I think the key to preservation is assuring next of kin that the items
in our possession have value, and are worth seeking out future
custodians. There's a lot of stuff in private collections that can bring
in great sums of money if only those in charge of selling the estate
appreciate what they have to deal with. Making sure spouses and children
know that at least some items in the collection are not just "old junk"
will help immeasurably in their preservation, as well as pointing them
in the direction of those knowledgeable enough to value it. Groups like
this, as well as local/national computer museums will, i'm sure, help a
lot with valuing pieces of equipment if and when the time comes to
auction them off.
Of course, a great tool is a personal inventory. A book, or some such
document with rough values and other information could be very useful
for those unfortunate enough to have to rehome our collections once
we're passed. Contact details of those who can help in assessing and
distributing such stuff will also be quite useful.
I, personally, am quite young compared to many here (no offense
intended!), being 32 years old. However i have reassured my spouse that
much of my "junk" (largely consisting of QBUS PDP-11's at this time) is
actually quite valuable and well worth getting a good price for. Other,
rarer items, i have assured her need to be rehomed to a museum. Of
course, i intend to hang onto these pieces for at least another 32
years, as a good portion is somewhat "retirement projects", as well as
"retirement funds", and i definitely intend to divest some of my
ever-growing collection when the time comes.
But then again, we all have those pieces that are actually quite
valueless. It is definitely worth divesting those pieces if and when we
get round to it. If and when the time is available to divest these
pieces (i'm eyeing up the stack of 30+ Core i7 3770 boards in the corner
as i type this, definitely not retro at this time, but definitely need
to be divested) it is worth getting the money back when we can.
It's a difficult one for those that love and cherish these machines, but
it always hurts to see them end up in the trash. Ultimately, as
custodians of this equipment, it is also our duty to assure their
preservation, and sometimes it is us who know best where to rehome them.
Don't hesitate to downsize and find younger folk that have the passion.
There isn't a lot of them, but they are out there.
Cheers
Josh rice
On 16/07/2024 01:59, Alan Perry via cctalk wrote:
Drop the civility discussion or the LCM+L discussion?
The LCM+L discussion raises important questions about finding good homes for
one’s vintage computer collection after one passes on.
I got more passionate about making sure this kind of stuff got saved when in
the late 90s I found that little of what I worked on at Burroughs in the late
80s was available most anywhere. I didn’t donate the item that I donated to
LCM+L just to see it get scrapped. I know of at least one other person who
donated rare items there on the condition they would be preserved.
alan
On Jul 15, 2024, at 17:38, Rick Bensene via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org>
wrote:
Dennis Boone wrote:
Folks,
Once again, it seems I need to ask everyone to drop this discussion. I _still_
don't >
want to have the moderation flags and banhammers.
Seconded.
Though, I'll get in my last words about it before the thread hopefully dies off.
The situation with LCM+L is what it is. Unless someone has the wherewithal to
challenge the whole mess within the legal system (and probably lose anyway),
there's nothing that anyone can do about it. I, as is clear many others who
inhabit this list, have a great deal of frustration built up about the demise
of LCM+L. With me, it's most specifically felt in the way that the whole thing
was executed. At some point, though, I just have to let it go, which is right
now. I agree with Dennis that the time has come for this discussion to expire.
LCM+L R.I.P. You will be missed. Thanks to all (which includes some members
of this list) who contributed to the amazing place that LCM+L was. Mr. Allen's
heart was in the right place, or he wouldn't have devoted his resources to
creating it in the first place. Unfortunately, his life didn't last long
enough for him to assure that after he was gone it would have some means by
which it could continue on in his memory.
Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Museum
https://oldcalculatormuseum.com
Beavercreek, Oregon USA
