"Freecycling"

[Floppies_only]

Gang,

I just "discovered" a possible source for decrepi...uh, "vintage" computers. I heard about something called "freecycling", which is the practice of offering things you no longer want to others for free.

My city has a freecycling Yahoo group, which I found by using the lookup feature of the freecycling website. It's rules are that you have to live within the city to use it, and there is a rigid protocol for the headers of messages, which makes it easy to see what they are about.

I am going to ask if anybody has a dead Macintosh SE that I can have, so that I can try it's motherboard in my SE that the mouse connector is loose on.

I didn't copy the link but it's the first Google result for "freecycle". Enjoy.

Sean

[MikeS]

Shhhh!

[Druid6900]

Oh, don't worry, Mike, he lives in the NW US, he's not going to impact your PPR, ummm, your collection sources LOL

[VintageComputerman]

Shhhh!


I agree!!!

[Yzzerdd]

In D/FW Texas, I never had much luck on freecycle. Only thing I ever got of a vintage PC nature was a Tandy 1000SX....Well, there was a broken Packard Bell Legend 486 or two as well, but still. All the people there had already dumped that stuff. I hope to have more luck here in WV posting signs on all the bulletin boards in front of the grocery stores. I think that would be what to do in small town areas like where I live. Alot of people I know here in WV don't even have internet to check freecycle.

Better start making them signs!

--Jack

[Chuckster_in_Jax]

I tried FreeCycle for a couple of months here in Jacksonville, FL. I had to scroll through and delete hundreds of postings and found nothing vintage. Most listings were for crap like old baby clothes and formula. Anything computer related was mainly CRT monitors or old computers that are too new to be considered vintage and too old to be useful. I finally just gave up on that avenue. Last week I called Goodwill industries to see if they had any computers. Their reply was that they no longer accept computers.

I read in the forums here about members finding really nice vintage stuff for a few dollars in thrift stores. Maybe it is different in other parts of the country, but here I have had no luck at all with thrift stores. 99% of my collection has come from e:Bay.

[Druid6900]

Same here. I have better luck getting a socket 478 system on freecycling than anything that could be considered vintage.

The good stuff has either been land-filled, sold on e-bay or lost in a basement somewhere. I think the last good thing I got on a freecycle was a Adaptec 1540 controller which I haven't got around to testing.

I don't have the time or mobility to hit the goodwills.

[vwestlife]

Salvation Army stores still accept and sell computers, but at least in the one nearest me, the computers they have are all Pentiums or newer and are all way overpriced. Even their TVs are way overpriced... like $59.95 for a 25-year-old, 19-inch set without the remote. The only bargain I could see are VCRs, all for $5 each. They had mostly old junkers and cheap 2-head mono VCRs but I managed to grab a fairly recent Panasonic 4-head Hi-Fi Stereo one including the remote. It works perfectly -- not bad for $5!

[carlsson]

Heh. There are eight Freecycle groups in Sweden, of which none in my region. The amount of activity varies greatly. The group in Lund is the most active, about 20-25 messages per month while Stockholm averages 10-15 messages and Gothenburg 5-10 per month.

[squirrel-steam]

Here in kalamazoo, MI, there is a lot of thrift stores that have old computers. I found a old packard bell 486 in one, but they wanted 125 dollars for it. WHAT???? But they also had a lot of old expansion cards, cd drives, adapters, ram, etc... Then they had the 2ghz pentium 4's for 250 dollars, (again, WHAT????)

[Floppies_only]

I tried FreeCycle for a couple of months here in Jacksonville, FL. I had to scroll through and delete hundreds of postings and found nothing vintage.

When I signed up I specified that I only wanted to receive administrative messages. I planned to just check the website to a quick run though of the day's messages. You only need to read the header to see what's being offered.

Hmmm...I guess I'd better go check last's weekend's messages.

Sean

[vwestlife]

Here in kalamazoo, MI, there is a lot of thrift stores that have old computers. I found a old packard bell 486 in one, but they wanted 125 dollars for it. WHAT???? But they also had a lot of old expansion cards, cd drives, adapters, ram, etc... Then they had the 2ghz pentium 4's for 250 dollars, (again, WHAT????)
That's certainly not much of a bargain considering that brand new Dell desktops start at $269.

