Billy,

We hope you'll at least visit our exhibit to say hello.  :)

I encourage you to post what you're looking to obtain in the "Virtual Swap
Meet" database of our Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/database?method=reportRows&tbl=2

  Evan

--- Billy D'Augustine <azog@...> wrote:
> On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 04:05:58 -0000
> "evan947" <evan947@...> wrote:
>
> >
> > We have a few new members.  Hello and welcome to MARCH.
> >
>
> Well, I'm not a new member, but I've been lurking for a bit (and only
> came up for air once, briefly), so I thought I should say "hello".
>
> > If you plan to attend the event (and we hope you do!), please also
> > send a group message if you haven't already.
>
> I'll be going to TCF, but not as part of anything bigger, and won't be
> bringing anything. The only thing I've got ATM is a VS3100, which is
> kinda bland, but I'm hoping TCF will help rectify that...
>
> Stuff I'll be looking for, TCF-wise or just in general (and as an intro
> to what I personally prefer):
>
> CBM stuff - a C=128D (specifically the "D")
> VAX - anything (actually need an RRD40 for the VS3100)
> PDP-11 - anything, prefer an 11/34A
> Atari 16-bit - Falcon, TT, or even an STE
>
> Stuff I'll have to trade:
>
> Probably cash :)
>

To Evan, and to others who may not be aware: there are ALREADY 'computer'
swapmeets scheduled regularly around the world - usually several times a year in
any given region. They are called "HAMFESTS". Sponsored by Amateur Radio and
Electronics clubs, they feature anything electronic and lots more - ham radio
gear, parts, test equipment, hardware and software. I've been scavenging them
for decades(!). The groups are all non-profit, so the table fee is low, usually
$5-10. Entrance Fee is usually $5, too. Kids and Wives usually free. In the
Delaware Valley, there a dozen or so through the warm season. If you feel the
need to have a show, simply all decide to go to 'such and such' hamfest, and all
the work has already been done for you - all you have to do is show up and set
up your table. Need power? Most of them have an indoor selling area with power
which costs slightly more. Some of the same computer dealers who shell-out $100+
or more per table at the 'commmercial' computer shows also show up at hamfests
where they can give better deals because they only paid a few bucks for the
table.

A calendar of events for the Delaware Valley:

http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/hamfest.html

An Official calendar of events for the country:

http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html

(This is the website of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national ham
radio club.)

Some of us never miss hamfests, because you never know what will turn up.
Bill Pileggi

___________________________________________________________________
Speed up your surfing with Juno SpeedBand.
Now includes pop-up blocker!
Only $14.95/month -visit http://www.juno.com/surf to sign up today!

Group - -
I have some experience in displaying electronic equipment and designing the
layout in which it will be seen, so If you'll permit, I'll pass along some
observations.

My last display (along with an associate) was WWII radio and electronic
equipment. You can see it at this address:

http://solo11.abac.com/zorroab1/Reading04/Reading04pg1.html

Everything was 60 odd years old and essentially irreplaceable. Not always
valuable, but not the kind of material you bought your kids for Christmas 25
years ago and then tossed in the closet. We didn't lose a single item or have
anything damaged. REAL Traffic averaged several hundred people PER DAY.

If your items are too "delicate" or "valuable", LEAVE THEM AT HOME or put them
under glass.

TEST YOUR SYSTEMS well beforehand. If you have in mind a static (non-powered)
display, that's okay. If you expect to have the system running, check each and
every part TOGETHER as you expect to display it. Dead iron is no fun to look at.

Kids want to touch (and learn!). Parents, if accompanying the kids, will hold
them back and tell them not too touch. Well, that's no fun! Be prepared for this
and show them what they can do - even if it's how to type in a simple command
and see something (anything!) on the screen, make a noise, whatever.

In the WWII display, I had a late 1920's mini-portable typewriter (which was the
same design used for 30 years) to "copy morse code messages". Kids loved it. I
let them bang away to their hearts content. Most had never seen a typewriter
before.

If possible, be prepared to open the covers/cabinets. People love to see the
"innards" or the guts of equipment.

We've used the little lucite/plexiglass photo/announcement holders, but most
people want to hear the same info. from you lips. Have some stories to tell from
the old days - if you were alive then!

