----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Dzubin" <dzubint_at_vcn.bc.ca>
To: <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 8:39 AM
Subject: Making the decision to specialize on a particular classic comp.
arch?
>
> I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem.
> For years and years, I've basically collected anything
> non-Wintel old-ish (older than ten years) computer-related stuff.
> I've got quite a few systems which aren't really "rare" like Commodore
> 64, Radio Shack Cocos & MC-10s, TI-99s, etc. etc.
>
Well, they aren't rare now but if everyone throws them out or sells them on
Ebay, there won't be all that many in
circulation. None of these things may be worth anything now but I'm keeping
mine anyway. At some point, maybe when my kids are my
age, they will be worth something more. Antique stores are full of stuff
that no one else kept and that everyone wants now.
> I've also been amassing a collection of DEC PDP and VAX "stuff" which
> I work on, use, and enjoy on a regular basis.
>
> My basement is a mess and I'm starting to think about scaling back by
> selling or giving away some of the non-DEC common stuff.
> (I regularily see Commodore 64s on eBay for $20)
I don't collect the big stuff, thank goodness everyone else seems to, so
storage is just a pain in the butt ... not an extreme problem. I've
considered
paying for a storage bin but that would only give me an excuse to collect
more. Right now I am being selective about what I get and I'm finding Macs
quite
interesting and a whole lot easier to store. I can't imagine what you guys
who collect the heavy stuff have to go through in terms of storage. But the
big pieces also beg the question : In terms of 'value' will they be as
attractive as the Commodores since they cost so much to maintain, store and
ship. Certainly true collectors will usually want the large ones but weekend
collectors will probably want a Commodore or Apple II. There are lots of
points about preservation to be made for the large, heavy computers but
that's for the people who have them to sort out. Hell, I can't imagine
rewiring my basement to get a 220 outlet or two (Canada here) for a
collection of large pieces.
>
> Is this specializing the right approach? Am I likely going to be kicking
> myself in fifteen years because I *had* a working Radio Shaft Colour
> Computer and I eBay-ed it for $10?
> Also in my mind is the possible demise of analog TV and it may not be
> possible to find a TV with a composite-input to plug my C64 into in
> fifteen years if everything (including broadcast) is digital
I've got a dozen or so Commodore 1701 and 1802 monitors, thank goodness. The
hard ones are the older Tandy models which only had
a 300 ohm out and required a balun or something similar to connect to a TV.
> Any thoughts, comments, or opinions?
>
> Thomas Dzubin
That's my few cents worth. My last point, I knew a collector once who kept
all of his computers stored beside his bed, stacked to the ceiling in a
bachelor flat. Often wondered what effect an earthquake would have on is
longevity. Now that's a storage problem.
bm
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Received on Sat Apr 24 2004 - 18:36:47 BST