Hi everyone As some on the list may know, I'm mad-keen on Russian calculating devices. I've pretty much concentrated on calculators (please see my award-winning site listed in my .sig), but my many agents occasionally offer computers, too. Typically I don't buy (computers are not my main line of interest) - but in this case I'm scouting around for a buyer. The reason: read on. One of the rarest Russian calculators is the MK-47. It's a magnetic card reading machine - so the rumour goes. None have been seen in captivity. Some 6 months back, one of my agents (from whom I've previously purchased several rare machines) told me that he had an MK-47 for me. I was quite excited. More correctly, his grandmother had found one, and she was to bring it to him the next day. So, I waited for news. And waited. And waited. About a month later, a short email from my agent (Alex) tells me that he has been in hospital, and will be there for the next few weeks. And furthermore, he hasn't seen the calculator yet because his grandmother is ill and in (another) hospital, too. Of course I told him to forget about the machine for now, and get well ASAP. Around this time my personal life was thrown into turmoil when my (5yo) daughter became gravely ill and spent several days in hospital (complications of chicken pox, and drinking skin lotion, for the curious). So, I wasn't particularly thinking about calculators, either. Anyway, a few weeks pass, and I get news from Alex's father (Alex is still in hospital) that Alex's grandmother's house has burned to the ground. You can guess where the calculator was. Still, this is about a house, and that's tragic. A calculator is just an old machine. At this stage, I was beginning to think the machine was jinxed anyway. Alex contacted me later (through his father) to tell me that the fire which burned down his grandmoter's house STARTED in the house of the man who gave her the MK-47 calculator in the first place. Spooky. A few days later, Alex's MOTHER contacted me with the sad news that Alex's grandmother had died, and that Alex's father had had a heart attack when he found out. So, Alex is in hospital, Alex's father is in hospital, and Alex's grandmother has died. Here we are, a few weeks after that. Today Alex told me he is out of hospital. His father is still in hospital, but in less-serious condition. And Alex is on the prowl again (for calculators and computers). As you might understand (if you've stuck with me so far), things have been incredibly stressful for his family - and more to the point - incredibly expensive. Alex needs some extra funds to pay for the medical costs, and here's where I come in. As I said, I've done trades with Alex before, and found him not only reliable, friendly and honest - but incredibly good at finding rare and unusual things. Right now, however, Alex has a few vintage soviet home computers for sale. I've told him about you guys [collectors], and he's asked me to contact you on his behalf. Could anybody interested in exploring the purchase of soviet computers from Alex please contact me by direct email (adavie(a)mad.scientist.com). I have some pictures and details of machines that he has - and will be happy to act as an intermediary - or put you directly in contact with Alex. I have done many, many transactions to Russia, so can offer advice and suggestions regarding transfer of money and computers. OK, that's about all I have to write. This is probably the best opportunity many on the list will get to obtain some interesting machines. And remember, Alex is a champion at finding unusual/rare stuff. Cheers A -- Andrew Davie adavie(a)mad.scientist.com // adavie(a)comcen.com.au // adavie(a)bde.com.au Museum of Soviet Calculators http://members.xoom.com/adavie/soviet.html Slide Rule Trading Post http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/slide/