Big Blue Gets a Tiny Makeover

You can’t have a discussion about the early days of digital computing without mentioning Big Blue. IBM may not be quite the same powerhouse in the world of computing that they were through the 1970s and 1980s, but the influence of their innovations from that era can still be seen in today’s technologies. The open architecture model of IBM PCs, for example, which allowed other manufacturers to create compatible hardware and software, greatly accelerated the pace of progress in the field, and that is still the de facto standard to this day.

Well before the first PC was introduced, IBM was already releasing innovative systems. These earlier systems were more powerful mainframes, which were targeted at larger business customers. But the gradual shift toward personal computing first made a detour in the direction of minicomputers — less expensive machines targeted at smaller businesses and research operations.

One of IBM’s most iconic minicomputers was the 16-bit Series/1, first released in 1976. These computers powered industrial equipment on assembly lines, databases, and even nuclear weapon command and control systems. With CPUs that are ancient by today’s standards and a maximum of 128 kilobytes of memory, these refrigerator-sized units are not very impressive these days, but they were something to behold in their time.

Those that worked with Series/1 minicomputers in their heyday often have feelings of nostalgia for them and would like to have the opportunity to hack away at them once more. But picking up a functional Series/1 minicomputer is not exactly like scoring a Commodore 64 on EBay. They are much less common and far more expensive. But if they would settle for a scale model, Miniatua has just the thing to scratch that minicomputer itch.

Miniatua created a 1:12 scale model not just of a Series/1 minicomputer, but also a 5251 display terminal. And you really can’t have a system like this without putting it in an appropriate setting, so an entire 1970s-inspired office scene was created, complete with a desk, chair, telephone, and even tiny file folders.

Very little detail was given about the components used, but a custom PCB was developed to drive the front panel of the mini Series/1 to make for an authentic blinkenlights experience. The tiny display terminal is also equipped with a real display, so it can show off some cool retro graphics and dynamic terminal screens.

Whether you had firsthand experience with a Series/1 at one time, are a fan of retro computers, or just love the attention to detail of well-done scale models, then this project is one that you will not want to miss.