Don't worry about "polish". Be yourself. Since we're enthusiasts, our love of
the gear will show through and rub off on visitors. It's not uncommon to pick up
a few recruits to the hobby and/or have a few people hang around for hours
wanting to see everything or come back the next day with more questions, etc.

(You may get asked to help fix equipment owned by a new-comer to the hobby: Do
this only if you ABSOLUTELY know what you are doing.)

The location off the main display room may be more secure, but it will severly
cut down on traffic (no matter how many signs are up). A single door (entrance)
does not allow for the "in and out" flow of traffic.

Go to the bathroom BEFORE you leave the house/hotel. Bring your own food, water,
and supplies - pens, pencils, business cards, etc. Dumpster Diving in the Flea
Market area starts around 3:00 pm - don't be late.

Bill Pileggi


___________________________________________________________________
Speed up your surfing with Juno SpeedBand.
Now includes pop-up blocker!
Only $14.95/month -visit http://www.juno.com/surf to sign up today!

Thanks Bill!  These hamfest links (and your exhibition advice in the other
message) are terrific.

I think most of us are aware of hamfests.  The purpose of the "virtual swap
meet" database on the Yahoo group is to serve as a tool for just group members.
  After TCF, perhaps we can host a real swap meet, in conjunction with some of
the other related groups like the ones you linked to.

TCF's organizers said the NJ Antique Radio Club will also be exhibiting there,
so maybe we can get friendly with them.

Of course, MARCH is not just a New Jersey group.  We've got people from every
mid-Atlantic state.  So it's a good idea to have group events in various
locations; i.e., have the next event in Maryland, then one in New York, etc.
And it would be great to get everyone involved in organizing this stuff.  I
motion that everyone become the MARCH ambassador for your respective towns.  :)

But I digress.  My own exhibiting experience is that adult nerds can be worse
than children when it comes to touching stuff...

My own stuff (handhelds) are vulnerable to being stolen, so I plan to build
some kind of simple enclosure that implies "hands off!"... I will let people
play the Atari though under a watchful eye.  (To keep it simple, I'll probably
only bring a small assortment of games, and only take out one game at a time.)

--- Bill Pileggi <wpileggi@...> wrote:
>
> To Evan, and to others who may not be aware: there are ALREADY 'computer'
> swapmeets scheduled regularly around the world - usually several times a year
> in any given region. They are called "HAMFESTS". Sponsored by Amateur Radio
> and Electronics clubs, they feature anything electronic and lots more - ham
> radio gear, parts, test equipment, hardware and software. I've been
> scavenging them for decades(!). The groups are all non-profit, so the table
> fee is low, usually $5-10. Entrance Fee is usually $5, too. Kids and Wives
> usually free. In the Delaware Valley, there a dozen or so through the warm
> season. If you feel the need to have a show, simply all decide to go to 'such
> and such' hamfest, and all the work has already been done for you - all you
> have to do is show up and set up your table. Need power? Most of them have an
> indoor selling area with power which costs slightly more. Some of the same
> computer dealers who shell-out $100+ or more per table at the 'commmercial'
> computer shows also show up at hamfests where they can give better deals
> because they only paid a few bucks for the table.
>
> A calendar of events for the Delaware Valley:
>
> http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/hamfest.html
>
> An Official calendar of events for the country:
>
> http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html
>
> (This is the website of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national
> ham radio club.)
>
> Some of us never miss hamfests, because you never know what will turn up.
> Bill Pileggi
>
> ___________________________________________________________________
> Speed up your surfing with Juno SpeedBand.
> Now includes pop-up blocker!
> Only $14.95/month -visit http://www.juno.com/surf to sign up today!
>
>

Evan's personal homepage: www.snarc.net

*** Tell your friends about the Computer Collector Newsletter!
- It's free and we'll never send spam or share your email address
- Publishing every Monday(-ish), ask about writing for us
- Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all
- W: http://news.computercollector.com  E: news@...
- We're approaching 700 readers: win a prize!

Andy (and whoever else is interested),

I found a store called TurnAbout in the town of Garwood, NJ (that's
central NJ for out-of-staters).  The owner, Ed, has a large collection
of cartridges for Atari, Nintendo, etc. -- he also has quite a bit
more "in the back" that he'll show you if you ask.  I went there for
the first time a few weeks ago and found some really good stuff.
Highly recommended.  The number is 908.789.2076; 93 Center St.,
Garwood, 07027.

