A Guide to Collecting Computers and Computer Collectibles: History, Practice, and Technique [Spiral-bound]

Kevin Stumpf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998

Here is a book about the hobby of collecting computers and things related to computers. It's about the hobby in general for novices who are interested starting, building and maintaining a collection and it's also for veteran collectors as an attempt to bring us and a few of our stories, experience, and advice together.

This book wouldn't be complete without also paying tribute to the pioneers in the field and so it includes coverage of many wonderful private collections and related "how I got started" stories.

This book has nine chapters, plus a section on resources. By reading this book you'll discover what to collect, how to collect, and how to manage your collection, including how to clean and store computers. Each chapter opens with an Anecdote and ends with an Profile. A Profile tells you about another collector - why or how they started collecting and a description of their collection. I am humbled by their acceptance to participate in this endeavour. You'll know what I mean after you read about them.

Anecdotes are mostly from my own experiences. They no doubt pale in light of your own. Each Anecdote is a brief story about the trials, tribulations and thrills of collecting.

I have not tried to make this a pricing guide, although the topic of Appraising is covered, and there isn't any photographs.

I have tried to make this book: 1. a practical reference;
2. an entertaining piece of popular history;
3. an encouragement.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...the depth of knowledge and the scope of coverage more than offset the books flaws. I hope there are many future editions (and that those editions have the benefit of professional editing). For now, Im tickled that I have a first edition of a book that I think could become a minor classic. -- Michael Swaines review from the February 1999 issue of Dr. Dobbs Journal

On few occasions any more do collectors have an opportunity to get in on the very beginning of a new hobby. Author and collector Kevin Stumpf presents that opportunity in A Guide to Collecting...in clear, and easy-to-read and engaging text...it is an important resource and provides a substantial frame of reference for collectors interested in this new collecting field. This book is a classic waiting to happen. -- Renee Johnsons review from the April 8, 1999 issue of Antique Trader

About the Author

Kevin Stumpf has been working with computers since 1971 when he and his high school buddies, Ken Slaunwhite and Mike Dander, started a registered partnership (Kevin's parents signed the papers since no one in the trio was old enough to legally sign the papers - no one was 18 years old yet). The goal of the partnership was to impress big computer companies to give them spare parts so they could build their own computer.

Twenty-eight years later Kevin is still working with computers (as a programmer with an insurance company), and the passion that wanted to build a computer has been channeled to collecting them.

Kevin's personal collection weighs about 15 tons - not alot of computers, but big computers! Kevin has already owned and sold Altairs, Xerox Stars, IMSAI, Apple Lisa. His collection focuses on mainframes and minicomputers with control panels - "if it doesn't have a control panel, it isn't a real computer."

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 176 pages
• Publisher: Unusual Systems (August 1, 1998)
• ISBN-10: 0968424406
• ISBN-13: 978-0968424407
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,119,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)