Sounds like the man died in self-defense, just to get away from a complete dolt. Thanks Swordmaker.
There are actually people on the Internet who will assess and sell “estate” high-tech stuff. But their problem is that they are bothered all the time by people don’t understand that rare/originally expensive does not equal valuable. For example, I have a logic analyzer that a company paid into five figures for in the late 1980’s, I like it, it’s fast enough for what I putter with, and it still works. I know how to use it and I like it. No one in their right mind, even a geek, would give me over $100 for it.
I can basically get all of it’s functionality, speed, and more in a USB-connected device that costs <$500 today.
As a GENERAL statement, I would say that not very many pieces of computing equipment built after 1980, and very, very little PC equipment made after 1980 is actually valuable. Apple stuff is an exception, but only certain items, some of them valuable for completely stupid reasons. For example, my wife has an Apple amplifier that an original iPod Mini sits on top of. It’s nothing but a white piece of plastic with speakers and an amp. But they didn’t make many.
Even the original IBM PC isn’t “rare”, except possibly:
1. Original 64K board
2. COMPLETELY, TOTALLY UNMOLESTED/UPGRADED (VERY, VERY rare). Documentation/bill of sale helps.
3. If so equipped, the original SS/DD full-height drive(s).
4. (Bonus: PC/DOS 1.1 and manuals)
Most people who think that they have an original “PC” actually have an PC/XT.