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.
I wholeheartedly agree — the main consideration for value in anything is scarcity, but obviously someone has to want the item or it’s basically worthless.
The earliest PC I used was the XT; the IT guy had the employer buy one, and he did all their database stuff on DBase, running everything out of that menu facility DBase had; and Sidekick was installed, along with very little else.
Before that he had an S-100 bus CP/M machine with a terminal (nice looking but I forget the brand) and an Okidata dotmatrix without true descenders. 8” floppy drives. I’m talkin’ style. ;’) Wish I had that now though, uh, although I’d have to add on to the house. Big sucker.