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Re: Saturday Garage Sale Update #3

By: Decomposed in 6TH POPE | Recommend this post (0)
Sun, 14 Aug 22 6:07 AM | 25 view(s)
Boardmark this board | 6th Edition Pope Board 		Msg. 34548 of 58654
(This msg. is a reply to 34547 by Decomposed)
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Here's a good example of me overpaying. It happens.

Around noon, we found a rural sale that had a lot of things spread out across two yards. Everything was, pretty much, junk. But a flatbed trailer on one end had an antique Epson computer. I was drawn to it despite the terrible condition. I mean, when's the last time you saw a computer with no hard drive and two 5.25" floppy drives? I figured it to be of similar vintage to my first computer, an Osborne 1, and probably with similar specs. Sure enough, the Epson QX-10 (or maybe it's a QX-16) has no hard drive and runs CP/M on a Z80 processor. That's exactly the same as my Osborne, except that the Epson's floppy drives have 4 times the storage of my older unit.

The Epson retailed for $2,800 in 1984. The seller told me to make an offer and when I said $20, she grabbed it. In hindsight, I could have certainly got it for $10. She told me later that all of the contents of the trailer would be going onto the "free" pile in a bit... which didn't make me feel too good. After all, I have serious doubts that the computer even works. Even if it does, I have no idea where I'm ever going to find floppies with software that the thing can run. Sooo, I screwed up. But it was at least an interesting screwup.

The picture to the left is off the internet. The machine I bought is badly yellowed and has corrosion on its various connectors. It could have been rained on for all I know.

The seller asked me if I'm a collector. I said, "No, not really. But I'm interested in old machines." She then said, "Because my mother has one of the first apple computers and I'd really like to get rid of it."

Hmmm. An Apple 1? Naw. No way. Only 200 Apple 1s were made! But *IF* by any chance that's what it is, it's worth money. A lot of money. So I gave her my phone number and will wait to see if she calls back. Even if it's an Apple II, I could be interested if it's cheap enough. Apple IIs were very popular computers and pretty good machines. I wouldn't mind having one if it works.




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Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months


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The above is a reply to the following message:
Re: Saturday Garage Sale Update #2
By: Decomposed in 6TH POPE
Sun, 14 Aug 22 5:33 AM 		Msg. 34547 of 58654

Late in the day, we found a sale where a woman was bringing everything in off her driveway. She had a birthday party to go to - two of her grandchildren, born six days and four years apart. She said we were welcome to come in just the same and look around the garage.

The woman and I got into a conversation. I tend to do a lot of that at garage sales. It always drives my wife nuts. I won't say two words to anyone at a party but at garage sales I can get into conversations about almost anything. In the course of doing that, my wife was looking around and noticed, in a corner where most wouldn't have even looked, this really sharp Honda Rebel 150 motorcycle for $1,300 OBO. The woman said it belongs to her adult son - who wasn't there, presumably prepping for his kids' party. She said the motorcycle has been sitting unused in her garage for two years and she'd just like it gone. I've had my eye out enough for a small DIRT BIKE (which isn't what the Rebel is) to know that $1,300 is a steal. We're now seeing it to have an estimated blue book of $1,950 (with typical miles and in average condition). MSRP on a 2022 model is $5k.

The bike is a 2010 model, it's very clean. There's a ding or two but nothing bad. And, get this, it has just 250 miles on the odometer. Is that accurate or is the odometer broken?

That's about all there is to say except that . . . I think my wife wants this bike more than I do. It's a very small motorcycle, not just in engine size but, also, physically. I could ride it but it's a bit lower to the ground and a tighter fit than I'd like. It's perfect for her, though. We'll call the son tomorrow and ask him if the title is clean. If it is and if the bike starts and runs well, we'll bring it home and I'll post some pics.

It's been about 30 years since I've driven a motorcycle. I hope I remember how.

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