I see the museum is coming under some criticism for the sheer amount that they have in storage so I wanted to explain some things that were discussed off camera. The bulk of the stuff in the storage units and game library has been donated by well-meaning members of the public who didn't know what else to do with it - the old "if you don't take this it's going down the dump" routine that I'm sure we've all come across at some point or other. This ranges from individual items to entire collections and has been going on since 2008, hence they've managed to amass so much. Sadly as a charity staffed by volunteers the museum just hasn't had the resources until recently to get it all catalogued, tested, cleaned up and dealt with - but as alluded to a few times in the video, this is now starting to happen with an effort lead by Dean, who is a recent recruit. I've also volunteered to get involved and am hoping to spend some time helping them to get things fixed up and sold to raise some proceeds to help cover their ever-increasing running costs. They do now have a shop on site selling some items, and this wasn't shown in the video. Of course as an outside observer with no personal connection to the museum it's not my place to defend them, but I'm aware that the situation perhaps isn't made clear in the video and I'd hate to misrepresent it. Hopefully as they work through it and the situation improves I'll be able to cover their progress on the channel, so it should be an interesting journey to be a part of. 🙂
Thanks for the explanation, and after watching the guys on the This Week in Retro Podcast where they discussed the subject and read out my comment I actually changed my tune. Neil explained how he gets the items for The Cave and the fact he gets contacted by the public asking him if he wants something if not it will go to the tip. I can see that in fact by saying yes and storing it like this they are indeed providing an excellent service and maybe giving me the opportunity to own the systems in the future that otherwise would have ended up in landfill. This wasn't something I had thought of, and glad my perspective has been changed. Thank you.
@@RetroSK3L3 The problem is that the kit should not be worth the time it takes to restore. Just an hour's work on a car would be over £60+VAT in a garage, for example. So, repair for resale, although a valuable job of work, does put the prices up, and prevents knowledge-gaining by enthusiasts who may wish to maintain their own equipment. Assessment is important, but if these collections and museums start doing what the charity shops (like Oxfam) are doing with books (charging an arm-and-a-leg, based on what they think they see on ebay), them I think this would put of a lot of genuine potential enthusiasts, too. As hobbies go it's getting too expensive. Some things may need to be passed on assessed but otherwise 'as is'.
Museums everywhere have a really challenging job trying to find a viable future whilst at the same time, servicing the need for preservation. I understand that. But elements of this video did put me in-mind of the Caister Car Collection near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. This museum was gifted the little Honda given to Jenson Button by his sponsors. This is a delightful little red classic two-seater sports car. Like every other car in the museum, it has been drained of all fluids and placed up on bricks, never to move again. The museum does have something of a reputation as a car mausoleum. The job of restoration, should any run again, would require a complete engineering rebuild due to the degradation this treatment would cause. It is an incredibly sad sight to see so many rare and historic vehicles shut away, seemingly forever. The wharehouse in your video does give that same impression. Especially when competition for old computer parts has become so intense that an item may show up only one or twice-a-year. It means that broken and dysfunctional parts are 'selling' (if they are selling at all) for 'top money'. For example, an old Apricot keyboard - the one with a 'micro screen - has just been listed on ebay, smashed and clearly broken. They guy wants £199, for parts! His ebay offer was £175. That's a truly absurd amount of money to ask. Except, there are none other available. So, he's out for what he can get. Money for old rope. I think the challenge of that museum, together with the challenge of entering the world of retro and micro computing, demonstrates there is a problem. It is a two-sided problem. Yet, those images do make others, like me, feel 'locked out'. That's sad.
Many thanks to RCM for hosting me, I'll certainly be back! If you'd like to know more about the museum or pay them a visit you can find all the information you need on their website: retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/
Those VR machines must be really rare by now. I used one of the sit down versions back in the 90's when they had them at the Trocadero Centre in Piccadilly Circus. It was running a VR Missile Command clone which was completely pants in terms of gameplay but a mind blowing experience none the less. It's great to see them being preserved.
