(General) Electric Dreams: restoring the GE-120, a milestone in transistor-based computing

We are the Museo Interattivo di Archeologia Informatica (MIAI) and the Museo dell’Informatica Funzionante (MusIF), two Italian cultural organizations dedicated to preserving and exploring the history of computing and its societal impact. We focus on creating engaging, interactive exhibits that highlight vintage hardware and software, offering hands-on experiences to captivate visitors of all ages. One of our signature events, Electric Dreams, is an annual gathering for members, supporters, and enthusiasts. In its first four editions, the event centered on the restoration of a General Electric GE-120, a historic computer that represents one of the early successors to Olivetti’s groundbreaking ELEA 9000 series—the first solid-state transistor-based computer in history.

The computer was used at the Zurich Airport until its decommissioning in 1984. This machine played a key role in early aviation systems and its restoration offers a window into the technological evolution of the 20th century.

Thanks to the fact that the donor preserved the original manuals—written in four languages, and partially hand written— our archival team has fully digitalized 57 binders worth of documentation. Meanwhile, the restoration team has focused on following the original testing procedures to validate the components of the CPU.

Reconstructing the self-test rig has been a critical milestone, enabling efficient identification and replacement of all the parts that tested as defective.

To complement this effort, we are also developing a full emulator for the GE-120, creating a bridge between its historical operation and modern exploration. This talk will trace the journey of the restoration project, detailing achievements to date and setting the stage for the future.

With a look ahead to Electric Dreams 2025, usually occurring during the last weekend of July, we invite the audience to join us in sunny Calabria for a hands-on experience with this exciting challenge.

https://github.com/MusIF-MIAI/ge-120-test-rig/