17 May
2000
17 May
'00
6:49 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vintage Computer GAWD! <foo(a)siconic.com>
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 10:37 PM
Subject: Re: Finding Vintage Computers - A Primer
Also, I think I'll mention Pawn Shops in a revised edition, mostly to warn
people not to even bother. Anything they have will be too recent to be of
any interest, and they certainly wouldn't give anyone good money for an
old piece of junk computer, and thus have any for sale. Also, the stuff
they sell is, in my experience, horribly over-priced, sometimes over
retail!
In my area, there's a related type of store that is worth a look. It's a
chain called "Cash Converters", where they buy your unwanted goods (at
substantially less than the estimated value) and then sell them in a retail
environment. Like a permanent garage sale under one roof. Unlike a pawn
shop, you can't reclaim your item for what they gave you for it. They
occasionally have classic comp stuff; I've found TRS-80s of various kinds,
Model 100s, PS/2s, Newtons and a lot of older software. The prices are
initially set high, but if an item doesn't sell, they progressively reduce
the price until it does. IIRC, the concept originated in Australia, and
there are also stores in the States.
Regards,
Mark.
17 May
17 May
9:18 a.m.
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4:57 p.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Gregory" <mgregory(a)vantageresearch.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 1:19 AM
Subject: Re: Finding Vintage Computers - A Primer
In my area, there's a related type of store that
is worth a look. It's
a
chain called "Cash Converters", where they
buy your unwanted goods (at
substantially less than the estimated value) and then sell them in a
retail
environment. Like a permanent garage sale under one
roof. Unlike a
pawn
shop, you can't reclaim your item for what they
gave you for it. They
occasionally have classic comp stuff; I've found TRS-80s of various
kinds,
Model 100s, PS/2s, Newtons and a lot of older
software. The prices are
initially set high, but if an item doesn't sell, they progressively
reduce
the price until it does.
You in Sydney? The Ca$h Converter$ in Adelaide seem not to have heard
of the progressive reduction in price part of the concept. I saw an
real IBM XT, 2FDD no HDD, Monochrome, about 6 months ago with a $250
price tag on it. It was still there with the same price 3 weeks ago.
Perhaps the Sydney stores get more turnover. I've yet to see a good
price on anything in a cash converters unless it was something they had
grossly undervalued due to ignorance. That said, they do screw up badly
sometimes, and if your're quick you can get the odd bargain. (I got a
very nice Sony SCSI CDROM for $10 because the dopey store buyer that
bought it thought it was an old proprietary interface type.)
IF you are ever in Adelaide, give Hi Technology Metal Recyclers a visit.
They are scrappers, but they do pull PC and similar stuff aside and sell
it at very good prices. I got a VS4000/90 from there a couple years
back for a song. They do get Vaxen from time to time as well, a couple
of my Vax 6000's came from there.
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie,
South Australia
geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au
ICQ: 1970476
YMMV.
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
18 May
18 May
3:04 a.m.
Mark Gregory
In my area, there's a related type of store that
is worth a look. It's a
chain called "Cash Converters", where they buy your unwanted goods (at
substantially less than the estimated value) and then sell them in a
retail
environment. Like a permanent garage sale under one
roof.
Cash Converters are one of the worst offenders for selling old computers.
The local store has been trying to sell a 386 for 150UKP for the past two
years.
--
Gareth Knight
Amiga Interactive Guide
http://amiga.emugaming.com
4:31 a.m.
Also ask if you can look in any old trucks sitting around the scrap
places. I did that yesterday and was told yes, but that it only contained
junk. I looked anyway and found two Apple Lisas, three Lisa keyboards, a
Profile hard drive and a NIB Apple MODEM. Also found and brought home a
Beehive MicroB terminal in it's orginal box.
Oh! I also found a pile of Cromemco terminals and printers (3102s and
3715s?) in the same truck. Are these worth picking up?
Joe
4:33 a.m.
I didn't know that Cromemco made printers and terminals, and, actually, I'm
quite sure they didn't. What this means is that these are probably
private-brand-labeled printers, most likely from Centronics unless they're
from the Epson era, and the terminals, likewise, are
private brand-labelled
terminals, possibly from SORROC (model 220, maybe?)
Anything's possible,
however, so I'd look inside one. There should be ample clues.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: Finding Vintage Computers - A Primer
Also ask if you can look in any old trucks sitting
around the scrap
places. I did that yesterday and was told yes, but that it only contained
junk. I looked anyway and found two Apple Lisas, three Lisa keyboards, a
Profile hard drive and a NIB Apple MODEM. Also found and brought home a
Beehive MicroB terminal in it's orginal box.
Oh! I also found a pile of Cromemco terminals and printers (3102s and
3715s?) in the same truck. Are these worth picking up?
Joe
5:09 a.m.
On Thu, 18 May 2000, Joe wrote:
Also ask if you can look in any old trucks sitting
around the scrap
places. I did that yesterday and was told yes, but that it only contained
junk. I looked anyway and found two Apple Lisas, three Lisa keyboards, a
Profile hard drive and a NIB Apple MODEM. Also found and brought home a
Beehive MicroB terminal in it's orginal box.
Oh! I also found a pile of Cromemco terminals and printers (3102s and
3715s?) in the same truck. Are these worth picking up?
What kind of truck is this? It sounds like a classic computer cornucopia.
Did this truck get into some accident on the way to the computer store or
something?
10:57 a.m.
New subject: Finding Vintage Computers - Pomona CAL
Just a reminder, the hamfest at Cal Poly Pomona is Saturday.
http://www.qsl.net/k6agf/tcswap.html
8826
days inactive
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7 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
foo＠siconic.com -
gaz_k＠lineone.net -
geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au -
mgregory＠vantageresearch.com -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com -
richard＠idcomm.com -
rigdonj＠intellistar.net