Absolutely great museum. Visited it 2019 and could have spent a week there looking through the software, magazines and books. Playing on each of the computers and consoles was a good trip down memory lane. Andy and the whole team do a wonderful job making all these classics available for anyone to visit and enjoy. If you haven’t already visited you missing out on a wonderful experience. I was lucky to get a seek preview of some of the machine’s that were in storage and I for one are so happy that they have these extras to keep the museum going well into the future and not hidden in a private collection somewhere.
When I visited, I spent about 80% of my time in the software archive. That was simply incredible. Every game or piece of software you can imagine is there. There was nostalgia sensory overload! I need to go back.
Heartwarming to see so many children there. Got to say though, that storage is massive. Guess really don't have to worry about a couple machines breaking down. Or a couple dozen...
Yeah, the definitely have a lot of stuff. They're in the process of testing everything and getting it all into a big database but they're struggling with a lack of volunteer time to dedicate to it. I'm keen to get involved and help them to sort it all out - maybe some of the duplicates could be sold off to raise some funds for the museum.
It's great that places like this exist, and that people donate so much kit. But you cannot help but wonder if you have a warehouse that takes so much stuff out of circulation, does that then help drive the cost of retro kit up? Just seems a real shame to see that many of the same machine sitting on shelves, not being touched.
The Retro Computer Museum is by far my favourite computing museum that I've visited. It's quite a way from my home in Sussex but I've been a couple of times. Last time I spent literally hours reading old Atari ST magazines, bringing back memories of the software and especially peripherals I owned back in the day. I wish I lived nearer, I'd love to volunteer there and properly get involved.
I should've mentioned the magazines, I did spend some time flicking through them and thought I'd recorded some footage but apparently not. They certainly have a big and well organised library.
Plus Andy mentioned Finders Keepers, I did the conversion for the Commodore version, along with loads of other games for Oric, Atari, Amiga, etc…. Great times.
That looks an absolutely amazing place,looking forward to visiting this place in the near future,brimgs back so many memories,its nice that it has a hands on approach which allows you to experience computers of yesteryear with such greats as the amiga,spectrum,PlayStation 1 etc
Wow! I remember those Virtuality stand up machines in the early 90s, then later, probably around 1995 or 6, I had a go in those sit down pod ones at a tech show in London. There were 8 linked together and I played a 3D version of missile command. I was convinced, because Doom had recently been released and I was in my early teens, that Doom would be available as one of the stand up VR games.
I worked at Virtuality (W-Industries) from 1992 until 1998 (went in administration). I worked for Al Humrich (nicest guy on the planet) as the Server / Network Engineer.. good days
This place looks great. Next time I'm in the UK I'd like to take a day to go over there - never been to Leicester either before. I would say you could easily spend multiple days in there browsing around all they have.
Sometimes I go along just to sit and read a few old magazines, and if I find any interesting reviews it's likely I'll be able to give the game a play. It's a wonderful place.
That was great. I'd like to see you do more videos from there. I'm personally less interested in the games than I am in seeing some of the more obscure/rare systems.
I was having the same thought. Those machines should be enjoyed by people. I understand having boxed samples in a museum but there are way to many machines out of the circulation driving the prices on ebay really high.
@@nickolasgaspar9660 That's a good point I hadn't considered. Perhaps the museum could sell some of the collection and donate to charity or use the money to expand the museum facilities?
Hi there I just found you because of the solar install. I was in Leicester in 1990 for my GIS MSc degree. Stayed in Belgrave (Little India) and down Welford Road towards Knighton. Quite a pleasant city looking back. Probably the gear I used back then would fit in a museum! Old 286s, 386 Dells, my own Toshiba MSX a real oldie! Whaddya know, at 3:27 my MSX!
Oh God! I was very sad to see the area I lived in Belgrave Road in the news for the wrong reasons! One of the great attractions of student life was the curry restaurants!
This looks amazing and its so important that places like this keep going. Its a shame so much kit is simply stored in a warehouse and not in the hands of other collectors who would give them the love they deserve.
This place looks amazing, will be going soon, there's a gentleman who runs a shop in silver arcade sells decent selection of games, cheers for this mate
Great video. Considering the ebay prices for these computers they have an absolute fortune in that storage units. They need to shift them on and invest the money in the front of house.
