Your Commodore - Commodore Is Awesome

fjust to make sure that if I bought something and then ran off without paving
for it they could track me down. The top of the slip was torn off and handed
to me. Scrawled on it was "378", my bidders number. "Are you taking photos
for anything in particular?", a man in a red jersey asked as I requested a
catalogue. I told him of my involvement with a certain computer magazine
as I handed over LI for the catalogue. As he noticed this he gave me the
money back and told me to enjoy myself.
The crowds had now retired to a bundle of seats directly in front of the
stage and the gangways along the sides were now more navigable. Looking
around there were benches and more benches liteally overflowing with computer
bits and bobs. Behind the seats were more rows of benches. On one sat various
portable computers with odds and ends hiding between, on another the odds
and ends ruled and complete machines were a minority. It soon became evident
that there were not enough benches and equipment was begining to spill over
onto the floor. Still people swarmed around virtually everything, lifting it,
shaking it, switching things on and trying them out. This kind of behaviour
is encouraged by the auctioneers so that you know exactly what you are buying
and wheter it works or not. You have no come back on the equipment, and
everything is sold "as is".
10:30am and the sale began with lot one, a set of IBM guide to operations
software. My initial reaction was, who the hell wants that, but it soon became
apparent that quite a few people did. Lots two to ten were the same as lot
one and by the time the last one was sold the price had dropped considerably.
Next came three lots of IBM BASIC software which gathered little interest.
The first 40 items in the sale were all software, and the first bit of hardware
was a IBM AT compatible mouse - whoopedo! As I leaned against a wall,
with no prospect of sitting down for a good two hours, I thought just how
boring this experience could be. I scanned the 13 pages of the catalogue and
discovered, to my horror, that there were 1203 lots on sale that day, with
many additionals on separate sheet which I pick
. 30 odd lots had been sold and I was not looking forward to the prospect
ed
of staying
u p
for
.
the
I
rest
n
of the day.
2 0
m
At
i
the
n
bottom
u t e
of the
s
first
,
page were lots 65 to 104 which were a collection
of
j
various
u
D-RAM
s t
chips. These came and went at ridiculously low prices
considering the current value - nine 256K chips for just £28. Turning the
page, I scanned down through the list of things and found myself ticking
off items which I was interested in. "Lot 119 is a new Amstrad PC1640 system
with 20MB hard drive and ECD monitor. Who will bid E600?" No takers.
"t500" those sitting began to fidget but no bids were made. "f400" the
auctioneer's voice took on that "stingy sods" tone. Getting fed up with the
inactive audience he reduced the price to -
E300". mumbling and Tthe hbuyers i s were obviously becoming interested. I heard someone
close t i to mme say e "If it goes to £200 I'll have it." - me too I thought, and
t
it did,
h
"E200",
e
the
r
auctioneer
e
was obviously becoming bored with this.
w
A hand
a
shot
s
high into the air, it was mine! Then someone close by
raised his hand. "L220, do I see ,E240?“ another hand rose and the bidding
mbecame fast u and cfurious. hI
would have had better luck with an arcade coinop.
The system was finally sold for ,C425.
Lot 146 and a Star LC-I0 printer. Bidding began at just £40 and rose
to only £95. I bidded for this too, but considered £95 just a little too much
for a whim and gave in on ths too. By the time lot 148 came up - a NEC
P6 24-pin - I was in the swing of things and really begining to enjoy myself.
At the end of the day I came home with 30 blank 3.5 inch discs, these
cost just £6 per ten, a telephone, Psion Organiser II, an Atari 8-bit cassette
recorder - I only paid £3 for this some printer ribbons and a steel underdesk
keyboard shelf.
The auction I attended was organised by John Russell & Co. who are
based in Croydon, Surrey. However, there are various other companies around
the country who organise computer auctions, the more notable ones are listed
below, others advertise in various journals. All items in the auction, unless
stated otherwise in the catalogue, are subject to VAT which is added to your
bill.
The auction turned Out to be great fun, I came away wanting to go to
the next one - so I'm off this Saturday to Mitcham and to the next auction.
I probably won't buy anything, but it's fun all the same. It's interesting to
talk to different people, and many bidders are regulars so you can make new
friends and enjoy your hobby that little bit more. A n d r e w Banner
I •
I v .
i
c
r,
,
•
•
FEATURE •
Above: An abundance ot goods for all to
see.
Above, My, what a mighty fine floppy drive
you have!
Auctioneers
John Russell & Co.
Selsdon House
34 Selsdon Road
South Croydon
CR2 6BP
Tel: (01) 681 5413
MCD Computer Auctions
Unit 19
Loin Court
Danestil Industrial Estate
Basingstoke
RG2 OQIJ
Tel: (0256) 810113
Traderdesk
Unit 1-8
Manor Works
168 Worcester Road
Broomsgrove
Worcestershire
B61 7AZ
Tel: (0527) 579120
YOUR COMMODORE S i x t y Seven