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Subject: Collector's Corner..On The Cost and Time Of Collecting

Author: Steve B

Date: 05:14:29 07/15/05


As with all Collecting, when one has been collecting the old computers from the
beginning to the present day, the time and cost involved can be considerable

unlike those actively collecting for only a year or two,when a collector has
been collecting from the late 1970's the prices paid would have all been BRAND
NEW OFF THE SHELF prices
these are multiples of even todays increasing prices for dedicated units

as an example   ...a Mephisto Dallas module alone(no board) sold brand new in
1986 for over $500..if you elected to merely upgrade your preexisting Amsterdam
Eprom ..this cost was $300

while some computers sell for more or about the same as when first
released(Robots for example)the vast majority of chess computers sell for far
less

i shudder at the thought of  what my collection cost in total
as most of my computers were bought when first released the cost easily is in
the 6 figures


Tine is also a major factor

again unlike today when we can all pick and choose what ever comes our way..back
in 1977 you had to wait 15 years for a Tasc R30 to become available
:)

the Internet has provided all collectors with a readily easy way to bring their
collections up to reasonable quality

all one really needs is money today and they can have a fine collection rather
quickly..the time element has been removed

speaking of cost..

our Coordinator(CCC and the dreaded CTF) ..the rich and famous(but ugly as shit)
Fernando Villegas has somehow managed to overcome the cost and yet still
maintains a nice collection of the old computers

here his collection can be seen

i have added up the entire cost of his collection(including shipping) and i get
the grand total of $13.12

http://www.zanchetta.net/echecs/default.aspx?page=Fernando.htm


Best
Steve



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