- Evan

Hi everyone,

I have some very exciting news.  I was contacted today by Fred Carl,
who works with the InfoAge Learning Center (located in the town of
Wall, N.J.) -- InfoAge is a 100,000-square-foot, 17-building facility
opening this fall on a former Army research campus.  Fred heard about
MARCH after I posted a message about TCF to the mailing list of the NJ
Antique Radio Club (they will be at TCF too).  He said they already
have a sizeable computer collection mostly donated by one person
(details to come; meanwhile please see
http://www.infoage.org/grabbe.htm), and what they are looking for now
is a group of volunteers to basically take control of that.  So he's
offering that role to us!  If we accept, it would basically become the
"MARCH Museum @ InfoAge".  We'd have serious access to a HUGE amount
of space.  In this space we could hold events, store things, and
eventually own/host a real museum.  (He also said that once things are
underway, they'll be looking to hire some staff.)

I'm giddy about the prospects.  There are computer museums in Maryland
and Virginia, but nothing to my knowledge in all of NJ, NY, DE, or PA.
  (There are things like the Liberty Science Center, which is very
generic, and the Antique Wireless Association in upstate NY, but a
real mid-Atlantic regional computer museum would be a first, and in my
opinion is desperately needed.)  So, having a regional computer museum
run by experts like us would be a major benefit to the community, and
of course a major endorsement for our hobby.

Thoughts, anyone?  There wouldn't be any intense time requirement,
just that we help out when we can.

I would love to help.
Bill Degnan

In a message dated 3/9/2005 7:17:44 PM Eastern Standard Time,
evan947@... writes:

>
>  Hi everyone,
>
>  I have some very exciting news.  I was contacted today by Fred Carl,
>  who works with the InfoAge Learning Center (located in the town of
>  Wall, N.J.) -- InfoAge is a 100,000-square-foot, 17-building facility
>  opening this fall on a former Army research campus.  Fred heard about
>  MARCH after I posted a message about TCF to the mailing list of the NJ
>  Antique Radio Club (they will be at TCF too).  He said they already
>  have a sizeable computer collection mostly donated by one person
>  (details to come; meanwhile please see
>  http://www.infoage.org/grabbe.htm), and what they are looking for now
>  is a group of volunteers to basically take control of that.  So he's
>  offering that role to us!  If we accept, it would basically become the
>  "MARCH Museum @ InfoAge".  We'd have serious access to a HUGE amount
>  of space.  In this space we could hold events, store things, and
>  eventually own/host a real museum.  (He also said that once things are
>  underway, they'll be looking to hire some staff.)
>

And when you least expect it...
I run an ad in the local newspaper (Wilmington News Journal) each
week under the name "The Delaware Computer Museum" and I have been
pleased to find that this ad has shaken free some hidden gems from
my area.

I run the "museum" at my office.  I have about 1/2 my collection
there in the lobby and back room, the rest are at home in my
workshop.  If you are in Wilmington Delaware stop by.  I have micros
from 77-89 on display.

Anyway, today a man came in holding a primitive laptop computer
called the "Visual Commuter".  This brand I had not seen before, but
I knew to be one of the first laptops.  Everything works.
I will put up pictures on my web site some day
(vintagecomputer.net), but in the mean time here are two links that
pretty much sum this bugger up.

http://oldcomputers.net/commuter.html

http://www.dak.com/catalogscans/1986computer.htm
I believe that the original owner purchased this computer from DAK
surplus because I have all of the items (same monitor, software, and
printer) pictured on the link above.

Cool find!  The specs on the oldcomputers.net page agree with the specs in Mike
Nadeau's book, "Collectible Microcomputers."

By the way, Mike emailed me today, and said he has a work committment (he's
just been promoted) and so he can't attend the TCF.  But he still will send us
some copies of his book to give away as prizes, etc.

