To make a long story short, last year my parents' house was destroyed by a tornado. Luckily, all of their vintage computer stuff was in the detached garage which wasn't hit nearly as bad. They didn't want to move the computers etc. into their new home so I inherited it all.
I am now the proud owner of an Apple II (A2S1 - 15963) with a Sanyo VM4209 monitor and an Apple IIgs.
In addition to all of the hardware, they kept practically everything software related except boxes for the Apple II stuff. Follow the link to see what I've cataloged so far.
It seems that some of these might be valuable such as Akalabeth and Zork. I'm also particularly curious about Space Adventure Episode One which I've had a very difficult time finding any information about.
Does anyone have any information on what the value of any of this is, or any suggestions about what to keep or sell, or even how to go about selling?
Ideally the manuals should be scanned and posted for archive purposes.
As far as their worth goes? I've seen a few of those titles trade hands at near $1,000 each. Post on ebay. Let the market decide.
Important thing is to let everyone know they're going on ebay so as to get the excitement and interest going.
What to keep? What's your criteria and motivations?
Where would the manuals be posted to?
Criteria? I guess I'd rather not waste time selling something that's not really worth anything. Though since I've never sold anything on Ebay before, maybe it would be a good idea to sell something not worth much before selling something valuable.
Ideally manuals should be somehow scanned and then posted to a repository like ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.com/pub/apple_II/
..that's my favorite, but there are others Apple2online, Apple2scans, MacGUI, and mirrors.apple2.org.za/ Or scan them and post them here, someone will grab'em and they'll eventually make the rounds.
I haven't sold much Apple stuff. I'm a greedy old bastard and hoard everything. But that will change someday. And I do conduct scans and image creation when time permits, so I'm not greedy in that way!
Asimov is gaining in popularity and still a big mess, but it is my favorite dumping ground for shit I find in my piles of disks and hoard.
If you've never sold anything on ebay, then yes, I'd practice with a couple scrap $50 or $100 items first. Then go for the bigger bucks. Or make a deal with someone to sell them for you. Like consignment. Any consignor should be familiar with Apple II material through and through and not some dumb-ass flea market guy in a van or other low-brow operation. This is Apple material! Keep it classy, keep the value!
You can scan ebay and see if what you have has already sold. I'm pretty sure, for example, the sanyo monitor should net you at least $500.
It's important to get a realistic price, and not cheat yourself, or let something go for a song and a dance, by looking at what the item has actually traded for, not necessarily what it currently lists at.
I've personally been offered $200 for my Sierra Space Adventure by another enthusiast. An orignal Aklabeth disk-only traded for $900. And that might be low. On the other hand, some of the sirius games *might* get you $30-50.
It's easy to get biased and let one's own opinions get in the way. So I suggest like I said, and see what it went for in the past and crank the price by 5 or 10% to account for appreciation if it's an older listing. Ideally, you'll take an average of 2 or 3 sales.
The II(not plus) should pull a minimum of $1000-2000, and it all depends on the motherboard rev, chip originality and even date codes. People get their panties in a bunch over that stuff!
A IIgs? Pfaagghhh. That's a cheap item. And I believe non-WOZ signature machines go for more. But a couple of hundred at best depending on the card mix.
The good thing is your stuff looks to be in good condition. And I might humbly suggest keeping it. Even though the engineers and middle-aged enthusiasts back then are keeling over now, there are plenty of young flunkies willing to keep prices high - and your stuff valuable. No sign of that stopping.
Everybody selling things these days checks ebay and gets opinions. Go from there and best of luck!
Ok, thanks for the info!
I'm not really looking to sell any of the Apple IIgs stuff. I vaguely remember using the Apple II as a kid, but the IIgs was the computer I grew up with. You know, nostalgia.
My parents kept all of their old receipts so I'm 99% sure everything in the Apple II is original except for the power supply which was possibly replaced. I have a Computerland Equipment Order and Sales Contract from 12/14/81 that says, "Swapped Apple Power Supply - Received $100 for Pre-Payment. Supply sent to Apple for Repair - Cost to be determined by Apple". So it sounds like maybe the computer had a different power supply temporarily until the original one was repaired?
The Apple II was purchased on 3/4/79 along with the VM4209, an additional 16k of memory, a Supr Mod II, and an Apple II Basic Card. The monitor apparently was defective because it was replaced by another VM4209 on 3/31/79. The disk drive was purchased on 11/1/80. I believe before that they were using cassettes, since they've told me they have a cassette player and some cassettes for me the next time I visit. In '81 they purchased a graphics tablet, which they also still have, in '82 they purchased a Paddle Adapple, and in '83 they added on a Mockingboard with speech, though I can't seem to get the speech to work. I also have an IDS 440 "Paper Tiger" printer, a joystick, and two paddles.
Here's the two beauties!
http://imgur.com/a/sH3w2
Good man. I inherited the vast quantity of my vintage Apple gear from friends and family too just like you and I'd see it as a big slap in the face if I were just to turn around and sell it all (unless I were really hard up for cash, which thankfully I'm not).
I would guess that a lot of the manuals you have are already scanned, especially all the official Apple manuals. I wouldn't worry about scanning them, as those were a lot of popular software titles that chances are have already been scanned.
Better to fiddle around with your Apple II and have fun than to go through a lot of drudge work scanning and copying stuff. Leave that drudge work to someone else (a lot of it's already been done anyway).
Selling the material would be like re-gifitng wedding presents, an insult. A dishonor.
If you're not going to use it, pack it up and store it. In the distant future, if you STILL haven't used it, then it'd be alright to sell. You can honestly straight-faced say, "I never really got into it.."
Meantime scan what you can. Scan what isn't posted yet. With everyone contributing a little bit here and a little bit there, the archives grow! And that's how it works. Give a little, take a little.
Since I've gotten so much use from the Asimov archive, I've begun in earnest, today, archiving and preserving all my disks. And I intend to give back so that others may enjoy. Just saying that letting others do the busy work doesn't enrich anyone or anything.
I know I'll be rewarded on multiple levels here, loads of fun going through my old grade school and high-school material is one of them! Testing and developing a "system" of preservation, yet another.
Another idea is to keep just the IIgs, and sell the other stuff. If the IIgs has meaning to you that's great! Take the profits from the other material and use it to better your IIgs rig. Get some extra parts, new expansion cards. Improve the experience!
You would not be "dishonoring" anyone that way either!
The //e platinum and IIgs are the most useful of the Apple II series systems. The other stuff like II(not plus) and II+ and //c are pretty much shelf queens and fun these machines provide is in the form of old-man-looking-at-it types of activities. They aren't that useful in comparison to the //eP or IIgs.
Actually, my parents encouraged me to sell anything that's vaulable. So they definitely wouldn't be insulted. I'm trying to save for a down payment on a new house, and every little bit helps.
Looks like ebay is in your future then! That's the place to go to reach the most audience and maximize profit.
RetroGamer145,
Just viewed the software programs and manuals via your web link. Very cool. Very nostalgic. Brings back great memories of working/gaming on my Apple II. Thanks for sharing. Hope you achieve your goals whatever they may be - sale of the items to purchase a home or keep and enjoy Apple II computing.