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3B1 sells for $1k on eBay - now a valuable collector's item? (and thoughts on the 3B2)
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cosmos...@yahoo.com
May 7, 2013, 12:58:14 PM5/7/13
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Here is a 3B1 that sold for $1001 (plus $100 shipping) this month on
eBay: http://tinyurl.com/buzvceb
So, it would seem that this system has now entered the realm of pricy
collector's systems like Altairs, IMSAIs, Lisas, etc. An interesting
development, given the fact that the consensus, quite recently even on
this group, was that this system was not particularly valuable.
I would personally like to find a 3B2/400, a system with a wonderfully
industrial and tank like aesthetic (and still quite cheap, if you can
find one: I'm in upstate NY and no individual or entity around here
could have afforded the $19,950-$34,950 a 3B2/400 cost new:
http://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/computing/gopher-archive/sdf.lonestar.org/computers/3b2/3b2-pricing
). Also intriguing is the fact that the 3B2 uses a Western Electric
processor, which is a late achievement of the same legendary WE name
which created audio equipment like the 300B triode tube and 555W
driver (among other Bell innovations). The idea of a homegrown Bell
processor is quite intriguing.
eBay: http://tinyurl.com/buzvceb
So, it would seem that this system has now entered the realm of pricy
collector's systems like Altairs, IMSAIs, Lisas, etc. An interesting
development, given the fact that the consensus, quite recently even on
this group, was that this system was not particularly valuable.
I would personally like to find a 3B2/400, a system with a wonderfully
industrial and tank like aesthetic (and still quite cheap, if you can
find one: I'm in upstate NY and no individual or entity around here
could have afforded the $19,950-$34,950 a 3B2/400 cost new:
http://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/computing/gopher-archive/sdf.lonestar.org/computers/3b2/3b2-pricing
). Also intriguing is the fact that the 3B2 uses a Western Electric
processor, which is a late achievement of the same legendary WE name
which created audio equipment like the 300B triode tube and 555W
driver (among other Bell innovations). The idea of a homegrown Bell
processor is quite intriguing.
Bill Gunshannon
May 7, 2013, 1:12:59 PM5/7/13
to
In article <9daa328d-0797-437b...@a8g2000yqp.googlegroups.com>,
I have had at least four of them for years. I have had lots of people
offer to take them off my hands but never has anyone offered me a dime
for one. And I threw two 3B2's in a dumpster many moons ago because I
couldn't find anyone who would even take them without me paying to ship
them to them.
No, you can't have my 3B1's. They are already promised to someone who
is helping me cull my collection as I move ever more quickly into retire-
ment mode. No room for computers in a golf cart (well, except for my
uPro MX) or in a tackle box.
bill
--
Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves
bill...@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton |
Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include <std.disclaimer.h>
offer to take them off my hands but never has anyone offered me a dime
for one. And I threw two 3B2's in a dumpster many moons ago because I
couldn't find anyone who would even take them without me paying to ship
them to them.
No, you can't have my 3B1's. They are already promised to someone who
is helping me cull my collection as I move ever more quickly into retire-
ment mode. No room for computers in a golf cart (well, except for my
uPro MX) or in a tackle box.
bill
--
Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves
bill...@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton |
Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include <std.disclaimer.h>
cosmos...@yahoo.com
May 7, 2013, 3:24:58 PM5/7/13
to
On May 7, 1:12 pm, b...@server1.cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) wrote:
> In article <9daa328d-0797-437b-828f-cfbcd9fe4...@a8g2000yqp.googlegroups.com>,
promised them to, as opposed to the eBay circus. The 3B1's futuristic
appearance might have helped drive up the price among the old computer
collectors on the 'Bay (the more "clunky" looking 3B2 I'd like to find
does not seem as popular - really, the construction of the 3B2 series
seems more akin to AT&T's telecom equipment, like 5ESS switches and
the like, but I think the 3B2/400 looks like a very interesting beast
to add to my collection (as the example in this video shows):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLwd32muHwM ). The 3B2 is a very
different animal, indeed, from the 3B1 (perhaps somewhat OT for this
group) but I could not help but mention this elusive (for me, at
least) other piece of AT&T UNIX hardware.
> In article <9daa328d-0797-437b-828f-cfbcd9fe4...@a8g2000yqp.googlegroups.com>,
> No, you can't have my 3B1's. They are already promised to someone who
> is helping me cull my collection as I move ever more quickly into retire-
> ment mode.
It's nice to see that your classic systems will go to a good home you
> is helping me cull my collection as I move ever more quickly into retire-
> ment mode.
promised them to, as opposed to the eBay circus. The 3B1's futuristic
appearance might have helped drive up the price among the old computer
collectors on the 'Bay (the more "clunky" looking 3B2 I'd like to find
does not seem as popular - really, the construction of the 3B2 series
seems more akin to AT&T's telecom equipment, like 5ESS switches and
the like, but I think the 3B2/400 looks like a very interesting beast
to add to my collection (as the example in this video shows):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLwd32muHwM ). The 3B2 is a very
different animal, indeed, from the 3B1 (perhaps somewhat OT for this
group) but I could not help but mention this elusive (for me, at
least) other piece of AT&T UNIX hardware.
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