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Vintage Computer Price Guide

D

djkrex

Experienced Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2003
Messages
52
Location
Oronoco, Minnesota
For the past few years, I've been hoping someone would publish a vintage computer price guide. I know that there are price guides for used computers but, when the price falls below $1.00, it falls off the list. I remember seeing the IBM PC being listed at the bottom.
How about the Vintage computer forum comming up with one? All the members could contribute. The guide could have photo's, average Ebay selling price, etc. Members could submit pictures of there machines, vote on the best candidate for the guide and help establish the market value.
Members having their machines in the guide could have their name in the credits (optional).
Most of the info on vintage computers is scattered all over the net in museums and documents. How about putting it all together in one spot.
Who knows, this might draw some more people to the forum.
Don't beat me up too bad about this. It was just a thought. :?
 
It's definitely a good thought, but I'm not sure how something like that could be kept current without a lot of effort.

I maintain an Excel spreadsheet of Altair and IMSAI sales on eBay. I've probably got over 75% of those machines sold over the last 18 months or so recorded with price, date and a basic description (since completeness and condition matter.)

To do that for the hundreds of makes and models that people collect would be very, very time consuming.

Michael Nadeau has a nice book (I have a copy) that covers about 700 machines. His prices are more on the collector side then the eBay side (i.e. they are cheaper then eBay prices, but they are valuable. Check out his site at http://www.classictechpub.com/collectmicros.htm.

If you do want to start an effort like that I think we'd have to plan it and get some folks committed to keeping track of prices for certain machines or categories. . .

Erik
 
1986 IBM PC AT at a garage sale... $10.
Second hand parts for the PC AT... $75.
Restoring a vintage computer... priceless.

Heehee, though there are alot of people who would argue the validity of the third scentence, including my family. Ugh.

The idea is a very good one, but like Erik has said, it would be very hard to maintain and such, even though I could only see it having to be updated every 6 months or so - prices don't change that often for something so old.
 
Re: Vintage Computer Price Guide

"djkrex" wrote:

> For the past few years, I've been hoping
> someone would publish a vintage computer
> price guide. I know that there are price
> guides for used computers but, when the
> price falls below $1.00, it falls off the list.
> I remember seeing the IBM PC being listed
> at the bottom.

Personally, I feel that vintage computers are
hard to put a value on because they could be
any darn thing based on the purchaser. So
when you take a computer into some store
which sells second hand goods, then you're
less likely to get a value for, compared to
if you go to ebay & sell it there.

> How about the Vintage computer forum
> comming up with one? All the members
> could contribute. The guide could have
> photo's, average Ebay selling price, etc.
> Members could submit pictures of there
> machines, vote on the best candidate for
> the guide and help establish the market value.
> Members having their machines in the guide
> could have their name in the credits (optional).
> Most of the info on vintage computers is
> scattered all over the net in museums and
> documents. How about putting it all together
> in one spot.

If it's scattered about the net with no links or
perhaps no ring, then I'd agree, unless there's
a group listing of these sites done in Google
Directory. But you seem to be making it sound
like there's bits & blobs scattered all over the
place! ;-)

> Who knows, this might draw some more people
> to the forum.
> Don't beat me up too bad about this. It was
> just a thought. :?

It may not necessary be bad idea, but I just feel
that a vintage computer price list is quite tricky
task for anyone. For example, what's a real value
on a Jupiter Ace? A system as rare as that might
have the asking price of $1,000, but then some
may pay that. But how much would it really be
worth?

Cheers,
CP/M User.
 
I like the idea a lot.

Perhaps it can start small, and then more computers added to the list as time goes on.

I also like Erik's spreadsheet thing keeping track of Altairs over ebay, and stuff.

If each person could do one computer like that, and then periodically update it and post the information to the group, then perhaps the work will be divided amongst many.

My first choice for helping in computer updating would be the Commodore vic 20, but I would be glad to do any price checking on ebay etc. for another computer.

Chris

p.s. would be nice to use vintage software for the info too!
 
The problem with the spreadsheet tracking eBay sales is that some of the most interesting machines *never* show up on eBay. Some of my favorite machines are so rare that it is nearly impossible to sell them, because nobody knows enough about them to really appreciate thier value. A few that come to mind are the Dimension 68000, the Sanyo 775, the VT Commuter Computer, the Compaq Portable 286, and mebbe a few others. It's hard to put a value on these machines if you don't see them being sold on a regular basis. I have a VT Commuter for sale elswhere on this msg. board for only $50.00 and haven't even had any inquiries on it. Most people don't even realize what a milestone in portable computing that p'ticular machine represents. It was the first IBM-PC compatible that used an LCD display. I figger it oughta be worth something to another collector, but mebbe it's just too rare. Another example is the Compaq Portable 286. Very few of these were even made...they're very rare. How much is it worth? I don't know, I've never seen or heard of another one besides the one I own.

