This article talks about old electronics from the 80s that have become expensive collector’s items. You might have some of these “treasures” gathering dust in your attic: an Atari 2600 game console (rare cartridges for which cost thousands of dollars), the first portable CD player, the Sony Discman D-50, and the iconic Polaroid OneStep camera. Rare computers like the Sinclair ZX80 (priced up to $800) and Japanese boomboxes like the National Ambience RX-7200 (sometimes fetching over $2,000 at auction for a unit in good condition) are especially valuable.
Back in the 80s, there was a bunch of electronic devices that seemed to pop up out of nowhere, like game consoles and portable players. Now, even the devices that nobody wanted at the time have become valuable collector’s items. If you find stuff like that in your attic or garage, it could make you some serious cash, according to BGR.
Atari 2600 game console
The Atari 2600 game console, which came out in the late 1970s, was still popular in the 1980s. But when the NES started showing up around the world in 1985, a lot of people thought it was just a relic of the past.
Today, collectors are willing to pay up to $60 for a regular console and up to $500 for rare versions. But at the end of the day, it’s the games that really count. Rare cartridges, like Red Sea Crossing, River Patrol, and Air Raid, can cost a few thousand dollars.
This is a Sony Discman D-50 portable CD player
Sony’s first portable CD player looked bulky and awkward compared to the later models, but these days, you hardly ever see them.
Collectors are willing to pay between $100 and $400 for them, especially if the device works.
The Polaroid OneStep is an instant camera
The Polaroid OneStep was the go-to camera for amateur photographers. Interest in instant printing fizzled out once digital cameras became popular, but now nostalgia has made a comeback. Collectors are dropping $150 on Old School cameras.
The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer
The Sinclair ZX80 was one of the first affordable home computers, but it was overshadowed by its more powerful rival, the Commodore 64. The arrival of the revolutionary Apple Macintosh 128K also pushed competitors aside, impressing the world with its graphical user interface.
Today, these systems are really popular with collectors of retro technology, and they can sell for up to $800 at auction.
The National Ambience RX-7200 stereo system
One of the rarest and most valuable items of forgotten electronics from the 1980s is the Japanese four-speaker boombox National Ambience RX-7200, which is rarely found outside Japan, making it even more niche.
These devices can sell for around $1,000 to $2,000, especially if they’re in good condition.