Keep the Machines Alive
AncientComputer is an independent preservation project. No institution, no grant, no staff. Your support funds restoration, scanning, and free public access — every contribution matters.
Ways to Help
- Predictable monthly support that funds restoration projects
- Behind-the-scenes updates and early previews
- Influence what we preserve next
- Access to patron-only posts and progress logs
- Vintage computers, peripherals, and boards (working or not)
- Manuals, books, software, and magazines
- Every artifact is catalogued and preserved
- We cover return shipping for accepted bulk lots
- Small-batch PCBs, adapters, and restoration tools
- Every purchase directly funds new designs
- Designed for classic systems still in active service
- New items added as projects leave the workbench
No Budget? No Problem.
Save on Pinterest
Follow and save pins of the collection. Each share puts the archive in front of more people who care about computing history.
Pinterest profile →Print Our Thingiverse Designs
Use and remix our free 3D-printable brackets, cases, and restoration helpers. Every use supports the ecosystem around vintage hardware.
Thingiverse page →Engage on Archive.org
View, favourite, and share our scans and manuals on Archive.org. Engagement improves discoverability and justifies further digitization work.
Visit Archive.org →Follow on Social
YouTube, Instagram, Facebook — watching, liking, and sharing our content costs nothing and reaches people who may one day donate a machine.
YouTube channel →FAQ
What does my Patreon contribution actually pay for?
Scanner consumables, archival storage media, shipping for incoming donations, hard drive space for master scans, and the time it takes to catalogue and photograph each artifact. Nothing goes to salaries — this is a one-person operation.
Can I donate hardware even if it’s broken or incomplete?
Yes. Broken machines often yield working parts, and incomplete units are still valuable for documentation and photography. The only things we can’t accept are units that are physically dangerous (leaking batteries, damaged CRTs) or machines we already have in triplicate. When in doubt, reach out first.
Do you ship internationally for hardware donations?
We’re based in Ontario, Canada. For small items, international shipping usually works fine. For bulk lots or large machines, we’ll discuss the best option case by case — sometimes a local museum or collector is a better fit and we can help make that connection.
Is the archive freely accessible to everyone?
Yes. Everything digitized and published here and on Archive.org is freely accessible with no account required. That’s non-negotiable: public money for public good, private money for public good.
I’m a researcher or museum. Can we collaborate?
Absolutely. We’ve worked with universities, museums, and individual researchers on loan arrangements, high-resolution scan requests, and documentation projects. Use the contact form under About to start the conversation.
The Machines Are Waiting
Every dollar, every donated box, every shared post keeps this archive alive for the next generation. Thank you for being part of it.