HoweEnterprise.com
September 28, 2020
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Learn about antiques and collectibles with Georgia Caraway In the mid-to-late 20th Century, older model computers were often discarded as newer, more powerful machines were Georgia released. A few Caraway forward-thinking people (or pack rats) held on to some of these old computers thinking they might be valuable collectors’ items one day. Fast forward to 2020 and their assumption has proven true. Some of the first computers are now being sold to collectors for prices upwards of $10,000. If you enjoy weekend garage sale treks or thrift shop hopping and you happen to see an old computer on your journeys, you could potentially pick up a $15,000 antique computer for pocket change! Here is a list of some of the more valuable collectors’ pieces. The following is from an article written by Harry McCracken for PCWorld. 1: Altair 8800—A do-it-yourself kit with no monitor. Switches on the front had to be toggled as you programmed it yourself in Basic Assembler language. Altair BASIC language was created this way, and that language led to the creation of a little company called Microsoft. This vintage machine can be worth up to $5,000! 2: PDP-8--The first commercially successful "minicomputer" was designed by a company called Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and was sold in the mid1960s for a whopping $18,000! This system included a rackmounted computer, paper tape storage device and offered memory of 4,096 12-bit units. The current value can range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on condition and iaccessories. 3: Xerox Alto--This is one of the first computers to actually look like a contemporary computer. It sported a video monitor, a QWERTY keyboard, and a single platter storage disk which stored 2.5 megabytes of data. Full units cost a buyer up to $100,000 (in 1973)! In the late '70s, Steve Jobs made a deal with Xerox to borrow some of their concepts. This resulted in the Apple's Macintosh operating system. Today Xerox Alto computers are worth $20,000 and up. 4: Apple 1--In 1976, Steve Wozniak designed his first computer with the help of his friend, Steve Jobs. Only 200 units were produced. A non-working model recently sold on Ebay for $60,000. In 2014, a working Apple 1 sold at auction for over $900,000! Probably the most sought-after collectible computer in the world, the Apple 1 utilized BASIC programming language and was designed primarily for games. This
computer was the first personal computer as we've come to know them today. 5: PET 2001--Manufactured by Commodore in 1977, the PET 2001 was a precursor to the famous Commodore 64. This was the first PC made available to retail outlets, and among the first to include keyboard, computer, and monitor together as a single unit. A working PET 2001 now sells for around $500. 6: TRS-80--Tandy/Radio Shack Z -80 Microprocessor was one of the first personal PCs offered for sale to consumers exclusively through Radio Shack stores. Its popularity passed up Apple II several times over in number of units sold. It had a cassette tape drive and black & white TV for a computer monitor. Later, Tandy would introduce disk drives, hard drives, and color monitors as upgrades for the TRS-80. An original unit in working order will set you back about $600. 7: Atari Portfolio--The portable AP computer made history as being the world's first commercially successful palm-top computer. It was extremely versatile, being PC -compatible, MS-DOS-based computer with a DIP operating system designed for palm-top functionality. The AP can fetch between $200-$400 depending on condition. 8: Apple Lisa-1--This suitcasestyle Apple computer was commercially unsuccessful due to its extremely high retail price (upwards of $10,000 in 1983!). The most advanced feature of the Apple Lisa was its graphical user interface-based operating system. An Apple Lisa is worth less today than it cost brand new, however, it is still a valuable collector's piece and a working order model in good condition can cost up to $2,000. 9: IBM 5150 Personal Computer-This was the very first IBM personal computer. The IBM PC started a revolution. Released in 1981, the 5150 included a fullsized keyboard, an upgradeable hard drive, a monochrome monitor, MS-DOS operating system, and a floppy disk drive. This computer was the first one I ever bought and I paid $6,000 for it with accessories. $400 to $500 can get you one today in working order. 10: Spectravideo Compumate-This Spectravideo product included a specialized game cartridge and a keyboard which plugged directly into the Atari 2600 unit. Once attached, the Compumate turned the 2600 game console into a full-fledged computer with BASIC programming capabilities. These units originally sold for $100 and can be purchased now for about the same price, although
they are next to impossible to find. 11: Grid Compass 1101--Released in 1982, this rare collectible was essentially the first laptop computer. A die-cast metal frame and a bright orange display made this a very rugged, attractive-looking computer. It was rather pricey ($8,000+ new) and was used mostly by the high-profile business executives, the U.S. military, and even on the Space Shuttle during the '80s. Grid Compasses can set a collector back $3,000 or more. The next time you go garage sale hunting on a Friday or Saturday
morning keep your eye peeled for really old computer systems. There is a good chance that people who have these items sitting in their garage or attic have no idea what they're actually worth to collectors. Come see us at Howe Mercantile, located in beautiful downtown Howe, Texas. We have two great restaurants right across the street, Abby’s and Gabrielas’, famous for homecooked meals. And the newest addition to our eating establishments, a Chinese restaurant, Hana’s Café and Market, located right behind them. Make a day of it, eating and shopping. Let Us Show You Howe.
