PDP-8/s on Ebay

[AK6DN]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PDP-8-S-Serial-Number-0/323259488407?hash=item4b43c45897:g:J6kAAOSw1fJa~I5s

for those with an incredible amount of money burning a hole in their pocket. Probably overpriced. Certainly unique. Not many available today.

Then there is always this 8L: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-DE...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Also probably overpriced. And this 8E: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DE...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

which is certainly overpriced. And this 8I: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pdp-8i-Com...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

All we need now is an 8a, 8m, 8f, and a straight-8 to round out the family.

 

[KC9UDX]

Sigh. . It worked the last time it was powered up..

 

[m_thompson]

I believe that the PDP-8/I on eBay is one of ten that were found in a barn a year ago.

 

[Bitly]

for those with an incredible amount of money burning a hole in their pocket. Probably overpriced. Certainly unique. Not many available today.

It makes me happy to see these listed, even if the prices are stupid high. The alternative is they end up in the back of a scrappers truck.

CW

 

[DECtechGuy]

Sadly, I think these will ultimately end up in the back of a scrapper's truck at the prices they're at. The sellers will think there's no market and junk them.

Most of my DEC stuff I buy from resellers on eBay and mostly avoid private sellers because they have no pricing sense and over value everything.

 

[Terry Kennedy]

Sigh. . It worked the last time it was powered up..

If that is an honest assessment (and doesn't include an implied "... but it didn't work now") I'd rather have that than someone who won't take the time to check out the power supplies, etc. before powering it on and frying things.

Two of my old blog posts (note these are about modern used equipment, not vintage stuff - hence the "clear configs", etc. advice):

A few words of advice for used equipment sellers
A few more words of advice for used equipment sellers

Sadly, I think these will ultimately end up in the back of a scrapper's truck at the prices they're at. The sellers will think there's no market and junk them.

The seller of that 8/I system is apparently trying to find a price the market will bear - the first listing was for $11.5K/$15K (opening bid/buy-it-now), was relisted at $10K/$15K, and is now at $9K/$12K. I'm almost positive that subsequent price drops will lure a buyer long before it hits the price a scrapper will pay to take it away for "resource recovery".

 

[KC9UDX]

I don't disagree that someone who is unprepared to properly power the device shouldn't try to test it. But no matter the seller's intent, saying that it once worked is irrelevant. It brings the value down very far. Something that is known to work now is worth much more than something that is not known to work now, no matter if it worked a year, or ten or twenty years ago.