The storage unit is separate to the museum itself and I was careful not to show its location - but of course if someone was determined enough I'm sure they could work it out. I'm told that the collection is insured at least.
I'm going soon, I'm from groby leicestershire, looking forward to going soon looks really good, caddyshackers,and Hollywood bowl in leicester have a decent selection of games as well kind regards.
Lovely to see some Commodore SX64s - I saved one from the local dump some years back (I saw it in the back of someone's car and asked if I could have it) - it ended up in Bletchley Park. Worked perfectly after I fashioned a cable to connect the keyboard! And how are those Expality VR Amiga 3000 based arcade machines going that you collected from a garage one day in Woodford Halse?! And I tried and tried to save my pocket money to buy a Commodore Personal Electronic Transactor (PET)! Temple of Apsai, Datestones of Ryn, Starship Orion - happy days.
As someone who grew up in Rutland and long lost all my childhood and teenage computers, I can't help wondering if my Spectrum +2b, STFM (which I completely destroyed trying to upgrade to 1meg when I was far too young to try it) and A1200 (case hacked up to pass through a cable for a CD drive) have ended up in that warehouse!
Leicester? Walkers and the Foxes of course! Plus one huge run the the Premier League Top of table in 2015! Oh sh@t also ALL: OF THAT computer stuff too!
A long shot here, but is there any chance of doing a review on the M5 briefly shown here? (I remember it being a Sword CGL M5) My first home computer, which we changed for a VIC20 as a C64 was too expensive. (I remember the horrible Spectrum like keys and it having a cartridge for Basic programming)
@@ctrlaltrees Fingers crossed 🤞. I think we changed it as there were very few software titles and the keyboard was awful; although not as bad as a Spectrum if memory serves me? (Loooong time ago! 🤣)
I’m not sure of the point of a computer museum having a huge storage area filled with many multiples of the same models. If they never leave the warehouse wouldn’t it be better to put them up for sale so they could be appreciated and used/restored by people instead of rotting away on a shelf just for the sake of having them in a collection.
This isn't far from me at all. Been meaning to go for ages but never get around to it. I didn't realise they had so much of a stock of systems. It's like an Aladin's cave, a very organised one.
Do you fix machines? I have a c64 breadbin that needs sorting. The box is as good as the one you showed. The machine has been in a sponge case since I got it
Ah this is why all the prices are now through the roof for these items, everything is shelved in a warehouse. If they want to raise funds why not just sell half that inventory?
Hmmmmmmmm shouldn’t a lot of that stock be out in the community for other users to enjoy or is that part of the plan to sell things off? Even if it was going to be dumped, as a charity it would be in the best interest surely to generate an income by restoring a lot of these items. I can’t imagine many of the donations wouldn’t have sold on fleabay
I see the museum is coming under some criticism for the sheer amount that they have in storage so I wanted to explain some things that were discussed off camera.
The bulk of the stuff in the storage units and game library has been donated by well-meaning members of the public who didn't know what else to do with it - the old "if you don't take this it's going down the dump" routine that I'm sure we've all come across at some point or other. This ranges from individual items to entire collections and has been going on since 2008, hence they've managed to amass so much. Sadly as a charity staffed by volunteers the museum just hasn't had the resources until recently to get it all catalogued, tested, cleaned up and dealt with - but as alluded to a few times in the video, this is now starting to happen with an effort lead by Dean, who is a recent recruit.
I've also volunteered to get involved and am hoping to spend some time helping them to get things fixed up and sold to raise some proceeds to help cover their ever-increasing running costs. They do now have a shop on site selling some items, and this wasn't shown in the video.
Of course as an outside observer with no personal connection to the museum it's not my place to defend them, but I'm aware that the situation perhaps isn't made clear in the video and I'd hate to misrepresent it. Hopefully as they work through it and the situation improves I'll be able to cover their progress on the channel, so it should be an interesting journey to be a part of. 🙂
As long as they have good security. It seems like quite a valuable collection.
Thanks for the explanation, and after watching the guys on the This Week in Retro Podcast where they discussed the subject and read out my comment I actually changed my tune. Neil explained how he gets the items for The Cave and the fact he gets contacted by the public asking him if he wants something if not it will go to the tip. I can see that in fact by saying yes and storing it like this they are indeed providing an excellent service and maybe giving me the opportunity to own the systems in the future that otherwise would have ended up in landfill. This wasn't something I had thought of, and glad my perspective has been changed. Thank you.
