I have quite a few old radios from the 1920s and 30s, and the market has
recently been subjected to the same kind of wild increases, due to the
entrance of speculators into the field. Speculators don't care about old
radios, they just think that they can make a ton of money on them.
Most of the hype and hoarding has been with bakelite radios from the late
40s and 50s, but the
resultant high prices (easily with $1000 or $2000 minimum) have driven up
the prices of the really nice old sets from the 20s and 30s too.
This is especially visible in antique stores and second hand shops where
even run of the mill wooden console and tabletop radios can be priced at
$250-$300. Prior to this escalation, prices would be $50 or so for the
same sets.
For those collectors like myself who simply like old radios for their own
sake, and for their historic and aesthetic appeal, these unbelievable
prices have made acquisition of old sets much more difficult.
I am relatively new to old computers (although I've been into computing
since 1973) and it looks like the speculators are causing the same sort of
trouble for those already in the field. I like old machines simply because
they're neat; it's fun to have them and keep them running. It preserves a
bit of history.
What really bugs me about these people is that, as others have said, they
have no interest in the machines other than their earning potential. This
is sad as it does nothing to preserve the sense of history that goes along
with old hardware and software. But on the positive side, I suppose, at
least the machines are being saved from the crusher. Maybe they will
reemerge into the market some day at a reasonable price. Let's hope that
they don't sit for 20 years and then get scrapped.
As well, all this interest in micros may tend to make old minis and such
more affordable, or at least not drive up their prices too much. Those
speculating seem to be interested only in "personal" machines. Computing,
it seems, started with the Apple or the IBM PC.
Kevin
--
Kevin McQuiggin VE7ZD
mcquiggi_at_sfu.ca
Received on Tue Aug 12 1997 - 12:42:44 BST