Vintage Computers Needed for Edmonton Film

[OnSight]

Hi!

I came across this website in my search for early 1980's computers. I am a set decorator for an Edmonton, AB film production that requires 1-2 vintage computers to appear on screen. If there are any Edmontonians on this site that may know where I can find a few computers to choose from, their help would be greatly appreciated! The film is titled War Reporter and the character who owns the computer is Canadian reporter Clark Todd who was killed in Lebanon in 1983. He was an avid computer enthusiast in his later years and we need to supply the character with a photogenic computer that he can exitedly bring home from the shop and show to his family. ideally, a second, older, computer could be used as the unit he is replacing. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Wthorbjo has already been a great help, he suggested either a Kaypro or Osborne... any other Edmontonian collectors out there??

Thanks all!

Colin Garritty

 

[Fire-Flare]

Well you've certainly come to the right place for vintage PC fans to pitch their case for which would be the ideal prop.

I suggest an IBM 5150. It was the world's most respected name in computing's first product marketed toward Average Joe Citizen, and it was released in 1981 which is perfect for your time frame.

If I were a computer enthusiast in the very early 80's who saw one of IBM's TV commercials for the machine, ( http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/first-ibm-pc-ad/298874 ) I'd take out a loan and sell any other machine I had so I could own a product from such a respected and reliable company. It would be akin to hearing that Ferrari, Porsche, or Rolls Royce were making an affordable car.

 

[eeguru]

What's the rough date for the scene in question?

 

[OnSight]

The scene in question takes place in 1983. The month is flexible, but must be before September. Maybe a 5150 would be a good 'old' computer, to be replaced by an Apple II? Anyone in Edmonton with a 5150?

Thanks so much for your help, guys!!

 

[Maverick1978]

Wow.

An IBM PC "replaced" by an Apple II.

I think hell just froze over j/k

Actually, to the best of my knowledge, the Kaypro and Osborne, while both early computers, were considered "serious" computers for business use (they were "portable" - if you consider a suitcase-sided computer to be portable). They were also expensive. You wouldn't just "replace" these unless you had loads of cash to blow.

The Apple II, Commodore VIC-20, and Commodore 64 were some of the most prevalent systems of the day. IBM would've just been introducing the IBM 5160 model around March '83, further cementing their claim as the PC's for business and home use, so it would make perfect sense for one of those machines to be the newest upgrade (preferably with a 5153 CGA color monitor, if you please).

As for the old computer, you wouldn't just replace a decked-out Apple II with an IBM 5160 PC - the Apple was a relatively serious machine as well. It would probably make more sense for the Commodore VIC-20 to be the original machine (as it would/could be up to 6/7 years old by the time 1983 rolled around), and it would make sense to replace it with the latest/greatest system at that time - the IBM 5160 PC.

If your character has bucks to blow, then the IBM is the system you want to bring home as the replacement system. If not, then perhaps the latest iteration of the Apple II at that point in time, or even a decked-out C64 with disk drives, printers, and 1702 stereo monitors.

Commodore 64 and Vic-20 equipment are easy to come by ($100 off of ebay or craigslist will net you a working/used system EASILY). A nice 5160 setup, however... that'll probably run a little more. Unless someone comes out of the wood-work to let you borrow one. Original boxes, however... you guys would have to mock something up.

*** edit

By the way... I meant to say kudos to you when typing my post earlier. It's great to see someone trying to do their due diligence and ensure historical accuracy in a movie, especially on such small of a point as this.

 

[Druid6900]

Well, since the person in question was a reporter, I think a Tandy PT-210, which was quite popular with reporters at the time, would be a good candidate. The timeline is just a bit too early for the Tandy Model 100, also heavily used by reporters, both because they had built-in modems so they could dump their stories over the telephone.

And, as was said, kudos on your attention to detail.

 

[paul.brett]

I disagree on the Tandy 100 point. I think this is exactly the sort of computer that this guy would bring home and be excited about, plus it's small light and very photogenic.

Released in the summer of '83, there's no reason he wouldn't just buy one.

 

[Fire-Flare]

Commodore 64 and Vic-20 equipment are easy to come by ($100 off of ebay or craigslist will net you a working/used system EASILY). A nice 5160 setup, however... that'll probably run a little more. Unless someone comes out of the wood-work to let you borrow one.

As an aside, the props don't HAVE to be functional. As long as they look realistic the output can be simulated or recorded. Youtube has recordings of old systems starting up, just play back one in full screen through a monitor.

Also, the 5150 and 5160 are nearly identical in form and function. If the audience can't count the number of expansion slots or read the small print on the emblems they won't know the difference.

 

[barythrin]

Right of course I believe the OPs purpose is to find someone local who already has this equipment and could help volunteer their computer for the role although I suppose a few hundred bucks isn't a horrible price either but what to do with it once it's done?

One suggestion maybe would be 1. Post the same thing in a local craigslisting, you might find a local collector that way. Possibly also search (someone with a better memory? .. I thought I knew the url but that site doesn't look right currently) the who's got whatzit link on one of the other collector sites. Not sure how active folks are on updating their info on that site though.

