User:Average/Hardware

Collecting piles of junk electronics isn't that useful. There are few exceptions:

• hardware that was the best of its kind for it's time (PDP-10 computer),
• self-contained modules of high-density electronics (LCD displays),
• highly general and purposeful items (variable power supplies),
• and marvels of complexity (complex gear assemblies with novel designs).

Things like:

• power station panels (knobs and meters)
• digital displays
• old PDP computers (go digital!)
• nixie tubes
• radio transmitters
• technical documentation for old classics (regardless if they were the best)
• teletype machines that could be repurposed for playing ZORK.
• differential engines
• etc.

If you have a pile of stuff that is rotting away, put it out in a special area as "hardware of the week", noting it's availability, and see if it garners interest. You can encourage breaking complex non-working things down into simpler componenets that might be of greater interest. If not, put it in deeper storage ("the black hole") if you think it's underappreciated, after stripping off all the non-essentials, like plastic cases. After a 4 years (the average span of a college education), junk it/recycle.