Collecting (was: On Generations of People and Computers)

From: Alexios Chouchoulas <alexios_at_vennea.demon.co.uk>
Date: Mon Apr 21 07:44:56 1997

On Sun, 20 Apr 1997, Sam Ismail wrote:

> This totally sucks in one respect because I've been into this since
> before it became a "hobby", and it's always been relatively easy to get
> sweet old computers for rock bottom prices because people were happy to
> dump them off. Now that your typical dork who saw that show is going to
> want to start collecting also, the prices for this junk is going to start
> running up.

  It all depends. No reason to panic until you see people ogling at your
newly-acquired IMSAI with a mad look in their eyes, reaching for their
wallets at the same time. :-)

  There's no such thing as a market for old computers, hence no real
communication between the people who sell their old junk (sic) at garage
sales and such. Even if collecting becomes totally mainstream, with glossy
mags and tons of clubs and other such abominations, it'll take time before
prices start rising.


> Visitor: Gee, Tom, whatcha got there?
> Tom: Its a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-11. I paid $10,000 for it
> at an antique auction. I'm preserving a piece of computing history you know!
> Visitor: Wow!
> Tom: Want to see my Commodore collection?

  Argh! Mercy! Can't stop laughing! :-)


> At least I hope this doesn't become the case, because I do this because I
> truly love the machines I collect and am truly fascinated by them and am
> truly sincere about preserving them and keeping them alive. I think we
> can all say that. But once it starts becoming mainstream then it becomes
> a way for cheezy people at swap meets to command outrageous prices for
> old computer junk. I already see it happening on AuctionWeb.

  If it does become mainstream (though I doubt it will, not in the very near
future), we have another reason to be more aggressive in collecting. So far,
we're rescuing old iron, minis, micros and what not from the disgusting
tentacles of "computer recycling" and the dump. If mainstream Microsoft
droids start collecting, we'll have to rescue old hardware from THEIR
filthy claws as well.

  I don't mind losing a machine to another collector -- and this has often
happened in the past. But I do mind losing it to someone who wants it for
the parts or for fun (aka disassembling it). Fear and loathing.


> Visitor: So, how much RAM does this baby have?
> Tom: Well, the guy I bought it from said 32"K", but I think he meant 32
> "Megs".
> Visitor: Yeah, how can you run Windows on 32K? He must've been wrong!
> Tom: Yeah, totally. Now I wish I could figure out where to insert the CD
> ROM. This big 8 inch slot doesn't seem to accept it very well.

  Sam, this kind of ignorance is the stuff the world is made from. Granted,
the feelings it evokes range from amusement to rage, but it's still nothing
to worry about. There are always cretins. I'd start to worry when Tom above
decides to "maintain" his machine and ruins a possibly rare machine out of
ignorance.


--------------------------- ,o88,o888o,,o888o. -------------------------------
Alexios Chouchoulas '88 ,88' ,88' alexios_at_vennea.demon.co.uk
The Unpronouncable One ,o88oooo88ooooo88oo, axc_at_dcs.ed.ac.uk
Received on Mon Apr 21 1997 - 07:44:56 BST