iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 27/09/2026

Finally landed a CMD FD-2000 3.5" floppy drive for my Commodore 64. It was a "grail" item for me for a long time but was out of reach in terms what these fetch on the market vs what I would be willing to pay. Love the original Creative Micro Design products. #Commodore #CMD #retrocomputing

Shown here is a Commodore 64 turned on and listing the Utilities disk for the attached original CMD FD-2000 3.5" disk drive.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 27/09/2026

Finally got an Amstrad PPC640 computer. It's a neat portable computer but the screen is not great. That, however, was to be expected. Interesting form factor and while it has a battery compartment ("C" cell), it's not practical as it doesn't last long . It's more of a "luggable". #retrocomputing

This is a picture of the Amstrad PPC640 computer opened up and running PPC Organizer software. Shown also are the two manuals that come with it, a brochure and a yellow plastic folder for the system software.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/09/2026

Definitely a checkered past but when they work, they are pretty cool. Here's a setup of mine done a little while ago. Runs the Apple II confidence test just fine.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 23/09/2026

Had my IBM 7690 Nursing Workstations out today. Being a PS/2 (Model 30ish), both needed floppy drive recapping. Normally mounted on the wall with the cables connected from the bottom, I propped one up to run. These have a touch screen LCD screen. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputing #IBMPS2

Shown are two IBM 7690 Nursing Workstations. The one on the left is closed. The door on the left side is for floppy drive access. Power switch is on the bottom. The one on the right has booted up to MS-DOS and is started up with the touch screen LCD driver.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 22/09/2026

Had an HP 9830A calculator/computer for 10 years and it never worked. Found another and got it yesterday. It also didn't work but with board swapping, it had one bad board. After board swapping, the original had 4 bad boards. Further repairs in my future. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputing

Pictured are two Hewlett Packard 9830A calculator/computers side by side. The one on the left is broken with four bad boards in need of repair. The one on the right is working and showing "Hello World!" output from a one line BASIC program for testing.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 11/09/2026

Very excited about my latest acquisition. A Gravis Ultrasound ACE (Audio Card Enhancer) that I don't think has ever been used. Now I need to create a 486 era PC with some interesting audio/video cards in it :) #vintagecomputer #retrocomputing

This picture shows the Gravis Ultrasound ACE card on the left and the Gravis driver/software CD on the right. The ACE card is sitting on an ESD bag with the short audio cable meant for connection to the sound card of your choice.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 29/08/2026

Just got my MITS Altair 680. It's a little smaller than I thought. Next to the 8800, it looks tiny. Glad it works. Had to fix my LSI ADM-3A though. The contrast knob is very touchy. I'll need to replace that. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture depicts a Lear Siegler ADM-3A terminal with a MITS Altair 680 connected and running. The 680 is sitting on top of it's older brother, the MITS Altair 8800 for size comparison. The 680 is quite small compared to the 8800.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 24/08/2026

Here is a picture of my Kimsi-Plus power supply sold by Forethought as well.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/08/2026

BEWARE Vintage Computer buyers from outside US. Your stuff will be e-wasted! I bought an Epson PF-10 floppy drive from the US (I am in Canada) and as it travelled thru eBay Intl Shipping, it was "Liquidated" and I got a refund. Apparently a new US policy is the reason. kotaku.com/trumps-new-e...

This is tracking information informing me that my Epson PF-10 floppy drive "Did not pass Inspection" at the Ebay International Shipping hub and has been liquidated. Please see the news article link and pass this on so that at least some of this vintage computing equipment will not be e-wasted.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/07/2026

I had too many people ask so I dug out a PC, an Adaptec AHA-1542CF and EX-SCSI software and it works great. SCSI confirmed.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/07/2026

Recent acquisition. First ever CD-ROM drive was the Philips CM100. It had a proprietary LMSI interface. The Philips CM110 shown here is the SCSI counterpart. I believe this may be the first SCSI CD-ROM drive. Don't know is if they came out at the same time or if SCSI was later? #retrocomputing

This picture shows the Philips CM110 CD-ROM drive running. There is a dark bar you press to lift up the CD cover so you can carefully insert the CD-ROM. You click the "Run" button and it spins continuously and illuminates a "RUN" light. When you click "Run" again it stops the CD-ROM from spinning. There are no other front buttons.

