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VCF Northwest?

NeXT

NeXT

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
8,178
Location
Kamloops, BC, Canada
What would the chances be that such a festival could be conceived? It would be open to anyone from as far east as Manitoba and as far south as Oregon. It would take palce somewhere in Vancouver.
An area that large should reel in enough people to get a space large enough to hold at least two dozen booths and seriously, this corner seems really dry. Everything else happens on the east coast or in California. I'm sure there are a number of people out here who have systems they want to show off but the community out here is too scattered to show up at smaller festivals or gatherings so why not try to arrange a much larger one? I have a large variety of UNIX (notably SGI and NeXT) boxes I'm willing to at least exhibit.
 
It's interesting to see that we have a few BC members out in the boonies, but it puzzles me that no one (that I'm aware of) from Vancouver has shown up here. I wonder what's up with that.
 
NeXT said:
I should update my profile info actually since I moved ot Vancouver last month.
Click to expand...

So now that you are there, have you noticed any interest in vintage? When I lived there I knew people with good vintage knowledge and appreciation, but that is different from actually wanting old stuff around.

BTW, you might be interested in the radio museum in Coquitlam. I went there a few years ago and they they had a bit of big iron and a fellow with knowledge and interest in preserving such. That is not really the focus of the museum, but it looked hopeful. Anyway, you must go because it is truly a fantastic collection of wireless from early TV back to pre-tube and a good Titanic spark display.
 
I do know a few people down here who are into the older stuff but for the most part most people can't afford the space to set stuff up so it's all stored away and they don't talk about it much. One of the main issues about getting older computers here is that all the places have contracted recyclers but in this modern era where you gotta recycle everything, who does not?
The SPARC museum does look interesting though. I'll have to go there sometime. I have ot head to the IKEA over there soon anyways.
 
I'd be MUCH more likely to come if it were closer than Vancouver. (Unless, of course, you mean that other Vancouver, in Washington. :-D )

Three hours to Seattle is barely doable as a really long day trip, six hours to Vancouver pushes it to "long weekend" territory. Not to mention the new difficulties in crossing the border. While I'm sure there are quite a few Canadian VC enthusiasts, there are also plenty of lazy Americans unwilling to cross the border. (No offense; last time I went to BC, two years BEFORE 9/11, it was a hassle. Probably didn't help that I crossed at 1:00 AM at the Sumas/Huntingdon crossing... They practically ripped my car apart, probably figured I was a drug runner or some such nonsense. I was just going to Abbotsford, and figured that crossing would be easier than the main one... Shows what I know.)
 
Sumas was the crossing all my draft dodger friends came through back in the 60's. However for non military age Americans it was certainly a lot easier in those days, except from our side it was still pretty scary when we got met by guns at the border. Even 30 years ago I remember being hassled once, though other times it was fairly civilized. I haven't crossed in some years so I don't know what the trick is these days. I'm sure some people have it figured out. It used to be that a shirt and tie made it easy. Nowadays probably an undershirt with a corporate logo and an ipod will ease your transit.

As for bringing stuff across, I think the trick is to reserach that first and know your rights. I've heard that they are not always up on the legalities until you point them out. That reminds me of my German neighbour who went down to get some cylinders of acetylene which he sticks in the trunk. At the border he is asked if he has bought anything. To which my very literal friend replies "just gas" ... and gets waived through.
 
I have done the peace arch several times both ways with old gear in the back (and some newer SGI gear). So long as you can tell what it is ("parts for an old computer") they generally don't care. I got hassled more on where I was while in Washington than anything though every time I was only down in Renton visiting someone.
 
I'm not in the northwest, but it's always a good thing when vintage computer collectors decide to have a meeting / party / tech-day in real life.

But please keep in mind that only events endorsed by VintageTech Inc. (http://www.vintagetech.com) can be called a "Vintage Computer Festival".
 
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