Posted 2024-05-09 | Back to blog index
So this Newton MessagePad 130 showed up on PayPay Fleamarket for $45. Never seen a Newton go for this cheap in Japan (even with massive a black screen burn spot), and they're rare to show up to begin with.
The photos didn't show the screen, but revealed some bad battery leakage (which was also disclosed in the description), but I figured at least it could be used for parts (my pen on my 120 has lost it's end cap!)
It arrived today so let's see what we got!
The screen is good!!! What a relief!
We also got a 10 MB Flash card in here apparently (it was not mentioned in the listing)
And that battery leakage looks gnarly! Time to open it up to see the damage…
I think… we're in luck? It looks like it was stored “face-up”, so the acid pooled in the rear case and seems to have spared the logic board??
The rear case was so corroded the screw standoffs just fell off.
I gave the battery contacts a quick wipe down with vinegar, and..
It runs!!! Success!! My first Newton OS 2.0 device.
There's still a bunch of corrosion in the battery contacts though since I can't get in behind them, I'm going to want to remove it and leave it in a vinegar bath overnight or something.
Does anyone have any hints on removing the battery contacts to clean them? Are they soldered to the logic board or something?
