Another unicorn in the shop today!

One of two H8s was this gem. Heathkit H8 in configuration as a laboratory data acquisition system. Unit was used in the Electrochemistry Department at Research Laboratories in the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, MI in the late 1970s to early 1980s, on (I believe) applications related to fuel cell technology.

Includes a bunch of H8 cards: H8-5 serial io. H8-16 16k ram , wh8-64 dynamic ram, 85-1938-1 CPU card. Two breadboards = H8-7 breadboard and custom breadboard with Burr-Brown DA circuitry. There also appears to be a supplementary power supply for the DA boards.

Also includes an interesting fossil. What appears to be a lab-related plastic sheet (?) cut in half to act as a breadboard standoff. Sheet denoted with Research Laboratories, GM Technical Center and what look like notations that would be on a drafting sheet. Blast from the past!

Case appears to have been modified in lab with several ports for data acquisition cabling and line labeling on case cover.

I’m not going to power test this unit due to the complex and unique power configuration and unknown loads. It may make a nice fan sound or may destroy two city blocks.

Queries or comments welcome. I enjoy learning about the items that go through here. (Except maybe Shugart disk drives!)