Date   : Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:02:39 +0100
From   : rick@... (Rick Murray)
Subject: eBay auction prices

Anders Carlsson wrote:

> 2. It usually doubles or triples the value of the computer if the original 
> box remains. The better condition, the higher value for a collector.
> 
> But yes, if you intend to use it you can take the Beeb out of its box and 
> store the box at a safe place.
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You'd need to! The box is worth more than the computer!

I ought to list my Oric on eBay:
   One "mint" Oric-1 with cables and stuff  ?20
   Oric 1 box, with baggies and polystyrene ?40
   Must be sold together.

Errr, actually scratch that, the only one I could see
   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ150386109592QQ
is selling for ?2.20 (with ?8 postage). Granted, three rubber feet are 
missing (mine won't come off!) and the guy knows the serial number 
written inside (so it been opened)... plus it is sold with no cables or 
power pack of anything.

Wait... oh my god! There's a metal address/serial number label stuck to 
the underside. Mine is 170277. His must have come off, perhaps with the 
rubber feet?
Opened it up. He says the number on the "main board" is 8346. There's no 
label or anything on either side of the motherboard, 'cept some text 
saying who made it and its an issue 3 board.

I do have a suspiciusly similar number though. 8322.
Haha! It's the batch number of the Astec UM1233 UHF modulator!!!

Here, I'll take a photo of it.
   http://www.heyrick.co.uk/images/oric1.jpeg  (3264x2448, 1.5Mb)


> I am quite sure your BBC Micros and Masters will be down to reasonable 
> prices again by January if not sooner.

You can get a Master for a pound (and a tenner postage).
   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ140357634990QQ
I'd consider it if I was in the UK... but then mom would kill me for 
bringing home Yet Another Stray computer. She doesn't get why I need 
three PCs plus two Acorns (I think she's forgotten the A3000 and the 
A310/Arthur), not to mention one-and-a-half Beebs (one is not working, 
is kept around for spares for the other). I'mjust glad she doesn't know 
about all the embedded stuff! :-) [I count the FileStores and Bush boxes 
as embedded; not sure what to call the A7000 board!]


> By the way, I would expect Sinclair stuff to also sell for more than 
> usually,

OMG! Just looked up ZX Spectrum, actually watched this one counting to zero.
   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQitemZ230394567985QQ

While there are actually two of them (he calls them "two keyboards"!), 
it is still not a bad price for two Specs, an old tape player, a bunch 
of tapes, and a joystick. It's probably a good setup for somebody who 
wants the Real Retro vibe, rather than just running an emulator.


Best wishes,

Rick.

-- 
Rick Murray, eeePC901 & ADSL WiFI'd into it, all ETLAs!
BBC B: DNFS, 2 x 5.25" floppies, EPROM prog, Acorn TTX
E01S FileStore, A3000/A5000/RiscPC/various PCs/blahblah...