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101090 discussions

Collecting computers - the book and the web site.

by kstumpf＠unusual.on.ca

>Where can someone purchase a copy of your book? Its not listed on amazon.com. > > Thanks > > Noel > Thank you for inquiring. The book is self-published. Ordering details are at the bottom of this message. I also had an arrangement with the Vintage Computer Festival for copies to be sold at the VCF 3.0 and given away as prizes. Some copies are still available; see the VCF web site. ---------------------------------------------------------- A Guide to Collecting Computers and Computer Collectibles: History, Practice, and Technique 1st Edition ---------------------------------------------------------- This book is about the hobby of collecting computers and things related to computers. It's about the hobby in general for novices who are interested starting, building and maintaining a collection. It's also for veteran collectors as an attempt to bring us and a few of our stories, experience, and advice together. This book wouldn't be complete without also paying tribute to the pioneers in the field and so it includes coverage of many wonderful private collections and related "how I got started" stories. This book is simply the best resource you'll find to help you get started and flourish as a computer collector. This book has nine chapters, plus a section on resources. By reading this book you'll discover what to collect, how to collect, and how to manage your collection, including how to clean and store computers. Each chapter opens with an Anecdote and ends with an Profile. A Profile tells you about another collector - why or how they started collecting and a description of their collection. I am humbled by their acceptance to participate in this endeavour. You'll know what I mean after you read about them. Anecdotes are mostly from my own experiences. They no doubt pale in light of your own. Each Anecdote is a brief story about the trials, tribulations and thrills of collecting. I have not tried to make this a pricing guide, although the topic of Appraising is covered, and there isn't any photographs. I have tried to make this book: * a practical reference; * an entertaining piece of popular history; * an encouragement. TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------------------------------------------------- 1. Collecting Computers ANECDOTE.........How A PDP-9 Fixed A Leaky Garage Roof Why do people collect computers? Who collects computers? History of the hobby. Future of the hobby. How to collect computers. PROFILE.............Kevin Stumpf 2. What's collectible? ANECDOTE.........The Last Sigma 9 Collecting terminology. Collect computers. Don't collect computers. What will you collect? PROFILE.............Doug Jones 3. Sourcing ANECDOTE.........Stupid Internet Thread Yields 360/75 Sources. Techniques. Where will you go? PROFILE.............Jay Jaeger 4. Appraising ANECDOTE.........B220 Control Panel Not Lost In Space Techniques. What is value? How much would you pay? PROFILE.............Thierry Schembri 5. Acquiring ANECDOTE.........The Case of the Shrinking 705 Establishing terms of ownership. Getting your acquisition home. PROFILE.............Bob Roswell 6. Cataloging ANECDOTE.........Old GUI Computer Helps Resolve Sticky Situation What should you catalog? Tell it's story. How to catalog. PROFILE.............Bill von Hagen 7. Storing ANECDOTE.........An Old Car For An Old Computer: Fair Trade? Where are good places to store computers? Storage conditions Preparing for storage. PROFILE.............Bob Manners 8. Restoring/Repairing ANECDOTE.........Here's A Couple of Computers Beyond Repair Cleaning. Authenticity. Before you turn it on... PROFILE.............Carl Friend 9. Interesting Things to do with old computers ANECDOTE.........What Does A Crane and A 360/22 Have In Common? Educational. Crafty. Practical. PROFILE.............Tom Carlson ORDERING INFO ---------------------------------------------------------------- Copies are available for $18 + $4 (S&H) prepaid each, direct >from the publisher. Please send your order to: Unusual systems 220 Samuel Street Kitchener, Ontario N2H 1R6 For more information send a message to kstumpf(a)unusual.on.ca. Please allow 4 weeks for shipping. WE'RE READY TO TAKE YOUR ORDER. THANK YOU. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Kevin Stumpf * Unusual systems * www.unusual.on.ca +1.519.744.2900 * EST/EDT GMT - 5 Collector - Commercial Mainframes & Minicomputers from the 50s, 60s, & 70s and control panels and consoles. Author & Publisher - A Guide to Collecting Computers & Computer Collectibles * ISBN 0-9684244-0-6 .

