Hidden Treasures and Goodwill Computerworks Museum is open - *

Second post of correction, since some seem to have missed it: To all, Please note the correction in the description of the one IBM system available below. I meant PC jr, not PS/1. Somehow, I hope this is related to a major blow I received on my head last night in an accident, which cut my scalp about 1.5 across and peeled it back about 2 inches. This would have to be in a place where I had already lost hair. If this isn't related, then it was just a stupid mistake d8^) I guess this an appropriate topic to put out the word about a fairly obscure organization in SW PA that regularly has vintage computers for sale at their Canonsburg location (and now on this list) and my relationship with them. The main organization is called The Washington City Mission, which is a Christian Homeless Rehabilitation Shelter, and they operate five "Hidden Treasures" retail stores in the local area. They also operate the Avis Arbor Women's Shelter. Drop-offs are accepted at all store locations, but they also have several box vans which are out in the community during the weekdays making pickups which are arranged by donors calling in. Quoting from their literature: "Five Hidden Treasures thrift stores in Burgettstown, Canonsburg, Donora, Washington and Waynesburg offer excellent quality used merchandise at affordable prices. Your purchase at one of our stores provides revenue for us to continue our programs. Our stores are a ministry in each community, offering free of reduced cost merchandise to those in need. Whether you are rich or poor, there is something for everyone at Hidden Treasures." I started out as a regular customer at the Canonsburg location, often finding vintage computers and equipment at very reasonable prices. Terry, the manager at the Canonsburg store, informed me they were not picking up a lot of computer equipment because they didn't have anyone to go through it and check it out. He offered me a volunteer position as their "computer man", which I accepted. In return for testing and configuring "newer" PC's for low income families and other needy persons, I get all the vintage equipment that comes in, if I want it. The word is out now, and all computer equipment is accepted. Needless to say the usual things are plentiful, Commodores, Atari's, etc., but it is great to get some systems in that are still new in the box, along with an occasional CP/M system. We will be relocating the store in the future, so I am planning a vintage computer museum section. The difference will be that, unlike Goodwill, everything will be available for very reasonable prices. We are also planning on selling on eBay. Right now we have several complete vintage PC systems for sale, and lots of components. If anyone on this list is interested, contact me off list with a reasonable offer, exclusive of actual shipping costs. I'm not talking anywhere near eBay prices here. Just cover the time needed to pack things for shipping and a reasonable donation. And yes, your donation is tax deductible. Shipping available via UPS Ground and USPS parcel post, USPS Priority for smaller items and if requested. Photos also available upon request. And if you can get to our store, contact me for directions and a meeting time. Current systems and components that need homes: Original IBM 5150 PC, dual floppies, 5153 CGA monitor, IBM PC keyboard and 80 column IBM printer. Great physical and working condition. Early 128K IBM PC jr with 5.25" floppy drive and PC jr power cube, PC jr keyboard (not chicklets), separate PC jr color monitor, 2 PC jr joysticks, and a large box of IBM software (games and educational) in the IBM plastic boxes, 4 are on cartridges, the rest are on floppies, all have manuals. Also includes all the original PC jr manuals and software, IBM DOS 2.X (I think 2.0 or 2.01) with slipcover binder. I can supply a list of the software titles to anyone seriously interested in this package. I also have the IBM 132 column printer that came in with all this. Great physical and working condition. Complete Apple Performa 637CD, Apple 15" Multiple Scan M2943 monitor, Keyboard, Mouse. Great physical and working condition. Early NEC PC, monitor and keyboard. Details if requested. Haven't checked it out yet. IBM PC jr color monitor. (#2) Various EGA and CGA monitors. Apple 15" Multiple Scan M2943 monitor (#2) Lots and lots of PC keyboards. 80 column dot matrix printers, mostly tractor feed. PC power supplies. Various PC network cards, BNC/RJ-45. I pull them from the PC systems that come in. Other items arriving just about every day. I'm going to try to get approval for us to accept large business systems also. We have the storage in Washington, and with the large area that our trucks, with lift gates, cover, some great stuff is bound to turn up eventually. My recent finds: Atari 130XE NIB, C-128 NIB, Commodore 1526 LQ printer, NIB, lots of accessories, and boxes and boxes of manuals and diskettes. If there is interest within this group, more posts will follow and nothing much will end up on eBay. And remember, this endeavor supports a very worthy cause. Bill -> This is a "GOODWILL COMPUTERWORKS". A dedicated computer store. -> -> *ALL THEY SELL* is computers. All the computers donated to Goodwill across -> the state are trucked here, where if possible, they're reassembled into -> working boxes/parts (in the case of PCs), tested, and put out on the -> shelves for people to buy. 99% of the people coming in are looking for -> a PC, Mac, parts for same, or a printer or keyboard, etc; they've just -> recently opened up the "back room" with the old vintage stuff. -> -> People that go to the store *are* interested in the museum; they've -> been doing it to a limited extent for the past 2-3 years (as long as -> I've been going to the store), but have just recently gotten the room -> to expand it. -> -> When I spoke to one of the employees yesterday, he said that they get -> offered TONS more stuff that they simply dont have room for, but would -> love to take. I'm trying to work with them to establish another mailing -> list of collectors for this stuff - so that if GWCW gets offered a piece -> of hardware that they dont have the room for, the people on the list can -> then take a shot at it. -> -> If you want the "normal" GoodWill store, where you can buy clothing, -> coffee pots, old furnitre, etc, the newly expanded and remodeled store -> is about a half mile up the street.