A tip about old computers

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08-06-2011, 01:40 PM
Ecycle Atlanta

A tip about old computers

just wanted to pass along that a few months ago I was tearing apart an old computer that had 2 TEAC 5.25" floppy drives. I was thinking of how old and out of date these things are and which scrap pile I should put them in. Well, I then did what I have learned as lesson #1 in the scrap business....research! I saw where they had a number of these things listed, but wasnt sure how successfully they sold, considering they are old and "just junk". Well, I posted them as a pair and after a few weeks finally sold them for $40 plus shipping...YES...$20 apiece! Sure, ebay and paypal took some of that, plus my time to box and ship, but still better than scrap!

Anyway, I came across another one just the other day and wondered if my sale was a fluke. So I listed it yesterday and it just sold today! I adjusted the price to $25 including shipping, so next time I find one I'll bump it up some. I even disclosed that I wasnt even sure if it worked and had no way to test, and it still sold! Lesson learned...keep doing your research. There is money laying around everywhere!
08-06-2011, 02:33 PM
EcoSafe

there is a small growing community of geekdom, who collect any thing computer. I have seen some cpus go for hundreds.
08-06-2011, 03:36 PM
JacksDaddy

I'll try it out tomorrow and list a floppy and DVD drive that I was going to break down for scrap, and I'll add my results here.
08-06-2011, 07:20 PM
fnord

Quote:

Originally Posted by olddude

there is a small growing community of geekdom, who collect any thing computer. I have seen some cpus go for hundreds.

Some of us use the little stepper motors in them for little robotics toys. That's probably who is buying your 5.25" floppy drives.

There are also those who collect old chips. But they mostly need to be very old.
08-07-2011, 07:23 AM
parrothead

Thanks for the tip! I have a few 5.25s laying around. I am going to list them for sure in my coming auctions. I may even hook them up to see if they work.
08-08-2011, 02:59 PM
easyrecycle

If you have the time to check into all the parts then do so. We scrap out many items during the week that could of been worth alot of money. But due to time it will take an the amount of scrap some times you just cant check every one thing.

But this is good to know an I will put it onto our wall of parts that we keep an eye out for.
08-08-2011, 03:18 PM
fiat128

That's good to know. I have an old IBM PC-AT in the garage that still works and it has one. I wonder what the whole thing is worth?
08-08-2011, 03:22 PM
fiat128

I think I'm going to be sick. I took a look on ebay at how much the original manuals and stuff go for and it's in the hundreds of dollars. I can recall dumping the pages out of the binder in the recycle bin, ripping the three ring out and throwing it in with the steel and tossing the cover.

The whole CPU, if functioning seems to be worth about $500!
08-09-2011, 07:28 PM
Copper Head

I have like 20 old computers not dumped, but have dumped some. SO i guess the Computer-Monitors/ i dump might be worth more if working also. the Computer-Monitors these days have the wire cut
08-11-2011, 02:15 PM
bluemeate

errrrrrrrr nvm
08-11-2011, 02:46 PM
CMHN

I have seen CD-ROM drives taken apart for the motors to put in RC planes.
08-11-2011, 03:14 PM
Mechanic688

Quote:

errrrrrrrr nvm

???????
Earth to Bluemeate
08-11-2011, 04:35 PM
dherik

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMHN

I have seen CD-ROM drives taken apart for the motors to put in RC planes.

Those make good servo motors for miscellaneous projects.