On Tue, 17 Jun 1997, Tim Shoppa wrote: So what about the "replicas" everyones been talking about? As someone who will probably never find a "real" IMSAI, much less afford it if I did find it, I'd be interested in building a replica. Les

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On Tue, 17 Jun 1997, Mr. Self Destruct wrote: It sounds more like you don't know where to look since I can't imagine a city the size of Philly not having quite a bit of stuff around. If people know that you collect old computers, after a while you will have people you don't even know coming up and telling you that a friend of theirs told them to get in touch with you. Doesn't happen in a weekend, but after a year or so (assuming you are serious about collecting), it will happen. There are a LOT of sources of old computers still around. I ended up with a number of the chicklet keyboard Pets (and turned down a dozen or so) that came from the local university. I end up with at least a dozen computers each year from people I don't know that heard about me and just want their computer to have a good home. Sources include Thrift stores, Salvation Army outlet, Goodwill Industry outlets, rummage sales (especially at schools), garage sales, flea markets, Hamfests and swapfests, and advertising as Sam did.

On Wed, 18 Jun 1997, Mr. Self Destruct wrote: Then what are you complaing about? Sell the crap you don't want and use that to advertise for stuff you do want. Here's a suggested ad: "WANTED: Your old computers- commodores, ataris, texas instruments, radio shack/tandy, older 70s/80s mini-computers, etc. Will pay cash. No PCs or PC clones manufactured within the last 10 years please." Stick that in your local penny-saver or whatever-they-call-it-there paper and wait for the calls to flood in. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

On Wed, 18 Jun 1997, Marvin wrote: Normally people who respond to these ads are surprised that anyone is stupid enough to even want to take this stuff, let alone pay money for it. It actually depends on size at this point in a computer's obsolescence...humans are funny that way, valuing something by its size when all other notions of value have faded with time. $5 for small units, $10 for medium size and $15 for big. Unless they know what it is they are selling, such as my friend who sold me his Victor 9000, ZX81 and IMSAI 8080 for $100. I would piece that up like so: IMSAI - $70, Victor 9000 - $20, ZX81 - $10. Really though, its up to you to propose a price. From my experience though, when they ask what you want to pay for it (since a lot of times they don't know what to sell it for, and of course they'd like to get the most out of it that they can) ask %60 of what you eventually want it for. Make sure you've done some research on what you are buying so that you don't end up paying more than fair market value (which is to say what we here would pay since we are the market). If you're lucky (you will be more times than you think) they'll say SOLD! Other times they'll add %25 or so, but that's only if they are arabic, greek or jewish (mediterraneans in general) because we like to haggle. Like if you say $15 they'll say $20. Then maybe if you want to waste some time you can go $17! And they'll go no $20! And then...well anyway, I could write a whole book on it. It takes practice, but its fun. Its all part of the collecting experience for me. Well this message has dawdled. Is that a word? Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

Mr. Self Destruct wrote: Les, I also live 30 minutes outside of Philly. There are a number of places to find great classic computers. Just three weeks ago, I found a front panel IMSAI 8080 and another S-100 kit for $10 at a flea market in NJ. The IMSAI is in perfect working condition, except for four broken plastic switches. By the way, can anyone tell me the address of the place that sells the switches? The kit is unlabeled except for it says Xitan or maybe Xitac on the motherboard (I'm at work and can't check right now.) I agree with Les that the Salvation Army and Goodwill stores around here never have any classic computers worth buying. Ted tedbird(a)ix.netcom.com

Tim Shoppa wrote: For the benefit of us poor overseas partecipants.....who are C&K ??? Thanks enrico -- ================================================================ Enrico Tedeschi, 54, Easthill Drive, BRIGHTON BN41 2FD, U.K. tel/fax +(0)1273 701650 (24 hours) or 0850 104725 mobile website <http://www.ndirect.co.uk/~e.tedeschi> ================================================================ visit Brighton: <http://www.brighton.co.uk/tourist/welcome.htm>

On Tue, 17 Jun 1997, Tim Shoppa wrote: When did Cromemco rebrand IMSAI machines? I was under the impression that Cromemco's boxes were all built by them, when they decided to branch out from building add-in video cards and such for everybody's S-100 system (as I recall, the TV Dazzler was the single most popular upgrade in the history of the S-100 bus). -- Ward Griffiths "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." --Claire Wolfe

I have another strange device. This one is called a Channel Tester, Ser. No. 55263, and a date of 1985-4. It has a series of BNC connectors on the face labeled "Tx Audio", "RX Audio", "Spk", "Voice Tx Test", "Voice Rx Test", "Mod", "Disc", "RSSI", "NRZ Data", and "Bit CLock". I got it attached to an NEC PC 8201A (as I recall) TRS-80 Model 100 clone. It also has a male and female Centronix interface plugs on the side away from where it attaches to the 8201A. Does anyone have any idea what this thing is? Thanks!

Brett wrote: I'm stumped too :). I just checked and they are 36 pin Centronics connectors. I can't rememeber where the computer it was attached to came from, but a friend of mine wanted it and now he has it. And yes, it was also manufactured by NEC.

Jeff Kaneko wrote: Thanks MUCH for the information! I have seen that box a number of times and was really curious what it was. When I got the NEC 8201A, there was no software or docs with it. It has been so long ago that I can't even remember where the unit came from. At least I know what it is now!