If I am understanding you correctly and you think the drives are mechanically ok then usb is/was designed to be forwards/backwards compatible although obviously at reduced speeds.
Older external drive enclosures often seem to need extra drivers and stuff to make them work whatever the device which is a real pain when it comes to plugging them into something else.
Have you thought about asking around to see if anyone has a computer of the right generation in the attic which might at least let you do a one-off recovery extraction?
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