--- billdeg <billdeg@...> wrote:
>
> And when you least expect it...
> I run an ad in the local newspaper (Wilmington News Journal) each
> week under the name "The Delaware Computer Museum" and I have been
> pleased to find that this ad has shaken free some hidden gems from
> my area.
>
> I run the "museum" at my office.  I have about 1/2 my collection
> there in the lobby and back room, the rest are at home in my
> workshop.  If you are in Wilmington Delaware stop by.  I have micros
> from 77-89 on display.
>
> Anyway, today a man came in holding a primitive laptop computer
> called the "Visual Commuter".  This brand I had not seen before, but
> I knew to be one of the first laptops.  Everything works.
> I will put up pictures on my web site some day
> (vintagecomputer.net), but in the mean time here are two links that
> pretty much sum this bugger up.
>
> http://oldcomputers.net/commuter.html
>
> http://www.dak.com/catalogscans/1986computer.htm
> I believe that the original owner purchased this computer from DAK
> surplus because I have all of the items (same monitor, software, and
> printer) pictured on the link above.
>
>
>
>
>

Evan's personal homepage: www.snarc.net

*** Tell your friends about the Computer Collector Newsletter!
- It's free and we'll never send spam or share your email address
- Publishing every Monday(-ish), ask about writing for us
- Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all
- W: http://news.computercollector.com  E: news@...
- We're approaching 700 readers: win a prize!

> I found a store called TurnAbout in the town of Garwood, NJ

Thanks Evan.
That's not too far from me, so I'll be sure to check it out.

That sounds like a great place to visit. I'll have to put that on my
itinerary the next time I head over east. If I wasn't here in
Pittsburgh. I would help out too My collection could use a good home
like that.

Dan

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[ Pittsburgh Robotics Society                 ]
[                                 Got Robot ? ]
[ http://pghrobot.home.comcast.net/           ]
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



evan947 wrote:

>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I have some very exciting news.  I was contacted today by Fred Carl,
> who works with the InfoAge Learning Center (located in the town of
> Wall, N.J.) -- InfoAge is a 100,000-square-foot, 17-building facility
> opening this fall on a former Army research campus.  Fred heard about
> MARCH after I posted a message about TCF to the mailing list of the NJ
> Antique Radio Club (they will be at TCF too).  He said they already
> have a sizeable computer collection mostly donated by one person
> (details to come; meanwhile please see
> http://www.infoage.org/grabbe.htm),
> <http://www.infoage.org/grabbe.htm%29,> and what they are looking for now
> is a group of volunteers to basically take control of that.  So he's
> offering that role to us!  If we accept, it would basically become the
> "MARCH Museum @ InfoAge".  We'd have serious access to a HUGE amount
> of space.  In this space we could hold events, store things, and
> eventually own/host a real museum.  (He also said that once things are
> underway, they'll be looking to hire some staff.)
>
> I'm giddy about the prospects.  There are computer museums in Maryland
> and Virginia, but nothing to my knowledge in all of NJ, NY, DE, or PA.
> (There are things like the Liberty Science Center, which is very
> generic, and the Antique Wireless Association in upstate NY, but a
> real mid-Atlantic regional computer museum would be a first, and in my
> opinion is desperately needed.)  So, having a regional computer museum
> run by experts like us would be a major benefit to the community, and
> of course a major endorsement for our hobby.
>
> Thoughts, anyone?  There wouldn't be any intense time requirement,
> just that we help out when we can.
>
>



--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.1 - Release Date: 3/9/2005

> I have some very exciting news.  I was contacted today by Fred Carl,
> who works with the InfoAge Learning Center (located in the town of
> Wall, N.J.)

Evan, this sounds great!

I'd be interested to know if we can take a ride down there sometime
and check it out.  My schedule is suddenly wide open.

Yup, Fred invited us.  He's busy for the next week or two, but I will
try to coordinate a trip.


--- In midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com, ahm <ahm@k...> wrote:
> > I have some very exciting news.  I was contacted today by Fred Carl,
> > who works with the InfoAge Learning Center (located in the town of
> > Wall, N.J.)
>
> Evan, this sounds great!
>
> I'd be interested to know if we can take a ride down there sometime
> and check it out.  My schedule is suddenly wide open.

Just thought I'd give a little introduction. I guess you could say my
collection, consisting mainly of early IBM compatibles/semi-
compatibles, began with the acquisition of a Texas Instruments
Professional Computer in '98 or '99. It was from a thrift store 3
blocks from my house. I had a boot disk, but nothing else, so
obviously I had a lively time with the thing. I eventually picked up
another unit with more warez. I've added steadily through the years,
just recently picked up a replacement for my very first Tandy 2000.
I'm interested in obtaining more than what I got obviously, and I'll
list a few things off the top of my head:
Mindset PC
Televideo Personal Mini and PM/286
Vectrix pc thing (very very rare)
Zenith z-100 or 120
Sanyo MBC-55x and 775
IBM Professional Graphics Adapter and Display
early 400 line video cards and monitors (Tecmar,Taxan,Amdek,Hercules)
others, and I'd haul away all the PC/XT's and early '286's I could
find - for parts, to keep a few of these things running
Also looking for vintage software of course, in particular compilers
and anything else cool! Later dudes.