On the back of the Philips CM100 is two SCSI connectors and a push button ID selector switch. There is a black button on the back that I don't know what it does. Maybe a Reset button? To the right of the power socket is an On/Off pushbutton switch. There is a large dark metal heat sink that protrudes from the back of the beige plastic case.

This picture shows the two halves of the unit once opened. The left side has two stacked card that differ from the CM100 that only has one card. The single card is used for the LMSI connection. These two stacked cards are used for the SCSI connection. To the right is the CD laser unit and circuitry along with the power supply. It has a large hidden from view transformer that makes the CM110 quite heavy.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 11/07/2026

I've had this NEC Trek PC-6001A computer for years but never took it out of the shipping box. I remember it having chicklet keys and the tape player but it turns out, it had the PC-6021A thermal printer. No cable though :( It's Centronics 14 pin to 36 pin. Will never find that. #retrocomputing

Pictured is an NEC PC-6001A computer with a PC-6021A thermal printer next to it both powered on. On the other side is an LCD monitor with a green screen showing the N60-BASIC loaded up and running.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 09/07/2026

Finally tracked down a Commodore VIC-1605 VicModem phone adapter used here in Canada. This came in the Viccessories package that included the 1600 VicModem and the original Commodore phone. Still on the hunt for one in a box but that is unlikely to find anymore. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

Pictured here is most of the contents of the Viccessories VicModem package exclusively for Canada. It includes the 1600 modem, the VIC-1605 VicModem Phone adapter and the Northern Telecom Commodore branded telephone.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 04/07/2026

Working on my Exidy Sorcerer's this week. I think they multiplied because I swear I only had two. So far 1 out of 4 is working properly. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 29/06/2026

With a small collection of "luggable" computers, I just acquired a Panasonic Sr Partner with dual 360K floppy drives running MS-DOS 2.11. I think this might be the heaviest luggable I own and I do have an IBM Portable Personal computer (Model 5155) too.

This is a picture of a Panasonic Sr Partner personal computer running a Sr Partner demo. The keyboard is removeable and there is a built-in thermal printer where part of a printed document is showing on top.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/06/2026

You might want to go back a little further :)

This is a picture of a Commodore branded Norther Telecom telephone sold with the VicModem in Canada in 1983.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 16/06/2026

Got the BeBox out for a regular run to make sure everything is still okay. Love this thing. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture shows a dual 133Mhz Power PC powered BeBox with BeOS 5.03 running. It's connected to a VGA monitor, IBM Model F keyboard and a mouse. Multiple windows are open on screen.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 15/06/2026

Needed to make a ribbon cable for connecting a floppy drive to a Lobos Max-80 I was testing. It's a bit strange. If it does not boot up, you get a beep but absolutely no video output. This is supposed to be a TRS-80 clone. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer.

Pictured is a Lobos Max-80 computer booting up MaxDOS Six from a random 360K floppy drive.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 15/06/2026

I've been making my own ribbon cables for a while now and once I found this "ribbon cable tester" online, I LOVE it! No more multimeter continuity testing on each pin to troubleshoot. I had the edge connector ends already so I can test floppy ribbon cables. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is a picture of a Treedix JTAG Cable Tester Board testing a floppy ribbon cable. LEDs lit up mean the wires are connected properly.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 06/06/2026

It's hard to take a picture of the screen but... It Works! I would have put an exclamation mark in the one line program but I couldn't find one. Let's say the BASIC on the Spectravideo CompuMate for the Atari 2600 is not full featured but decent. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer #Atari2600

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 06/06/2026

Another project I have is a Spectavision Compumate add-on for the Atari 2600. I believe it may be a PAL model and I need to convert it to NTSC. From my research, the internal piggyback ROMs might have to be changed. Right now video rolls. Might be the last time this ever worked. #retrocomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 06/06/2026

Dug out my two Kaypro 2000s last night. Plugged them in. The earlier vertically "narrow" screen model works fine even with long time dead batteries. The later "wide" screen model Kaypro 2000 does not work :( <sarcasm>I needed another project</sarcasm>. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture shows two Kaypro 2000 portable laptop-like computers that are both black. The newer model on the left has a vertically wider screen. The original model on the right has a more narrow screen.

