Name that desktop case/PC challenge ~1990 \ VOGONS

Name that desktop case/PC challenge ~1990

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First post, by rasz_pl

Posted on 2026-03-12, 22:27

rasz_pl Offline

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"An old photo of a very large BBS" https://rachelbythebay.com/w/2022/01/26/swcbbs/

This is of course 3D Realms official BBS. Original story https://nitter.privacyredirect.com/ScottApoge … 729387106512896
Scott Miller - Apogee/3D Realms Founder ☢️:

BBS's (bulletin board systems) were the backbone of the online world before the Internet came along in 1995. Apogee teamed up with Dan Linton's BBS, called Software Creations, and we poured $200k+ into it to grow it to nearly 140 call-in nodes with a T3 (high bandwidth) line.

Screen showing what you would see logged in 1995 https://nitter.privacyredirect.com/ScottApoge … 016254266921150

Now the PC model/case mystery:

The attachment swc.jpg is no longer available

source: https://web.archive.org/web/20230531042903im_ … 5/07/07/swc.jpg
Does anyone know the model/year?

https://github.com/raszpl/sigrok-disk FM/MFM/RLL decoder
https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module (AT&T Globalyst)
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 ram board
https://github.com/raszpl/440BX Reference Design adapted to Kicad

Reply 1 of 5, by Unknown_K

Posted on 2026-03-12, 22:51

Unknown_K Offline

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there are 2 different style cases there.

Collector of old computers, hardware, and software

Reply 2 of 5, by wierd_w

Posted on 2026-03-12, 23:29

wierd_w Offline

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Cant identify the generic AT clone cases... but CAN spot the authentic IBM Clicky buckling spring keyboards on the desk. 😁

A little strange seeing what looks like 720k diskette drives in this many systems though.

Reply 3 of 5, by Unknown_K

Posted on 2026-03-12, 23:56

Unknown_K Offline

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You didn't need much better than a 286 to run a BBS node back then so when you need new nodes you keep the old ones and buy more generic computers and more modems. I suspect Apogee had a few generations of hardware going with older gear getting the slower modems.

140 nodes with 2 modems a node is 70 machines, I see 16 computers a shelf and 4 shelves so 64 computers so there must be more machines not visible.

Collector of old computers, hardware, and software

Reply 4 of 5, by maxtherabbit

Posted on 2026-03-13, 00:05

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wierd_w wrote on 2026-03-12, 23:29:

Cant identify the generic AT clone cases... but CAN spot the authentic IBM Clicky buckling spring keyboards on the desk. 😁

A little strange seeing what looks like 720k diskette drives in this many systems though.

How do you presume to distinguish a DD vs HD 3.5" drive from such a photo?

Reply 5 of 5, by wierd_w

Posted on 2026-03-13, 02:09

wierd_w Offline

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maxtherabbit wrote on 2026-03-13, 00:05:

wierd_w wrote on 2026-03-12, 23:29:

Cant identify the generic AT clone cases... but CAN spot the authentic IBM Clicky buckling spring keyboards on the desk. 😁

A little strange seeing what looks like 720k diskette drives in this many systems though.

How do you presume to distinguish a DD vs HD 3.5" drive from such a photo?

Those drives are *NOT* in bay converters. 1.44 drives were never manufactured that way. (To have a fully swappable 5.25 faceplate.) Also, the button style. No 1.44 drive I have *EVER* encountered has a button of that style.

If those are 1.44 drives, they are VERY SPECIAL UNICORNS.

It's true I cannot be 100% certain, But I am more than 90% sure.

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