old NEC MFM harddrive + contr. card

[Amigaz]

I just inherited an ancient 286 PC which has a NEC MFM 20mb (huge) harddive connected to a 8bit ISA controller card.
Is there any collectors value in this hardware which is in mint condition?

 

[mbbrutman]

I purchased a similar hard drive/controller combination unit on eBay from RePC (or a name similar like that). The cost as about $13, not including shipping.

What does the rest of the machine look like?

 

[Amigaz]

I purchased a similar hard drive/controller combination unit on eBay from RePC (or a name similar like that). The cost as about $13, not including shipping.

What does the rest of the machine look like?

Well, it's ugly as hell..hehe

It just has a 5.25 inch 386k floppy, some prehistoric monochroma gfx card....only 8bit ISA slots
And a switch at the back to change between 4/8mhz

The brand of the PC is "Bondwell"

I can provide a pic if there's interest

I've snatched the floppy from it to use in one of my DOs gaming PC because I thought it was a 1.2mb drive after I checked the type code of it and did a bit of googling...but when I used it in this PC I found out it was only 360k

 

[tezza]

I've snatched the floppy from it to use in one of my DOs gaming PC because I thought it was a 1.2mb drive after I checked the type code of it and did a bit of googling...but when I used it in this PC I found out it was only 360k

Well, if you are looking for vintage value, a 360k is rarer than a 1.2MB so I wouldn't be too unhappy. It's also fits the original configuration for the machine you mention.

I would think a 286 Bondwell in mint condition (circa 1986-1987?) would have a little bit of collectable value. Not that much though. Somewhere between $40-$100 US? That's my thinking although others might disagree.

The main value is that in being ugly, jurassic and classic vintage it just would be fun to have, display and play around with.

 

[barythrin]

As with any collectible item you can increase the value by having the history/story behind the item (knowing the purchasing history or original owner) and obtaining a few cool/popular items for it which would have been what it would be doing during that time.

A commodore 64 is only worth so much. Including a monitor, joystick, showing it running, and Adventure or any other cult classic game can fetch more than it might otherwise.

Same with your system, check out some local thrift stores for some old classic games like Elite and then you'll have a system that a lot of people will love ;o)

- John

 

[Amigaz]

Well, if you are looking for vintage value, a 360k is rarer than a 1.2MB so I wouldn't be too unhappy. It's also fits the original configuration for the machine you mention.

I would think a 286 Bondwell in mint condition (circa 1986-1987?) would have a little bit of collectable value. Not that much though. Somewhere between $40-$100 US? That's my thinking although others might disagree.

The main value is that in being ugly, jurassic and classic vintage it just would be fun to have, display and play around with.

I'm going to put back the 360k drive in it again, I just can't put this machine in the dumpster since it's complete and I think it's working..at least it fires up
And yeah, lol....it sure aint pretty but it's built like a tank like the good old Amiga 2000 :D

I might Ebay it and see if there's an inteterest or maybe put it up for grabs here?

 

[Amigaz]

As with any collectible item you can increase the value by having the history/story behind the item (knowing the purchasing history or original owner) and obtaining a few cool/popular items for it which would have been what it would be doing during that time.

A commodore 64 is only worth so much. Including a monitor, joystick, showing it running, and Adventure or any other cult classic game can fetch more than it might otherwise.

Same with your system, check out some local thrift stores for some old classic games like Elite and then you'll have a system that a lot of people will love ;o)

- John

The good thing is that I have the complete story on where and how it was used, it even has a sticker on it that someone put there on how to start some programs it had on it

Is there a way to hook up a VGA monitor with some sort of adapter to the monochrome gfx card? since I really want to test to see that everythings runs ok before I get rid of it.
Since I love old DOS games I feel this machine would be too slow for most of them (286@8mhz) and I need to find one of those über-rare EMS memory boards (8bit ISA) if I want to use it for a game you can call "game"