Looks great Sellam!
You've got roughly the same sources that I listed in part II of my article
on collecting:
http://www.retrobits.com/col-article2.html
You also have some additional information, such as some pricing hints,
advice on haggling, etc.
If you'd like, once you get this primer in it's final form, I'd be happy to
post it on retrobits.com (or a link to it, if you have it on your web site).
Regards,
- Earl
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sellam Ismail" <dastar_at_siconic.com>
To: <Classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 11:42 AM
Subject: Finding Vintage Computers - A Primer
> Comments please!
>
>
> Finding Vintage Computers - A Primer
> by Sellam Ismail
> sellam_at_vintage.org
> http://www.vintage.org
> 1st Edition - May 15, 2000
>
>
> This primer is intended to give you ideas that will help you
> find vintage computers in and around your general vicinity.
> It was written to aid the many frustrated collectors who
> believe they have exhausted their local sources and still
> cannot find any old computers. Well, I assure you this is
> not the case. Old computers can be found in a lot of places
> that you did not consider.
>
> Keep these principles in mind when determining what to pay
> for old computers:
>
> * some people are just happy to have their old machine
> go to a new home
> * the bigger the machine, the less money it generally
> sells for
> * for some large machine, people are sometimes willing
> to pay you to haul it away
>
>
> Flea Markets/Ham Fests/Car Boot Sales
>
> We begin with the most obvious place to find vintage
> computers, the Flea Market/Ham Fest/Car Boot Sale (I will
> refer to them as "flea markets"). Flea markets can occur
> with frequent regularity or just occasionally, from several
> times a week to perhaps once a year. Usually they are
> comprised of people trying to get rid of their old junk.
>
> At the more general flea market, finding old computers is
> usually a challenge. Most of what you will find is the sort
> of junk that you already have stored away in your garage,
> basement, attic, closet, etc. But occasionally you will
> find old computers, and the advantage here is that most
> collectors won't bother with these sorts of flea markets, so
> the competition is low.
>
> You will be more likely to find vintage computers at Ham
> Fests as most radio guys (and gals) are also computer users.
> Many Hams were early adopters of microcomputers during the
> mid- to late-70's and as such are likely targets for finding
> some of the more interesting early micros such as S-100 bus
> machines as well as mini-computers.
>
> You can generally expect to pay prices in the range of $5 -
> $50 for most vintage computers that show up at these events.
> Occasionally stuff can be had for free, since the seller
> just wants to get rid of it, or you can wait until after the
> event is over and head over to the trash bins where you will
> find all the stuff the sellers didn't want to take back home
> with them.
>
> Haggling at flea markets is mandatory. Never pay more for
> an old computer than you have to. Learning how to haggle
> properly would take a whole other primer. The way to get
> good at it is to just go out and do it.
>
> If you don't find any vintage computers at Ham Fests, don't
> get discouraged. The fact is they just haven't found you.
> It might be well worth your while to rent a space at the
> next event and put up a table of your own. Display signs
> indicating you are interested in old computers. A lot of
> the people attending the ham fests as buyers also have old
> computers that they'd like to get rid of and you will meet
> many people this way. The price of a space is usually not
> very high, perhaps from $10-$50.
>
> To find Flea Markets/Ham Fests/Car Boot sales in your area,
> look in the classified ads section of your local paper or in
> the small classified periodicals, or check the upcoming
> events listings for your local fairgrounds as a lot of times
> those are venues for large flea markets. Better yet, hop on
> over to http://www.openair.org/ which is an excellent online
> resource for finding flea markets and ham fests in your area
> worldwide.
>
>
> Thrift/Charity Shops
>
> Another good place to find vintage computers is at your
> local Thrift (or Charity) store. Almost every city has at
> least one. The bigger cities will have many. The most
> common ones (in the United States anyway) are The Salvation
> Army, Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul. In my experience,
> these are NOT good stores to find old computers. Usually
> they take all incoming computers and sell them at special
> sales. Or, if old computers do make it into the store, the
> pieces to it are usually not all together, or in some cases
> the parts to one computer may have been scattered across
> multiple stores.
>
> The better thrift stores to look in for old computers are
> the stand-alone stores or the for-profit chains. They
> usually won't sort through and separate the items and so
> you're more likely to find old computers at these.
>
> Prices vary from ridiculously cheap to just plain
> ridiculous. Some stores have no concept of a computer being
> obsolete. To them, a computer is an expensive, fancy device
> that is worth lots of money, and they price them
> accordingly. Others don't differentiate between an old
> computer and an old toaster, and will sell computer items at
> the same prices they sell the rest of their appliances, in
> many cases for only a few dollars or less. Some stores try
> to price computer items separately but can't tell the
> difference between modern day PC components and old computer
> parts, and as a result you'll see vintage machines selling
> for the same price as the more modern machines.
>
> Some thrift stores will slash the price of their items for
> every week that it does not sell. If something is priced
> too high you might wait until the following week and buy it
> at half off! Ask the store what their policy is. While
> you're at it, don't be afraid to make an offer on an item
> you are interested in. Haggling at thrift stores is OK.
>
> To find thrift stores, look in your local phone book, or
> check the web. Many of the larger institutions now have
> websites that will direct you to the nearest store. Search
> for them online.
>
>
> Electronics Surplus Shops
>
> If you can find them, electronics surplus shops are great
> places to find vintage computers. The prices are generally
> high at these stores but haggling is sometimes acceptable.
> It's always best to just ask.
