While I'd used a computer at my primary school during my early years I didn't have the opportunity to work with computers in any meaningful way until my parents purchased our first computer, a Commodore 64 in 1987. From that point on I was hooked, over the next few years I slowly built up my Commodore 64 system (as my meager finances allowed) progressing from simply playing with the computer to writing simple programs and understanding the more complex functions. In 1994 my parents purchased our families first PC compatable computer, this PC was a locally assembled system with an Intel 486sx25 and whole 4MB of RAM. Even at the time this wasn't high end but a pretty good system for a 14 year old kid all the same. Sadly at that point I hadn't started collecting old computer systems and I sold off my entire Commodore 64 setup.

During high school, I found that I had a talent for computing, getting some of my best results in my computing classes. After high school I found myself in a one year Certificate in Business Computing course at UNITEC Institute of Technology, which proved to be lots of fun when the classes actually had something to do with computers. From finishing that course I've been working full time in the IT industry. Currently my day job has me supporting PC hardware and software, the occasional Mac, working on helpdesk/user support, as well as administering a number of Windows servers.

During my years working with computers I've worked with numerous operating systems past and present, CP/M, DOS, OS/2, Mac OS, a range of Windows OS's from Windows 3.1 and up, various UNIX OS's and now Linux. At one time or another have also programmed (to a limited level) in 8086 Assembler, BASIC, Pascal, C and C++.

I believe my computer collection was started officially when I discovered a working Commodore PET 4016 dumped on the roadside early in 1995. Even though at that time I had obtained three Commodore 64's and still had my first Commodore 128 I hadn't seriously thought about collecting computers as a hobby. That first find woke me up to the fact that unless someone made an attempt to hold onto these great pieces of computing history that very soon they would be gone for good.

Since then I've been collecting pretty much every computer, console or gaming system I can find, the only exceptions being modern (later than 8086) IBM compatible PCs unless they've been particularly unusual.

My favourite items to collect are consoles and home computers of the late 70s, 80s and early 90s however I also have a number of business computers from those eras that don't often get collected.

In the early days I was able to store my collection in my bedroom, then as it grew, the basement of my parents house. Now, married and with my own place the bedroom is now off limits for anything computer related however I have a large garage which has been converted to a work area and storage for around 90% of my collection.

At some point in the future I'd like to have most of my collection on permanent display to the public, unfortunately at the moment this is financially impossible so these pages will have to suffice for now. However I am looking to organize a vintage computer show at some point which should see part of my collection on display for at least a small time.

Wish list

• Macintosh computers, software, manuals (68k and early PPC)
• Atari Lynx games (In particular, Raiden)
• A power supply pack for a Commodore 16
• A PET to IEEE 488 printer cable
• A disk drive for a Commodore PET
• Software for Apple II
• Software for an ACT Apricot

If you're able to help with any of these items let me know.