I have quite a few old radios from the 1920s and 30s, and the market has recently been subjected to the same kind of wild increases, due to the entrance of speculators into the field. Speculators don't care about old radios, they just think that they can make a ton of money on them. Most of the hype and hoarding has been with bakelite radios from the late 40s and 50s, but the resultant high prices (easily with $1000 or $2000 minimum) have driven up the prices of the really nice old sets from the 20s and 30s too. This is especially visible in antique stores and second hand shops where even run of the mill wooden console and tabletop radios can be priced at $250-$300. Prior to this escalation, prices would be $50 or so for the same sets. For those collectors like myself who simply like old radios for their own sake, and for their historic and aesthetic appeal, these unbelievable prices have made acquisition of old sets much more difficult. I am relatively new to old computers (although I've been into computing since 1973) and it looks like the speculators are causing the same sort of trouble for those already in the field. I like old machines simply because they're neat; it's fun to have them and keep them running. It preserves a bit of history. What really bugs me about these people is that, as others have said, they have no interest in the machines other than their earning potential. This is sad as it does nothing to preserve the sense of history that goes along with old hardware and software. But on the positive side, I suppose, at least the machines are being saved from the crusher. Maybe they will reemerge into the market some day at a reasonable price. Let's hope that they don't sit for 20 years and then get scrapped. As well, all this interest in micros may tend to make old minis and such more affordable, or at least not drive up their prices too much. Those speculating seem to be interested only in "personal" machines. Computing, it seems, started with the Apple or the IBM PC. Kevin -- Kevin McQuiggin VE7ZD mcquiggi(a)sfu.ca

On Tue, 12 Aug 1997, Kai Kaltenbach wrote: I won't say who :) but I know of someone who paid $1,400 for an Altair 8800. Shit, if someone knows someone who wants to pay a thousand or so for these then I have a mint in my garage. I would imagine these are the people who had one way back in the 70s and want to relieve their former glory... ...just like the people Kai mentions above who will want to re-live the days of playing with their C64 or Apples. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass