How did you get started?

From: Paul E Coad <pcoad_at_crl.com>
Date: Wed Apr 9 00:59:50 1997

On Tue, 8 Apr 1997, Brett wrote:

> Actually I got all involved in this *hobby* when I started working for
> Western Electric testing #3 ESS and #4 ESS in - oh 78?? - and had the
> PRIVILEDGE of walking by the loading dock on the day the crushing - YES -
> Crushing PDP-8's. There must have been 10 of them. It was the last load
> of about 50 total. Complete units with tapereaders, neat analog cards and
> all. It seems the government had just reversed the write-off laws that
> year and I had to be a "Charity Organization" to get any. One guy was just
> sitting there with pliers breaking off the card ID's and serial #'s as
> proof (or I would have gotten a couple) Talk about Dazed and Confused!
> I almost couldn't talk. Of course, they had just replaced all the PDP-8's
> with 11's. I managed to squawk out that I WOULD PAY THE TAX DIFFERENCE.
> but to no avail. *Red Tape* B.S. (I can't believe I still get so PI$$ED
> OFF ABOUT IT!)
> Well after that I have managed to save a few items. I still get a kick
> out of going to larger building and looking thru the trash 8-) but now
> it's all PeeCee stuff and it is garbage.
>

This raises the question of how people got into this hobby. Was it
a single event or something which happened over time (with or without
you being aware of it?)

I really started about two years ago. I had a few machines, but they
were not a collection. I picked up an Osborne 1 at an auction for a
buck. I couldn't believe that nobody else wanted it. A little later
I started to pick up machines here and there which were extremely cheap.
Before long I had a fairly eclectic collection. I also collect computer
books (the older the better) and Infocom games.

--pec
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Received on Wed Apr 09 1997 - 00:59:50 BST