Welcome; where are you from?

--- chrism3667 <chrism3667@...> wrote:
>
> Just thought I'd give a little introduction. I guess you could say my
> collection, consisting mainly of early IBM compatibles/semi-
> compatibles, began with the acquisition of a Texas Instruments
> Professional Computer in '98 or '99. It was from a thrift store 3
> blocks from my house. I had a boot disk, but nothing else, so
> obviously I had a lively time with the thing. I eventually picked up
> another unit with more warez. I've added steadily through the years,
> just recently picked up a replacement for my very first Tandy 2000.
> I'm interested in obtaining more than what I got obviously, and I'll
> list a few things off the top of my head:
> Mindset PC
> Televideo Personal Mini and PM/286
> Vectrix pc thing (very very rare)
> Zenith z-100 or 120
> Sanyo MBC-55x and 775
> IBM Professional Graphics Adapter and Display
> early 400 line video cards and monitors (Tecmar,Taxan,Amdek,Hercules)
> others, and I'd haul away all the PC/XT's and early '286's I could
> find - for parts, to keep a few of these things running
> Also looking for vintage software of course, in particular compilers
> and anything else cool! Later dudes.
>
>
>
>

A gentleman came into my office today with a Timex Sinclair 1000
(same as the ZX81).  He was responding to my ad in the local
paper "Delaware Computer Museum - we buy or accept donations of 1985
or older computers..."

The Timex was in good shape but I did not attach to a TV set to
test.  The unit includes the 16K module that snaps into the back, and
RF Converter, no box (as of this writing but the seller is going to
look, he thinks he knows where it is).  Assume for now there is no
box.

I am not particularly interested in this computer, but if anyone in
this group would like me to pick it up for them I would be happy to
deliver to the TCF next month and they can pay me back or visit my
company's credit card payment page to cover the cost.

Please send me your offers and I will relay to the potential seller.

-Bill

I'm sure someone will want that eventually.  Might as well put it in the swap
meet database too.

--- billdeg <billdeg@...> wrote:
>
> A gentleman came into my office today with a Timex Sinclair 1000
> (same as the ZX81).  He was responding to my ad in the local
> paper "Delaware Computer Museum - we buy or accept donations of 1985
> or older computers..."
>
> The Timex was in good shape but I did not attach to a TV set to
> test.  The unit includes the 16K module that snaps into the back, and
> RF Converter, no box (as of this writing but the seller is going to
> look, he thinks he knows where it is).  Assume for now there is no
> box.
>
> I am not particularly interested in this computer, but if anyone in
> this group would like me to pick it up for them I would be happy to
> deliver to the TCF next month and they can pay me back or visit my
> company's credit card payment page to cover the cost.
>
> Please send me your offers and I will relay to the potential seller.
>
> -Bill
>
>
>
>

Evan's personal homepage: www.snarc.net

*** Tell your friends about the Computer Collector Newsletter!
- It's free and we'll never send spam or share your email address
- Publishing every Monday(-ish), ask about writing for us
- Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all
- W: http://news.computercollector.com  E: news@...
- We're approaching 700 readers: win a prize!

I read that there would likely be no VCF East 3.0 this year (but
there will be a mid-west event).  This got me to thinking.  Our
little festival within a festival next month would be a nice
practice for a full-blown MARCH 1.0 festival some day, maybe even
later this year?

I know...One step at a time, but I for one would be up for it.  I
think that an event for east coast hobbyists and collectors would be
a lot of fun.  I also know that this kind of thing is a lot of work,
but we can keep it *small and simple* for a first go round.

Put this thought in the back of your mind...I can schedule the
Delaware Horticultural Center in Wilmington, DEL for free (or pretty
cheap).  The horticultural center has a nice-sized hall/room that
can fit plenty of booths (maybe 20 or so), and the entrace hall for
a swap meet, signup/info table, etc.  There are a lot of bars and
restaurants in walking distance from the Hort. Center with hotels
about 1 mile down the road.  It's a safe part of town.  Wilmington
is 2-3 hours from NYC but only one hour from Baltimore.

