4 ms·

The Interim Computer Museum

164 points by mulmen 4d ago

sdf_pubnix 3d ago
Just heard about this post. Interim Computer Museum is an extension of the SDF Public Access UNIX System's Vintage Systems program. Thank you to all who have supported our efforts over the years! ICM will allow SDF.ORG to continue to be a UNIX platform for implementing new and interesting community ideas and Interim Computer Museum will handle the retrospective aspect of the amazing computer history in our collective recent past.
simfree 4d ago
ICM on a Saturday and Connections Museum on a Sunday is a delightful pairing! Close to the airport too if your just popping by on a layover, though plan on 2 to 4 hours for each
dang 4d ago
Discussed (only?) once before: The Interim Computer Museum - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37304983 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37304983 - Aug 2023 (15 comments)
- ChrisArchitect 4d ago
  Somewhat related discussion about developments with the Living Computer Museum, whose collection is connected to this: Living Computers Museum to permanently close, auction vintage items https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40789179 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40789179
  - xhkkffbf 4d ago
    Did this collection come from the LCM? It was sad to see that one go along with Paul Allen.
    - pinewurst 4d ago
      I believe it's the LCM items that either didn't sell or were not considered worthy of auction by Jody Allen and her droogs.
      - mulmen 3d ago
        Jody Allen is the executor and trustee of Paul Allens estate. She is simply complying with his wishes.
        kragen 3d ago
        If his wishes were to shut down the LCM+L, fire all its staff, and auction off its collection, why didn't he do that while he was still alive? To me it seems like the actions of a vindictive family member who wanted to destroy the best things her brother had created in his life.
    - mulmen 4d ago
      Partially. > Is this the Living Computer Museum? > We are not Living Computers, but in May of 2024 the Living Computers Remote Vintage Systems were acquired and transfered to us. https://icm.museum/?faq https://icm.museum/?faq
- mulmen 4d ago
  Yes, I’m surprised it has not been discussed more. I submitted this because it appears to be something of a successor to Paul Allen’s Living Computers museum which I occasionally see mentioned in comments. I think we were all disappointed at how that ended so I was relieved to see this project is carrying the torch.
incanus77 4d ago
A fantastic collection and restoration effort. I highly encourage a visit. I was in Seattle last year and had recently joined and pinged about maybe getting a tour. It was right before a vintage computer festival and despite being busy getting ready, Stephen, the director, encouraged me to drop in. I would've been happy just looking (and not even touching) by myself for 15 or 20 minutes given the circumstances, but Stephen spent 1.5 hours with me in a hands-on tour, including playing Spacewar. He genuinely cares about these machines, their preservation, and spreading enthusiasm about them. I only wish I was a little closer (3 hours away in Portland) or I'd spend more time on-site helping with the effort.
ilaksh 4d ago
Click on the Recollections page, it has a bunch of real vintage Unix (etc.) computers you can log into.
buyverifiedcash 4d ago
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CircuitSeuss 4d ago
If you’re in the area, check out the Connections Museum too! https://www.telcomhistory.org/ConnectionsSeattle.html https://www.telcomhistory.org/ConnectionsSeattle.html
Founderarcstone 4d ago
hey great work !
ricksunny 4d ago
I want to see models of Vannevar Bush's rapid analytical machine computers supplied to the proto-NSA. See Colin Burke and Pieces of the Action
theycallmeritik 4d ago
It's awesome seeing physical computing history preserved like this, especially the lesser-known enterprise machines that usually just get scrapped when a company shuts down.
einpoklum 4d ago
That looks like a very useful way to convert one's obsession with holding on to old computers and tinkering with them to a socially-education experience. But who will keep the keyboards clean from all of the crud that collects over the years? :-P
leoc 4d ago
Its YouTube channel has some nice video, including footage of the KL-10: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZSXexPtkcnmJ59mPoeZyGDWQMewPkWbl https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZSXexPtkcnmJ59mPoeZyGDWQ... .
contingencies 4d ago
In the same vein if you're in Sydney check out the Australian Computer Museum https://acms.org.au/ https://acms.org.au/ https://maps.app.goo.gl/UKtUrrDpDnfAWn6d6 https://maps.app.goo.gl/UKtUrrDpDnfAWn6d6
justbits 4d ago
Hi that's fantastic collection, I love it. It actually kind of pair with a project about source code, no hardware: https://www.programmingmuseum.com/ https://www.programmingmuseum.com/
formvoltron 4d ago
cool. the orange glow reminds me of the first time i used a networked computer.... the Plato system. I was about 12 and some dude on the dungeon game said he was in california. I was in northern Michigan. That broke my brain for the day.
nipmi 4d ago
Really awesome looking collection! I want to go next time I visit Seattle. I know there's a great museum near Atlanta for those interested in vintage computing who live on the other side of the country -- https://mimmsmuseum.org https://mimmsmuseum.org I believe both of these museums got lots of artifacts from the LCM, so its legacy lives on

