CHM gripe (was: rarest computers)

From: Jim Battle <frustum_at_pacbell.net>
Date: Tue Aug 3 22:05:51 2004

Vintage Computer Festival wrote:

...
> Anything that comes my way like that I usually channel over the the
> Computer History Museum. This would include several important items so
> far.

I'm not so keen on the CHM. I don't know if I aired this already or
not, but I think not.

When I left the bay area a couple months ago, I tried to give my working
wang 2200 with terminal, manuals, working floppy disk system,
fixed/removable hard disk system, and disks.

It took a LOT of work (weeks of one-sided prodding) on my part to have
them consider it. "The curator will contact you in a few days..." (a
week passes), another email, "The curator will contact you in a few
days...", more time passes, another email, "Could you describe it
again?", etc.

After more than a month of delay, I received and email with the tenor of
a form letter along these lines: Dear Jim, thank you for considering the
CHM. Unfortunately at this time we don't have an interest in obtaining
your keypunch machine. Here are the names of some other museums that
may be interested ...

It went to the digibarn instead. That they didn't want my computer
isn't what ruffled me -- it was their seeming indifference to what I
thought was a generous offer. At any rate, I'm sure the computer ended
up with someone (Bruce) who appreciates it more than the CHM.
Received on Tue Aug 03 2004 - 22:05:51 BST