@@RetroSK3L3 The problem is that the kit should not be worth the time it takes to restore. Just an hour's work on a car would be over £60+VAT in a garage, for example. So, repair for resale, although a valuable job of work, does put the prices up, and prevents knowledge-gaining by enthusiasts who may wish to maintain their own equipment. Assessment is important, but if these collections and museums start doing what the charity shops (like Oxfam) are doing with books (charging an arm-and-a-leg, based on what they think they see on ebay), them I think this would put of a lot of genuine potential enthusiasts, too. As hobbies go it's getting too expensive. Some things may need to be passed on assessed but otherwise 'as is'.
Museums everywhere have a really challenging job trying to find a viable future whilst at the same time, servicing the need for preservation. I understand that. But elements of this video did put me in-mind of the Caister Car Collection near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. This museum was gifted the little Honda given to Jenson Button by his sponsors. This is a delightful little red classic two-seater sports car. Like every other car in the museum, it has been drained of all fluids and placed up on bricks, never to move again. The museum does have something of a reputation as a car mausoleum. The job of restoration, should any run again, would require a complete engineering rebuild due to the degradation this treatment would cause. It is an incredibly sad sight to see so many rare and historic vehicles shut away, seemingly forever. The wharehouse in your video does give that same impression. Especially when competition for old computer parts has become so intense that an item may show up only one or twice-a-year. It means that broken and dysfunctional parts are 'selling' (if they are selling at all) for 'top money'. For example, an old Apricot keyboard - the one with a 'micro screen - has just been listed on ebay, smashed and clearly broken. They guy wants £199, for parts! His ebay offer was £175. That's a truly absurd amount of money to ask. Except, there are none other available. So, he's out for what he can get. Money for old rope. I think the challenge of that museum, together with the challenge of entering the world of retro and micro computing, demonstrates there is a problem. It is a two-sided problem. Yet, those images do make others, like me, feel 'locked out'. That's sad.
Many thanks to RCM for hosting me, I'll certainly be back! If you'd like to know more about the museum or pay them a visit you can find all the information you need on their website: retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/
Those VR machines must be really rare by now. I used one of the sit down versions back in the 90's when they had them at the Trocadero Centre in Piccadilly Circus. It was running a VR Missile Command clone which was completely pants in terms of gameplay but a mind blowing experience none the less.
It's great to see them being preserved.
Absolutely great museum. Visited it 2019 and could have spent a week there looking through the software, magazines and books. Playing on each of the computers and consoles was a good trip down memory lane.
Andy and the whole team do a wonderful job making all these classics available for anyone to visit and enjoy. If you haven’t already visited you missing out on a wonderful experience.
I was lucky to get a seek preview of some of the machine’s that were in storage and I for one are so happy that they have these extras to keep the museum going well into the future and not hidden in a private collection somewhere.
When I visited, I spent about 80% of my time in the software archive. That was simply incredible. Every game or piece of software you can imagine is there. There was nostalgia sensory overload! I need to go back.
Heartwarming to see so many children there. Got to say though, that storage is massive. Guess really don't have to worry about a couple machines breaking down. Or a couple dozen...
Yeah, the definitely have a lot of stuff. They're in the process of testing everything and getting it all into a big database but they're struggling with a lack of volunteer time to dedicate to it. I'm keen to get involved and help them to sort it all out - maybe some of the duplicates could be sold off to raise some funds for the museum.
@@ctrlaltrees Sigh, why am I stuck in Germany... :(
It's great that places like this exist, and that people donate so much kit. But you cannot help but wonder if you have a warehouse that takes so much stuff out of circulation, does that then help drive the cost of retro kit up? Just seems a real shame to see that many of the same machine sitting on shelves, not being touched.
The Retro Computer Museum is by far my favourite computing museum that I've visited.
It's quite a way from my home in Sussex but I've been a couple of times. Last time I spent literally hours reading old Atari ST magazines, bringing back memories of the software and especially peripherals I owned back in the day. I wish I lived nearer, I'd love to volunteer there and properly get involved.
