Finding Classic Computers

From: McFadden, Mike <mmcfadden_at_cmh.edu>
Date: Tue May 16 10:01:14 2000

Word of mouth seems to be my best source of "valuable" computer
hardware/software.
Everyone at the hospital knows that I collect old computers, the lab has
given me old DEC terminals and printers if I haul away all of the stuff. I
also ended up with a MicroVAX 2000 with 2 RD54's if I promised to erase all
of the clinical data.
I happen to live in a small community, 1800 people, on the edge of a major
metropolitan area. Everyone in town knows I go to the computer place at
least once a week, I always volunteer to take anything anyone wants to send.
Our community has a cleanup day every other year, it's amazing what shows
up in the dumpster. I have arranged to take all of the computer/electronic
stuff to the local computer recycling/surplus center instead of it going
into the trash. I also volunteer computer support for the homeowners group.
The fire department was glad to receive industrial strength printer, printer
stand, and paper.
OT: My best recovery was a 25" Toshiba TV that turned out to have a broken
power cord. It has one ding where it hit the dumpster edge on the way in.
Someone else had a remote for this same model, their TV fell off the
counter. Now I have a complete unit for $0.
Several times I have gone to garage sales when they are ending and offered
to haul off the electronic/computer stuff left on the curb for the trash
truck. My wife has been startled when I have stopped while driving down the
street and picked up a few choice items. My wife tolerates this hobby
because it doesn't cost much, I can fix our computer, and I'm not out
gambling at the Riverboats. Drawbacks are that she and the kids don't
understand why I want to use a MicroVAX 2000, can't open the car doors on
one side because of the AT&T 3B2's and wonder about by Nicolet Zeta 36"
plotter that used to live in the rec room. I also don't have many computers
that are intact all the time, most seem to be fluctuating between
troubleshooting and testing.

My next goal is a neighbor who owns some storage lockers, maybe there will
be "gold in them thar dumpsters".

I once tried to "kick the habit". The 12 step process was two difficult, I
threw out lots of stuff and then by the time I got to the wall of the garage
I was hooked again. I hauled it all back in and hid it from my wife.
Covert collecting is tough.
Mike
vintage computer addict.
Received on Tue May 16 2000 - 10:01:14 BST