However, Dell earns a "WHAT????" for offering the same exact base level computer at $269 regardless if you order it with Windows XP or with no operating system installed (they give you a copy of FreeDOS but you have to format the hard drive and install it yourself). The only difference is that the XP model has 512 MB RAM while the FreeDOS model has 1 GB RAM... but that's what, a $20 upgrade? Clearly you're paying for Dell's Windows volume licensing flat rate even if you choose not to equip your computer with it.

[im_an_alien]

I joined freecycle a few days ago and posted a WANTED for computers "older than ~1990 or newer than Pentium III" (my current comp is a 1GHz PIII). The freecycle group for my city has around 1200 members IIRC. No luck so far, but it's only been maybe a week, so I guess I wouldn't expect anything. What I don't understand is why people sell stuff on freecycle.

At the goodwill near me, computers are VERY overpriced. Not as bad as $125 for a 486, though. More like $200 for a P4 2GHz and $70 for a PII. However, whenever they get ISA/PCI cards in, they sell them all for $2.02, no matter what it is. Probably has something to do with the fact that they don't have a clue what any of it is.

[Trixter]

However, whenever they get ISA/PCI cards in, they sell them all for $2.02, no matter what it is. Probably has something to do with the fact that they don't have a clue what any of it is.

THAT is worth a biweekly trip. You could stumble onto a Compaticard or Adlib Gold or something. Where are you located?

I just put together four, FOUR computers using all of my spare parts that I can't find a use for. They are all 700MHz machines with 256MB RAM, a CD or DVDROM, and are running Ubuntu Linux. Yet I can't give them away on freecycle or a workplace "stuff for sale" bulletin board because they're in that magical zone of "not old enough, not new enough". (BTW I'm in the chicagoland area if anyone wants one for free)

[vwestlife]

I just put together four, FOUR computers using all of my spare parts that I can't find a use for. They are all 700MHz machines with 256MB RAM, a CD or DVDROM, and are running Ubuntu Linux. Yet I can't give them away on freecycle or a workplace "stuff for sale" bulletin board because they're in that magical zone of "not old enough, not new enough". (BTW I'm in the chicagoland area if anyone wants one for free)
I have six computers like that... three which I saved from the dumpster at work, one which I trashpicked from the curb, and two which I bought used but no longer have a use for. The best is a 1.2 GHz Pentium 4 and the worst is a 400 MHz Pentium II.

[willowmoon93]

Freecycle around here has been pretty decent from time to time, I just don't expect too much all at one time. Definitely have to be patient. I've managed to snag an original Nintendo NES system, a TI-99/4A, Commodore 64, a PCjr, some really early Nintendo Power magazines, over the course of around a year. It's been pretty good and for me it's been a great way to add even more to my collection.

[im_an_alien]

THAT is worth a biweekly trip. You could stumble onto a Compaticard or Adlib Gold or something. Where are you located?

Georgia, about an hour north of Atlanta. Canton, to be exact.

[Druid6900]

I can't give away anything less than a 1G PIII even with the outfits I deal with for getting computers to those people who can't afford them anymore.

The last shipment I got was, for the most part, PIIs and I would have had to scrap them, but, I found a university out west here that is building a Beowulf cluster and they paid to have me ship them the 30 boards with CPUs and memory.

Had to do quite a bit of searching to find them too, but, it kept them out of the landfill. The cases, however, were scrap metal collected.

[andyt31]

I would say most of my collection has come via freecycle. Best donations I would say are my Apple ][e and ][c, Tatung Einstein, BBC Model B and lots of other Acorn stuff.

[squirrel-steam]

I joined freecycle a few days ago and posted a WANTED for computers "older than ~1990 or newer than Pentium III" (my current comp is a 1GHz PIII). The freecycle group for my city has around 1200 members IIRC. No luck so far, but it's only been maybe a week, so I guess I wouldn't expect anything. What I don't understand is why people sell stuff on freecycle.

