Collecting Classic computers.
Classic computer collectors are really no different than collectors for older toys, comic books, or model railroads. Any serious collector will probably settle on a niche that they wish to specialize in and will proceed from there.
You may have nostalgic interests and want to focus your collection around computers that you grew up with (or wish that you could have afforded when you were growing up). Or, you might want to specialize in mainframe or mid-range computers (or more likely mainframe or midrange computer components). Perhaps one manufacturer (IBM, DEC or Atari). You may also just start off or actively collect only things that look interesting to you or that have an unusual history.
If you are interested in really old computers (mainframes, midrange or first-generation home-brew equipment) and you do not have a solid background and/or experience with electronics then you may need to find a source familiar with this type of equipment to safely help you with your collection some earlier electronic components (e.g capacitors, resistors and the like) may become "dry" with age and prone to shorting so you do need to have the equipment checked before actually plugging it in.
Where to find the systems.
Your best source for home computers from the early 80s (such as the Apple, Atari, Commodore or TI lines) would be local charity stores (Salvation Army, for instance), flea markets and garage/yard sales. Older mainframe and or midrange systems (DEC, HP, IBM etc) may be fopund in some electronic salvage operations, but are more likely to have been quickly broken up for their gold and other precious metals. Still, you might find nameplates, fron console panels, logo bars etc all of which are collectible.
Ebay card
You can of course hit Ebay or other online auction site, but you will probably pay a premium for the system (plus shipping costs). What the online auctions give you is an auction location and if you take advantage of it an opprotunity to see what you should be paying for a given item.
Deals CAN be had on eBay if you stay focussed. Often items are incorrectly categorized or you may be able to pick up a deal at an odd hour closing. However you go about it, be sure to have fun with it.
Hello and welcome to ClassicTech!
Since you are here, you probably like technology and are as interested in older technology (or what we call the classics) as much as we are. Technology of course has been around pretty much as long as people have been around and while terminology and definitions change it is quite amazing how long some technologies that we think are "new" have really been around.So, if you are interested in collecting antique adding machines, classic calculators like the Curta, or circular, cylindrical and standard slide rules or just your basic early home computers like an IMSAI or ALTAIR then we've got you covered.
Computer Technology
Today's computer technology can be generally traced back to the late 1950's. But if we widen the definition to include mechanical computers we can go back at least another 50 years or so. If we include non-stored program definitions (i.e mechanical adding machines we can go back another 100 years or so and if we include pure calculating machines (i.e slide rules) we can go back another four hundred years or so. For the simplest of adding and subtracting machines (i.e the Abacus) we have to go back well over 2000 years. Technology classics indeed.
Salute the Past!
So, lets take a moment to salute the first caveman that used part of a tree instead of the whole tree, inventing the wheel in the process and his (or her) counterpart placing a rock under the stick and using weight as well as muscles to move a heavy object and incidentally developing the lever.
We hope you will enjoy looking through what we call the "Classics of Technology".