27 years, 8 months

Collecting computers - the book and the web site.

by kstumpf＠unusual.on.ca

Greetings. There was a two month gap in my participation on the List until recently. Somehow, and no one has yet explained it, my subscription was removed (this happened again two weeks ago). Unfortunately, I missed a brief discussion of the book I wrote - it was reviewed in Dr. Dobb's Journal. Had I known, I would have contributed. To make matters even worse, the Classiccmp archive maintained by Kevan Heydon (many thanks man), also suffered from a technical glitch and needed to be restored. Now I've finally read the thread and please accept two observations and two invitations. Observation #1 - the books' identity crisis The book is a guide about the hobby of collecting computers and not a traditional collector's price guide. In a perfect world one would first read the guide to collecting and then want to read a collector's guide - the first guide stokes and refines the interest while the second guide assists in ensuring a collection is complete and in determining how much to buy and sell for. Observation #2 - the book's other identity crisis The book is for both seasoned collectors and beginners. It is not JUST a book for anyone who thinks collecting computers could be neat. Sure the guide will, by design help the novice, but it's equal strength is in helping the existing collector by affirming our practices and techniques and, by all means, sharing some of the practice and techniques the veteran collector might not know about. We should all be open to accepting our knowledge-gaps. In fact, a computer collector might not consider their collection complete without a copy of the first-ever book about collecting computers. Invitation #1 - answering questions about profilees I've been asked why some collectors were omitted and even why some were included. I expected such questions. As an author with a deadline and goal in mind I invited collectors who exemplified the experienced collector, the new collector, the big collector, the small collector, the international collector, etc trying to show how collecting is the same all over the world - same passions and problems. These collectors would/could also be role-models. The book might have included more profiles if the collectors had responded on a timely basis and with answers to the questions I asked. One collector didn't remember the dates and circumstances surrounding his most important acquisitions so I rejected the story because it was incomplete (even after several attempts to help improve its accuracy). Please send your questions about the book to me directly. Invitation #2 - my first attempt at building a web site Please take a moment to visit my site. See the orphan 360/22 mainframe (orphan because it was announced the same year the 370 series was!) and a few other systems that aren't that popular. Thank you. Happy collecting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Kevin Stumpf * Unusual systems * www.unusual.on.ca +1.519.744.2900 * EST/EDT GMT - 5 Collector - Commercial Mainframes & Minicomputers from the 50s, 60s, & 70s and control panels and consoles. Author & Publisher - A Guide to Collecting Computers & Computer Collectibles * ISBN 0-9684244-0-6 .

27 years, 8 months

interesting book

by lemay＠cs.umn.edu

Well well, people throw out the darndest things.. I found a copy of a book by someone named Peter Norton. Looks to me like it may have been his first book. Called 'inside the IBM PC'. His 2 test systems for developing the book were: IBM/PC with 64K standard memory and 512K on a jumbo memory board that he bought as a lark. The jumbo board is populated with 64K chips. he mentions tha this board does provide astonishing improvement in his Pascal programs.. (Duh!). Monochrome monitor. Second system has a Amdek color II monitor, 128K of true blue IBM memory, twin Tandon TM 100-2 diskette drives, and the standard color graphics adapter. Oh yeah, he mentions that he uses teh Jumbo card to simulate a 360K virtual diskette drive ;) He disassembles roms, disusses bios calls, and explains how the cassette tape interface works, among other things. Personally, I think this guy could go far... -Lawrence LeMay

27 years, 8 months

CD-RW Drive

by musicman38＠mindspring.com

-> I had a couple of disks that crashed on my HP CD writer when the energy >saving program put the computer to sleep. Make sure this is turned off!! >However was able to re-install the disks and make them recognizable using >the Adaptec software. > > Regards > > Charlie Fox Thanks Charlie, I will also check this out to, as the computer is also in energy save mode.. Phil...

27 years, 8 months

*** Two 11/70s Available, Vancouver BC ***

by mcquiggi＠sfu.ca

Hi Gang: I learned this morning of two DEC 11/70s that are available for free in Vancouver, BC. Taker will have to pickup. These are large systems that will need a few strong people to get into the back of a truck. Both were operational when last fired up 3 years ago, and have been in dry storage and covered in plastic since. Included are disk drives, 2 tape drives, consoles, and all documentation including, it appears, print sets. Tons of software as well, including a few compilers. I haven't seen them yet but will try to do so if there's much interest. My basement is far too full already to take one myself, :-( There's also a Microvax II in a BA23 case (that's the bar-fridge size model on casters). I live in Vancouver and will be able to assist in the removal and loading. Please contact me via email or at the office (604) 215-4812 for more info. ========================================================== Sgt. Kevin McQuiggin, Vancouver Police Department E-Comm Project (604) 215-4812; Cell: (604) 868-0544 Email: mcquiggi(a)sfu.ca

27 years, 8 months

Instant classic

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Have you all seen the latest G3 PowerMac on the TV ads? Instant classic! I want one in fact. Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Always being hassled by the man. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 01/15/99]

27 years, 8 months

Indiana Jones and the... (was list (was: Daily Laugh!))

by dogas＠leading.net

-----Original Message----- From: Hans Franke <Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de> >rather offer something to subscribers (like 'Get my old junky >Altair Serial number 0000001, I wil pay $$$ to have it removed'). Speaking of Altair Serial number 00000001.... rumor has it that the first one was lost in transit to that PE guy. Has this machine ever surfaced? Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 8 months

Some finds and a few questions

by dlw＠trailingedge.com

I finally had a chance to get out and hit a few thrifts again. I was chained in a studio working on an anime, but I'm free again. Anyway, I found a Xebec Sider harddrive. Was this for the Apple //? Something was loose inside so I checked and found a small rectangle filled with some ceramic like stuff and a wire sticking out of each end inside of the PSU. Can't seem to see anywhere in the power supply where this thing may have come from but also can't see how it could have gotten inside if it didn't belong. Not even sure what it is. Any ideas anyone? Also would like any info on the drive type, size interface, etc. It is a model 9710H. Looks like I can pull the drive from the case and hook up a different PSU. On another note, anyone tell me anything about a handheld unit, I think it was an LK-3000 or some such, I'll have to go back and check. The guy wants $50 for it and also has a Tandy Pocket Computer for $40 I'm thinking of picking up. Other things I grabbed: Odyssey2 in box Coleco Adam in box (damn big box for a home console system) Atari 1040STf (may sell/trade this as I have one and an STfm too) Couple of Apple 5.25" drives Misc software and books For those of you who were interested in the Mattel Aquarius Data Recorders, after two months of no replies to my query on where to drop off the money and pick up the recorders, I have finally given up on them. They said they accepted my offer but then they just fell silent. Guess they found someone else with a better offer. ----- David Williams - Computer Packrat dlw(a)trailingedge.com http://www.trailingedge.com

27 years, 8 months

Massive paralell junk (was: Classic Computer Auctions List)

by Jgzabol＠aol.com

An ideal class of problems is Monte-Carlo simulation. You distribute identical programs to the machines, and different random-number seeds. Then each machine computes any desired amount of time (1 hour ? 1 day ? 1 week ? 1 year ?) without ANY communication. At the end each machine communicates just one or a few numbers to central, which takes the averages - that's the result. I had Cray machines working at theoretical max performance (all processors) that way. John G. Zabolitzky

27 years, 8 months

Handicapping competitions

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

Philip said: >My usual method is to hold workpiece in left hand, iron in right hand and >solder dispenser in mouth. I have also been known, when using solder >straight from the reel, to make a fairly rigid structure from solder. >Assuming a fixed workpiece, I suppose I could then hold the iron in my >mouth... Owww.. Don't you get a face full of flumes from the solder? And because of the small parallax (eyes to mouth), don't you have a depth perception problem here? As well as a stiff neck? (Not to mention sucking on that piece of lead in your mouth.) Try this. Holding the iron in your right hand, take about 8" of solder and wrap it a couple of turns around the tip of your little finger (right hand) with about 6" extending toward the tip of iron. You can control the solder by moving your little finger back and forth. Sure, you will wind up with a few short pieces of solder, but you can use them on jobs that don't take so much gymnastics. -Doug ========================================= Doug Coward Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA =========================================

27 years, 8 months

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