expanding PDP-8 memory (was Re: Finally got a "straight" DF32 yesterday)

-----Original Message----- From: Ethan Dicks <ethan_dicks(a)yahoo.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, November 05, 1999 8:17 AM Subject: expanding PDP-8 memory (was Re: Finally got a "straight" DF32 yesterday) have of Okay... (8/s,8 Very.. very nice.. makes it easy to ad memory. I also got a copy of the 8K RIM loader and 8K binary loader. I do appreciate what you are saying about "aura". Some people like to own the first. I have a population problem and have owned too many "firsts" including univac stuff. But, one the Straight 8 stuff - one sold on ebay this spring, complete untested for $1400 (but in great cosmetic condition) on eBay... they are getting more for Altairs :-(. I am picking up at least one over the next three weeks in MINT condition and I have a friend that wants one bad (I won't part with my 8/s) so I will sell it to him around $1000. The first PDP 8 was made for many years as DEC had problems with memory on the 8I. I have scrapped quite a few 8s (I am sure rack straight 8s as I have found front panel PCBs in my storage for them) over the years as I at the time I did not like 12 bit computers at all. (here is where I know large rocks will be thrown at me - I'm ready.. ;-)) A straight 8 in pieces is worth a lot more. You can sell the front panel on eBay for at least $250. Then, toss the core memory out of it for souvenirs and get an easy $500 - even maybe sell it to someone who needs it. You then could get a few hundred for the chassis (if its table top) from someone on eBay who wants to convert a rack mount unit. Sell the flip chips away or keep them as spares and you are way head of the standard $1400 for an 8. Original documents command good $$ too on eBay. A lot of folks have straight 8s which seems to be keeping the prices down.. it would not surprise me if there was a few hundred in the States alone as there are 8 "mint" running units in Australia! Abundance of a model dictates it's value.. ie: A LINC-8 and a PDP-8/S exists in very low numbers and fetch a lot more $$$. I've been talking to some folks on here about the $$ of old machines to get an idea of what "deep pockets" and collectors value the machines at.. and have found that I still can't get much for a Straight-8... But HEADS-UP - Some of these old ultra-rare minis are commanding some serious $$$. I was offered $12,000 and $15000 (this one wants to make another offer) for my 8/S (running) with docs and software in mint condition. I refused both offers (these were two eBay deep pockets that found me by looking at my "About Me" page.). I don't know what a LINC-8 in mint condition running is worth but probably more.... Another HEADS-UP - Honeywell 316s - Not whole but in parts. One of my 316s was carted to the dump this spring but spares for the machine are fetching big $$$ from those who want to hang up on their wall a piece of "ARPANET". The core memory gets at least $1000 CAD for the set and CPU boards/micropacs are fetching at least $60 US EACH!. Front Panel - no idea but probably a couple hundred. You can't get $4000US for a 316 whole but you can if you kill it. In my defense for such actions I do have/had "population" problems with some mini models.. The IBM 1130 took up the entire first floor of my parents home (it had every accessory), it was scrapped. I had 16 large racks of 316/ARPANET type stuf,Singers, Olivettes, etc... There is only so much one person can handle and "funding" is required for new loads of minis. That's good. I like to keep transistor computers all transistors and tube computers all tubes...