From: robertdc@dircon.co.uk (Robert de Castro) Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Finding classic computers Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:20:57 GMT Message-ID: <35e0325f.11098435@news.dircon.co.uk> X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.11/32.235 NNTP-Posting-Host: 194.112.54.66 X-Trace: 23 Aug 1998 16:20:55 -0100, 194.112.54.66 Lines: 15 Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed.uk.ibm.net!ibm.net!news.freedom2surf.net!diablo.theplanet.net!news-lond.gip.net!news.gsl.net!gip.net!demeter.clara.net!194.112.50.17.MISMATCH!news.clara.net!peer1.news.dircon.net!peer2.news.dircon.net!newsread1.dircon.co.uk!news.dircon.co.uk!194.112.54.66 Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. Are there computer fairs where older machines can be bought and sold? Is it worth writing or emailing local businesses or schools / colleges to ask whether they have any obsolete computers? These are the kind of questions I would like to find answers to. Thanks for your help. Robert ###### From: "Len" Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:19:47 -0700 Organization: EarthLink Network, Inc. Lines: 15 Message-ID: <6rpq1m$l6r$1@fir.prod.itd.earthlink.net> References: <35e0325f.11098435@news.dircon.co.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: 2cust100.tnt6.lax3.da.uu.net X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.2110.0 X-Posted-Path-Was: not-for-mail X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.2106.4 X-ELN-Date: Sun Aug 23 12:20:22 1998 Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news.maxwell.syr.edu!howland.erols.net!worldfeed.gte.net!newsfeed1.earthlink.net!nntp.earthlink.net!posted-from-earthlink!not-for-mail >Robert de Castro wrote >Please can someone explain how a beginner can go >about finding old >classic computers. Computer swapmeets usually have a lot of junk (read classic) computers. Also check the thrift stores and regular ( non computer-just regular junk) swapmeets. Old Comodore's and Atari's can be found for under $10. there are lots of Sinclare's and Pet's there also. I have been collecting old laptops. My favorite is my T1000 with dos 2.11 in rom. It has no hard disk but rather uses a 640K ram disk (separate from the 640K main memory) that is kept alive by battery while the box is shut off. When on it lasts about 3.5 hours on 2 "C" size nicads. There is no backlight on the LCD screen. (eyestrain galore) Those were the days.... ###### From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa or Jeff) Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers Date: 23 Aug 1998 20:27:29 GMT Organization: Net Access BBS Lines: 13 Message-ID: <6rptvh$2k8@netaxs.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: bbs.cpcn.com Originator: root@bbs.cpcn.com Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news.maxwell.syr.edu!news-xfer.netaxs.com!netaxs.com!bbs.cpcn.com!root > Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old > classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local > newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some > turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. What do you mean by a "classic computer"? An IBM XT? (We have piles of them in a corner, not sure if they work.) An IBM S/360? A Philco Ford? An IBM 1401? Most older machines were scrapped to recover the precious metals used in them. Apparently it was worth the time of scrap dealers to acquire the big iron for the gold. ###### From: stevenss@freenet.msp.mn.us Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 21:42:45 GMT Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion Lines: 51 Message-ID: <6rq2cl$pll$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com> References: <35e0325f.11098435@news.dircon.co.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: 208.238.137.59 X-Article-Creation-Date: Sun Aug 23 21:42:45 1998 GMT X-Http-User-Agent: Mozilla/4.05 [en] (X11; U; Linux 2.0.34 i586) Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!newsfeed.uk.ibm.net!ibm.net!news-lond.gip.net!news-peer.gip.net!news.gsl.net!gip.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!204.238.120.130!news-feeds.jump.net!nntp2.dejanews.com!nnrp1.dejanews.com!not-for-mail In article <35e0325f.11098435@news.dircon.co.uk>, robertdc@dircon.co.uk (Robert de Castro) wrote: > > > Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old > classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local > newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some > turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. > > Are there computer fairs where older machines can be bought and sold? > Is it worth writing or emailing local businesses or schools / > colleges to ask whether they have any obsolete computers? These are > the kind of questions I would like to find answers to. > > Thanks for your help. > > Robert > When looking for "classic computers" probably the last thing you want to do is try to purchase them from other people who consider them "classic computers" who appreciate them