164 points by mulmen 4d ago

Just heard about this post. Interim Computer Museum is an extension of the SDF Public Access UNIX System's Vintage Systems program. Thank you to all who have supported our efforts over the years! ICM will allow SDF.ORG to continue to be a UNIX platform for implementing new and interesting community ideas and Interim Computer Museum will handle the retrospective aspect of the amazing computer history in our collective recent past.

simfree 4d ago

ICM on a Saturday and Connections Museum on a Sunday is a delightful pairing! Close to the airport too if your just popping by on a layover, though plan on 2 to 4 hours for each

dang 4d ago

Discussed (only?) once before: The Interim Computer Museum - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37304983 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37304983 - Aug 2023 (15 comments)

ChrisArchitect 4d ago
Somewhat related discussion about developments with the Living Computer Museum, whose collection is connected to this: Living Computers Museum to permanently close, auction vintage items https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40789179 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40789179
- xhkkffbf 4d ago
  Did this collection come from the LCM? It was sad to see that one go along with Paul Allen.
  - pinewurst 4d ago
    I believe it's the LCM items that either didn't sell or were not considered worthy of auction by Jody Allen and her droogs.
    - mulmen 3d ago
      Jody Allen is the executor and trustee of Paul Allens estate. She is simply complying with his wishes.
      - kragen 3d ago
        If his wishes were to shut down the LCM+L, fire all its staff, and auction off its collection, why didn't he do that while he was still alive? To me it seems like the actions of a vindictive family member who wanted to destroy the best things her brother had created in his life.
  - mulmen 4d ago
    Partially. > Is this the Living Computer Museum? > We are not Living Computers, but in May of 2024 the Living Computers Remote Vintage Systems were acquired and transfered to us. https://icm.museum/?faq https://icm.museum/?faq
mulmen 4d ago
Yes, I’m surprised it has not been discussed more. I submitted this because it appears to be something of a successor to Paul Allen’s Living Computers museum which I occasionally see mentioned in comments. I think we were all disappointed at how that ended so I was relieved to see this project is carrying the torch.

incanus77 4d ago

A fantastic collection and restoration effort. I highly encourage a visit. I was in Seattle last year and had recently joined and pinged about maybe getting a tour. It was right before a vintage computer festival and despite being busy getting ready, Stephen, the director, encouraged me to drop in. I would've been happy just looking (and not even touching) by myself for 15 or 20 minutes given the circumstances, but Stephen spent 1.5 hours with me in a hands-on tour, including playing Spacewar. He genuinely cares about these machines, their preservation, and spreading enthusiasm about them. I only wish I was a little closer (3 hours away in Portland) or I'd spend more time on-site helping with the effort.

ilaksh 4d ago

Click on the Recollections page, it has a bunch of real vintage Unix (etc.) computers you can log into.

buyverifiedcash 4d ago

[dead]

CircuitSeuss 4d ago

If you’re in the area, check out the Connections Museum too! https://www.telcomhistory.org/ConnectionsSeattle.html https://www.telcomhistory.org/ConnectionsSeattle.html

Founderarcstone 4d ago

hey great work !

ricksunny 4d ago

I want to see models of Vannevar Bush's rapid analytical machine computers supplied to the proto-NSA. See Colin Burke and Pieces of the Action

theycallmeritik 4d ago

It's awesome seeing physical computing history preserved like this, especially the lesser-known enterprise machines that usually just get scrapped when a company shuts down.

einpoklum 4d ago

That looks like a very useful way to convert one's obsession with holding on to old computers and tinkering with them to a socially-education experience. But who will keep the keyboards clean from all of the crud that collects over the years? :-P

leoc 4d ago

Its YouTube channel has some nice video, including footage of the KL-10: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZSXexPtkcnmJ59mPoeZyGDWQMewPkWbl https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZSXexPtkcnmJ59mPoeZyGDWQ... .

contingencies 4d ago

In the same vein if you're in Sydney check out the Australian Computer Museum https://acms.org.au/ https://acms.org.au/ https://maps.app.goo.gl/UKtUrrDpDnfAWn6d6 https://maps.app.goo.gl/UKtUrrDpDnfAWn6d6

justbits 4d ago

Hi that's fantastic collection, I love it. It actually kind of pair with a project about source code, no hardware: https://www.programmingmuseum.com/ https://www.programmingmuseum.com/

formvoltron 4d ago

cool. the orange glow reminds me of the first time i used a networked computer.... the Plato system. I was about 12 and some dude on the dungeon game said he was in california. I was in northern Michigan. That broke my brain for the day.

nipmi 4d ago

Really awesome looking collection! I want to go next time I visit Seattle. I know there's a great museum near Atlanta for those interested in vintage computing who live on the other side of the country -- https://mimmsmuseum.org https://mimmsmuseum.org I believe both of these museums got lots of artifacts from the LCM, so its legacy lives on