Vtg 1981 IBM 3705 Communications Controller Cord/Cable 50’ Long 300V 34- & 48-Pin
INCREDIBLE ESTATE FIND!
From the estate of an IBM salesman in the 1970s and 1980s comes a wonderful item lost by time until it was recently dug out of storage. It’s a whopping 50 foot long, 1/2 inch thick, 300 V computer cable, which was apparently used with the early IBM System 360 and 370!
I will start by saying I don’t have much technical knowledge here, but I am presenting what I believe to be true based on some Internet research. However, you as buyer are the ultimate expert and need to decide for yourself exactly what this is.
Cable has different connectors on each end, one is a 34-pin and the other is a 48-pin, although not all slots are used. Large one is made of black plastic and is embossed IBM in a couple spots, 4 inches wide. The other is made of gold metal and is about 2 inches wide.
The thick and heavy cable is itself embossed with all sorts of markings – please see photo for details. The most surprising is that this was a 300 V cable! I guess those early computers sucked a lot of juice.
There are two paper tags wrapped with tape on either end of the cable…this is what identified it as going to the system 3705. There is other information which doesn’t mean much to me, but might to you. Also a date – September 1, 1981 - so this cable is 44 years old.
Item was found in its original shipping box from IBM in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania to the local office in Wichita, Kansas. However, there were several cables stored in the box - which caused it to bow over the years - so I couldn’t re-ship in the same box… But I wanted to cut out the shipping label to preserve the history of this cable. Therefore, this sale includes the shown cutout from that box (which also shows where the cable was originally shipped to IBM).
Excellent vintage pre-owned condition – it looks like it was just disconnected yesterday as it’s been in an IBM box for decades!
Selling as-is with no returns, so kindly ask before offerding if you have any questions.
***TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THOSE PHOTOS! An excellent part of computing history - either put it back to use, display it in your collection, or add it to your man cave.***
Careful packing and fast shipping. Thanks, good luck and God bless! ;0)
Some info from the web on the 3705:
The IBM 3705 Communications Controller is a simple computer which attaches to an IBM System/360 or System/370. Its purpose is to connect communication lines to the mainframe channel. It was a first communications controller of the popular IBM 37xx series. It was announced in March 1972. Designed for semiconductor memory which was not ready at the time of announcement, the 3705-I had to use 1.2 microsecond core storage; the later 3705-II uses 1.0 microsecond SRAM. Solid Logic Technology components, similar to those in S/370, were used.
The 3705 normally occupies a single frame two feet wide and three feet deep. Up to three expansion frames can be attached for a theoretical capacity of 352 half-duplex lines and two independent channel adapters. The 3704 is an entry-level version of the 3705 with limited features.
