idea: donate the kit to one of the many computer mueseums, spread the parts out on display boards, but don’t assemble any of it… a good example of how primitive early computing was in the mid 70’s..
A box of parts is useless and pointless. It would have more educational value to build and use it, exhibit it at vintage computer shows etc. Kits are to be built.
There are Altair and IMSAI emulated clones for about $300. I built the PiDP11/70, runs all of the DEC operating system, as well as originalmunix variants, blinky lights etc. I did build an Altair 8800 back in the day, and ran a CBBS system (modem dial in bulletin board), was great at the time, but emulation is the way to experience vintage computing today
Wow, a walk down memory lane. My dad bought a kit back in 1976 and assembled it over many weeks, while I watched. He was also a ham radio operator, so this was up his alley. I enjoyed seeing all the unassembled pieces, as he would have received them. I especially enjoyed your discussion at the end--lots of good and interesting observations. I own, and put together, one of the High Nibble kits, and enjoy using it. I think this is really the way to experience vintage computing, along with simply running emulators on a modern laptop. Your kit is probably more valuable and interesting, as you said, unassembled. Otherwise it just becomes another assembled IMSAI.
By the way, I see in your corner picture on the entire video, where you have an assembled IMSAI, that the memory boards have a bank of four green and four red LED's at the upper left of the boards. My dad apparently had those same boards. As I recall, the green LED's lit whenever a 1K bank of memory was being read, which provided a nice light show while your program ran, and the red ones were never on, because, IIRC, each LED indicated the corresponding 1K bank was write-protected. Or perhaps it was a parity-check LED memory fault indicator? Not sure.
I am working on getting an H10 up and running, that I can probably use to read those tapes for you, if you can't find images of them anywhere. It's a project though, probably be at least a month before I get it all just so.
Great video, I enjoyed your unboxing experience, great detail. I remember reading the Radio Electronics Altair article over and over when it came out. Unfortunately tuition was more impotent at the time. I assembled the HighNibble kit recently which has been an excellent substitute. If you need help re-creating the sheet metal components for your kit, let me know I can personally connect you with a professional high quality cost effective small volume sheet metal shop in the US specializing in electronic control cabinets similar to the IMSAI. They also have access to a professional particle paint shop as well. It would be fantastic to assemble a kit like this, I would be one of your first customers.
I sure hope he takes you up on your offer. I made drawings of the sheet metal parts back in '76 when I built a kit, but those drawings are long gone now.
This is really cool. Are you gonna build it out, or keep it unassembled as an investment? The internet will probably screech at you if you build it out. But I would do the same. YOLO. :P
It's pointless keeping a box of components. You can't take it with you when you're gone. Enjoy building it, using it and if it ceases to be of fun or use to you then sell it or give it away.
@@paulklasmann1218 That's an intermeeting perspective and one that perhaps 1 in 10 of the people I've asked have had. I continue to be undecided at this moment.
@@ShadowTronBlog Off course its entirely your decision. I just stated my thoughts. I once collected things computer related just because "it was nice to have". This included a ZX81 kit unbuilt. That was a long tike ago. I also see a lot of collectors buying old games in boxes wrapped in cellophane regarding it as an investment with no intention of using them. Recently it was reported that the prices or value of them has suddenly decreased. Regarding old computer equipment, I just think it should be used by those who enjoy it. I like building and using them.
are you planning on building it? it does no good until it’s assembled. if you are, replace most of the capacitors, their no good at this point. also I believe theres a way to test & refurbish those large capacitors, worst case, replace them.
I have $8K tied up in it just for the kit and shipping. It was one of those "must have" so I clicked buy-it-now within a few minutes of it being listed.
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Been looking forward to this. Really nice to see the contents of the kit. EXP22 on the outer box probably refers to the extended 22 slot motherboard.
Thanks, i figured that out part way through the recording. :)
idea: donate the kit to one of the many computer mueseums, spread the parts out on display boards, but don’t assemble any of it… a good example of how primitive early computing was in the mid 70’s..
A box of parts is useless and pointless. It would have more educational value to build and use it, exhibit it at vintage computer shows etc. Kits are to be built.
