Prices for a RFT add-on keyboard

The price for a rather rare GDR Robotron A5105 according to my list is Euro 76 in average. The main unit has the typical homecomputer format, computer-in-keyboard-case. The keyboard itself is rather good. The same keyboard in a similar case existed also as an (very rare) add-on for another computer, the KC85 series (which are also nor that rare nor that expensive). However, these add-on keyboards sell lately on Ebay for between Euro 212 – 227. I’m wondering whether changing the A5105 into the dumb keyboard might be a business model

Lately, there was a Kenbak-1 on Ebay

Did you see that Ebay auction where somebody wanted to sell a Kenbak-1? Well, it wasn’t sold. It seems that not everyone wants to have a piece of relatively irrelevant history (and a very very early computer) for $30000…

Addition to my collection: Comx PC1

After my move to a new flat (also that’s why it was so quiet for a while) I received the first addition to my collection: a Comx PC1 (traded for a Tatung Einstein 256). Boxed, complete, mint. Manual in Chinese

Comx PC1

The Comx PC1 is the Comx 35 in a different housing (i.e. a real keyboard instead of the rubber keys of the Comx 35). From what I can tell the PC1 is quite rare (old-computers.com’s database lists 22 Comx35, but only 5 PC1). There was only one PC1 on Ebay since 18 months.

Rare french computers appearing on the market

What’s happening in France? All of a sudden extremely rare french computers never seen before on Ebay in the last 15 months) appear in masses like mushrooms in autumn:

• a Oric Telestrat (with a steep asking price of 320 Euro)
• another Oric Telestrat (boxed)
• a Micronique HRX MX 80C for Euro 206
• a Micronique MX (with discs) for Euro 176

Austrian Collectors’ Open House

Rudolf Brandstötter, Linz and Philipp Weiss, Vienna, two of the top vintage computer collectors in Austria will open their houses and collections for visitors once in the next time. Participation is by registration only. If you would like to participate, you can send them an email (if you know their addresses, that is or to me (I will forward them).

I’m really looking forward these events and will report on them.

Ebay – national only vs. international shipping

One thing I noticed for Ebay auctions is that if the seller ships nationally only, this restricts the price. A wonderful recent example was a KIM 1 where the price first was 150 Euro, then the seller withdrew the auction and re-listed it in order to allow international shipping. This second time the end price was 270 Euro…

Computer Collections Open to the Public in Germany

View Larger Map

This is a Google map containing sites that show their computer collections to the public. These can be museums (green pins) or private collections (red pins).

If you now more of these sites or if you find incorrect data, please email cyberfritz.

This map is work in progress, so expect data to be completed in the next weeks.

Munich

Computer Museum München

• Name: Computermuseum München
• Type: Public Museum
• Focus: Number Cruncher (CDC, Cray), Micros
• Opening hours: On request
• Notes: The museum consists of two parts. The big irons department is currently located at Stäblistraße 10b,81477 München. It consists mainly of a flock of CDCs and Crays, some of which are working. The micro computer department is located at St. Ulrich-Platz 3, 85630 Grasbrunn. It consists of over 500 devices. The museum will move soon to the “Computicon”, an old hangar on the campus of the University of the Federal Forces in Munich.

Deutsches Museum

• Name: Deutsches Museum
• Type: Public Museum
• Address: Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München
• Focus: Computer History
• Opening hours: open daily from 09:00 to 17:00
• Notes: The “Deutsches Museum” is a gigantic technology museum covering all areas from submarines to mining. It also contains a Computer exhibition covering as well german developments such as the Zuse computers as well as international machines such as a Cray 1.

Stuttgart

Computer Museum of the Computer Science of the University of Stuttgart

• Name: Computermuseum der Informatik der Universität Stuttgart
• Type: Public Museum
• Address: Universitätsstr. 38, 70569 Stuttgart
• Focus: Calculators, Minis, Micros
• Opening hours: Tuesday, 16.15 – 18.30
• Notes: -

Oldenburg

Oldenburg Computer Museum

• Name: Oldenburger Computer Museum
• Type: Public Museum
• Address: Neue Straße 2, 26122 Oldenburg
• Focus: Home Computers
• Opening hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 17:00-21:00
• Notes: -

Kiel

Computer Collection of the Kiel University of Applied Scienes

• Name: Computerschausammlung der Fachhochschule Kiel
• Type: Public Museum
• Address: Heikendorfer Weg 93a, Kiel
• Focus: Everything
• Opening hours: ?
• Notes: -

Berlin

German Technology Museum

• Name: Deutsches Technikmuseum
• Type: Public Museum
• Address: Trebbiner Straße 9, 10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg
• Focus: Technology, also computers
• Opening hours:
  

  Tuesday to Friday	9.00 am to 5.30 pm
  Saturday / Sunday	10.00 am to 6.00 pm
  Mondays	closed
  Public holidays	10.00 am to 6.00 pm

• Notes: Has a permanent exhibition on “Konrad Zuse – die ersten Computer der Welt” (“the world’s first computer”).

Going to VCFE 10.0

I’m sitting in the train right now, heading for VCFE 10.0 in Munich and I’m very excited. My first big vintage event. Wahoooo! Let’s see what I can report in the evening…

Queen Bohemian Rhapsody as played on vintage computer equipment

This video is simply brilliant from a vintage computer lover’s point of view. The artist writes:

• “Atari 800XL was used for the lead piano/organ sound
  
• Texas Instruments TI-99/4a as lead guitar
  
• 8 Inch Floppy Disk as Bass
  
• 3.5 inch Harddrive as the gong
  
• HP ScanJet 3C was used for all vocals.”

Amazing.

Science Of Cambridge (Sinclair) MK14

The MK14 (1978) was the first computer by Clive Sinclair’s company, at that time called “Science of Cambridge”. It was a very crude single board computer with an even more obscure CPU – a National Semiconductor SC/MP. It had a really beautiful drawing of it in an ad. Apart from its historical value the interesting part for me is that although it is reported that between 10000 and 50000 pieces shall have been sold, I never saw one one Ebay in the 13 months I looked on Ebay. That is, until recently. It sold for 520 Euros.

However, it is very strange that so few of these machines appear on Ebay if the production numbers are correct.