Olivetti M24 (No. 2)

Olivetti M24 Running Sokoban
Olivetti M24 Running Sokoban
MakeOlivetti
ModelM24
Model NumberXP1050
Serial Number0287308
ProcessorIntel 8086
BusISA
Release Date1983
Cost New?
Acquired2016-03-23
Configuration (as collected)Base unit only
640KB memory
P1050 Bus Converter
WD1002S-WX Hard Disk Controller (no hard disk)
Missing screws for floppy disk mounting rail
Current ConfigurationAdded:
Monitor (from my first M24)
5¼” floppy disk drive and mounting rail (from my first M24)
ANK 2886 Keyboard
StatusOperational
Power LED not working, real time clock not working although battery replaced.
Documentationhttps://bitsavers.org/pdf/olivetti/m21_m24/

I bought this one from a computer recycling business in Leeds via eBay as a base unit only. It had a hard disk controller but no hard disk and it did not have a floppy disk drive. It was however in better condition than my first M24 because it also had a reset button, the bus converter, hard disk mounting plates and the translucent red plastic cover for the hard disk slot. The one problem was that the battery had leaked.

I took parts from the first M24 to make a working machine out of this one. I also added a non-original ANK 2886 keyboard that I bought separately. The machine worked. It takes a while to boot because the hard disk controller is installed but there is no hard disk. Eventually it switches to booting from the floppy disk drive.

Inside the Olivetti M24 with parts taken from the other one I have

A while later the power supply failed later and required repair. The monitor also had a bad contact on the contrast control which sometimes caused the monitor to go blank, but a little contact cleaner seemed to fix this. I also restored the ANK 2462 keyboard to reliable operation.

It also looks like I replaced the Varta 3/60DK backup battery at some point with a Varta 3/V80H at some point, but I have no record of doing this. The battery works well, but the real time clock doesn’t seem to persist after a power cycle. The power LED does not seem to work either, although it is getting voltage.

Restoration History

DateDetails
2016-03-24Inspected internally, cleaned, found battery has leaked.
2016-03-25Powered on, working. Transferred some parts from the first M24, floppy disk drive
2025-07-26Powered on with new ANK 2886 keyboard. Noted monitor contrast control problem. Then PSU stopped working.
2025-09-04Replaced C21 and C35 in PSU. Now the PSU works more reliably, although still not fully confident.
2025-09-06Machine fully reassembled and seems to be working.
2025-11-02Cleaned contact on monitor contrast control.
2025-11-09Restored ANK 2462 keyboard. Checked floppy disk operation.