Big agree there. I don't have a whole lot of stuff that's in-box, but I do have a few that have come with manuals, external number pads, even sometimes just having the original charger for something that uses a really weird plug can feel special. I don't really have anything super rare or sought after (maybe my rarest would be a working recapped PowerBook 100?), but how many people out there have a WinBook 486SLC-25 with the original 4-pin DIN charger, manual, and packing slip with the factory config info? That's not really special by any means (it's not even a good laptop), but it's probably pretty "rare". A bit more special might be my Compaq Deskpro 286 which I have with as far as I know all the original documentation and system disks. A PowerBook 5300c isn't rare, but how about one with the proprietary max 64MB RAM upgrade? Hard to say.
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What are the top 10 rarest vintage computer bits you own?
- Thread starter falter
- Start date
Caluser2000
Banned
The rarest system I own is a one off Brother desktop publisher thingy with the printer portion removed and can be used as a dumb terminal for dumb terminal stuff. which its Communications program. I haven't seen another of these as yet so it must be RARE!!!
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syzygy
Veteran Member
I seriously lusted after one of these as a younger person but that price tag was steep and even the rich kids didn't have one....which one do you have? Does it work?
DistantStar001
Experienced Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2019
- Messages
- 232
Admittedly, most of what I have isn't particularly rare, just uncommon. But I do have a few bits that might make the cut.
1) A 1969 Micro-Switch Keyboard. I have no idea what it came from, as I was never able to identify the board. But it feels really nice to type on. Maybe I'll figure something to hook it up to someday.
2) An Alspa ACI-2. Currently sitting in pieces, but near as I can tell, I have all of them. A the moment the PSU is with a friend who's trying to reverse engineer how to fix it.
3) An iCot ICOBUS 757-14 Terminal. I know next to nothing about it (other than it works).
4) An original Quadlink Apple II ISA Card. All I have is the card, so I haven't been able to test it. But I did stick it into my 5150 and it didn't short out or anything, so that's a good sign. Eventually I'll be sticking it into my 5160, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Also, I need to find the software.
5) An original Apple IIe card with the original unobtainium Y Cable! Not sure how rare the actual card is, but that cable... seems to be near impossible to find now-a-days. Currently it's installed in my Macintosh LC III. Works perfectly, and yes, I have the software for it.
Not sure if they're particularly rare, but others listed them... so:
6) A Macintosh IIfx. Missing it's hard-drive, but it works all the same.
7) An Apple ][ Rev 4 board. It's fully functional, and had been using it as an "original" Apple ][, but I swapped it for a Rev 2 board. Unfortunately, I still have a ][+ sticker and serial number on the bottom.
And just to round it out... Not rare, but uncommon:
8) A Commodore VIC-20 with original PET-style keyboard. Works perfectly and is my preferred VIC.
9) An Amiga 500 with "Chicken-lips" keyboard.
10 A TRS-80 Model III with original high-res graphics board installed.
1) A 1969 Micro-Switch Keyboard. I have no idea what it came from, as I was never able to identify the board. But it feels really nice to type on. Maybe I'll figure something to hook it up to someday.
2) An Alspa ACI-2. Currently sitting in pieces, but near as I can tell, I have all of them. A the moment the PSU is with a friend who's trying to reverse engineer how to fix it.
3) An iCot ICOBUS 757-14 Terminal. I know next to nothing about it (other than it works).
4) An original Quadlink Apple II ISA Card. All I have is the card, so I haven't been able to test it. But I did stick it into my 5150 and it didn't short out or anything, so that's a good sign. Eventually I'll be sticking it into my 5160, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Also, I need to find the software.
5) An original Apple IIe card with the original unobtainium Y Cable! Not sure how rare the actual card is, but that cable... seems to be near impossible to find now-a-days. Currently it's installed in my Macintosh LC III. Works perfectly, and yes, I have the software for it.
Not sure if they're particularly rare, but others listed them... so:
6) A Macintosh IIfx. Missing it's hard-drive, but it works all the same.
7) An Apple ][ Rev 4 board. It's fully functional, and had been using it as an "original" Apple ][, but I swapped it for a Rev 2 board. Unfortunately, I still have a ][+ sticker and serial number on the bottom.
And just to round it out... Not rare, but uncommon:
8) A Commodore VIC-20 with original PET-style keyboard. Works perfectly and is my preferred VIC.
9) An Amiga 500 with "Chicken-lips" keyboard.
10 A TRS-80 Model III with original high-res graphics board installed.
Mr.Amiga500
Veteran Member
Nice! Is it hall effect SW or magnetic reed? The earliest Micro Switch I have is a keypad with 1SW11 switches from 45th week of 1970.
I always wanted one of those. With the prices now, I might as well just get a PET.
What exactly is a "chicken-lips keyboard"? Do you mean the Cherry MX black version?
BlaBla1985
Experienced Member
The "rarest" machine I own is probably the Wang Series 700B, especially the program tapes that came with it as they seem to be written for that machine (a series of calculations on a heat reject and heat recuperation for a water treatment plant) plus some (hand written) documentation on those programmes. (Yes... this needs to be backed up and saved... No, I have not found a good way of doing that.)