Would this may be too far south for the average MARCH member?

Delaware for me is no further than the Sun campus in Massachusetts. I'm on
Long Island. With the wind at my back, I can reach Philly in 3 hours.
Wilmington is not far from that (1/2hr maybe?).



>From: "billdeg" <billdeg@...>
>Reply-To: midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com
>To: midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [midatlanticretro] Apparently there will be no VCF East 3 this
>year
>Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 21:09:08 -0000
>
>
>
>I read that there would likely be no VCF East 3.0 this year (but
>there will be a mid-west event).  This got me to thinking.  Our
>little festival within a festival next month would be a nice
>practice for a full-blown MARCH 1.0 festival some day, maybe even
>later this year?
>
>I know...One step at a time, but I for one would be up for it.  I
>think that an event for east coast hobbyists and collectors would be
>a lot of fun.  I also know that this kind of thing is a lot of work,
>but we can keep it *small and simple* for a first go round.
>
>Put this thought in the back of your mind...I can schedule the
>Delaware Horticultural Center in Wilmington, DEL for free (or pretty
>cheap).  The horticultural center has a nice-sized hall/room that
>can fit plenty of booths (maybe 20 or so), and the entrace hall for
>a swap meet, signup/info table, etc.  There are a lot of bars and
>restaurants in walking distance from the Hort. Center with hotels
>about 1 mile down the road.  It's a safe part of town.  Wilmington
>is 2-3 hours from NYC but only one hour from Baltimore.
>
>Would this may be too far south for the average MARCH member?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Bill (and everyone),

Sellam Ismail hasn't finalized the VCF plans yet.  VCF East 3.0 is still
officially "tentative".  (Granted, the summer is coming fast, so he's running
out of time for East.  VCF Midwest more certain, but not official yet.)

For the record (if anyone was wondering), Sellam and I are close friends, so I
can speak with an insider's perspective on this.  (LOL, Bill, if you didn't
notice, I'm the guy who answered the VCF question on the classiccmp list this
afternoon, using my other address as news@....)

Anyway, you're certainly correct that getting free use of the ballroom would be
a huge opportunity for MARCH and for local hobbyists.  Fred @ InfoAge (the
museum thing) says we can use that facility as well, but it won't be ready
anytime soon (several months at least, maybe a year+).

Having a free/very cheap venue is typically the main obstacle.  (Last year I
got Sellam the use of the Sun facility in Boston, vai an industry contact.)  So
I'm very glad to hear about your Delaware connection!

For the maximum success, I think we should propose to Sellam that we become the
official sponsor/host of VCF East.  (Why start from scratch when the franchise
is available and already successful?)  LOL, but holding it any month other than
March might just confuse people.  ;)

Anyone else have input about this?

As a (growing!) group, we ought to make a list of priorities.  Candidates (not
including TCF) include:
- organizing a VCF(-ish) event
- leading the computer museum effort @ InfoAge (beginning with their existing
collection which we'd sort of inherit -- a preliminary list is here:
http://www.infoage.org/grabbe.htm)
- having a social event (barbeque at someone's house, etc.)
- group trips (local museums, other shows, etc.)
- Smarter ideas which people smarter than me (i.e., all of you) will think of
and suggestion via this group


--- billdeg <billdeg@...> wrote:
>
> I read that there would likely be no VCF East 3.0 this year (but
> there will be a mid-west event).  This got me to thinking.  Our
> little festival within a festival next month would be a nice
> practice for a full-blown MARCH 1.0 festival some day, maybe even
> later this year?
>
> I know...One step at a time, but I for one would be up for it.  I
> think that an event for east coast hobbyists and collectors would be
> a lot of fun.  I also know that this kind of thing is a lot of work,
> but we can keep it *small and simple* for a first go round.
>
> Put this thought in the back of your mind...I can schedule the
> Delaware Horticultural Center in Wilmington, DEL for free (or pretty
> cheap).  The horticultural center has a nice-sized hall/room that
> can fit plenty of booths (maybe 20 or so), and the entrace hall for
> a swap meet, signup/info table, etc.  There are a lot of bars and
> restaurants in walking distance from the Hort. Center with hotels
> about 1 mile down the road.  It's a safe part of town.  Wilmington
> is 2-3 hours from NYC but only one hour from Baltimore.
>
> Would this may be too far south for the average MARCH member?
>
>
>
>

> Put this thought in the back of your mind...I can schedule the
> Delaware Horticultural Center in Wilmington, DEL for free (or pretty
> cheap).  The horticultural center has a nice-sized hall/room that
> can fit plenty of booths (maybe 20 or so), and the entrace hall for
> a swap meet, signup/info table, etc.  There are a lot of bars and
> restaurants in walking distance from the Hort. Center with hotels
> about 1 mile down the road.  It's a safe part of town.  Wilmington
> is 2-3 hours from NYC but only one hour from Baltimore.
>
> Would this may be too far south for the average MARCH member?

