I've just read an interesting article in “Vintage Technology†issue 3 (http://www.vintagetechnology.co.uk) about the different types of vintage technology collectors. I"ve condensed the descriptions for brevity's sake and made them specific to computers. Individuals will overlap but see if you can recognise youself? They list these types;
- Investor: Mint condition. Collect computers purely in the hope they will appreciate and they can sell at a later date. Must be in mint condition preferably with original box. Even better if it is unopened!
Finishers: Complete collection. These folk will seek to collect every item of a certain type. E.g. All Amiga models, all TRS-80 model 1 peripherals etc. They want to get everything item of whatever they have decided to collect.
Speculator: Buy what seems to be of value cheaply, then sells it again hoping to make a quick buck. These people can follow fads and can cause price spikes.
Repairer: These are rare but vauable folk. Collects broken machines to fix and resurrect. Main enjoyment is seeing something dead spring to life. May then resell.
Personal Use: These people have vintage computers because they perform a useful function. Why change?
Caretaker: Just ended up with it and feel they shouldn't throw it away. No real emotional attachment
Historian: Someone who feels these items have historical value and future generations should know about them
Part time collector: Just pick up something because it seems interesting. Don’t really understand the true value of it.
Hoarders: Collect anything and everything and just can't throw any of it away. Have a strong attachment to the past
How about you?