IBM.compaq,and others not have an internal museum?

[smalltux]

Company as IBM.compaq,and others not have an internal museum to watch your old machines? Old computer is lost forever,because out production?

[carlsson]

Funny that you mention IBM and Compaq. At least the personal computing division of IBM and the whole Compaq have been purchased by other companies, in this case Lenovo and HP. Both use IBM (under license?) and Compaq as brands, but over time may phase them out. I have a feeling that if the old company held onto its history, whenever a buy-out occurs this is the least interesting to keep, at least in terms of physical evidence.

Of course, it comes to a point where the new owner recognizes the reputation in the old brand and renames themselves (Commodore, Atari) and as one step in recreating history, will acquire a small collection of hardware and documentation to show visitors.

One example of a company that has remained rather untouched since the late 1970's is of course Apple. I don't know how much internal stuff they still have about e.g. Apple II but chances are that at least a few machines exist in a storage room somewhere?

[Erik]

I've been on the Compaq campus and know they have a mini-museum in their lobby.

I don't know what IBM has but they do keep track of their history on their website.

The Computer History Museum in Mountain View started as a corporate museum which grew into the Boston Computer Museum before moving west. There are many other computer museums worldwide of a similar scope.

Then there are the collectors and mini-museums that preserve old computers for fun or nostalgia.

In the end lots is lost, of course, but the bulk of the history is being preserved.