SMRTR TechJun 16, 2025Ars Technica

Reddit user surprised when 1960s computer panel emerged from collapsed family garage

SMRTR summary

A Reddit user found a rare 1966 RCA Spectra 70/35 computer control panel in their family's garage. Likely a decommissioning souvenir, it may be the only surviving example. The RCA Spectra 70 series, introduced in 1965 to compete with IBM's System/360, offered software compatibility and innovative integrated circuits. This discovery underscores the scarcity of early mainframe components, as RCA discontinued the series in 1971. The finder plans to illuminate the panel with LEDs to preserve this piece of computing history.

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