At the goodwill near me, computers are VERY overpriced. Not as bad as $125 for a 486, though. More like $200 for a P4 2GHz and $70 for a PII. However, whenever they get ISA/PCI cards in, they sell them all for $2.02, no matter what it is. Probably has something to do with the fact that they don't have a clue what any of it is.



im_an_alien, A p2 is worth anywhere from 5-10 dollars, and a 2ghz p4 is worth about 30 dollars.

vwestlife, The slowest pentium 4 is a 1.3ghz, how is yours a 1.2?

[Yzzerdd]

im_an_alien, A p2 is worth anywhere from 5-10 dollars, and a 2ghz p4 is worth about 30 dollars.

vwestlife, The slowest pentium 4 is a 1.3ghz, how is yours a 1.2?

Uhh.... I usually buy my P4's for $5. I put an O/S on them and sell them usually for $175(p4 2GHz or so, CD-ROM, 256MB...) in the city. Granted, here in the country I will probably get less, but still. As for the PIIs, I usually can pull off $75 with keyboard, monitor, mouse, and all cords. Free installation as well. Usually the PII runs around 400MHz with 128MB of RAM and Windows 98/ME. Once again, I'll get less out here in the country.

--Jack
If you think about it, my computers are under-priced...$40 to the hour work, usually an all day even installing a thousand updates... Then again, for stuff that involves hours of sitting doing nothing (waiting for an update to install) I charge much less. I might remove viruses for 2 hours and only charge $55 versus $80. But that's another thread.

[vwestlife]

vwestlife, The slowest pentium 4 is a 1.3ghz, how is yours a 1.2?
OK, I keep getting it backwards. I have a 1.4 GHz P4 and a 1.2 GHz Althon. Despite the slower clock speed the Athlon is faster.

Early P4s often struggled to even keep up with the last generation of PIIIs at equal clock speeds. The 1.4 GHz P4 was the first speed to be released and was criticized for being slow, and then Intel did the logical thing and released an even slower 1.3 GHz version! :rolleyes:

[IBMMuseum]

...Early P4s often struggled to even keep up with the last generation of PIIIs at equal clock speeds. The 1.4 GHz P4 was the first speed to be released and was criticized for being slow, and then Intel did the logical thing and released an even slower 1.3 GHz version! :rolleyes:

Where are the "equal clock speeds" of PIIIs at 1.3 or 1.4GHz?...

[im_an_alien]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III#Tualatin

^Right there.

Pentium III Tualatins were released during 2001 until early 2002 at speeds of 1.0, 1.13, 1.2, 1.26, 1.33 and 1.4 GHz.

[Unknown_K]

Freecycle around here in Ohio doesn't have much in the way of computers offered, but you can score some stuff.

I met a guy from freecycle who snags slightly older machines and then fixes them up for resale ($75 or so for a fast P3 and up). People tend to dump their old stuff on him and he freecycles what he cannot use. Since I met him and helped him with a few systems he dumps lots of stuff my way for free or a nominal charge. Mostly I get old macs, old PC, and lots of parts (HDs under 20GB).

Other freecycle conquests would be 3 C64 systems, Mac IIcx, Mint IIgs system and some software. I passed on some items (Apple II+ being one) because it didn't fit my interests. Generally I don't snag items for resale for space reasons and so I don't start viewing everything with a dollar sign.

Most of what I get is free from local people that I found dumping items via forums, swaplists, etc. I hit ebay quite a bit for specific items. You have no idea how some small local contact can end up giving you a flood of material you need for your collection. For every person who starts collecting there is another who has to move and ditch his (or his wife makes him slim down the collection).

[penguin86]

Here in Italy Freecycle Yahoo Group has only 6 messages :( one of them is mine :rolleyes:
BTW, I searched for old computers in second-hand stores, but nothing: no luck at all... The only lucky strike I had, was finding an 8088 in a local hardware group called Pcdonato (in italian means "given pc"). This group takes for free old computers, repair and gives away to people needing them always for free. The only rule is that the operating system we install (linux) cannot be replaced by Windows.
Well, usually we receive pentium 2 or 3 (rarely pentium 4 or Athlon XP) but this time was a Philips PC-100, an interesting 8088 (sadly without monitor.... I'm still searcing for a CGA or MDA monitor...).

[VintageComputerman]

I have had some of my best success with Freecycle. You just have to word your post correctly. I've picked up over 5 full van loads of vintage or close to vintage computers and electronics. It was one of my best kept secrets.

