How do you look after your retro/electronics gear?

[ami_junki]

I was talking with my family recently on Skype and they noticed that I have coverings and cases for all my gadgets in the house, my wife very kindly made storage pouches for my retro gear and my computers, the TV and printer all have special covers. In Japan this is quite normal and I was surprised about my family in the UK being shocked and thinking it was a bit odd. It got me thinking, as this is normal in Japan what about outside? I have put some photos so you can get an idea.

 

[demolition]

Not very common here, but then again most people throw out stuff when it is 2-3 years old since they think it is outdated.. For myself, I keep my main retro computers out in the open for several reasons. The first is that I like to look at them every day, secondly I use them regularly so don't want to unpack them every time. For the ones that I don't use regularly I keep on a shelf in the closet, either in the original box or just in the open, alternatively a storage box in the basement for the more common stuff.

But I do think about not scratching stuff and not having cables touching the cases when it is stored since it is well known that the softeners in the cables can melt the plastic. Dust is not such a big deal since it can easily be removed again with a bit of air.

 

[SaviorX]

generally speaking, very few of my things are in their original packaging (I think my 'original packaged' stuff is a: Coleco Adam, Commodore 128, Commodore 64 (foam and cardboard sleeve), Amiga 500, TI99/4A and an Atari 520STm as well as a few bits such as a 1571, 1541 (again, foam + cardboard sleeve), Coleco Exp. Model #1, and a few other things like that...) but I keep them individually boxed and stored in my storage room on a couple of shelving units...

nothing fancy, but it keeps them organized and easily accessible if I do want to use a particular system...

as for the few systems I like to use on a more regular basis, I do have a small desk set up in the bedroom (the C64C isn't currently set up for use):

View attachment 125655

anything else, I just set up in my living room and use on my 42" Plasma (going on 9 years old now), which, when I got it I made sure it included HDMI (x2), Component (x2), Composite/S-Video (x2), VGA and RF.

 

[Retro-Protect]

obviously with our own custom made covers!

 

[Half-Saint]

Back in the late 80s/early 90s, we used to cover our family PC with a large piece of cloth.

Nowadays I use my PC all the time so I don't cover it anymore. Don't have any other permanent setups, all my consoles and old computers are stores inside a cupboard.

 

[Dopefish]

Those storage pouches are very pretty. I use alot of plastic zip-lock bags for my game controllers and console accessories, mainly to keep the cables from tangling together and for ease of use.