Kinda big question on a small conquest

[Deacon Frost]

I answered a local CL ad advertising a old Macintosh for just a few bucks. What she had in the trunk of her car, when I picked it up, has never been used...

The monitor was not in a box, but still had plastic around the power cable. My big question, am I gaining anything by leaving it all in the boxes? The boxes smell awful (I think a cat peed on boxes), and will keeping the computer in the plastic make it that much more valuable in the long run (i.e. capacitors/batteries leaking, etc.)? I picked up a 9600 brand in the box last year for $60, and had planned on keeping it mint in box...but slowly realizing that is absolutely no fun, I want them on display and running.

What do the professional collector's on here think?

Thanks.

 

[MacJunky]

am I gaining anything by leaving it all in the boxes? The boxes smell awful (I think a cat peed on boxes)

IDK about you but if the boxes are saturated in urine and who knows what else, I would say to toss them. If you really care then find some of identical size and use the original styrofoam or something, just for the sake of any future transportation. *shrug*

and will keeping the computer in the plastic make it that much more valuable in the long run (i.e. capacitors/batteries leaking, etc.)?

Keeping things in unopened plastic means you cannot check for leaking capacitors or batteries(or dead bugs and mice), and those caps could be leaking despite the machine never being used.

I picked up a 9600 brand in the box last year for $60, and had planned on keeping it mint in box...but slowly realizing that is absolutely no fun, I want them on display and running.

IMO as long as you keep the machine and the boxes in good shape, you are doing no wrong.As far as I see things in the long run a lightly used but maintained machine in good condition is worth more than that machine that was never opened and is wrecked from it's own capacitors. But then I am no "proper" collector and someone will likely spout garbage more extreme than the garbage I just spouted.

Of course the unopened machine has more potential worth because some silly people presume that it is going to be perfect.. and they are dumb as far as I am concerned.

 

[beachycove]

Given the value of "new in the box," you might want to wander into a vet's office and buy some spray that deals with cats' pee. I doubt that more "spray" will make the cardboard much worse!

An LC might not command much money, mind you, even new.... Someone on here, however, is presently looking for a new in the box ImageWriter. Look in the trading section.

 

[krye]

Dude, it's an LCII. Toss the boxes. If it was a TAM or a 128K or something, then maybe. The condition they're in adds no value. Keep the accessories box if that's OK, but the other ones that are unsanitary and covered in tape, I'd toss them. Being in mint condition, the unit will have value on it's own without the boxes.

 

[Deacon Frost]

Ok, thanks. That's what I was thinking as well. I just didn't want collective heart attacks from collectors upon hearing it was no longer "mint-in-box", lol. Kind of like when Sheldon opens the 1970s collectible Star Trek transporter toy (on BBT) and he immediately breaks it...

 

[uniserver]

I would leave it in the box. and get some spray if the box smells like catpiss.

Ya , its just a LC-II, but its NIB, will all the boxed accessories, This would go for a decent amount on ebay.

if you want a LC-II, i can send you one i have a couple that are complete w/o hd's.

 

[onlyonemac]

I'm jealous. I would take it out and put it next to my other clean, almost new, Mac (or Macs). Use it. You'll regret leaving it in the box. Next thing the battery's gonna explode in there and you'll never be able to use it. Save it from its internal time-bomb.

 

[Charlieman]

I bought a TAM new in box. I forget the price exactly -- either £1,001.01 or £1,000.01. I took it home, opened it with the camera handy and made sure the TAM was healthy.

I open it up from time to time to check its health and give it a quick run. I have a stack of upgrades for the day when I think "let's go for it". For now, though, I treat it like an original spec old car and treat it respectfully, which means using it.

Leaving it in the box is the worst thing possible for an old computer, even one's which don't have batteries that split their seams.

For cleaning the boxes, have a look at tips from antiquarian book sellers. Example:

http://www.bookthink.com/0069/69alt.htm

 

[uniserver]

Heck even I would offer you a generous amount for that + shipping. in its current shape, cat pee and all.

The only thing i own that is NIB is a Quadra Mic.

I prefer all my machines to be scratch or dent though… Because i'm always using them test peoples boards...

Then I won't feel bad if I strip something out or scratch it.

I noticed on my FDHD SE, (My goto for SE/30 board testing) , the floppy cable/connector is getting a little sloppy

Also the Main Mobo Power Cable is also getting a little sloppy, the speaker cable is very sloppy

 

[insaneboy]

I noticed on my FDHD SE, (My goto for SE/30 board testing) , the floppy cable/connector is getting a little sloppy Also the Main Mobo Power Cable is also getting a little sloppy, the speaker cable is very sloppy

after today you'll have a real SE/30 for that.

 

[uniserver]

 

[MacJunky]

I might suggest that if the dark stuff on the top of the LCII box is mold, just trash the box. Now.

Some might try to clean it but imo if you have moldy paper stuff, get it gone. 99% of the time it is not worth keeping and is doing more harm than good. And sometimes people do not know what they are doing and just spread spores around their house. A super-rare book might be worth it, but not an LCII box.

 

[Brett B.]

I'd throw the boxes away too.

FWIW, I bought an Apple //e years ago at a yard sale that was in its original boxes...they had been stored in a barn. The boxes looked OK from the outside but mice had built nests in them and the boxes smelled horrible (and were probably full of hantavirus too.) I threw them out, very reluctantly. The computer also smelled like mouse piss too and it got really bad once it was turned on for a while, even after bleaching everything. Real bummer

 

[RickNel]

Animal pee: Cats don't usually urinate on top of things - they like to do it on the ground or floor. A visiting Tom cat might spray on the side of a box - and that is pretty pungent. Urine on the top of a box is more likely dribbled down from a nest of rats or maybe a possum if they are in the locality. More likely something wild than something tame. But probably a deodorant for cat pee will be as good as any.

Personally, I see the value of boxes as determined by the level of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder among collectors. A vintage computer is not Star Wars merchandise. It should have a history worth preserving, not just a virginal state. (same with people :O ).

Rick

 

[Bunsen]

There was a time when Star Wars "merchandise" was called toys, and you took them out of the box as fast as you damn could, so you could play with them.

Before the dark times, before the Empire.