Craig's list is good too, but people expect money from those items.

One time last year, I replied to a Freecycle post for two 486 computers. I was the 2nd to reply and fortunately for me the first person never showed up so I got the chance to get them. Well, it turned out it was a computer shop and the guy had 3 rooms full of old equipment. All mine for the taking. I had to leave a van load of old cases, I just didn't have room.

Another post I replied to was for Amiga books. No one replied except me so I ended up getting not only the books, but 10 full bankers boxes of Amiga stuff as well as other vintage equipment

Don't discount Freecycle. It's a good source. Just don't let too many people know about it, you might lose out to another collector.

[Druid6900]

I just got another truckload of stuff today and haven't had much time to look through it all, but, three things I did notice were a tiny little Compaq desktop, a tiny little AST desktop and a honking huge full tower case. Thing has to be, at least, 3 feet high and has a plastic tetrahedral base to keep it from falling over, Speed display, turbo switch and light. VERY cool and probably destined for a mini-van bumper.

Ok, it's not 3 feet, it's 26 inches :)

[VintageComputerman]

I put out a few posts yesterday and got three to four replys. I think it might be more than one van load and one of the systems is an old Zenith 48 XT Type PC and an old Acer 286 PC

[Sharkonwheels]

I've had nothing from FreeCycle down here - worse, the "owners" of the groups can be pretty bad - the West Palm Beach FreeCycle group, for starters. What a PUTZ!

Never got anything at all there, but I have had some luck with thrift shops, flea markets, and craigslist, but thrifts not so much the past year or two. Last conquest would've been a Power COmputing clone, for $5.

T

[carlsson]

Out of curiosity, all of you who thrive on FreeCycle, do you also post your own items onto it? Of course it doesn't have to be computer related, as these groups will accept anything that still has use in it. I believe if I were part of a group to receive free "gifts", I would feel much too guilty if I didn't try to give away my leftovers too. If nobody wants it is another matter. :-)

[Half-Saint]

I've had nothing from FreeCycle down here - worse, the "owners" of the groups can be pretty bad - the West Palm Beach FreeCycle group, for starters. What a PUTZ!

Never got anything at all there, but I have had some luck with thrift shops, flea markets, and craigslist, but thrifts not so much the past year or two. Last conquest would've been a Power COmputing clone, for $5.

T

I'm still puzzled... what's a thrift shop? :)

FreeCycle has about 2 members in Slovenia.. so you guys consider yourself lucky to be getting anything at all. There's a new "freecycle-ish" portal but there's mostly early pentium, pentium II stuff and CRTs nobody wants. The only source for me are flea markets.

Cheers
SainT

[andyt31]

Out of curiosity, all of you who thrive on FreeCycle, do you also post your own items onto it? Of course it doesn't have to be computer related, as these groups will accept anything that still has use in it. I believe if I were part of a group to receive free "gifts", I would feel much too guilty if I didn't try to give away my leftovers too. If nobody wants it is another matter. :-)

Ive got rid of a lot of stuff like PCs, old VCRs, furniture, kids toys and a garden gate.

Ive also received items that are not computer related like a portable DVD player, faulty DAB radio (I fixed this...)Car CD/MP3/USB/Bluetooth player (CD part doesnt work, but i can put a USB memory sick in it), CDs, Vinyl and stereo systems.

But some people do offer rubbish, and request it too. Why request something that will cost you £2 at the shop?

[carlsson]

It makes me think of our local radio station, who once a week has a show where listeners can call or email about things they want to swap, give away or receive. There is one rule: you can never accept payment in form of money. If you are looking for something, you must name something else that you'll swap it for. If you are giving something away you can choose to ask for something in return or just give it away.

Sometimes, listeners call in to try to get specific items cheap, e.g. people looking for a particular CD or DVD that they no longer can find in shops and offer something truly crap in return. It takes me one visit to the biggest web shop to find the particular albums or movies still in stock, but of course the listener doesn't want to pay for a brand new item or even look online for used ones.

It goes without saying that every computer related item offered on the radio show is gone within a few minutes, unless it is some really boring Pentium 1 or similar. Yet so far I haven't heard anyone offering or even looking for any vintage computing though.

