ClassicGuyPhilly
Well-known member
So I guess I’ll now join the club and get my own Conquests thread going. Here’s a quick retroactive rundown on how my collection started and got off the ground. As my collecting evolved, I decided to concentrate on 2000 and earlier machines which will soon be used to educate students on the early days of personal computing and provide an opportunity to experience these machines first-hand.
Let’s begin at the beginning. My township had a household recycling day in April 2023 and I chanced upon a Macintosh II in the eWaste pile which I had to rescue. As it turns out the Mac II was actually a IIfx! Here’s the machine’s thread, it still needs to be recapped but hoping to get up and running this winter.
I then acquired a functional Apple //e system from a neighbor. Also included was an Apple Dot Matrix Printer in need of repair.
Next up, a friend had a couple iMacs and a Performa stored away collecting dust and I received the Grape iMac G3 in trade for fixing up his other machines.
I needed a computer with a CD-burner to help with getting the iMacs and Performa up, and I bought this iBook G4 off Craigslist as a utility machine.
This brings the story up to VCF East’s Swap Meet in June 2023. While there were several odds and ends on my list, I really needed a monitor to go with the IIfx. I did pick up a 13” RGB, along with a Macintosh IIx as the seller didn’t want to break up the system. Great part was the IIx came with a rare audio card which I was able to sell and recoup costs for all the goodies I brought home that day!
Looking to fill the mid-90’s gap in my collection, I purchased a Power Mac 7500/100 and Performa 6300CD off some local eBayers. Upon pickup, they threw in the IIsi for free. The PM and Performa came online with little complaint, the IIsi needs to be recapped. I also added a PDS Ethernet card from Ebay to the Performa.
@Phipli then helped me upgrade the 7500/100 with a 603e @ 200mhz, basically making it like a mini-9600.
Next, a top-priority must-have for my collection was checked-off. I purchased a beautiful SE system from @macinbot , bringing me a cherished example of the first Macintosh I ever used back in high school.
As I was fortunate to attend Macworld Expo 99 NYC and see Jobs debut the iBook G3, a Clamshell was another high priority machine. Scored a Blueberry off eBay.
Around the same time bought another 13” RGB from Craigslist.
What collection would be complete without an ImageWriter II? Obviously I needed one of these legends, and snagged one off an area Ebayer.
The next machine was another highly sentimental acquisition. @chiptripper sold me a restored Classic with a looks brand new case. I don’t think I need to underscore how special this one is to me, the Classic was my first computer!
Lastly, I recently rescued a Multiple Sync 15 from going into eWaste.
The PM7500 is my vintage daily driver these days, and even nicer now with the higher resolution monitor. It has Internet connectivity, is hooked up to the IW II, and can be used to AppleShare with any of the Ethernet-machines or over a printer cable with the SE or Classic. I also pop the case, disconnect the hard drive, and use as an imaging station with the Apple S/W Recovery CD to prep hard drives for other machines. However, I love playing old school games on the SE!
So that’s the machine wrap-up for the time-being. A few other noteworthy items:
@Skate323k137 hooked me up with a super-cool replica Apple I logic board
I’ve also picked up a couple original posters from eBay, and have my eye on a third from the Think Different campaign to fill in that annoying blank spot on the left.
Here’s the current setup in my home office, changes somewhat regularly depending on my mood and which machines I’m playing with with at the moment.
The VCF East Fall Swap Meet is this weekend, so hopefully will have some more updates soon.
Thanks for stopping by!
Let’s begin at the beginning. My township had a household recycling day in April 2023 and I chanced upon a Macintosh II in the eWaste pile which I had to rescue. As it turns out the Mac II was actually a IIfx! Here’s the machine’s thread, it still needs to be recapped but hoping to get up and running this winter.
I then acquired a functional Apple //e system from a neighbor. Also included was an Apple Dot Matrix Printer in need of repair.
Next up, a friend had a couple iMacs and a Performa stored away collecting dust and I received the Grape iMac G3 in trade for fixing up his other machines.
I needed a computer with a CD-burner to help with getting the iMacs and Performa up, and I bought this iBook G4 off Craigslist as a utility machine.
This brings the story up to VCF East’s Swap Meet in June 2023. While there were several odds and ends on my list, I really needed a monitor to go with the IIfx. I did pick up a 13” RGB, along with a Macintosh IIx as the seller didn’t want to break up the system. Great part was the IIx came with a rare audio card which I was able to sell and recoup costs for all the goodies I brought home that day!
Looking to fill the mid-90’s gap in my collection, I purchased a Power Mac 7500/100 and Performa 6300CD off some local eBayers. Upon pickup, they threw in the IIsi for free. The PM and Performa came online with little complaint, the IIsi needs to be recapped. I also added a PDS Ethernet card from Ebay to the Performa.
@Phipli then helped me upgrade the 7500/100 with a 603e @ 200mhz, basically making it like a mini-9600.
Next, a top-priority must-have for my collection was checked-off. I purchased a beautiful SE system from @macinbot , bringing me a cherished example of the first Macintosh I ever used back in high school.
As I was fortunate to attend Macworld Expo 99 NYC and see Jobs debut the iBook G3, a Clamshell was another high priority machine. Scored a Blueberry off eBay.
Around the same time bought another 13” RGB from Craigslist.
What collection would be complete without an ImageWriter II? Obviously I needed one of these legends, and snagged one off an area Ebayer.
The next machine was another highly sentimental acquisition. @chiptripper sold me a restored Classic with a looks brand new case. I don’t think I need to underscore how special this one is to me, the Classic was my first computer!
Lastly, I recently rescued a Multiple Sync 15 from going into eWaste.
The PM7500 is my vintage daily driver these days, and even nicer now with the higher resolution monitor. It has Internet connectivity, is hooked up to the IW II, and can be used to AppleShare with any of the Ethernet-machines or over a printer cable with the SE or Classic. I also pop the case, disconnect the hard drive, and use as an imaging station with the Apple S/W Recovery CD to prep hard drives for other machines. However, I love playing old school games on the SE!
So that’s the machine wrap-up for the time-being. A few other noteworthy items:
@Skate323k137 hooked me up with a super-cool replica Apple I logic board
I’ve also picked up a couple original posters from eBay, and have my eye on a third from the Think Different campaign to fill in that annoying blank spot on the left.
Here’s the current setup in my home office, changes somewhat regularly depending on my mood and which machines I’m playing with with at the moment.
The VCF East Fall Swap Meet is this weekend, so hopefully will have some more updates soon.
Thanks for stopping by!