This picture shows a screen close-up of the earlier Kaypro 2000 on and booting up. The screen contrast is terrible but it's common in screens of this era.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 01/06/2026

Recently acquired an Olivetti M10 and PicDisc unit that turns the M10 into a CP/M computer. Had to replace the 12VDC lead acid battery and a bad diode. If anyone has any software or docs on the PicDisc system, please let me know. Still trying to figure this out. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is a picture of a black Samsonite briefcase of early 80's vintage with a PicDisc 3.5" single sided, double density disk drive attached to an Olivetti M10 computer. It is on with CP/M TRS2.2a booted up and ready.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 24/05/2026

Working with my MCM/70 and MCM/900 today. The '900 is two generations newer than the '70. Both run APL but have different displays. My dual 8" disk drive for the '900 needs work (blows fuses). After a week of messing around it's away until next time I take a shot. #retrocomputer #vintagecomputer

This picture shows the MCM/70 computer on the left and the MCM/900 computer on the right. To the left of the MCM/70 is a box of "new old stock" data tapes that work with it. A fortunate find.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/05/2026

It's not the most exciting find but I'm an Apple Lisa fan so these brochures (two of the Lisa 1) I acquired are pretty cool to me. #AppleLisa #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 16/05/2026

A recent acquisition of mine is a Digital Equipment DECTalk DTC07B speech synthesis card. Works really well. This is the "shorter" newer surface mount version of the original DTC07 card and works much like the very original DECTalk DTC01 in PC ISA card format. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing

This is a picture of the DECTalk DTC07B PC card sitting on a table. It's on the ESD bag sitting on the original DEC box. This was packaged as just the card with no other accessories.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 10/05/2026

Adrian's Digital Basement also had firmware for an Apple IIe that would test a 6502 for the ROR bug. I just can't seem to find it at the moment.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 03/05/2026

Finally got my DEC VT180 Robin working fully. Power supply issues and a badly needed refurbishment on the RX180AB dual floppy drive was done. This booted up in P/M 2.2 and is running the Select Word Processing System. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is a picture of a DEC VT180 computer system. It's essentially a VT100 terminal with additional hardware to make it a fully functional computer. There is a dual disk drive on top of the computer and a box of DEC software in a beige floppy box to the right.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 22/04/2026

One project is to further explore one of the top tier computers in my collection, the Canadian MCM/70. An Intel 8008 based personal computer with built-in APL from 1974. Here I am initializing special NOS data cassettes I found and bought new lead-acid batteries. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

Shown here is the MCM/70 computer from Micro Computer Machines released in 1974. This uses dual direct tape drives for storage of both data and programs AND additional virtual memory (workspace) up to the size of a data cassette (about 100KB). The batteries are for battery backup so that if there is service interruption, the batteries will allow the workspace to be saved to cassette. When power is restored, the workspace will automatically restore to when it was last shut down.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 22/04/2026

Well, turns out one of these 590uF 200v blue caps is completely open in the DEC VT100 model H7831 power supply. I've ordered a set of two to replace both. It was a last resort check as I have never seen these large caps go bad. Let's hope it's only that. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture shows the internals of the DEC VT100 H7831 power supply. It is zoomed in on two large blue capacitors.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 21/04/2026

I am sort of happy to have found the issue! Unfortunately, it's the power supply so now I need to troubleshoot that. I swapped in a power supply from my VT100 to test and it worked fine.

This picture shows the DEC VT180 working at the boot screen with a provisionary power supply that I swapped in for testing.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 21/04/2026

I also have the "Gold Key" WPS keyboard.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/04/2026

Waiting for parts for another project, I decided to give my DEC Digital VT180 Robin a look for the first time after acquiring it years ago. This is a CP/M personal computer based on the VT100 as a base. Looks like the CRT is messed up. Not an unexpected project :( #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is the first testing of a DEC (Digital Equipment) VT180 known as the Robin. The CRT is showing a top half squiggly line and faint garbage of the lower half of the screen.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 13/04/2026

Finally found an F1 floppy drive for my Royal TA Alphatronics PC! Whoo hoo! Need to get RGB colour TO vga video going. After struggling with RGBHV output, I found @leadedsolder.com's NEC PC-8801mkII RGB to VGA project. It has the same 8 pin DIN pinout! Gonna give it a shot. #retrocomputing

This picture shows a Royal Alphatronics PC also known as the TA (Triumph Adler Alphatronics PC outside of North America). It has the beige PC in front with a composite monitor and newly found FI disk drive. It has booted up with CP/M 2.2. #vintagecomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 09/04/2026

