Photos: Hardware Hoarders - Your old computers (PART 1)

Bobs Sinclair ZX81 survived years of 'alternative' use

This ZX81 has done well to survive so long in Bob's care: "Due to its wedge shape I must admit that i have previously used the odd ZX80/81 as a door wedge - well, it was perfectly shaped! Also, I learnt to interface to these fine examples, including linking to relays, 12v car batteries, thin fuse wire and fireworks in order to 'automate' early firework 'shows' at home." Of the Spectrum 48K, Bob is perhaps less fond, commenting that the keys "seemed to have been modelled on a pencil eraser, they didn't work work and just smudged." As to how he's hung on to them so long, Bob says only this: "simple, my wife doesn't or at least didn't know I had them!" Good luck, Bob, and hope you find another decent hiding place!