IBM gets hammered: Inside Big Blue's huge clearance auction

The man and his machine: Thomas Watson strikes a pose straight out of Mad Men to sell the S360.

The IBM PC Convertible, circa 1986, cost US$2000 on release and could later double as a boat anchor. Estimate: + AU$200 

But will it scale? IBM's Melbourne showroom (undated). Note that back then, Big Blue was also a distributor. (Full auction)

There are five of Australian artist Robert Owen's works up for grabs in IBM's latest clearance. This one, Untitled VIII, has an estimate of AU$3000 to AU$5000 against it. Owen's work is retained by the Art Gallery of NSW.

Front view of the IBM PC Convertible. Boasts raw 8086 grunt fuelled by twin floppies.

This 1993 sculpture by Peter Cripps, titled "Mirror Orator #2" stands 2.5m tall and has an estimate of AU$2000 to AU$4000 against it. His work has been acquired by the Museum of Contemporary Art.

An IBM Hokushin Auto Threading Sound Projector SC-10 Series will thrill celluloid hardware collectors.

The machine's carefully integrated automation can be fully appreciated in this video.

IBM Hokushin was a 1960s joint venture in Japan between Big Blue and HokushinElectric.

This Geoffrey Robert Proud (untitled) has an estimate of $1000 to $2000 against it. (Full auction)

The IBM "One Hundred Percent Club", 1925. We don't know where this is shot.
But it's somewhat different to a "1-Percenter Club".

Machine translation: the IBM Think slogan word pioneers the wordcloud. (Full auction)

IBM's London factory at Hammersmith 1960. Dustcoats, ties and stand-up desks. But what's written under the clock?

A gentle reminder to clockwatching employees.

This nifty gadget, built in 1930, tells you who turned up when. It's billed as a  "IBM Attendance Recorder." (Full auction)

IBM advertisement, 1939, extolling the company's global reach ... 

 ... and its benefits.

It might be closing on 20 years ago, but the Sydney 2000 Olympics were a huge deal for IBM.

Pin heads can get a decent fix at the Big Blue garage sale, with several lots of Olympic pins collections going under the hammer.

Daniel Pata's untitled bush scrub 1987. (Full auction)

Geoff La Gerche's "Midday Snowy River", 1982 is an realistic and richly detailed oil measuring 183cm x 229cm, which isn't that small.  Estimate, AU$1500-AU$2500.

David Rose's "At Fraser Beach" 1986.  

The Sydney Swans, with signatures, 2007. 

James Willem Willerbrant's Pacific Pools. 

For true Olympic tragics, there's the chance to take home a torch. Impress your friends by sparking up your next barqbeque with this mighty beast.(Full auction)