I should've mentioned the magazines, I did spend some time flicking through them and thought I'd recorded some footage but apparently not. They certainly have a big and well organised library.
Rees - brilliant video. This is what Nirvana looks like, I'm sure.
That guy in the red T-shirt sat in the Virtuality Sit-down machine is me!
Plus Andy mentioned Finders Keepers, I did the conversion for the Commodore version, along with loads of other games for Oric, Atari, Amiga, etc…. Great times.
Fantastic informative video, verY friendlY and mega-knowledgeable staff - well worth a visit folks!
That looks an absolutely amazing place,looking forward to visiting this place in the near future,brimgs back so many memories,its nice that it has a hands on approach which allows you to experience computers of yesteryear with such greats as the amiga,spectrum,PlayStation 1 etc
Dragon 200 is a very rare beast, so good to see they've got one in the collection.
Must visit!! Look at all those Mega Drives!! I bet there is lots of Atari 8 bit ❤️❤️❤️
Wow! I remember those Virtuality stand up machines in the early 90s, then later, probably around 1995 or 6, I had a go in those sit down pod ones at a tech show in London. There were 8 linked together and I played a 3D version of missile command. I was convinced, because Doom had recently been released and I was in my early teens, that Doom would be available as one of the stand up VR games.
Whoa that's crazy, it's like a British Computer Reset!
I worked at Virtuality (W-Industries) from 1992 until 1998 (went in administration). I worked for Al Humrich (nicest guy on the planet) as the Server / Network Engineer.. good days
Great to see retro love instilled in younger generations!
fellow Leicester retro enthusiast yet I've never been. Thanks for the video, I'll definitely be dropping by to have a look.
This place looks great. Next time I'm in the UK I'd like to take a day to go over there - never been to Leicester either before. I would say you could easily spend multiple days in there browsing around all they have.
Sometimes I go along just to sit and read a few old magazines, and if I find any interesting reviews it's likely I'll be able to give the game a play. It's a wonderful place.
That was great. I'd like to see you do more videos from there. I'm personally less interested in the games than I am in seeing some of the more obscure/rare systems.
I'm hoping to work with them more in the future, I'd love to have a dig around that warehouse and find some rare systems in need of restoration. 🙂
@@ctrlaltrees UA-cam content for years to come XD
Absolute superb museum thanks for covering it .
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the video. Agreed, the museum is fantastic!
This is the second video I've seen of your channel. Subbed after the first. Love it
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that places like this exist, but a part of me feels like this stuff shouldn't be sat gathering dust in a warehouse.
I was having the same thought. Those machines should be enjoyed by people.
I understand having boxed samples in a museum but there are way to many machines out of the circulation driving the prices on ebay really high.
They will no doubt work on them but it will require quite a bit of time and money .
@@nickolasgaspar9660 That's a good point I hadn't considered. Perhaps the museum could sell some of the collection and donate to charity or use the money to expand the museum facilities?
This is a dream museum & warehouse. Oof. I would like to live there, thank you very much.
Haha, I could definitely see myself building a nest somewhere in that warehouse 😅
That does look like a lot of fun. id love to go some day!
Let me know when you're in town and I'll show you the local tourist hotspots - it won't take long 😅
Hi there I just found you because of the solar install. I was in Leicester in 1990 for my GIS MSc degree. Stayed in Belgrave (Little India) and down Welford Road towards Knighton. Quite a pleasant city looking back. Probably the gear I used back then would fit in a museum! Old 286s, 386 Dells, my own Toshiba MSX a real oldie! Whaddya know, at 3:27 my MSX!
Oh God! I was very sad to see the area I lived in Belgrave Road in the news for the wrong reasons! One of the great attractions of student life was the curry restaurants!
This looks amazing and its so important that places like this keep going. Its a shame so much kit is simply stored in a warehouse and not in the hands of other collectors who would give them the love they deserve.
Please read my reply to @Ctrl-alt-rees below, where I have changed my point of view since writing the above comment.
Get that man a box protector for that C64! Cool vid!
This place looks amazing, will be going soon, there's a gentleman who runs a shop in silver arcade sells decent selection of games, cheers for this mate
WOW, enough warehouse to setup many museums, could become a franchise :).
