Our Collection of Vintage
Computer Memorabilia

 

New to the world of vintage computer memorabilia? You're not alone in your fascination with old computer parts, whether it be chips, CPUs, computer hardware, or other ephemera. In fact, you're in good company! From hobbyist tinkerers to computer scientists, to historians, collecting vintage computer memorabilia has become a pastime for many in the past 20 years. Early in the 21st century, computer technology has been progressing in leaps and bounds, which has only served to make these markers of the past more interesting.


For the new or prospective collector, here's a rundown of the many reasons why this pastime has caught on so strongly..

Hold a Piece of the Past:
Why do museums exist? It's always intriguing (and a valuable lesson) to see how we got from the past to where we are today. The same can be said of collecting vintage memorabilia. Take an old Apple II computer. From ubiquity in the middle school classroom of the 1980's, the Apple II is now functionally useless: except for helping us understand Apple's reemergence as a huge player in personal computing.

What is Rare is Intriguing:
From baseball cards to stamps, humans have always had an inkling to collect the rare, and to pore over things that are difficult to get. The difference with computer memorabilia? Some Vintage electronic components are becoming rare (old computers and CPU's continue to be melted down for their scrap gold content by precious metal recyclers), with only a few hundred or thousand in the world - collectors really do form an important link to preserving our technological past.

Tinkering for the Fun of It:
Collecting vintage computer chips & electronics doesn't have to be expensive. Many collectors choose to acquire vintage electronic parts so they can use them to get vintage computers, calculators and other electroinc devices back up and running again. There's a joy in resurrecting something from the past and bringing it back to life.

For Style:
Just like any other style decision, holding onto antique technology can say something about who you are. A Lucite paperweight with a historical computer chip can add vintage flare to any office. Geek-Chic jewelry that showcases old computer technology are a both fashionably fun & great conversation pieces.

The Glory of the Hunt:
For many collectors, the intrigue of vintage memorabilia lies in the chase. eBay of course is a great place to start, as are local flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores, and anywhere people might be cleaning out old collectible items they have long been forgotten about.

And Last But Not Least, as investments:
Some dedicated collectors have managed to amass large collections that are now worth real money, as vintage electronics age from yesterday's junk to today's sought after collectibles. Some of the most dedicated collectors today have thousands of computer chips and CPUs that have become mini-museums in themselves (with estimated value to prove it).

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Our Computer Memorabilia Collection

AMD     Amdahl    Analog Devices     Apple    Atari    AT&T    Bell Labs    Burroughs
 
   Control Data    Cray     Cyrix    Data General    DEC     ESI    Fujitsu    HP      Hughes

IBM    Intel    ITT    LSI    Memorex    Micron     MIT     Microvision     Motorola      National Semi

NCR    NEC    Nvidia   Panasonic     PHILCO     PMI    RCA     Remington Rand    Samsung   

Signetics     Sperry     Sun Microsystems    TSMC     UNIVAC    Western Electric     Etc.
 

About Computer related Lucite promotional items

RCA Germanium TV transistors from 1953

Acrylic (Lucite) display items became a new way to promote and advertise the latest electronic & semiconductor technology components starting back in the early 1950's with the promotion of the earliest available commercial transistors. The oldest item in our collection (image to the right) is an RCA "Germanium Television Transistors" paperweight dating back to 1953.

 Samples of actual technology components encased in Lucite were an ideal way for a company salesperson to show off their new products to potential clients. Sometimes these items were made specifically for a company to give out as gifts to employees to commemorate a new product release, important milestone or anniversary date.

Acrylic items were also made as limited edition souvenirs given out to the General Public that were attending Specialized Events, trade shows and Promotions.

Acrylic display items with technology items embedded in them have since been produced in numerous forms such as paperweights, keychains, awards, ashtrays, and plaques.

 

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