IBM 5150 PC Logo

[SteveG]

As it’s my IBM 5150’s 40th birthday this week I would like to refresh its metal front panel logo (its current logo is no longer visible it used to read “IBM Personal Computer”).

Can a transfer be applied or etched to the metal logo or does anybody have a spare front panel they could sacrifice?

 

[cwathen]

Not quite what you were looking for, but if you check out the 8 Bit Guy's PCjr keyboard restoration, he makes a pretty reasonable looking facsimile of the badge using tin foil and clear tape from a label maker. You could use the same technique for your 5150's case. Obviously you'll see it if you know it's there but it'll pass a casual inspection just fine. It's more likely than finding a replacement panel or original badge.

 

[Timo W.]

Unless you run a museum and have it on display, leave it as is, because it's part of the machine's history. It's not needed to have everything look like new.

 

[SteveG]

I plan to use the 5150 in a museum (www.museumofcomputing.com).

I was thinking of using an XT logo and just erasing the text XT.

I suspect the text would be just the same but slightly offset?

Can anyone with a 5150 send me a photo and then I can check that assumption.

 

[Plasma]

There are a lot of places that will print custom vinyl decals. For example.

 

[Timo W.]

I plan to use the 5150 in a museum (www.museumofcomputing.com).

Then get an original badge as a replacement. It makes no sense to replace a worn original badge with a fake "new" one when wanting to show it to others as the first, original PC.

Might take some time, but these show up on ebay from time to time.

 

[vwestlife]

These metal logos used to come with plastic film to protect them, which the user was supposed to peel off when they got the machine. So make sure what you're seeing isn't just old plastic film that was never peeled off and has degraded with age.

 

[jafir]

Can anyone with a 5150 send me a photo and then I can check that assumption.

 

[SteveG]

Thanks for the photo.

It looks as if my “cunning plan” will give a solution that will be very close to the original.