How to best monetize collection of 8bit computers? Good friend of mine do have great collection of 8bit computers. Apart from usual ones (Commodore, Sinclair…), there are lot of East European and similar model that are not frequent. He was thinking about some kind of museum, but I am looking for better solution, if any. Museums require large investment and usualy bring low revenue. Any idea or advice how to create better business out of it? Location would be Europe. |
More demanding thing to do would be to create a kit for hobbyists. For example I never heard of IBM 8086 DIY clone available in Europe. The market is very niche and would require some work (ordering printed circuit boards; handling customers). Not sure if it benefit would be worth the costs - most people that are doing those kit's usually stops after a few years.
The last option would be to write a book about one particular machine, with schematic and stuff. Probably there would be some licensing issues. I would gladly buy a book that described working on IBM 8086 in all technical details. Currently such knowledge is distributed among old IBM manuals and obscure PC emulation forums.
Imagine, now exists parks with miniature World Wonders, and this will be park with 8bit world. There will be 8bit building, 8bit rooms, 8bit design/environment, 8bit restaurant, and as pearl, collection of real 8bit computers.
And yes, as I know, amusement parks are good strong business, only have issues on pandemic.
Amusement park is also not simple, but much difference there are not too many parks, and their creation usually very well supported by communities.
Everyone thinks its museum worthy, yet 99% of those people never paid for museum tickets to see old computers.