That warehouse was insane! 😳
Manic miner wow that brings back memories
11:13 Nice.
Can you imagine the number of leaky batteries or capacitors in that warehouse...
The warehouse looks amazing!! I would love a room like that!
Brilliant! Best video I've seen of RCM. I already wanted to visit and now I want to visit even more!
Great video. Considering the ebay prices for these computers they have an absolute fortune in that storage units. They need to shift them on and invest the money in the front of house.
The storage unit is separate to the museum itself and I was careful not to show its location - but of course if someone was determined enough I'm sure they could work it out. I'm told that the collection is insured at least.
No wonder that prices go up! they take anything of the market and hold it.
I'm going soon, I'm from groby leicestershire, looking forward to going soon looks really good, caddyshackers,and Hollywood bowl in leicester have a decent selection of games as well kind regards.
It's amazing museum.
Lovely to see some Commodore SX64s - I saved one from the local dump some years back (I saw it in the back of someone's car and asked if I could have it) - it ended up in Bletchley Park. Worked perfectly after I fashioned a cable to connect the keyboard! And how are those Expality VR Amiga 3000 based arcade machines going that you collected from a garage one day in Woodford Halse?! And I tried and tried to save my pocket money to buy a Commodore Personal Electronic Transactor (PET)! Temple of Apsai, Datestones of Ryn, Starship Orion - happy days.
As someone who grew up in Rutland and long lost all my childhood and teenage computers, I can't help wondering if my Spectrum +2b, STFM (which I completely destroyed trying to upgrade to 1meg when I was far too young to try it) and A1200 (case hacked up to pass through a cable for a CD drive) have ended up in that warehouse!
I've got to go there and have a look,
I live in Leicester so not got an excuse.
It's well worth a visit! The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable and will make you feel at home.
Leicester? Walkers and the Foxes of course! Plus one huge run the the Premier League Top of table in 2015!
Oh sh@t also ALL: OF THAT computer stuff too!
OK I desperately need to go visit the UK now! :)
So, this is why I can't find retro computers for a decent price anymore. They're all hidden away in a warehouse.
Flippin' sweet!
A long shot here, but is there any chance of doing a review on the M5 briefly shown here? (I remember it being a Sword CGL M5) My first home computer, which we changed for a VIC20 as a C64 was too expensive. (I remember the horrible Spectrum like keys and it having a cartridge for Basic programming)
I must admit I've been thinking that too - I'd love to get my hands on one. I will have to talk to the museum and see what they say. 🙂
@@ctrlaltrees Fingers crossed 🤞. I think we changed it as there were very few software titles and the keyboard was awful; although not as bad as a Spectrum if memory serves me? (Loooong time ago! 🤣)
Wow, so that's why it's so hard to find old kit… it's all in their stores!
Very cool
I’m not sure of the point of a computer museum having a huge storage area filled with many multiples of the same models. If they never leave the warehouse wouldn’t it be better to put them up for sale so they could be appreciated and used/restored by people instead of rotting away on a shelf just for the sake of having them in a collection.
wow never knew that even existed!
Amazing show!
looks like a cool place
This isn't far from me at all. Been meaning to go for ages but never get around to it. I didn't realise they had so much of a stock of systems. It's like an Aladin's cave, a very organised one.
Do you fix machines?
I have a c64 breadbin that needs sorting. The box is as good as the one you showed. The machine has been in a sponge case since I got it
The zilog z80 house rules
Ah this is why all the prices are now through the roof for these items, everything is shelved in a warehouse.
If they want to raise funds why not just sell half that inventory?
Hmmmmmmmm shouldn’t a lot of that stock be out in the community for other users to enjoy or is that part of the plan to sell things off?
Even if it was going to be dumped, as a charity it would be in the best interest surely to generate an income by restoring a lot of these items. I can’t imagine many of the donations wouldn’t have sold on fleabay
How many of each system does a museum need? This just seems like hoarding. Most of theses systems would be better off in the homes of enthusiasts.
Keep in mind that the vast majority of these are donations to the museum. They only have so many volunteers to get it all sorted out! :)