Hope to see you at the VCFSE 4.0. I will be speaking about my 45 years
as a collector of historical microcomputer artifacts. The presentation will include information about how I acquired the more then 10,000 items in my Bugbook Computer Museum collection including 4 original Apple-1 computers. The entire collection ( I am retaining 2 of my Apple-1 computers) has recently been moved to the Computer
Museum of America in Roswell, GA. I will also speak about my years with the "Blacksburg Group"
in the 70's & 80's and the pioneering work in the microcomputer revolution of the group. In addition to myself the "Blacksburg Group" included Jon Titus (Mark-8 designer),
Chris Titus, and Peter Rony. The group got its start with the
publication of the "BugBooks"
(1974)
I am excited to be attending my first Vintage Computer Festival South East, sharing my computer collecting stories with fellow Vintage computer peers. I doubt if I will be the oldest person there however I will be in good company with anyone older - I am 77 and my start with computers was 59 years ago in 1957. The Navy sent me to school in St. Paul, MN to learn about the big Remington Rand Univac computers. I have always been a hoarder and collector of old electronic devices however I claim 1971 as my start of collecting microcomputer memorabilia. 45 years ago in 1971 the first commercial microprocessor chip (4004) came to market.
We were pleased to have Win Heagy a serious historical microcomputer collector visit our "Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Museum". Win was on his way to the first Vintage Computer Festival Southeast (VCFSE) in Roswell, GA.
Here is what David Greelish founder of VCFSE tells us about the festival :
Year after year, the various VCFs have presented an amazing line-up
of speakers and workshops for the computer history and classic computing
enthusiast. We are proud to keep that tradition with the VCFSE.
Workshops are scheduled for each morning of the show, and speakers
during the afternoon. There will also be some fun bonus sessions
scheduled throughout each show day.
Win Heagy and David Larsen ( Museum Director) in museum , Floyd Virginia. We have about 100 computers and 100 calculators on display at our small museum display. The main part of our collection has been inventoried and is stored in our climate controlled warehouse. It is our desire over the next few years to have most of our historical computers and memorabilia on display in our museum or loaned out to others.
Ticket to festival
The festival is this weekend April 20 & 21,2013 and I sure wish I would be there - it would be great to see all the displays and visit with other collectors and historians.
Win and David with Apple 1 microcomputer from the museum display. This is special viewing for Win as the Apple 1 microcomputers are stored in the local bank vault and brought out for special occasions.
We have many visitors to our museum display however not many really serious collectors of historical microcomputers. Win and I were able to have some great discussions about old computers and share stories about how we were able to locate our special finds. It is a beautiful weekend and I know Win and all the others at the VCFSE will have a great time in Roswell, GA. I sure hope to make it to the next computer festival and meet other collectors. I have been a collector of Historical Microcomputer Memorabilia for over 40 years & have many stories to share. "by David Larsen" KK4WW Historical Microcomputer Collector/Historian.