There are Altair and IMSAI emulated clones for about $300. I built the PiDP11/70, runs all of the DEC operating system, as well as originalmunix variants, blinky lights etc. I did build an Altair 8800 back in the day, and ran a CBBS system (modem dial in bulletin board), was great at the time, but emulation is the way to experience vintage computing today
Wow, a walk down memory lane. My dad bought a kit back in 1976 and assembled it over many weeks, while I watched. He was also a ham radio operator, so this was up his alley. I enjoyed seeing all the unassembled pieces, as he would have received them. I especially enjoyed your discussion at the end--lots of good and interesting observations. I own, and put together, one of the High Nibble kits, and enjoy using it. I think this is really the way to experience vintage computing, along with simply running emulators on a modern laptop. Your kit is probably more valuable and interesting, as you said, unassembled. Otherwise it just becomes another assembled IMSAI.
By the way, I see in your corner picture on the entire video, where you have an assembled IMSAI, that the memory boards have a bank of four green and four red LED's at the upper left of the boards. My dad apparently had those same boards. As I recall, the green LED's lit whenever a 1K bank of memory was being read, which provided a nice light show while your program ran, and the red ones were never on, because, IIRC, each LED indicated the corresponding 1K bank was write-protected. Or perhaps it was a parity-check LED memory fault indicator? Not sure.
I have a High Nibble IMSAI and a Cromemco as well. Great kits and is where I spend most of my time playing with CP/M and programming for it.
I am working on getting an H10 up and running, that I can probably use to read those tapes for you, if you can't find images of them anywhere. It's a project though, probably be at least a month before I get it all just so.
the H10 is one of my holy grails. you are lucky. I'm still looking for one.
@@curtmayer1070 I paid entirely too much for it, but..... YOLO. >_> Some rust, but I think I can fix it up as good as new. 🤞
Great video, I enjoyed your unboxing experience, great detail. I remember reading the Radio Electronics Altair article over and over when it came out. Unfortunately tuition was more impotent at the time. I assembled the HighNibble kit recently which has been an excellent substitute.
If you need help re-creating the sheet metal components for your kit, let me know I can personally connect you with a professional high quality cost effective small volume sheet metal shop in the US specializing in electronic control cabinets similar to the IMSAI. They also have access to a professional particle paint shop as well. It would be fantastic to assemble a kit like this, I would be one of your first customers.
I sure hope he takes you up on your offer. I made drawings of the sheet metal parts back in '76 when I built a kit, but those drawings are long gone now.
Link to your other channel? I am too dumb to find it in youtube search. Maybe I misheard what you called it. "Retro Tech Reboot," right?
Correct, RetrotechReboot. I'm delayed getting it published.
This is really cool. Are you gonna build it out, or keep it unassembled as an investment?
The internet will probably screech at you if you build it out. But I would do the same. YOLO. :P
I honesty don't know.
It's pointless keeping a box of components. You can't take it with you when you're gone. Enjoy building it, using it and if it ceases to be of fun or use to you then sell it or give it away.
@@paulklasmann1218 That's an intermeeting perspective and one that perhaps 1 in 10 of the people I've asked have had. I continue to be undecided at this moment.
@@ShadowTronBlog Off course its entirely your decision. I just stated my thoughts. I once collected things computer related just because "it was nice to have". This included a ZX81 kit unbuilt. That was a long tike ago. I also see a lot of collectors buying old games in boxes wrapped in cellophane regarding it as an investment with no intention of using them. Recently it was reported that the prices or value of them has suddenly decreased. Regarding old computer equipment, I just think it should be used by those who enjoy it. I like building and using them.
are you planning on building it? it does no good until it’s assembled. if you are, replace most of the capacitors, their no good at this point. also I believe theres a way to test & refurbish those large capacitors, worst case, replace them.
Don't know if I'll assemble it or not.
1976? Same year as me!
How much you want for it?
I have $8K tied up in it just for the kit and shipping. It was one of those "must have" so I clicked buy-it-now within a few minutes of it being listed.
Promo-SM 👀
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1. Channel videos are not properly SEO
2. Videos are not reaching the people
2. There is no rank tag in the Video
3. Video SEO score is 39.9 out of 100 but SEO score should be 90+ to rank video
5. Channels tags are not good quality
and other technical problems
Do you want all the problems solved?
I can help you.