Re: Survey: Vintage Computer Collecting

[Andrew Barker <andrew.barker@sunderland.ac.uk>]

[Snip]
> Here are the questions:
> 
> 1: Why do you collect vintage computers?
> 
> For instance: nostalgia, programming, historical interest, gaming

Nostalgia, and to test how games should load and what models
they work on.

> 
> 2: Where do you collect vintage computers?
> 
> For instance: thrift shops, garage sales, eBay, other auction sites

Car Boot Fairs, and one from ebay, but ebay is generally a rip off.

> 
> 3: What advice would you give someone just starting out collecting?
> 
> For instance: what to avoid, how to restore dirty/broken systems

Get yerself to your local car boots and pay between �5-�10 for any
speccy stuff.  You won't know if the item works until you get it home
and in my expreience they are usually broken in some way or another.
Even though the sellers will tell you they work, beware.
Start at a low price and barter them.  Stay at your accepted limit.

For �6 I got the following items:
1 x Huge box of games
1 x Big plastic bag containing 6 josticks and interfaces
1 x Currah uspeech
2 x ZX Spectrum 48k+s, one has dodgy keyboard membrane but can be
                       replaced ;-), the motherboards have different 
                       issue numbers.
1 x Tape Recorder.

A real good find that day.

> Extra credit: I'd be really interested to hear what computers people
> collect (e.g., micros or minis, brands, age range)

I collect only Spectrum stuff.  I already own the following machines:
2 x ZX Spectrum 48k+ (different issues)
1 x ZX Spectrum 128k +2 (Grey)
1 x ZX Spectrum 128k +2a (Black, has printer port)
1 x ZX Spectrum 128k +3 (Disk drive is broken and a new one didn't fix
it either ;-()

I've just won a bid on ebay for a rubber key 48k speccy.  For �26
(gulp), but I've
been after one for a while, and it comes with a printer ;-)
I saw a pristine conditioned rubber job at a car boot sale for �15
including
a sh1t load of stuff.  I wish I bought it now, but never mind.

I still require a 128k original speccy, but I refuse to pay the amount
they go for
on ebay.  I'm actually not bothered about the packaging, so it should be
cheaper.

> 
> Thanks in advance for your participation!  Look for the first results on
> March 15th.  As more responses come in over time, I'll upgrade the
> collecting area on the site with the additional details!
> 
> Earl Evans

Regards

Andy Barker (MIS Maintainer -
http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/~as0aba/MIS.html)