Today, I've powered up the CPT 4200 from the early 1970s and am now trying to sort out a jammed up Selectric typewriter (I'm not a typewriter guy). I can then see if any of the tapes I got with it will print out documents. #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 09/04/2026

Someone recently posted on another site about their CPT 4200 and had some questions. The CPT 4200 was an early form of "word processing" system from CPT Corporation. It used a highly modified IBM Selectric typewriter as a printer and keyboard and cassettes for reading/writing text/documents.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 02/04/2026

Welcome to the Outbound club! Membership is limited but Outbounds are pretty cool. I have the earlier Outbound Model 125 with the IR keyboard (and option cable). Good luck with your restoration.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 23/03/2026

Listening to Episode 178 "The Programma 101". www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lpc... I listen while working on #vintagecomputer restoration. This Olivetti P101 still needs work. Being both digital logic and mechanical moving parts they are tough to work on. Thnx @adventofcomp.bsky.social #retrocomputing

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/03/2026

Did some restoration work on this Teletype Model 43 ASR and rarer companion paper tape punch/reader. I still have one issue with the punch in that it punches one bit always but the chips internally are rare enough that it's good enough for now. Next time. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is a picture of a Teletype model 43 ASR unit. The unit has a keyboard in front and prints it's output on paper instead of monitor. Some paper is shown. On the left is a matching Teletype Paper Tape reader/punch that allows for storage of information or programs for other computers. Both are matching as they are the same model.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 17/03/2026

Had to take a picture of "the boys" while they were out for #Marchintosh On the left is the Macintosh Quadra 950 running System 7.5.5 and on the right is the Macintosh Workgroup Server 95 running A/UX 3.1 #vintagecomputer #retrocomputing

This pictures shows two Macintoshes on either side with monitors and keyboards in the middle. We have the Macintosh Quadra 950 running System 7.5.5 and on the right is the Macintosh Workgroup Server 95 running A/UX 3.1.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 13/03/2026

I know, kinda "geeky" but I'm excited about finding this Teletype Model 43. I previously acquired the matching M43 paper tape punch/reader. This model, has the "Aux" port for the M43. Got the GNT 3601 paper punch in the deal. Like used together. Needs cleaning. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 12/03/2026

Trying to set up my hard diskless Macintosh Work Group Server 95 for #Marchintosh After a day of futzing with a Blue SCSI v1 and v2, upgrading firmware, all combos of termination etc with no luck, I plugged in a ZuluSCSI RP2040 and worked first try. Glad it works but disappointed at the same time.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 10/03/2026

As I go through some Macintoshes for #Marchintosh, these Sony Mac floppy drive gears are going to be the death of me. Ordered a 12 pack off of eBay. Let's hope I can get these back together again because the clips that hold on the back plate are super brittle. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 10/03/2026

Macintosh Portrait Display number 2, not so good. It's quite dim compared to number 1. I am certain both need a recap. #2 has a quieter fan than #1. Will have to look at that too but maybe next #Marchintosh. Focus this time is recapping the fleet.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 10/03/2026

Macintosh Portrait Display number 1 is totally fine.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 10/03/2026

Got my Radius Precision Color Pivot monitor working for #Marchintosh I had to recap four Macs before I could find one that would show color. Now I have to fix 2 of the 4 Macs and go through the rest of my Macs while I'm at it. Got two Portrait displays to check too. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

This is a picture of a Macintosh Quadra 700 with a Radius Precision Color Pivot displaying the Mac OS 7.1 desktop. It is in "portrait mode" which means I got the drivers working.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 26/02/2026

Got my #Commodore 500E calculator working after replacing one capacitor in the power supply so it would power up properly and one germanium capacitor one one of the boards so it could act like a working calculator. Here's a great video on history and workings here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSnO...

This is a picture of a Commodore 500E calculator from the early 1970s with it on a desk and it powered up showing random digits through the orange glow of the nixie tubes.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/02/2026

I was able to switch my #Commodore PET 8296-D from it's normal 80 column format to 40 columns to play my favourite PET game, Miner. Loved playing that in school back in the day. This model has dual disk drives built in and is a 240V model I converted to 120V. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

This is a picture of a Commodore PET 8296-D computer. It's one o the latest models of the Commodore PET line. In the background is an original Commodore PET poster. A simple black poster with a PET computer in the middle and the words, "PET UNLEASH ONE TODAY".

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