Original PDP-8 spares

[vrs]

> About 10 years ago I obtained what seems to be the entire set of
> plug-boards, the two wire-wrapped backplanes as well as the complete core
> memory module from an original PDP-8.  I also have the front panel, but I
> might want to keep that in my collection.

Cool!

> I'm thinking of selling these components (possibly on eBay) to somebody
who
> might want to keep them as spares, or who is reviving one of these
monsters.
>   The catch is that it is in South Africa, though I don't expect the
postage
> on the cards themselves to be prohibitive.  The backplanes might be a
quite
> a bit more (heavy & large)

I've recently sent some boards to dmrazzler, who is trying to ressurect a
straight-8.  I'm pretty sure he'd be interested (though you probably
wouldn't
get rich there, if cash is an objective).

> Do you guys (and gals) expect it to be worth my while listing it ?  Maybe
at
> the marketplace ?

I think it would get some bids :-).  The really high-ticket item would
probably
be the front panel and whatever of the original cosmetics you have, but you
said
you wanted to keep those.  Still, I'd think a reasonably complete set of
guts
would attract some interest.

Are you trying to preserve the thing, or to turn it into cash?  That might
determine where you try to sell it.  I think the VCM is the place to go if
you want to be sure that someone who cares will buy it.  EBay has a larger
audience (hence more $$), but not all of the buyers there are "serious"
collectors, who would try to restore (or at least preserve) it.

    Vince