[cctalk] Re: Revocable Living Trust for Computer Collectors

On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 10:01 AM geneb via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: Paul Allen should have given the items to the curators of the museum upon his death. If preservation is the goal anyway. To that end, he could have ID'd specific items and detailed who gets what. Set a provision that discourages the recipient from selling the items. For example a clause where 85% of the proceeds of a given item would go to a charitable trust if sold within the first 5 years. Whatever works. The Allen family does not need another million or so dollars, which will be spent in a heartbeat. So many of these items will end up on a shelf, never to be used properly again. What gets lost is the ephemera, the details and less-valuable bits that only a historian would value. The on-going process of moving an entire small computer museum (Kennett Classic) including re-curating/integration of the exhibits is a huge effort that requires a lot of expertise and physical labor (re-racking DEC server components, etc.). The "value" is quickly lost if the collection becomes a pile. I/we have been working through every document, every part, every item. I could only imagine moving the Living History Museum. OMG I had a lot of help, and the inventory/museum moved was about 3000 sq feet of space. All of which must be climate controlled. We liquidated about 10 shelving units of various items and put another 10 in storage as "maybe needed or sell?" categorization. My rule has always been, if an item comes in something has to go out. Keeps the inventory at a steady level but improving quality. It's not as simple as just making a living will or a trust for your collection. HIstorical computers are not stock portfolios. The storage and management costs outweigh the value over time. I have been on a lot of computer rescues and I have seen what happens to lifetime collections. Families don't want the effort of dealing with heavy old computers and collections often spend the last 30 years in a shed in the back, attic, or musty basement. The "value" disintegrates quickly. I honestly believe it's better to give away / sell off your items before you lose the ability to do so. Disburse to multiple persons. Large collections are too tough to transition unless you have the resources. Bill