One other addendum to my last point- oftentimes they mutilate the vintage devices too-
They'll dremel out a place to put a USB port on a vintage keyboard, or worse- harvest keyswitches out of them. I once had a keyboard collector offer to buy a working GRiD Compass 1129 off of me so they could remove the keyboard and make a PC keyboard out of it. And they have means and motivation the same as anyone, so they often offer the same kind of prices a real legitimate collector who wants the whole system would. I have also spoken with people who have been contacted by keyboard collectors who go so far as to lie about owning a machine to close a deal on a rare keyboard with someone who would not be willing to sell it otherwise. It's getting to be a trendy hobby for people who want interesting old artifacts without space, learning and restoration commitment necessitated by classic computing, and that's a real problem. </soapbox> - Ian On Sat, Jul 30, 2016 at 1:13 PM, Ian Finder <ian.fin...@gmail.com> wrote: > Cindy wrote: > > I also participate in at least one of the "dreaded" keyboard forums. > > Why are they so dreaded to you guys? > > Because they do things like ask the seller of the totally complete, > obscenely rare Symbolics 3620 on eBay in Finland if they can pay full price > but leave the system behind and split off the keyboard. > > They see an IBM system in a movie, and don't go "Wow, look at that system > 360," they say "Wow, look at those beam spring keyboards!" > > They have no interest in restoring machines, or the history of this > stuff- and they often orphan crucial parts from rare systems. They've made > it very hard to finish the restorations of some of my systems, as they've > come to me without the very desirable keyboards which are now coveted > pieces in some nerd's collection, far away from the devices they are to be > used with. > > It's like killing an elephant for ivory, or ripping the hood ornament off > of a vintage Mercedes. > > If it's rare enough and you don't own the system, you have no business > owning a critical part. > > - Ian > > > On Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 12:20 PM, Electronics Plus <sa...@elecplus.com> > wrote: > >> Thanks Jay! I enjoy helping old things find a new home. >> It is amazing to me what goes to recyclers! >> I also participate in at least one of the "dreaded" keyboard forums. >> Why are they so dreaded to you guys? I have found them to be >> fantastically helpful! >> >> Cindy >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Jay West >> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2016 2:16 PM >> To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' >> Subject: RE: more vintage computer stuff >> >> Cindy wrote.... >> -------- >> Sorry if posting my site is not allowed. If so, please delete this post. >> -------- >> >> Cindy - thanks for your post. >> >> I have seen on occasion a past commercial seller (not here any longer) >> not fit in well with the mentality of this list. You are not one of those. >> >> You're a perfect model of how a commercial seller can be a fantastic >> contributor to the list. I'm glad you're here, and appreciate the way you >> participate! >> >> Same goes for Paul A and a couple others. >> >> J >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > -- > Ian Finder > (206) 395-MIPS > ian.fin...@gmail.com > -- Ian Finder (206) 395-MIPS ian.fin...@gmail.com