as such. People who have already "discovered" the machine value them at well over what you should have to pay. Go to garage/estate sales (probably the best place for really cheap prices.) Find out if there is a thrift/surplus store in your area where companies tend to donate their obsolete hardware (we have the PPL Thrift store here in Minneapolis.) General purpose thrift stores have started to refuse to accept old computer stuff in my experience (they have to pay by the ton to dispose of stuff they can't sell, and who is going to buy 500 IBM XT's??) Swapmeets can be a good place to find older gear. Generally swapmeet sellers have nostalgia for the old systems they are selling and hope to find a new owner who will appreciate it. They also are most likely to still have the docs and software (although to be really 'classic' it shouldn't use anything more recent than cassette tape for mass storage :-) ) Find out if there are Radio Ham clubs in your area that hold periodic swapmeets. Look for precious-metal 'salvage' companies in your area that buy scrapped electronic hardware by the truckload, and find out if they'll let you bid on stuff they're about to strip. I got a Sym-1 (my second) single board system in the orginal carton with all accessories and docs, for $15 at a swapmeet last fall from it's orignal owner. I got a "big-board" Z-80 machine the same way. (I tend to be prejudiced in favor of machines from before the makers started putting the hardware into molded plastic cases) It's important to hang out where there's a lot of junk to poke around in. You have to like such fun to find really good deals. And you have to be willing to wash the dust off your hands after a day of "shopping." -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum ###### Message-ID: <35DF6A1D.5C9F@bellsouth.net> From: Gwizdak Reply-To: wazm@bellsouth.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01C-BLS20 (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers References: <35e0325f.11098435@news.dircon.co.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 41 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 01:11:20 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: host-209-214-132-182.jax.bellsouth.net NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 21:11:20 EST Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.nyu.edu!newsfeed.atl.bellsouth.net!news4.mia.bellsouth.net.POSTED!not-for-mail Robert de Castro wrote: > > Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old > classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local > newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some > turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. I found a few TRS-80s (Model 1 and Model III) in my neighbor's trash. I've also found a C-64 in this computer store's trash as well. They are all in good condition, and work. misc.forsale.workstation tends to have older (not vintage) systems, such Sun 2s and HP-9000's for a reasonable price. Check out fleamarkets, strip malls, thrift shops..etc. (I saw a TI-99 with speech synthesizer at a thrift store once.) Note, if you do not live in an area that's very computer orrientated (like kansas or something), you may have to go to other cities. > Are there computer fairs where older machines can be bought and sold? Yes. Look out for anything to do with Ham radio, or Hemp fests. > Is it worth writing or emailing local businesses or schools / > colleges to ask whether they have any obsolete computers? These are Schools, especially colleges, throw out stuff all the time. Although, they most likely won't be vintage systems. I hear MIT throws out their computers every six months or so. Churches tend to have a load of 8086's to get rid of though.. -- Optimizer of life. \ / main(){printf("Na razie. \n");} ----------><---------- -Gwizdak aka Wazm / \ http://www.crowsnest.dynip.com/~wazm ###### From: writer1@Eng.Sun.COM (Bob Morrisette) Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers Date: 24 Aug 1998 16:50:29 GMT Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc. Lines: 11 Message-ID: <6rs5kl$2p1$3@engnews2.Eng.Sun.COM> References: <6rptvh$2k8@netaxs.com> Reply-To: writer1@Eng.Sun.COM NNTP-Posting-Host: sabu.eng.sun.com Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news.belnet.be!newsgate.cistron.nl!het.net!newsfeed.uk.ibm.net!ibm.net!news-feed.inet.tele.dk!bofh.vszbr.cz!newsfeed.wli.net!131.119.28.147!su-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!venus.sun.com!ebaynews1.Ebay.Sun.COM!engnews2.Eng.Sun.COM!not-for-mail > Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old > classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local > newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some > turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. You can see many of these at the Computer Museum in Moffat Field or American Computer Museum in Bozeman. Bob Morrisette ###### From: David Ecale Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 18:34:06 -0500 Organization: Cray Research a division of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Lines: 26 Message-ID: <35E1F86E.41C6@sgi.com> References: <6rptvh$2k8@netaxs.