After that I guess the MAI Basic Four 310 minicomputer with matching terminal.
The rest are a bunch of common and sligthly less common portable computers with various CPU's.
After that I guess the MAI Basic Four 310 minicomputer with matching terminal.
The rest are a bunch of common and sligthly less common portable computers with various CPU's.
Mr.Amiga500
Veteran Member
Well, there are at least 4 types of A500 keyboard, NMB "space invaders", Cherry MX black, and two variations of Mistumi. Maybe you have either NMB or Cherry. My A500 has C= on the case, but it's Mitsumi.
Exidy Wizard
Member
I own a Gemini Galaxy 2 computer but no keyboard. However on the back there is a label "Gemini Galaxy 1, serial # 00439". So what is it? 1 or 2?
I haven't tested it yet. I got it because I need floppy drives. It looks ok inside.
I haven't tested it yet. I got it because I need floppy drives. It looks ok inside.
Exidy Wizard
Member
I used to own an Exidy Sorcerer 2 too, but when I decided to move to another house, I trashed it. I heavily regret that now. The prices asked nowadays are insane.
KG7PFS
Experienced Member
I just got a Frank Hogg Labratories Eliminator cartridge for my Tandy Color Computer 3. I'm not sure how rare it is, but it's the only one I've ever seen for sale.
johnx993
Experienced Member
Hmm... never really thought of it.
Some things that come to mind....
1) Compucolor 8001
2) PDP-8/e with core memory
3) HP-9100 programmable calculator
4) Unbuilt Altair 680 mint in box
5) Digital Group Z80 system with quad phi-decks, Ham board, and Vortrax
-J
Some things that come to mind....
1) Compucolor 8001
2) PDP-8/e with core memory
3) HP-9100 programmable calculator
4) Unbuilt Altair 680 mint in box
5) Digital Group Z80 system with quad phi-decks, Ham board, and Vortrax
-J
cjs
Veteran Member
I guess it's my Toshiba EX-80 trainer board, from 1978. It's somewhat interesting because it's the only trainer board I've ever seen that has a built-in video output. It's 80x26 (dots, not characters).
The rest below are pretty common: clockwise from upper left they are the NEC TK-80, MITEK MP-85, Toshiba EX-80 and NEC TK-85.)
The rest below are pretty common: clockwise from upper left they are the NEC TK-80, MITEK MP-85, Toshiba EX-80 and NEC TK-85.)
I would say:
- Spanish P2U (2 units remaining, of which I own one)
- IBM System/23 Datamaster (a complete 5322 and the logics of a second unit that has to arrive)
- SAGA PBS-800 (three units worldwide so far, of which I own one)
Exidy Wizard
Member
I own one complete Exidy Sorcerer mk2 revision A3 now again. And a second Exidy Sorcerer mk2 revision A3 only the main board and a power transformer. Both don’t work yet. They may be rare in the USA but not in the Netherlands. Many were sold here.
I also tested the Gemini Galaxy 1 or 2 computer and found a sticker that it doesn’t function. Thats correct. But it nice to have a lot of parts to exchange with the Sorcerers.
I also tested the Gemini Galaxy 1 or 2 computer and found a sticker that it doesn’t function. Thats correct. But it nice to have a lot of parts to exchange with the Sorcerers.
cj7hawk
Veteran Member
For me, it's a couple of Sinclair ZX80s and two JR-100U computers - None of them really that rare.
I have some cool stuff, but still can't find some of the pieces I want like an Issue 1 ZX Spectrum.
So nothing before 1980... Not even a Tandy or an original Apple II.
Though one zx80 has a very nice zx81 upgrade that looks factory installed and the other is original.
And I have an IBM that with an IBM asset sticker - so an IBM IBM... OK, that's not that rare I imagine, but I thought it was cool.
I have some cool stuff, but still can't find some of the pieces I want like an Issue 1 ZX Spectrum.
So nothing before 1980... Not even a Tandy or an original Apple II.
Though one zx80 has a very nice zx81 upgrade that looks factory installed and the other is original.
And I have an IBM that with an IBM asset sticker - so an IBM IBM... OK, that's not that rare I imagine, but I thought it was cool.
Anything purchased from eBay in the last 5 years is automatically rare, right? 
For us it would probably be Basic/Four stuff, IBM System/32, a Rack from a BBN ARPANET node, and IBM tape cylinders from DRD "beehive" robotic tape library. Maybe the Tandon PAC 286, anyone else have one of these? We also have a couple of "small" electromechanical PBXs from Leich and Automatic Electric that I have never seen anywhere else...
Great thread!
For us it would probably be Basic/Four stuff, IBM System/32, a Rack from a BBN ARPANET node, and IBM tape cylinders from DRD "beehive" robotic tape library. Maybe the Tandon PAC 286, anyone else have one of these? We also have a couple of "small" electromechanical PBXs from Leich and Automatic Electric that I have never seen anywhere else...
Great thread!