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In a remarkable find that has electrified the vintage computing community, approximately 2,200 NABU computers from 1983 have emerged from a Massachusetts barn. This extraordinary cache of retro technology has become a treasure trove for collectors and enthusiasts alike, offering a rare glimpse into an ambitious pre-internet era networking system that was years ahead of its time.
The massive barn discovery: unearthing 2,200 forgotten NABU computers
Hidden away in a Massachusetts barn for decades, an impressive collection of 2,200 identical computers was recently uncovered before the structure threatened to collapse under their estimated 22-ton weight. These machines weren’t just any vintage computers – they were NABU computers, sophisticated devices from 1983 that were designed for a groundbreaking online service.
The computers belonged to a Massachusetts retiree named Pellegrini, who originally purchased them to develop a telephone exchange system for small businesses. Despite his ambitious plans, the project never materialized, and the computers remained in storage units for years. As structural issues with the barn emerged, Pellegrini faced the urgent need to rehome his massive collection.
Pellegrini documented his efforts to move the computers, describing how he and an assistant carefully transported them: “I would climb up to the loft door and gather four stacks of five computers. She would take one computer and slide it down the boards. After sliding five computers, I would grab them and put them in the truck.”
Initially, Pellegrini listed the computers on Craigslist for $20 each. Later, he moved to eBay, pricing them at $59.99 before reportedly increasing the price to $99.99 as interest grew. The combination of reasonable pricing and the machines’ unusual architecture quickly attracted attention from the retro computing community, much like how long-lost treasures can suddenly reappear after decades of obscurity.
NABU: the forgotten pioneer of online services
The NABU Network represents one of computing history’s most fascinating “what if” scenarios. Developed by Canadian company NABU in 1983, this service utilized cable television infrastructure to deliver an interactive online experience years before most households had internet access. The system allowed two-way communication through cable networks, offering games, forums, information services, and even programming courses.
John Kelly and his associates originally conceived NABU as a cost-effective tool for connecting computers to central mainframes. Recognizing the potential for consumer applications, Kelly transformed NABU into a public network leveraging existing cable systems’ high bandwidth. To create compelling content, particularly games, Kelly recruited technology-savvy teenagers – a smart strategy not unlike how today’s tech leaders tap into young talent to innovate rapidly.
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Tom Wheeler, who later became FCC Commissioner under President Obama, led NABU’s American operations in the mid-1980s. Wheeler faced constant resistance from the cable industry, which viewed NABU as a threat to their monopoly. Despite his efforts to demonstrate the system’s capabilities by letting consumers experience the keyboard interface firsthand, Wheeler couldn’t expand NABU nationwide, and the service disappeared after approximately one year.
NABU’s bidirectional system was trying to function in a unidirectional world – cable television was designed to send information one way only. This fundamental infrastructure challenge proved insurmountable, though the concept was at least a decade ahead of similar initiatives like the Sega Channel. The company’s promotional efforts included advertisements featuring Canadian magician Doug Henning, known for his 1970s television specials, and marketing tie-ins with cartoonist Johnny Hart.
Revival and preservation of a technological time capsule
The discovery of these NABU computers has catalyzed an extraordinary revival effort within the retro computing community. These elegant and powerful machines, equipped with Z80 processors and architecture similar to the MSX standard, offered collectors a unique opportunity to restore and relaunch a forgotten platform that once attempted to revolutionize technology history.
Since the barn discovery, the NABU community has grown exponentially. Enthusiasts have even managed to bring the network back online through an internet adapter developed with assistance from York University. The NABU RetroNET Preservation Project website now maintains historical information while providing access to tools needed for connecting NABU machines online. There’s even a port to the popular MAME emulator, allowing more people to experience this fascinating technological footnote.
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The preservation of these machines represents a crucial effort to document computing history, similar to how scientific discoveries in unexplored territories help us understand our world better. Each salvaged computer provides insight into an alternative technological path that might have transformed online services had circumstances been different.
What makes this discovery particularly valuable is the machines’ pristine condition. Unlike most vintage computers that show significant wear after decades of use, these units remained virtually untouched in their original packaging. For collectors accustomed to searching for functioning specimens among piles of damaged equipment, this barn find represents an unprecedented opportunity.
The revival of interest in NABU also highlights how technological visionaries sometimes face obstacles beyond their control. Just as modern tech entrepreneurs encounter unexpected challenges, NABU’s founders couldn’t overcome the infrastructure limitations and market realities of their era despite having a fundamentally sound concept.
Legacy of an ahead-of-its-time technology
NABU’s story offers valuable lessons about innovation timing and market readiness. The network essentially provided high-speed internet services before the infrastructure existed to support widespread adoption. Its vision of online gaming, interactive media, and educational content presaged features that would become standard decades later.
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The company’s struggle with industry resistance mirrors contemporary challenges in technology adoption. Established players often resist disruptive innovations that threaten existing business models, as evidenced by recent conflicts between traditional space programs and private space ventures.
For today’s technology enthusiasts, the NABU computers represent more than collectible artifacts – they embody an alternative technological timeline that might have accelerated networked computing by years. By studying these machines and the vision behind them, we gain perspective on both our technological past and potential futures that never materialized.
As these 2,200 computers find new homes with collectors and museums worldwide, they continue NABU’s legacy in unexpected ways. What began as an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful venture has, four decades later, united a community dedicated to preserving this fascinating chapter in computing history.
