Anyone ever thought about what they would do with their apple ii wares when the inevitable happens? I was with a few friends over at the bar and conversations came up about some of our unique and bizarre items we have and cherish and what would happen to them when we pass. I got to thinking about that on the way home and I really don't know what I would do with my apple ii equipment... i would no doubt will it to my kids and hope one of them continue with the passion of 8 and 16 bit computing (at the moment I don't see that happening as they are more interested in the latest and greatest offerings from sony and Microsoft). hmm.. I would hate to see my collection go to the dump...
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Mortality & apple ii
- Thread starter Call-151
- Start date
SomeGuy
Veteran Member
Unfortunately, that is a really good question. Much of the cool stuff that comes up on eBay or similar sites, does so because someone died. Don't expect relatives to have any idea what the stuff is, or that it even will be relatives that will clean it all out.
To keep stuff from going in the trash, I would suggest just keeping it well organized, labeled, and in good clean condition.
Ideally include enough information on labels that someone could search Google for it or even create a simple eBay listing. For parts, indicate when they were last tested. For software, use machine printed labels rather than hand-written. Consider keeping something that should be a set (box+manuals+software+hardware device) together although for actual use they would be stored separately.
To keep stuff from going in the trash, I would suggest just keeping it well organized, labeled, and in good clean condition.
Ideally include enough information on labels that someone could search Google for it or even create a simple eBay listing. For parts, indicate when they were last tested. For software, use machine printed labels rather than hand-written. Consider keeping something that should be a set (box+manuals+software+hardware device) together although for actual use they would be stored separately.
Chuck(G)
25k Member
Unfortunately, that scheme rarely works. In many cases, the survivors (if any) are interested in getting rid of items so that a house can be sold. Most don't have the faintest idea of what to do with it or what it's worth (unless it's been sold recently on eBay and someone bothered to look).
Make explicit provisions for what you have now if you think it's worth saving from a landfill.
And good luck with that.
Make explicit provisions for what you have now if you think it's worth saving from a landfill.
And good luck with that.
NeXT
Veteran Member
Do what I did and leave notes and contact information in your will on who to contact when the bucket is kicked.
Chuck(G)
25k Member
...and name an executor who knows about these issues and will act on them. On estate liquidation of a private party, there's rarely any supervision of the executor unless a high-value object is involved.
I think it's mostly too late to do this now but my idea was
1. Inventory everything (sorta obvious but daunting) *this also brings up the issue that I should not amuse myself by inventorying it on vintage gear that nobody knows how to use.
2. Possible description and tag of whether it's working (can change of course but makes it easier to know what needs/needed repair).
3. Put a value for your folks to know this is what you paid or what they seem to be valued at.
Not fool proof but may help them know what not to toss. During one of the VCF-SW I brought equipment to I had the amusing realization that if someone was to break into my truck they'd probably steal everything except the highest valued object at the time (kim-1). That same amusement is a realization that my family wouldn't know much about what value some systems have vs others.
If all else fails then yes, if you're friends with a local computer club or fellow collector that'd be a good route to go; otherwise I would just suggest they drag it all to a consignment shop and let them take the cut but get it out of the house (not the best scenario but pretty practical).
1. Inventory everything (sorta obvious but daunting) *this also brings up the issue that I should not amuse myself by inventorying it on vintage gear that nobody knows how to use.
2. Possible description and tag of whether it's working (can change of course but makes it easier to know what needs/needed repair).
3. Put a value for your folks to know this is what you paid or what they seem to be valued at.
Not fool proof but may help them know what not to toss. During one of the VCF-SW I brought equipment to I had the amusing realization that if someone was to break into my truck they'd probably steal everything except the highest valued object at the time (kim-1). That same amusement is a realization that my family wouldn't know much about what value some systems have vs others.
If all else fails then yes, if you're friends with a local computer club or fellow collector that'd be a good route to go; otherwise I would just suggest they drag it all to a consignment shop and let them take the cut but get it out of the house (not the best scenario but pretty practical).
Chuck(G)
25k Member
When I think of this, my mind goes back to the very sad case of Don Maslin. It took years of effort to get access to his collection--and it was almost lost several times.
Give it to your younger family members. I have inherited vast stores of Apple II and Macintosh equipment from my grandfather and his friends who were Apple dealers and servicemen back in the day.
It wasn't all at once. It was doled out to me over a 10 year period.
It wasn't all at once. It was doled out to me over a 10 year period.