 

[Eudimorphodon]

As for the old computer, you wouldn't just replace a decked-out Apple II with an IBM 5160 PC - the Apple was a relatively serious machine as well. It would probably make more sense for the Commodore VIC-20 to be the original machine (as it would/could be up to 6/7 years old by the time 1983 rolled around), and it would make sense to replace it with the latest/greatest system at that time - the IBM 5160 PC.

Just to note... in 1983 even the oldest Vic-20 would only be three years old (1980 introduction), not six or seven. To really do "old" (chronologically) and easily recognizable you'd want to go with something like a Commodore PET, TRS-80 Model I, or Apple ][ (An original ][, not IIe.). Those could all be six years old in 1983. If you went with the ][ you'd want to replace it with something distinctly different like an IBM PC as a layperson wouldn't see the difference between it and a IIe.

A VIC-20 or other small home computer (TRS-80 CoCo, Atari 400, etc.) still might be a good choice if the replacement were a "more serious" looking machine like an Apple IIe or IBM PC. Many people remember those little "TV computers" as being shortlived gateway drugs to big iron. Have the little computer hooked up to a tape deck and a B&W TV while the "new computer" is all decked out with a monitor and disk drives and you'll really get the point across.

 

[barythrin]

Functionality of the computer would be important also. So keeping in mind this is a reporter who enjoys computers but really would want to focus probably on something he can use it for work wise. Yes, an Osborne or Kaypro (Kaypro came with software bundled into the cost which was a good bargain at the time) but I would still honestly thing one of the TRS-80 Model 100s would make great sense for a reporter since it can run off batteries and would be easily portable to type up a story on the go. This would replace an older model that would have probably been his previous editing computer (given could be about anything) but you would want it to look old and not cooler than the newer machine lol.

However one thing to keep in mind is if this scene or computer is a larger role in the movie keep the hollywood functions in mind. If they need to animate a nice CRT screen vs a small LCD editor screen this may be a hitch although even the model 100 can do terminal functions so it could dial out to an external system for any needed fantasy work. Given that's all plot driven and could be us reading way more into this than is required if it's just a scene and background prop.

 

[Druid6900]

I agree that the Model 100 would be the "new machine", but, having worked in the newspaper business, along with my brother, in the late 70s/early 80s, I can tell you that, in a lot of cases, what they were replacing was the PT-210. I know someone here has/had one (I think it was Lorne) because I remember getting an e-mail asking questions about it. It was portable (OK, more portable than an Osborne, Kaypro or Model 70) was paper-based and had a built-in acoustic coupled modem. It was about the size of a briefcase and built like a tank. The perfect choice for a reporter.

 

[Fire-Flare]

Just to note... in 1983 even the oldest Vic-20 would only be three years old (1980 introduction), not six or seven. To really do "old" (chronologically) and easily recognizable you'd want to go with something like a Commodore PET, TRS-80 Model I, or Apple ][ (An original ][, not IIe.). Those could all be six years old in 1983. If you went with the ][ you'd want to replace it with something distinctly different like an IBM PC as a layperson wouldn't see the difference between it and a IIe.

A VIC-20 or other small home computer (TRS-80 CoCo, Atari 400, etc.) still might be a good choice if the replacement were a "more serious" looking machine like an Apple IIe or IBM PC. Many people remember those little "TV computers" as being shortlived gateway drugs to big iron. Have the little computer hooked up to a tape deck and a B&W TV while the "new computer" is all decked out with a monitor and disk drives and you'll really get the point across.

As a representative of the younger generations who may see the film, I have to point out that any system that looks like a fancy keyboard and connects to a TV screams 'old' and 'weak'.

 

[OnSight]

Wow! Tons of great info here, my thanks to all of you.
It sounds like the idea of replacing one computer for another might be in question after reading some of these responses. That's good! I think its better to suit the reality of how early computers were adopted than trying to insert a comical beat on computer consumerism and obsolescence.
Still happy to hear from anyone else in Edmonton or even Alberta with a unit available!

 

[dracos]

hmmm, thinking... If you were going to simulate the video display, would you do it as a pasted video? Or would you like to be real old school and have the scrolling horizontal scan lines you get when you film?

I like the Tandy scenario, call me biased, an old computer-to-tv model (coco1?) upgraded by any of the above mentioned, or maybe a decked out model 4P.

The IBM 5160 would sure be the cats pajamas, but consider this:
The median wage in the US at the time was a little over $20k/yr.
The sticker price on a 5160 with a hard drive was ~8k, about the same as a new Cadillac ElDorado! (bottle of Yukon Jack included, sorry inside joke!)
Enthusiast or not, that would be a huge chunk o' money for anyone, much less someone with a family, to lay down.
Any of the Tandy's or the Apple IIe would be more believable.
I am in the Tandy camp of course, though I also spent alot of time on my buddy's IIe, mostly to prove my Tandy was better.
The only reason I might go with the Apple is it's appeal today, even young people would get it, most don't even know of Tandy or TRS-80 stuff. "old" and "weak" my arse! dang whippersnappers!

 

[twolazy]

I vote for the Coco 1 also. Very capable of word processing, and minimum to carry about.

As for a kaypro, does the unit have to be functional? I know a gentleman with a few near mint but non functioning units...