Collecting (quit whining and do something about it!)

From: William Donzelli <william_at_ans.net>
Date: Mon Apr 21 14:01:36 1997

> 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.

I would like to point out that this attitude towards scrap dealers is
really unproductive to our efforts. I have noticed it several places on
this list.

Simply stated, scrap dealers are not the enemy! Some of my best goodies
have come straight out the junkyard. The secret is to get to know the
people doing the scrapping - some of them will turn out to be fine, just
uninformed. True, some are jerks that would stab their brother in the
back just to get a good deal, but most are simply out to make a good
living, being their own boss.

To them, the old minis are resources of gold, some chips, some aluminum
and tantalum, and misc. dirty metal. Most do not know that there are
people that cherish and collect the old gear. They are simply interested
in what they will get out of it, relative to what they put into it. If
you offer to buy a piece for what they will get for it from the
metal merchants and refineries, chances are that they will jump at the
opprotunity to do less work.

Go to the junkyards and state your intentions. Tell them what you are
looking for and leave a card or two. Talk to the owners - most have very
interesting tales to tell.

This has worked for me quite a few times, although only for a classic
computer once (remember, I am quite new to this game). I purchased my Sun
4/280 server (with an old 3/280 processor card as well) cheap, after
telling the guy that I am always looking for interesting old machines. At
another junkyard, I have pulled many interesting bits (vintage radio and
radar things - see, someone does collect search radars!) at scrap prices.
The owner kept them from the scrap heaps because he now knows what they
are. If he was never told about the interest people have in the stuff, it
would be on a slow boat to China by now, and not in personal collections
and museums.

William Donzelli
william_at_ans.net

 
Received on Mon Apr 21 1997 - 14:01:36 BST