System/38 Archaeological Dig Request

Hello list friends,

The info on the subscription page says “S/38 discussion is allowed, if anyone still has one of those systems”. Well, hello! :-) In the last week or so we got a S/38 in to the shop as a restoration project. The machine is intact and in surprisingly good shape as far as a machine from 1980 can be. The only issue is that I believe it at one point had external DASD hooked up to it and now that DASD is gone. I’m fairly certain the machine will IPL at least to some level of diagnostics, but won’t bring up CPF because of the missing DASD.

I know it’s a long shot of long shots, but if anyone has *anything* s/38 related laying around gathering dust somewhere, I’d be interested in acquiring, at least copies, to see if we can get this machine running again.

I worked on a LOT of 38s as an FE in the 80s, and they still fascinate me as the predecessor to the AS/400, so I’m putting in as much effort as I can to get this machine working again. There are very few S/38s still around, and none I’m aware of will fully IPL, so pretty much anything is on the table to get this one working if at all possible.

(We’re a non-profit restoration group, btw, not anyone out looking to make a buck, if thats even at all possible with a System/38… :)

Thanks for your time,
Joe