Scrap value of machines (was Re: ebay feedback)

From: John B <dylanb_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Sun Dec 5 20:42:11 1999

-----Original Message-----
From: Clint Wolff (VAX collector) <vaxman_at_uswest.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, December 05, 1999 10:38 PM
Subject: Scrap value of machines (was Re: ebay feedback)


>
>
>
>On Sun, 5 Dec 1999, John B wrote:
>
>>
>> David Winter (the guy in France) has bid on some of my items and always
paid
>> quickly. He seems to collect boards but does not buy entire systems.
>>
>> >I don't think any IBM 1130 is worth more than a couple of hundred in
scrap
>> by
>> >the way. I suspect less than that.
>> >
>>
>> Then I guess the scrappers will be outbidding you..... The larger 1960
mini
>> computers had a lot more gold in them than the '70s models as the gold
was
>> plated thicker in the '60s. The 1130 (from what I can remember) has more
>> than $100US in aluminum in it (just cpu + printer). I don't know what the
>> gold content is.. (I'll find out.. I know a company that does).. BTW I
just
>> lost an IBM 360 to a gold scrapper [bid more than me]. Some of the metal
>> scrappers I know never bothered to look at gold content.. what's scaring
the
>> hell out of me are these guys that know to the penny what they can
extract
>> out of it and generally bid a lot higher than most.
>>
>
>Where can you find out what the gold/aluminum/steel value of a
>computer at? The obvious solution is to know what a scrapper is
>willing to pay, and add $10 to your bid. A scrapper will never
>spend more to buy something than it is worth, a collector will.


The problem is: *some* minis/mainframes his company is willing to pay more
for than it is worth in it's unrestored condition. Ie: What can I resell a
Fujitsu super computer for, restored??? Unfortunately, it looks like it's
worth more in gold. I can justify paying higher dollars for 1950/60s minis
but I won't pay $8000 for something that is 7 years old.

Please remember this is "profit talking"... Maybe there might be someone who
*really* wants a Fujitsu... but are they willing to compete with a scrapper
at $8K? I am lucky in that I still have a lot of paper mills/factories he is
not into yet so I can grab huge racks of minis for a couple thousand.

Gotta hand it to the *sneaky* guy.. He even offered to go to the sites I
purchase from to pick up and deliver what I want and pick up what I don't...
and I am sure to add his name to the bidders list :-(



john
http://www.pdp8.com/


>
>Clint
>
>
>
Received on Sun Dec 05 1999 - 20:42:11 GMT

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