IBM 3741 Data Station / System 3 Barn Find

JP! · 30 May 2017, 19:47

Today was a good IBM day. Parts of an IBM system 3 literally in a barn, used as tables and as a tool chest. Some of the heavy electrical bits were there but nowhere near a full system. There is a beamspring keyboard which is integrated into a table. Will take some work to get out and it will be a few days before can get it.

I forgot to get a picture of the keyboard! I only had limited time as I was on lunch break. Also I will try to capture some local history behind this find.

[Edit] A better view of what one of these desk/keyboards looks like. The actual keyboard looks like this but the table and other pieces are painted red.

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Here are a couple pictures I took. Not sure if these pieces are worth acquiring or not as these pieces are large and I have limited space in my dad's barn.

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It will be about 2-3 days before I can come back to get some of this stuff. There was also another piece which is in the individuals home which formerly held a printer. Really heavy duty.

nsmechkb · 30 May 2017, 19:51

Oh my gosh! What a beautiful find!

Thank you for sharing this with us. I would love to hear the backstory as to how you ever discovered its location. Any tips to share on finding our own?

Great work!

MrDuul · 30 May 2017, 19:55

This is inspiring and an amazing find for the ages.

Grats man

Showed this picture to my mom, she worked on a IBM terminal in her 20s. Accounting and Insurance data entry.

Here is a good read on them:
http://mickey-cheatham.blogspot.com/201 ... ne-or.html

ohaimark · 30 May 2017, 20:05

The second picture is disorienting. It reminds me of an Escher. The oil can shows the direction of gravity, but the sideways barrel and other accoutrements are spatially confusing.

emdude · 30 May 2017, 20:10

Fantastic find!

Do you really plan to remove the keyboard? As ohaimark said, it would be awesome if you could bring home the entire desk and restore it!

snuci · 30 May 2017, 20:13

I'd be interested to see what parts you find.

I'm not sure the circled items are worth saving. They look like parts of the power supply.

Looks like the red cabinets are the same as the blue ones in the middle of this picture. Note, the actual IBM System 3 computer is on the far right.

Note, it also came in red:

JP! · 30 May 2017, 20:18

I am definitely taking the entire desk. I hope to restore it. Not sure about the heavier items yet. The tool box obviously is being used but there are a couple large cabinet pieces the owner would like to part ways with.

Thanks for those pictures. Unfortunately there did not appear to be the actual computer there

The middle piece of the blue model would be the same as the red tool box I have pictured. The cabinet on the left was there as well.

snuci · 30 May 2017, 20:28

If you do find the top IBM sign or anything like that, I'd love to acquire that from you if you don't want it. I have various odds n ends in my collection.

codemonkeymike · 30 May 2017, 20:36

So cool, glad to here you are looking to restore the whole desk!

hansichen · 30 May 2017, 20:48

Damn, that's an awesome find, congrats. I hope that you can restore it and give it a nice new home

seebart · 30 May 2017, 20:50

It would be an honor for me to eventually add this to our wiki.

Congrats.

Slom · 30 May 2017, 21:06

Keep the table, keep the table, keep the table!!!

Also take the cabinets, and use them to store other keyboards

JP! · 30 May 2017, 21:16

codemonkeymike · 30 May 2017, 21:18

The cabinet door could be cool wall art if the case is in too poor of condition.

snuci · 30 May 2017, 21:37

codemonkeymike wrote: The cabinet door could be cool wall art if the case is in too poor of condition.

I can give you some tips on removing the spray paint and sticker. The original IBM paint should be baked on enamel so it should come out okay.

Cattus_D · 30 May 2017, 23:12

Wow, fantastic!

//gainsborough · 31 May 2017, 05:24

Congrats, JP! What a find! Those red steel cabinets looks awesome too! If you can swing it I would definitely take those and do what slom suggested!

orihalcon · 31 May 2017, 06:16

Congrats from me as well! This one has been on my wish list since the discovery of beamsprings. Gets rid of the bulky case and makes it much more ergonomic. If you have any broken beams, PM me for spares

JP! · 04 Jun 2017, 20:05

So I now have possession of the IBM battlestation. The condition is much worse than I remembered. The first time I seen it the desk was literally buried and only the bottom portion of the keyboard was visible. The desk is very solid and well built. They certainly used a lot of steel. I hope I can fix this keyboard. Who knows the horrors which lurk beneath.

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seebart · 04 Jun 2017, 20:17

Wow.

This is a different kind of Beamspring project altogether.

Thanks for the update.

JP! · 04 Jun 2017, 20:26

At least the price was right (free) and I got to save it from the scrap yard as that was where it was headed.

seebart · 04 Jun 2017, 20:37

JP! wrote: At least the price was right (free) and I got to save it from the scrap yard as that was where it was headed.

Right, obviously this way beyond keyboard related in terms of storage alone. Also happens you got one of the most unusual Beamspring keyboards.

It would be awesome to have this as an actual desk for daily use.

Slom · 04 Jun 2017, 21:49

Nice triple shot integrated number pad

JP! · 04 Jun 2017, 21:58

Is there any chance this could work with an xwhatsit for beam springs?

seebart · 04 Jun 2017, 22:09

JP! wrote: Is there any chance this could work with an xwhatsit for beam springs?

I have no idea, I'm pretty sure one of these has not shown up here before. Ask the man himself:

http://www.cornall.co

http://downloads.cornall.co/ibm-capsens ... e-usb.html

JP! · 04 Jun 2017, 22:23

Thanks for those links.

MrDuul · 05 Jun 2017, 02:21

Can the beam spring be removed from the desk?

JP! · 05 Jun 2017, 03:56

Yes it can be removed. There are 4 bolts that hold it in and it should slide out.

mike52787 · 05 Jun 2017, 04:03

you have no idea how jealous I am. I keep envisioning using this thing. I would be thrilled to find one even in that kind of condition!

JP! · 05 Jun 2017, 05:25

I am glad that I am not the only one who feels that way. The desk is very solid and would love to use it one day. I bet I can fit a computer or two behind this desk. It definitely takes two people to move this thing though. As far as the state of things I will be assessing the keyboard first. I am confident that I can repair the plastic bits and give it a nice paint job. There could be more curve balls but time will tell. I likely will consult some professional help for the metalwork as I am not set up to deal with anything this big and due to the severity of the rust on the bottom where it sat on the ground.