[andyt31]

It makes me think of our local radio station, who once a week has a show where listeners can call or email about things they want to swap, give away or receive. There is one rule: you can never accept payment in form of money. If you are looking for something, you must name something else that you'll swap it for. If you are giving something away you can choose to ask for something in return or just give it away.


That sounds like a TV program we had in the UK in the 80s called "Multi colour SwapShop" Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Coloured_Swap_Shop)

[Yzzerdd]

Carlsson:

Yes. If you have something to GIVE away, you can post it. If you need/want something, you can ask for it in a post. The only real rule is that you are not to ask money for anything you post on the list.

Half-Saint:

I can't be sure you are serious....Everyone knows what a thrift shop is!
Well, just in case you don't...

A thrift shop is a place to buy and give away stuff. When I spring clean (and many others, too) I don't feel like selling usually. Probably because it is all crap I wont get much out of. So, I, like many others, donate it to the thrift store. Then the thrift store resells the stuff, usually for dirt prices. When I lived in Texas, I could usually pickup any computer for $2.50. They didn't change the price no matter how new the PC was. Well, they never did get a new-in-box computer in, so I can't be sure they wouldn't charge more if one ever came in.

--Jack

[andyt31]

Thrift shops are not that common in the UK. But there are a few on air bases etc

Charity shops are more common.

[carlsson]

I can say for sure over here I have never heard of anything like the thrift shop you describe. Flea markets and second hand stores yes, both those run as a charity (Salvation Army, Red Cross etc) and those stores run by a private interest. Sometimes an organisation arrange a flea market where you can donate things for them to sell, where the money goes to the organisation (not neccessarily charity, could be a sports club too). It sounds like the closest thing to a thrift shop, but that happens maybe once a year. Of course you can donate items to the second hand stores too, but I get a feeling it still is not quite the same thing.

In any case, very few things over here are "dirt cheap" except for when the second hand store is having a clearance due to moving to a new place. It was on a such occassion I found the latest and only vintage computing/gaming related items for many years: an Atari 2600 joystick, a VIC/64 power supply and two PC games of 1995 vintage. Yes, a very meager score but better than nothing.

[VintageComputerman]

Just picked up a Tandy 1000 TL/2 with original monitor and keyboard. Unfortunately, no mouse. Nice condition too. :p

[Yzzerdd]

I can say for sure over here I have never heard of anything like the thrift shop you describe. Flea markets and second hand stores yes, both those run as a charity (Salvation Army, Red Cross etc) and those stores run by a private interest. Sometimes an organisation arrange a flea market where you can donate things for them to sell, where the money goes to the organisation (not neccessarily charity, could be a sports club too). It sounds like the closest thing to a thrift shop, but that happens maybe once a year. Of course you can donate items to the second hand stores too, but I get a feeling it still is not quite the same thing.

In any case, very few things over here are "dirt cheap" except for when the second hand store is having a clearance due to moving to a new place. It was on a such occassion I found the latest and only vintage computing/gaming related items for many years: an Atari 2600 joystick, a VIC/64 power supply and two PC games of 1995 vintage. Yes, a very meager score but better than nothing.

Ya, thrift stores are just like second hand stores, except they don't go to a charitiy. Usually they are chain stores, like Thrift World, Thrift Store of America, Goodwill, etc. Except, I THINK part of Goodwill's profit goes to charities. Usually at any of the above stores I can get vintage computers (and new ones, too) for around $2.50 US. At Goodwill, they are usually up around $20-$50, guarunteed working.

There is only ONE place I don't EVER recommend checking for vintage gear--pawn shops. Around here, there almost always is vintage stuff, but is ALWAYS too expensive. $150 for a 486 IBM Thinkpad(may have been P1)? I don't think so! I've never seen any vintage PCs at a pawn shop I would be willing to pay so much for, but I'd be heartbroken if there was a nice computer in one but I couldn't afford the steep price.

--Jack

[VintageComputerman]

Through Freecycle, I made a contact with a huge recycling company. I was told...

"Also, XXXXX can pull any of these older components out if you are in need of a specific computer or electronic for a project. They even sell some of the parts on ebay."

Yea baby!!! I think I am now connected.

