How scarce (valuable) is core for the PDP-8?

From: Lawrence LeMay <lemay_at_cs.umn.edu>
Date: Mon Apr 19 09:08:41 1999

>
> I have a chance to buy a 4kW core stack for the PDP-8/i (-8/L). It's
> more than I want to pay, $100. My question is, what are these things
> going for these days? I don't really *need* it. The guy selling it
> has more core than this that he saved from a "recycler", but he's in
> it for the money, not out of a love for classic machines. Most of his
> memory, he sells to people who want something to stick on the shelf and
> "ooh" and "aah" at. :-(
>
> So... for those people who have been trying to get core over the past year
> or two, what's it costing? I'm trying to decide if I want to grab this
> stack to put into my -8/i and bring it up to 8kW, an entirely optional
> project (I have all the other parts I would need for the upgrade from a
> PDP-8/L that I got in 1982 that was sold as parts-only, bad core, and most
> of the I/O and part of the CPU missing).
>
> I think he's charging too much, but maybe I'm disconnected with the
> current pricing. I do know that if I pass on it, there are several
> other people who are waiting for this exact piece, so it'll be sold
> one way or the other when I answer him.
>

Actually, thats probably a reasonable price. Core memory boards,
probably non-working, have been going for a high price. Age and
a nice visible setup increase the price.

Now, I havent seen the memory in question. but the pdp8/e core
memory i've seen is all covered by a clear plastic shield. This
increases its value as a display piece, as you can easily see
all the core, and its all protected.

Of course, in order to use the core on a pdp8/? you would need
a couple of support boards in addition to the core plane board
itself. I would say that just the core plane, being of a nice
size, and being very good 'visually' to display, and somewhat
because its a PDP8 series board (nostalgia value), that its
probably worth $100 all by itself. If it comes with the 2 support
boards and the top connector things at that price, then i'd say
its a bargain.

Just my 2cents.

-Lawrence LeMay
Received on Mon Apr 19 1999 - 09:08:41 BST