Computer Shopper - UK (2020-03)

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ssssaayyyyssSSeellllamAAbbrahham, whhoused toggggobyyyythe
surnameIsmail. And he should know,because
in the mid-1980s, his teenage self had already
begun collecting computers, telling his mother
that theywould one daybecherished and
formthe basis of amuseum.

HISTORY CHANNELLED

“It just became an addiction. I’d tell my mum
that Ithought these things would be
important forfuture historians when Ihad
mmmmyyyycloset filledwith old computers –thee
big clunkythings. She would ask me to see
themand Isaid, ‘no,no, they’re going to
important one day’.Ididn’t really believe
myself,but Ijust wanted to get her offmm
back,”heexplains.
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difference is that retro collectors are now 10

apenny,which has been driving up prices at

car boot sales, charity shops and online

marketplaces such as eBay. Back then, people

were practically giving computers away.

“I was at acar boot sale in 1993 when I

sawsomeone selling all of the computers

that Iusedtoplaywithinthose department

stores,”Abrahamrecalls.

“I had to walk around the corner and

compose myself because Ididn’t want to

acqqqquiire thhem.””””

He went back to that seller with astraight

face and expressed his interest.

“He asked which ones Iwanted and Isaid I

wanted themall,”Abrahamlaughs.

“Wethen worked out adealofabout

fivebucks apiece which, for23computers

fromAtari, Commodore and Te xas

Instruments, worked out at $100. Ibrought

themall home,cleaned themup and tested

themout. Ithen packed themall awayin

anti-static packaging and stored them

yylike atime capsule.”

EASY PICKINGS

Living in Silicon Valley, wherehewould

later gain employment as aprogrammer,

Abrahamfounditeasy to come across

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RETRO

“Most of the stuff back then was
considdereddjunkkanddobbsolletevery quickklly,””
saysSell Ab h h

fascination drove himjust as it does with

vintagecomputerenthhusiaststodday Thhemain

tip off the seller that Iwas so excited to

i hh

“MOSTOFTHESTUFFBACKTHEN

WASCONSIDEREDJUNKAND

OBSOLETEVERYQUICKLY”

ho sa ds of opes arsgm
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la filsi in e xio

⬇Sellam Abraham’s first computer

was aMattelAquarius, which was

launched in 1983