Speaking as a resident of Maryland (near Washington, DC), no, not
at all.  ;-)

Mike Nadeau (our member in New Hampshire!) send me three autographed
copies of his book "Collectible Microcomputers" to give away at our
TCF exhibit.  So we'll have to think of some kind of contest or
whatever.  It should be something very easy for us to execute.
Suggestions?

Also, late last year, I self-published a booklet called the "Guide to
U.S. Computer Museums, 2005 Edition".  It lists 21 museums and I've
been selling the booklet for $6 + s/h on my web site.  But I ordered
too many copies.  So now anyone in MARCH can have a copy for just the
$1 s/h cost (a big envelope and a stamp and my trip to the post office.)

One of the museums (Computer Museum of America, in San Diego) has
since announced that it's closing unless it they find more funding,
and another that was in-progress (Maine Computer Museum) is basically
giving up its efforts.  On the other hand, I didn't learn of the
Austin (TX) Computerworks museum until after the booklet was
published, and of course there is the prospect of a MARCH museum now
as well.  LOL, that's what I called it an '05 edition, so I can sell
an updated '06 edition.

Anyhow, free books for all MARCH members for one dollar s/h.  Anyone
who is interested should just send me your snail mail address.

Rich,

Another Longuylander here,
grew up in Elmont, moved out in '80.

Dan

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[ My Corner of Cyberspace                     ]
[ http://ragooman.home.comcast.net/           ]
[                                             ]
[ Pittsburgh Robotics Society     Got Robot ? ]
[ http://pghrobot.home.comcast.net/           ]
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Richard A. Cini, Jr. wrote:

> Delaware for me is no further than the Sun campus in Massachusetts.
> I'm on
> Long Island.

[snip]



--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.3 - Release Date: 3/15/2005

For the contest - We can challenge visitors to "Omega Race" - a game on the
VIC-20 (or whatever) - Beat a MARCH member one-on-one and win a book.

bd

In a message dated 3/16/2005 5:48:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,
evan947@... writes:

> Mike Nadeau (our member in New Hampshire!) send me three autographed
>  copies of his book "Collectible Microcomputers" to give away at our
>  TCF exhibit.  So we'll have to think of some kind of contest or
>  whatever.  It should be something very easy for us to execute.
>  Suggestions?

Just got another email from Fred.  RE: MARCH holding event(s) there,
he says:

>>>>> Hello Evan,

We will have that amount of space once the Army transfers the Marconi
Hotel and the associated buildings.  The need work, but should be
ready late summer - Fall.  It all depends on when the July 2004
scheduled transfer occurs.  The paperwork is in an 'IN' basket at the
Pentagon.

Thank you,
Fred

<<<<<

I also asked him to send the detailed inventory of their existing
collection, instead of just the brand list from their web site (see my
prior email on this subject).  He said that list will be ready in a
couple of weeks, as he has to scan the long paper version.

Took a 30-shot rotation of my vintage computer dwelling and stitched
it together as a QuickTime VR movie, if anyone's interested.


http://www.blakespot.com/list/bytecellar.mov




:-)

blakespot

Blake:

   Where did you find the Mac Picasso poster? I'm re-doing my house
and, eventually, I will have more "display" space in the basement.
So, I'm hunting-down various vintage artwork-like stuff to hang on
the walls.

   The only stuff I have right now are a few framed BYTE lithographs
and some system posters from the KIM-1 and AIM-65.

Rich

--- In midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com, "Blake Patterson"
<blakespot@y...> wrote:
>
> Took a 30-shot rotation of my vintage computer dwelling and stitched
> it together as a QuickTime VR movie, if anyone's interested.
>
>
> http://www.blakespot.com/list/bytecellar.mov
>
>
>
>
> :-)
>
> blakespot