X-Ray Microscopy of Symbolics "Ivory" CPUs.

I currently have three Symbolics MacIvory CPUs. (Do you, reader, have one to sell? Please leave a comment!) One is currently installed in a working machine and was not yet molested; the two remaining chips, I obtained in 2017 by bartering away a Symbolics 3620. At some point I will cut one or more of […]

A Solid-State HDD for Symbolics "MacIvory" Lisp Machines.

This post concerns the “MacIvory” Model 3 Lisp Machine. It is of interest strictly to bolixologists. This is a recipe for a working replacement of an ancient SCSI HDD, such as found in the MacIvory, with an inexpensive solid-state disk. You will need: A “SCSI2SD” device. Mine is a model 6, but older units may […]

Symbolics "MacIvory": PCB Photographs.

This post concerns the “MacIvory” Model 3 Lisp Machine. It is of interest strictly to bolixologists. Click on a photo to see detailed version. Machine chassis: The Ivory NuBus Board Set (i.e. the LispM itself, the Mac Quadra is otherwise ordinary): “Ivory” NuBus board, component-side: What’s under the labels? Bolix Label Part Notes 115999-B PLUS20L8 […]

Uncrating of Symbolics "MacIvory" Machine

At long last, got hold of one of these:

Don't Blame the Mice.

Your kitchen is alive with vermin! Who is to blame? The cruel forces of nature? Or, might it be you – the fellow who scattered delicious crumbs everywhere; spilled honey a thousand times without picking up a mop once; and kept a mountain of old newspapers around for rodents to chew into nest liner? Your […]

Kalman Reti, the Last Symbolics Developer, Speaks of Lisp Machines.

Boston Lisp Meeting; June 28, 2012. Update: Here’s a mirror of the film. The Google copy appears to have been censored.

Going Nowhere Really Fast, or How Computers Only Come in Two Speeds.

Is there a ballpoint pen in your pocket?  How fast is it? What do you mean, you don’t know? You didn’t ask the salesman? There is indeed a maximum speed at which the little ball in the pen can roll and still leave a satisfactory trace of ink upon the page.  Would you pay extra […]

Symbolics Open Genera

Better screen shots from other people: Ralf Moeller Rainer Joswig

Secrets of the Symbolics Console: Part 2

Let’s take another look at the console. There are several boards inside, but this is the only one which deals in custom Symbolics protocols (as opposed to the widely-known intricacies of operating a black-and-white CRT.) The rough annotations are my own. Click on the pictures for super-size (~10MB!) images. Once again, the Phase Encoded Video […]

Secrets of the Symbolics Console: Part 1

The machine does indeed power up and run: But this is not enough. The console is a museum piece. While a Lisp Machine circa 1986 might last for a reasonably long time between repairs, a CRT of the same vintage likely will not. Moreover, it is a pain to have around, even if it were […]