>
> Look in your local phone book to find electronics surplus
> shops in your area. You also might want to try looking for
> general electronics repair shops, as they may have old
> computers laying about their shop as well.
>
>
> Colleges/Universities/Schools
>
> Schools are great places to find aging computers. Oft times
> an old machine is tucked away in a closet or basement and
> forgotten. Many schools have periodic rummage sales to sell
> off obsolete equipment. Ask the school administration if
> they have these sales and mark your calendar for the next
> one.
>
> You might also want to try contacting the teachers and
> professors directly as they may have knowledge of old
> computers that are no longer in use. The best ones to
> approach would be in the physical sciences departments:
> chemistry, physics, biology, etc. Of course, the Computer
> Science department would also be a good choice.
>
>
> Auctions
>
> An auction is sometimes a good place to find vintage
> computers, especially if it is an auction to liquidate the
> assets of a company that used computers in its operations.
> Look in the classified ads of your local paper to find out
> about upcoming auctions and estate sales in your area.
>
> Of course you can also try the online auctions. eBay is, of
> course, the most popular of the auction sites for finding
> vintage computers. However, competition is fierce, and as
> such prices are generally higher than you would pay at other
> venues. Bargains can be found by performing searches that
> locate items not listed in the categories specifically for
> old computers.
>
>
> Scrap/Salvage Yards
>
> If you're looking for "Old Iron", your most likely chance of
> finding it are in scrap yards. The precious metal content
> of big mainframes unfortunately sends many old computers to
> a frightful end. Try to find scrap yards in your area and
> ask the owner if they ever get old computers in. If they
> do, try to strike up a deal with them. Tell them you will
> pay them some amount over scrap value (for instance 10%) for
> any old machines they haul in. This will make it worth
> their while to work with you. Be forewarned: many scrap
> yard owners can be mean & nasty, and legends abound of
> various ones destroying perfectly good vintage equipment of
> all sorts either because you offered too low a price or just
> because you look funny. They are notoriously rude and
> generally just unstable people. Of course these are just
> generalizations, and your situation may vary.
>
>
> Classified Ads
>
> Of course you can always try searching the classified ads of
> your local paper, as some vintage computers do occasionally
> show up in the listings. Of course, don't neglect the
> Usenet for-sale newsgroups. Better yet, check for items
> listed for sale in the many newsgroups dedicated to specific
> computer platforms.
>
>
> Let Them Come to You
>
> One way to find vintage computers is to let them find you.
> Try placing an ad in the classifieds section of your local
> paper. Be sure to specify exactly what you are looking for
> to avoid getting a flood of false leads. In the very least,
> include a cut-off year indicating you are not interested in
> any computers manufactured after that year.
>
> Better yet, try posting an ad in one of the many Usenet
> newsgroups dedicated to older platforms. Or you can try
> posting an ad in one of your local for-sale newsgroups.
>
>
> The Traveling Nerd
>
> If you take frequent business trips to other areas, try
> scheduling time during your trip to search out old
> computers. The areas you visit may be fertile, untapped
> grounds for finding vintage machines. Upon arrival, check
> the phone book for any of the various sources listed above.
> You may also want to try to time your trips to coincide with
> any large flea markets or ham fests in the area and arrange
> to stay during the weekend so you can attend the event.
>
> Once you've acquired vintage computers whilst away from
> home, you'll soon realize you have to get them home somehow.
> This is not a problem. Most airlines allow two check-in
> bags (up to 65 pounds each) and two carry-on bags per
> passenger. Find a sturdy box and some packaging material
> and pack your findings, then check them in at the airport as
> your baggage. You can find boxes and packaging materials at
> a local mailing center, or at moving vehicle rental
> locations such as U-Haul. Pack your box well! Luggage is
> designed to absorb the abuse that the luggage handlers
> inflict upon it. Boxes are generally not. Use as much
> packing material as possible and pack it tight.
>
> If taking items back with you on the plane is not feasible,
> you can always just have the stuff shipped back to you at
> home by using your preferred shipping carrier (i.e. UPS,
> Fedex, etc.)
>
>
> Where Else?
>
> Finally, some other resources to try in your quest for
> vintage computers include:
>
> - Hi-tech companies in your local area, especially ones that
> have been around for a while and may have accumulated old
> machines
>
> - Local utilities (power, water, telephone) sometimes have
> surplus sales, and also have rather large dumpsters (skips)
> that are worth checking occasionally
>
> - Other collectors who are retiring from the hobby
>
> - Family, friends and neighbors and their family, friends
> and neighbors...tell everyone you know you collect old
> computers!
>
> Finally, if you live in an area where all of the above
> resources are either lacking or have consistently turned up
> nary a floppy drive, it might be worth your while to plan a
> weekend road trip to a major city nearby. Try to do
> research in advance to find out where all the thrift stores,
> flea markets and surplus shops are, and plot out an
> efficient route. Bring along a sizable vehicle, lots of
> money, and preferably a companion to keep you occupied
> during the boring long stretches.
>
> Above all, remember this: collecting vintage computers is an
> exercise in resourcefulness!
>
> Happy Collecting!
>
>
> Copyright (c) 2000 Vintage Computer Festival
>
> Sellam International Man of Intrigue and
Danger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> Looking for a six in a pile of nines...
>
> Coming soon: VCF 4.0!
> VCF East: Planning in Progress
> See http://www.vintage.org for details!
>
Received on Mon May 15 2000 - 16:46:25 BST