[VintageComputerman]

Just picked up another van load. I got a nice vintage Zenith computer, many older IBM parts including a monitor. Several old full hight hard drives, isa video and sound cards, old cases, etc. I also have an original IBM laptop (the first one made) coming with printer and carrying bag. Oh, also an atari computer and several amiga games, one of which is unopened. I scored big today.

[VintageComputerman]

Two new connections I got on freecycle. One from someone who says their neighbor is moving and he/she is in the computer business and has a lot of old stuff he needs gone, the other is a women who has an attic full of old stuff and she rebuilds computers. It just keeps on giving. I'm getting a reputation as the man to give your old computer stuff to.

[amouse]

I would venture to suggest that you should all consider using Ebay to freecycle your vintage goods. here are my reasons

a) Ebay reaches a lot of people.
b) It does not cost much to sell
c) You can do a buy it now for a very low price, and indicate Bueyer collects etc. In fact you can indicate a lot of things like your Geographic area and the terms on which you are selling
d) Your low prices are a signal to greedy sellers that they should rather lower their off the wall prices to something more reasonable
e) When you make a sale your Ebay score goes up

f) When I as a buyer search ebay I can search only in the vintage computing section so I dont have to wade thru endless non computing junk items.

[Floppies_only]

Two new connections I got on freecycle. One from someone who says their neighbor is moving and he/she is in the computer business and has a lot of old stuff he needs gone, the other is a women who has an attic full of old stuff and she rebuilds computers. It just keeps on giving. I'm getting a reputation as the man to give your old computer stuff to.

[Greedy look]

What do you do with all?

Sean

[VintageComputerman]

[Greedy look]

What do you do with all?

Sean

Some stuff I keep for later use, some is just plain junk and gets recycled. Some occasionally goes on ebay and some goes back on freecycle. Plus I collect.

I just got an entire van load from one of my above posts. The guy was in charge of IT at a juice plant and had a pallet load (about 50 to 60) of old ibm's 286, 386, 486 desk tops from a sister plant on the west coast. They shipped them across the country and ended up getting rid of them all and they ended up in his garage. Strange trip, but they are all in nice condition. I even got an IBM ps1. Also scored a big box of old mother boards, cpu's, memory, a box of real old working laptops. One of which is a 386. I didn't have time to really look into everything but I did get an AdLib Music Synthesizer Card for the IBM with drivers, version 1.0, mint in box. I go back on Sunday for one more box of goodies he has stored in his attic.

I also found an original IBM printer.

[Unknown_K]

You need to show us some pictures of the stacks of machines.

[im_an_alien]

These last 2 days have been pretty good on craigslist in Atlanta. Yesterday, I found a Sun SPARCStation 5 that works find, aside from a broken OS installation. Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enoguh to get it :(. Earlier today, I found a "Working Tandy 1000 HX and CGA CM-5 Monitor." I sent an email, but no reply yet... In the meantime, anything cool I can do with it if I get it? Good games, etc? Also, does this particular model have composite video output? I think it'd be pretty cool to use a 27" TV for a monitor :p

[Unknown_K]

I think the 1000HX has composite out, I have a CGA monitor on mine so havn't looked at the rear in years. Great for old DOS games, which is what I use it for.

[im_an_alien]

Just got home from picking it up, but I think I'll go talk about it in the tandy/radioshack forum, since it's kind of off topic here.

[VintageComputerman]

This just came through the Rochester area freecycle. To far for me to travel though.

Compaq Portable 386 luggable computer
with expansion backpack
monochrome plasma (i think) screen
Working (last time I checked)

[VintageComputerman]

Well, I'm making a long trip to Rochester today. Same guy who freecycled the 386 Compaq portable posted above still has it, along with a half van load of other vintage goodies.

A lot of nixie-tube items as well. I can hardly wait!

Several Commodore 64's, ISA cards, some IBM items and several boxes of unknowns.

[im_an_alien]

I just came pretty close to getting an Apple IIe and IIc on craigslist. I was just a bit late in finding it and getting an email sent :( Apparently you have to be really quick about it, because I sent an email about 10 hours after it was posted.

