-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: LET'S RESOLVE THIS ISSUE was (Re: Made a deal to get a
Vax6000,2 Fujitsu Supercomputers and TOPS10???)
>> >>
>> >> Grrrrrr.
>> >
>> >I agree with you, Dave- it seems that recently there's been a surge of
>> >"this or that computer is junk, it's only worth scrap for metals
content.
>
>And I'll agree with you two...
>
>> >I'll enjoy scrapping this one" As I recall, indiscriminate bashing of
any
>> >particular computer is prohibited by this list's FAQ and Rules (and I'd
>> >definitely say that calling a whole class of machines junk would be
>> >bashing).
>
>Yep!...
>
>> >
>> >When some of us go hunting in Dumpsters and scrapyards for measly old
>> >micros, while working minis are being gleefully hauled to the shredder
for
>> >gold content, it kind of makes you wonder if it's all worth it.
>
>Some of us only see 1 or 2 interesting machines every year. And some of
>us spend _months_ trying to track down an obscure option or manual for
>our machines. And then we get people like this appearing...
>
You are not proactive ,.. sorry, that meant you actually have to financially
commit to get more minis!
>> >
>> >Richard
>> >
>>
>> First, I have never brought any kind of mini/micro to a gold reclaimer...
If
>> I get a system I really don't want I either take the boards out and have
the
>> rest crushed or ask one of my scrapper friends to cut it up. "I'll get
what
>
>I am not sure what the difference is, since it means one less interesting
>computer in the world.
>
>
That's right,, easy to say save every mini when you don't do anything
pro-active.
Tell you what Tony.. I gave addresses for 30,000 pounds of systems today..
Who here is committed to flying into those sites , pay for them, remove them
and then SHIP THEM!
>[...]
>
>> We should resolve this issue... What is a collectable computer?? I think
>
>Simple, a collectable computer is one that somebody wants to collect. And
>there are people here who want to collect just about everything that ever
>computed...
>
I Agree.
>> there are enough COCO-2s in collections to cover all of Toronto... should
I
>> still hoard and buy every unit I see? I realize this is a touchy issue so
I
>
>Well, there's another issue here.
>
>If you buy up a machine and scrap it, then it's gone, period.
>
>If you don't then somebody else will buy it. Most likely they'll scrap
>it, so it's still gone. But there's a small (but non-zero) chance that it
>will be bought by somebody who actually wants to use it again.
Large companies don't offer "pick and chose"... you really haven't called
companies or factories have you to bid on a lot?
>
>I am _not_ at all convinced that you're helping to preserve computers.
Again, the couch potato approach.. Much easier to think the minis will go to
nice place when bought by scrappers.
>
>> I am looking for. For the most part I will get stuck dealing with a lot
of
>> VAX 11/78Xs, IBMs, some Supercomputers (like the Fujitsu) and a lot of
>> PDP-11s. None of these computers are rare in any way and are quite
abundant
>
>This is obviously a definition of 'rare' that I am not used to. FWIW,
>none of those machines are at all common in my experience...
>
That's because you aren't doing anything to look for them. I can't remember
the last time a Vax 11/780 fell out of the sky.
>> among collectors. They are heavy, difficult to deal with and not
profitable.
>
>Ah... You're doing this to make a profit. No wonder I can't understand it.
>
and God forbid I make some guy happy getting him a machine he has always
wanted than telling him to wait for one to fall out of the sky and hit him.
Oh, and let the machine he has always wanted go to the melter!
Get a grip!
http://www.pdp8.com/
john
>-tony
>
>
Received on Thu Nov 25 1999 - 17:11:44 GMT