--T
 
"Terry Yager" wrote:

> The problem with the spreadsheet tracking eBay
> sales is that some of the most interesting
> machines *never* show up on eBay.

That's true! :)

> Some of my favorite machines are so rare that
> it is nearly impossible to sell them, because
> nobody knows enough about them to really
> appreciate thier value. A few that come to mind
> are the Dimension 68000, the Sanyo 775, the VT
> Commuter Computer, the Compaq Portable 286,
> and mebbe a few others. It's hard to put a value
> on these machines if you don't see them being sold
> on a regular basis.

I think I know of the Compaq Portable 286, which has
that keyboard which can be seperated from the main
body, I think?

I've got a Sanyo IBM compatable 386 notebook (if you
can call it that), which while is from the same period,
doesn't have that split keyboard (which is a shame).
Also a couple of years back I got some memory for it,
but finding the memory was extremely tricky,
eventually I brought it online (overseas) which worked
out just a bit under $200 US for 4Mb's (the machines
compacity), though the memory was very unique &
specific.

Don't think I'm familiar with the Sanyo 775, but I know
of the Sanyo 555 which you could say is a 16bit
computer (8086 processor) but isn't IBM compatable
as it more of a home computer.

> I have a VT Commuter for sale elswhere on this
> msg. board for only $50.00 and haven't even
> had any inquiries on it.

I keep forgetting to check the specs of some of
these computers, unfortunately I don't think I'll
have any room for a VT computer.

> Most people don't even realize what a milestone
> in portable computing that p'ticular machine
> represents. It was the first IBM-PC compatible
> that used an LCD display. I figger it oughta be
> worth something to another collector, but mebbe
> it's just too rare.

Yes, it sounds interesting enough, I think though
it's a bit of a pity, that perhaps people are
marking it for being an IBM compatable, though
I would have thought there were some IBM
collectors.

> Another example is the Compaq Portable 286.
> Very few of these were even made...they're very
> rare. How much is it worth? I don't know, I've
> never seen or heard of another one besides the
> one I own.

Seems strange that it's a rare machine, as I think I
have a couple of books (from around 1989) which
have this machine in it. The Compaq Portable I'm
thinking of was a 286 & had this keyboard which
seperated from the main body, which I thought
was a good idea. Perhaps the machine did better
here (in Australia) than overseas, I'm not sure.

Cheers,
CP/M User.
 
CP/M User said:
I think I know of the Compaq Portable 286, which has
that keyboard which can be seperated from the main
body, I think?

The Portable 286 that I'm talking about does have a detachable kbd, but it is the *full-sized* model. The case is the same size as the original Compaq 8088 models. They were only produced for a few months before Compaq came out with the Compaq II, a smaller, lighter version which was also '286-based.

Don't think I'm familiar with the Sanyo 775, but I know
of the Sanyo 555 which you could say is a 16bit
computer (8086 processor) but isn't IBM compatable
as it more of a home computer.

The 775 is a full-size luggable with a built-in *color* (CGA) display. (Another first). I also remember the 555 series, I used to have a few of them.

I keep forgetting to check the specs of some of
these computers, unfortunately I don't think I'll
have any room for a VT computer.

Aw, c'mon...it don't take up that much room...

Yes, it sounds interesting enough, I think though
it's a bit of a pity, that perhaps people are
marking it for being an IBM compatable, though
I would have thought there were some IBM
collectors.

Of course the shipping all the way to Oz might be prohibitive...

Seems strange that it's a rare machine, as I think I
have a couple of books (from around 1989) which
have this machine in it. The Compaq Portable I'm
thinking of was a 286 & had this keyboard which
seperated from the main body, which I thought
was a good idea. Perhaps the machine did better
here (in Australia) than overseas, I'm not sure.

Yeah, the one yr prolly thinking of is the newer Portable II. (see above).

Cheers,
CP/M User.
Click to expand...

--T
 
"Terry Yager" wrote:

>> I think I know of the Compaq Portable 286, which has
>> that keyboard which can be seperated from the main
>> body, I think?

> The Portable 286 that I'm talking about does have a
> detachable kbd, but it is the *full-sized* model. The
> case is the same size as the original Compaq 8088
> models. They were only produced for a few months
> before Compaq came out with the Compaq II, a
> smaller, lighter version which was also '286-based.

Fortunately, I haven't got my book on hand to check
which was which. They may have also called it a
Compaq Portable 286, even though it might of been
a Compaq II.

I don't know if it's possible if the Compaq II could
have been called Compaq Portable 286 here because
the original Compaq Portable 286 wasn't released
here.