[VintageComputerman]

Just got back from one unbelievably long road trip. I pulled in the drive way and there was a minivan with the back door opened filled full of vintage apple macs and related items. Unfortunately, they were all for the friend of the guy I drove several hours to meet. I was slightly disappointed at the site of all those vintage apple computers going someware besides into my van, however I ended up getting a boatload of excellent equipment myself. Seems the guy had to move and just wanted it gone. He wasn't very good at ebay and even knew it was worth a lot, he was just happy someone wanted it who would do something good with it. I ended up carrying box after box to my van with my wife. Smiling all the way. Even my wife was happy because shew knew the $90.00 worth of gas was well spent. Just off the top of my head...4 to 5 complete commodore 64's, boxed with disks drivers. The Compaq 386 portable, boxes of isa and related cards, motherboards, etc. Several other computers I didn't have time to look at because I wanted to get home as quick as I could. I did manage to pick up a Digital terminal that looked like a typewriter/printer of some sort. Just too much to mention and it's too dark to look at right now. Several hundred 5-1/4 floppies of Commodore games. This guy even had an original pacman, tron and atari coin opperated game stored in his house. He wouldn't sell the games, dam.

One of the best finds I have had in two years of freecycling.

More tomorrow.

[VintageComputerman]

OK, I couldn't stand it so I went and looked a bit while I sipped a beer (still unwinding). I did manage to score a Macintosh classic, but what really caught my eye was the Digital Gigi from around 1972 in mint condition wrapped in bubble wrap.

[VintageComputerman]

This is a Digital Gigi...

http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Digital/gigi/DSCF6359.JPG

http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Digital/gigi/index.php

[carlsson]

Sexy! The white and black reminds of the BBC Micro, a decade later.

[Chuck(G)]

Nice score, but the Gigi was from about 1977 or so. The 8085 didn't exist in 1972...

[VintageComputerman]

I just picked up another ungodly load of vintage computer stuff with another load left to pick up next week. I think this load is one of my best ever finds. 7-TI 99's as well as boxes of games, manuals and related parts. I even have expansion box parts. Numerous electronic items. Several boxes of XT cards. A nice IBM XT case, The usual array of vintage cpu's memory, video & sound cards, etc. Boxes of tubes and a lot of game software, joy sticks, TI replacement parts, etc. Test equipment, keyboards, floppie drives, 9 pin monitors, several working 286's & 386's and even some Atari and Intelivision stuff. An entire full van load and I don't have room to store it, yet.

I have pictures of all these finds and someday, I will post some of them.

[VintageComputerman]

Make that nine TI 99's and a lot of repair parts for both it and the expansion box. Voice synthesizer's too!!!:rolleyes:

[Unknown_K]

What do you do with all this stuff?

[Druid6900]

I was going to ask the same thing.

At least I have a website to get rid of the stuff I get in and FleaBay for non-computer items like tube-testers and 30 year old single-line scrolling pixel boards.

[VintageComputerman]

What do you do with all this stuff?

I sort everything into vintage, modern or junk. Some stuff I recycle or pass on to others, but most of it I clean up and store in my full basement or I take to my 4,000 sf warehouse for the future. Sometimes I might sell an item. Other items I keep. My inventory is growing much larger than I had ever imagined. I could easily put together a website for everything but will probably sell some of it through existing venues when the time is right.

I am self employed and keep busy doing other things not related to computers, In the winter work slows down. Thats when I start pulling out systems and start playing/working with them.

I am gradually building a nice collection as I sort through everything I acquire.

I also occasionally buy a few items too. As example, I have a chance to pick up a fully working Tandy 1000 hx, monitor, daisy wheel printer with manuals and software for just $25.00. Is that a good deal or what?

Freecycling isn't for everyone. I can be dirty work and takes a lot of traveling and gas money but some times it can really be worth the effort.

[per]

It is very few freecycling stations in Norway, but they have just started to appear in Rogaland. The problem is that Rogaland is about a 7 hours driving trip from Hordaland (where I live). I wonder when they'll start to appear where I live.

[VintageComputerman]

Got another van load. A lot of working 286 and 386 computers, several Epson DFX-5000+ printers, more TI stuff, Atari, Coleco, etc. I still haven't looked into all the boxes yet as they were pre boxed and I haven't unloaded them yet. More vintage software and I even got a licensed copy of XP and 95. Boxes of hard drives too. At least two boxes of vintage computer manuals and new, old stock parts. I really should get pictures posted. My collection has grown huge in this last year and a half. Over the winter, I think I might sell some of the excess.