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: ayasophia.cray.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0SC-SGI (X11; I; IRIX 6.2 IP22) Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news.belnet.be!newsgate.cistron.nl!het.net!newspump.monmouth.com!newspeer.monmouth.com!sunqbc.risq.qc.ca!torn!enews.sgi.com!walter.cray.com!not-for-mail Lisa or Jeff wrote: > > > Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old > > classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local > > newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some > > turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. > > What do you mean by a "classic computer"? An IBM XT? (We have piles > of them in a corner, not sure if they work.) > > An IBM S/360? A Philco Ford? <> Hey, there's probably a bunch of old Philco Ford 102s still floating around. They were used for overseas AUTODIN & were initially programmed in SHAL/A Assembler. They're pretty big though, so rent a warehouse to store 'em. They're definitely bigger than a breadbox. Remember that Congress cancelled the 3 planned upgrades to AUTODIN! So, I'd bet there are a few of these puppies still in use. ... -- David Ecale ecale@cray.com ###### From: Kevin McQuiggin Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 08:16:29 -0700 Organization: Simon Fraser University Lines: 43 Message-ID: <35E2D54D.5B4@sfu.ca> References: <35e0325f.11098435@news.dircon.co.uk> Reply-To: mcquiggi@sfu.ca NNTP-Posting-Host: rs28-annex3.sfu.ca Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; I) Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news.belnet.be!195.200.0.51.MISMATCH!newshub.bart.net!ayres.ftech.net!news.ftech.net!newsfeed.nacamar.de!news.maxwell.syr.edu!news.bc.net!news.sfu.ca!not-for-mail Hi: A good place to find older systems is your local college or university. Most have periodic surplus sales where old machines can be picked up very cheaply. I've bought old DEC and Sun machines complete with documentation for anywhere from $25 to $100. Another source is your local scrap metal dealer. They often get old machines for their metal content, and you can convince them to sell the old machines to you. A third source is an industrial (rather than consumer-oriented) computer recycler. The consumer shops are usually over-priced and full of true junk. If you can find an industrial recycler (they remove boards and parts of interest and then resell these, junking everything else) then you may be able to buy system components really cheaply. It depends what type of systems you're interested in. As a DEC system enthusiast, I've bought a complete set of boards from a Microvax II for $25. This was from a computer recycler in Ottawa, Ontario. Hope this info is of use, Kevin Robert de Castro wrote: > > Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old > classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local > newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some > turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. > > Are there computer fairs where older machines can be bought and sold? > Is it worth writing or emailing local businesses or schools / > colleges to ask whether they have any obsolete computers? These are > the kind of questions I would like to find answers to. > > Thanks for your help. > > Robert ###### From: psampson@nortel.ca (Paul Sampson) Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Finding classic computers Date: 28 Aug 1998 13:19:53 GMT Organization: Bell Northern Research Lines: 26 Message-ID: <6s6app$1c5@bmdhh222.bnr.ca> References: <35e0325f.11098435@news.dircon.co.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: bmdhhadf.bnr.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] Path: ccw.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news.maxwell.syr.edu!sunqbc.risq.qc.ca!torn!nott!bcarh189.bnr.ca!zcarh46f.bnr.ca!bcarh8ac.ca.nortel.com!bmdhh222.bnr.ca!psampson Robert de Castro (robertdc@dircon.co.uk) wrote: : Please can someone explain how a beginner can go about finding old : classic computers. I've been looking through classifieds in the local : newspapers and in computer buy / sell magazines. Occasionally, some : turn up but they tend to be only the fairly common home machines. : Are there computer fairs where older machines can be bought and sold? : Is it worth writing or emailing local businesses or schools / : colleges to ask whether they have any obsolete computers? These are : the kind of questions I would like to find answers to. Robert, you've pretty much covered off the best places to look already. Schools and colleges have pretty much junked most of the good stuff (380Z) and even their BBCs. Most of the machines I get now come from trading and the odd lucky find (i.e. 5 NewBrains at a boot sale last weekend). There is a heathly web ring of European collectors, but it's going to cost a fair bit in postage to exchange some of the older and heavier machines. Good luck, Paul.