>> Don't think I'm familiar with the Sanyo 775, but I know
>> of the Sanyo 555 which you could say is a 16bit
>> computer (8086 processor) but isn't IBM compatable
>> as it more of a home computer.

> The 775 is a full-size luggable with a built-in *color*
> (CGA) display. (Another first). I also remember
> the 555 series, I used to have a few of them.

That's strange, I thought the 555 also had CGA? Oh hang
on, it used a Colour TV, it didn't actually have a Display.

>> I keep forgetting to check the specs of some of
>> these computers, unfortunately I don't think I'll
>> have any room for a VT computer.

> Aw, c'mon...it don't take up that much room...

Oh well, I have plenty of IBMs as it is, sorry!

>> Yes, it sounds interesting enough, I think though
>> it's a bit of a pity, that perhaps people are
>> marking it for being an IBM compatable, though
>> I would have thought there were some IBM
>> collectors.

> Of course the shipping all the way to Oz might be
> prohibitive...

Don't think so, however for us it's important to get
the approrate equipment in order to get the thing
functioning.

>> Seems strange that it's a rare machine, as I think I
>> have a couple of books (from around 1989) which
>> have this machine in it. The Compaq Portable I'm
>> thinking of was a 286 & had this keyboard which
>> seperated from the main body, which I thought
>> was a good idea. Perhaps the machine did better
>> here (in Australia) than overseas, I'm not sure.

> Yeah, the one yr prolly thinking of is the newer Portable
> II. (see above).

Cheers.
 
There are many parts that never show up on eBay either. For example, I know there were several thousand hard drive units for PCjrs out there, from at least 4 or 5 different manufacturers. Yet in 3 years of scanning eBay I've never seen one show up.

Or how does one value an old IBM PC with 544K of memory, mono monitor, and 2 full height Tandon floppy drives? Seems like junk, right? Until you look at the BIOS date and it says Oct 1981 - the second revision of the IBM PC BIOS. This machine is so primitive that it doesn't know how to scan the ROM areas for hard drive adapters, EGA or VGA cards. I'd say that is pretty valuable.

My my PC AT with the working CMI hard drive in it. I've never seen one of those, and I'm sure most people wouldn't catch the significance of it.

Ebay is a marketplace. A pretty good one, but it's not all inclusive. It also distorts prices on rarer things, because the person with the most $$$ wins. In a large audience of people, that can result in quite a distortion.
 
mbbrutman said:
Ebay is a marketplace. A pretty good one, but it's not all inclusive. It also distorts prices on rarer things, because the person with the most $$$ wins. In a large audience of people, that can result in quite a distortion.
Click to expand...

I've always got what I felt was a fair price for everything I have sold on eBay, and paid a good price for what I have bought. I do have to admit tho, I have seen some ridiculous prices on some stuff...Ridiculously high as well as low.

--T
 
mbbrutman said:
There are many parts that never show up on eBay either. For example, I know there were several thousand hard drive units for PCjrs out there, from at least 4 or 5 different manufacturers. Yet in 3 years of scanning eBay I've never seen one show up.
Click to expand...

I agree. eBay isn't and shouldn't be the only source of valuation. It's just a sample in the data set.

The Vintage Computer Marketplace as well as other online sales resources should also be considered.

Even garage sale, recycler and private party prices should be included.

mbbrutman said:
Or how does one value an old IBM PC with 544K of memory, mono monitor, and 2 full height Tandon floppy drives? Seems like junk, right? Until you look at the BIOS date and it says Oct 1981 - the second revision of the IBM PC BIOS. This machine is so primitive that it doesn't know how to scan the ROM areas for hard drive adapters, EGA or VGA cards. I'd say that is pretty valuable.
Click to expand...

I've got a first revision BIOS on one of my PCs and you're right, it's hard to place a value. Meanwhile, I bought it all for about $100, so it does have a price point, at least when purchased. I wouldn't sell it for twice that or even 10 times that.

A pristine 1st run PC in original boxes with PC-DOS 1.0 and other goodies (IBM printer, etc.) sold for about $600 on eBay recently. It was a bargain for the buyer since I've seen JUST PC-DOS 1.00 break that price.

mbbrutman said:
My my PC AT with the working CMI hard drive in it. I've never seen one of those, and I'm sure most people wouldn't catch the significance of it.
Click to expand...

Few would. Then again, few CMI drives survived so in a supply vs. demand world, there isn't much of either to boost the value of that drive, is there? (Hypothetically, of course.)

mbbrutman said:
Ebay is a marketplace. A pretty good one, but it's not all inclusive. It also distorts prices on rarer things, because the person with the most $$$ wins. In a large audience of people, that can result in quite a distortion.
Click to expand...

