet is there forever it really isn't, all it takes is one server to go down, or even a hard drive with data that is seeming unimportant die to lose a lot.

Wow, I couldn't have worded it any better--I think exactly like you on this subject.  Glad to know I'm not the only one.