In a few days, I will have time to open every box and I'll post any really interesting items.

I did manage to get an Atari 830 phone modem which I thought was really interesting. I also have two rack mount 386's which are lacking covers but they are interesting items.

One other thing, a complete box of 3-1/2 floppies and they are the 720 kb type, mint, unopened!!!

[Unknown_K]

You know we all think you are bullshitting us if you don't show the pictures. ;)

[VintageComputerman]

You know we all think you are bullshitting us if you don't show the pictures. ;)


I took pictures of every load. Also spread some of it out on the patio and snapped a few. I'm almost out of space in my basement and my storage building is getting tight for space too.

[Merlin]

We have a similar thing in the Recycle Bin on Amibay, where goods get offered for just the cost of postage.

[DarthKur]

One other thing, a complete box of 3-1/2 floppies and they are the 720 kb type, mint, unopened!!!

If one of those would be compatible with a Tandy 1000 TL I could certainly use it.

[VintageComputerman]

OK, I got two boxed Mattel Electronics Intellivoice, voice synthesis modules and a 3 button summa mouse. More later...

[VintageComputerman]

OK, I found more stuff. Several early Atari joysticks, two black IBM 5.25 floppy drives in mint condition, two huge boxes of books, mostly IBM and ATX related, lots of ISA items, wave generators, test equipment and something I have never seen before, a white paper roll about 1-1/4" around maybe 1" wide and it's punched full of holes, like a player piano. Must be a program. A huge amount of software, including a set of original Kaypro disks. I have it strewn all over my basement while I sort. Many NOS parts too.

I gotta get pictures!!! ;)

[Ksarul]

Sounds like you found some ASCII tape. Should be a small feed hole with three bigger holes on one side and five more on the other side (if all are punched). It might be a program, but it might also just be a message or an ASCII graphic image stored on tape. . .

[kb2syd]

Speaking of Freecycle... Just scored a Mac Plus with HD, a mac se with dual floppies and 3 complete Apple IIgs units. All with software and a lot of manuals.

[VintageComputerman]

Found a binder full of TI info. Pamphlets, newsletters, price lists, TI bulletins, brochures, instructions, etc. Many with Bill Cosby on them in full color. Stuff I have never seen before. The kind of paper work you would have access to if you were a reseller. I'm going to scan them all for future use.

This one find is without a doubt the best collection of TI stuff acquired so far.

[Ksarul]

Aaaarrggh! You find all of the great TI stuff there, VintageComputerman. :) :) I am on a continuous hunt for this type of stuff. It drives my wife nuts. Please let me know if you are willing to part with them (or at least send me copies of the scans so I can compare them to the stuff I do have). I have an extensive, multilingual set of TI-99 family documentation/books.

I scan the really hard-to-find stuff in and put it up on WHTech (mostly the manuals and schematics for 99/8 and other prototype items).

I'm in the middle of reconstructing a truly rare item right now--the TI 128K SuperRAM board for the 4/A. They only made a few test examples of the board, one of which I have as a bare board. I'm working on getting the PALs for it programmed so I can build it (I received the necessary equations from another source).

[Tinkerer]

I recently joined the local freecycle website after reading this thread. After about a month I haven't seen anything related to computing. In fact, I see a lot more "I want" than "I offer" (probably runs a ratio of about 20:1). :(

[DarthKur]

I placed a wanted ad on the Asheville Freecycle yesterday morning for vintage computers, games, etc and had it promptly removed and replaced with a general warning that it's not allowed to post wanted requests for "collectible items". :sneaky: Since they retrieve ridiculous prices on evilbay it's considered "taking advantage" of people to get rid of stuff they would normally think of as old junk. I can't wait until this whole "retro trend" thing goes away so things can go back to normal. Which is to say only people like as will care to have stuff like this. :)

[kb2syd]

I've picked up 2 or 3 lots of classics on freecycle in the 2 plus years I've been a member. There's a generic TI 99/4a in Stillwater NJ that I just don't have the buring desire to treck after. I've never been a fan.

Kelly