I'd argue that the distortion isn't really a distortion at all. If a buyer and a seller close a deal on an item at a given price, that price point has to be considered even if you or I think it's crazy. As you point out, the "crazy" prices go both ways so they will even out in the end, one hopes.

Erik
 
"Erik" wrote:

>> There are many parts that never show up
>> on eBay either. For example, I know
>> there were several thousand hard drive
>> units for PCjrs out there, from at least 4
>> or 5 different manufacturers. Yet in 3
>> years of scanning eBay I've never seen
>> one show up.

> I agree. eBay isn't and shouldn't be the
> only source of valuation. It's just a sample
> in the data set.

Yes, I believe that the prices they have on eBay
can hardly be used to value a system, because
there could be a number of factors surrounding
the system on offer. A C64 wouldn't have much
value to it, but stick it with 1000 games & that
may be worth a fair wack too! ;-)

Also I don't know if you wanted to go into the
depths of international currencies, where a
system here could be cheap & work out cheaper
for an American to buy, than the same thing on
offer in the States! :)

Cheers.
 
Value ? d r i f t ing of f subject a l i t tl e

Value ? d r i f t ing of f subject a l i t tl e

How would an Insurance Co. set a value on a collection such as Erik's.
I know when I insured some of my stamp collection, they:nervous: set the value from appraisers quotes ,and not from the blue book prices or the price I payed for them..some were even bought on E-bay. Felt almost like Antique Road Show ,except , I figure they lost about one third their value through appraisal.. and I no longer can keep them at home but in the safe deposit box..
They have a cash only value, no adjusted value in a replacement cost or no fair market value, only the cash value set at the time. So, as for my collection of vintage computers and their value,,,,There worth very little and I plan on keeping them at home...
 
I don't know how my insurance company would handle my computers. I should probably give them a call and find out. . . :)

I know my car is set up under an "agreed value" policy which means that my insurer and I have agreed upon the price of the car and that's what I'll get paid in the event of a total loss. Repairs will be handled at market rates.

I'll probably need a rider of some sorts for my computer collection.
 
Compaq Portable 286 / See: Collectible Microcomputers

Compaq Portable 286 / See: Collectible Microcomputers

I was just literally running a diagnostic on this same machine 5 minutes ago. What kind of coincidence is that? I don't know how rare they are, but mine works. Here are the specs (from memory)
type 2 hard drive 20 meg
1664 RAM
lpt 1 and lpt3
one asynch card with port for mouse and one for modem
cga external jack
1.2M 5 1/4" drive
one more expansion slot.

The keyboard is detachable. I got mine at an antique shop I think, don't remember. I believe I paid $5.00.

Collectible Microcomputers by Michael Nadeau is becomming out-of-date, but the prices are relatively correct, meaning that the prices *were* correct in general at the time, and since then the pricing has continued on about the same tradgectory. What's great about the book is that it includes a lot of rare systems. Nothing's perfect, but this is a collector's bible as far as I am concerned.
 
Insurance of old computers - get an "Umbrella" Policy

Insurance of old computers - get an "Umbrella" Policy

I have an umbrella policy that covers my computers along with my other business computers (I run an ISP). I basically lumped them all in together.
 
Mike told me that his book draft included more than 1,200 computers, but his publisher cut out a lot of the similar versions to get it to 700. He also never even wanted it to be a price guide -- he just wanted to write a general guidebook -- but the publisher insisted on pricing data. He understood that pricing is so inconsistent that it's almost pointless. He did, however, put a couple of years of effort into making the prices as accurate and forward-thinking as possible.

Of course, like the title says, the book only covers commercially produced microcomputers. There's a big opportunity for someone to write a collectors guide to computers made before the micro era.
 
I rarely offer a computer in the VC forum other than a broad range of computers I might part with for a price. I do have a valuation in my mind despite whatever the undervaluation or overvaluation from Ebay. On the VCF with Terry giving out computers left and right it would seem ludacrous for example to quote a Kaypro X for $50 which could seem too much for some, but I would think of it as a bargain price. I'll sell it perhaps on E-Pay.

I've been collecting for many years and see no benefit in giving away some computer which I have hung on to for the the same price I paid for it, whether in a Yard-sale or from another person, which I wanted and possibly paid too much for (including shipping). If the prices on EPay go up and I'd rather have the money than my joy in using the machine, then I'll go for it.

An old friend of mine who loved the music scene was a record collector and dealer. I view his ethics and motivation as mine. I'm not an old computer dealer but I will occasionally offer items for sale which I no longer value so much. I wil ask fair value, whatever the current enthusiasm. I have dealt with some on VCF and I'd think they would judge me as honest and fair.

L
 
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