Hi from Retro PC Fanatic

[tibbs1972]

Hello,

I'm a control sysems engineer, designing production lines for food factories.
(Not software based, Hardware Engineer mainly working on AutoCAD / Eplan 2024.

I used to work in TV repair, but thats 35 years ago.

Now, I've got the Retro PC bug and it's bad, I've purchased the following from Ebay. (All purchased this year).

Atari 2600 Console - I modified with a Composite output. ( My 2nd Console back in the 1978, I think).

Sega Master System II - I modified with a Composite Output.

Acorn Electron - This was my 1st PC, back in the 80's, spent hours on Elite, and programming from Magazines.

BBC Basic Model B - We had these at School and College in 1989.

ZX Spectrum 48k - I repaired this, replaced the Ferranti ULA and did Composite Mod. - Never Had one before, but my freind did, so I biked over regularly.

Amstrad CPC464 - Never had one, but I've purchased and refurbished Two now.

Amstrad CPC6128 - This was my second PC. I loved it, but I always experimeted with kit and blew the 12V regulator and the 3" Disc Drive. As a kid, the best I could do was short the Transistor on the Disc drve and run it on 1.5V batteries in series. It loaded games, but slowly.

Amstrad CPC6128 Plus - Just snatched one from Ebay, I've got it working tonight. There was so much dust bunnies in the keyboard, the keyboard was activated permanently. Will wash the keys tomorrow. Fixed the 3" Drive and serviced. Cleaned case tonight, waiting for it to dry. Burning Rubber and Basic works on Scart ( Looking for a CM14 Monitor ).

Commodore 64 - Purchased and cleaned, working ok on HDMI.

Commorodr 64C - This has been cleaned and seems to work OK.

Mini Retro Commodore 64 - Laughed when it turned up, didn't realise it was so small.

Commodore Amiga A500 with 1MB - Just finished reburbishing - Keyboard replaced, installed new RF shield as everything was rusty - tip (sandpaper removed rust on Plastic effectively). I think this was in Water or a Shed, but it still works.
I was annoyed as when I got it all working and serviced, the Workbench disk failed. New Workbench disk ordered and I need to replace the clock Battery.

Nintendo N64 - Working ok - Nothing to do. - Manahed to snatch a copy of GoldenEye

Presently waiting for some replacment Diodes for a Amstrad GT65-2 Monitor (for some reason they are missing, so can't supply Flyback Transformer. The Dioides will replace the old missing Hitachi V06C and V09C diodes.

Thats it for the moment, hope it wasn't too laborious.
I think I'll carry on, as I've got the Bug. I prefer repairing to using for some reason. Might move onto old PC's next.

Running out of room now, might need more shelving. Spare room is now more a lab.

Best Regards
Tibbs

 

[dodogildo]

Hi. And wow! Don't start collecting MSX too . Or you'd have to think about moving to a new house. 

[Anthony Flack]

You're not alone... I have quite a few vintage systems myself. Yep, quite a few...

[scorp6128+]

Wow, your collection is impressing.
From the technical side, you are the right man for the many old devices.

Welcome, and have fun here.

[norecess464]

Haha, this really reminds me of myself about 17 years ago (at a time when the shipping costs were much higher than the machine itself......).

I remember collecting a wide variety of computers and consoles. But eventually, when I noticed some of them were just collecting dust, I decided to sell a few and focus only on the ones that truly mattered to me.

For computers: I kept the Amstrads (of course ) and an Amiga 600.
For consoles: Genesis (with Sega CD and 32X), Saturn, Dreamcast, NES, SNES, PSX, and the original Xbox.

Plus, I keep all my machines ready to be powered on.

I'm not saying you should do the same -- far from it -- I'm just sharing my personal experience. It was important for me to set some limits.

[Prodatron]

@norecess464 very funny: In my case it's 100% the same.