Few people have heard of it, yet many consider John Blankenbaker's KENBAK-1 to be the first commercial personal computer.
eBay Retro Goodies: Soviet Edition
By James Grahame
Here's a special USSR themed version of our semi-regular eBay roundup. Remember that while eBay is a treasure trove of vintage technology, you should expect to come across the occasional bitter lemon.
Let's start things off with the Elektronika 77A "7 melody" LCD wristwatch (above) manufactured in Minsk in the mid-1980s. It looks to be in pretty good shape with a new strap and ships from the Ukraine.
Apparently, Elektronika also manufactured a cool range of handheld games which look suspiciously like Nintendo's Game & Watch line. Titles include Space Bridge, Fishing, Fun Football and Cosmic Scouts. They don't look to be in outstanding shape, but I'd love to know the history behind these.
If you're into unusual mechanical watches, you'll get a kick out of Raketa's inexpensive "Arctic Expedition" watch with a 24 hour dial. It includes a basic 19 jewel mechanical mechanism without second hand and the crown measures 40mm. This timepiece includes a black leather band and looks to be in very good cosmetic shape.
No roundup of vintage Soviet technology would be complete without including a camera or two. Vintage Russian 35mm SLRs now sell for next to nothing, making them intriguing collectibles.
Soviet cameras were a bit crude by western standards, but I stumbled across this rather attractive Zenit-11 with a Helios f/1.4 58mm lens and a starting price of only $24.99. According to the auction, a million and a half of these sturdy cameras were manufactured between 1982 and 1990.
There are also some great deals to be had if you're a medium format photography fan.
The Kiev-88 is a well-known TTL 6x6 medium format camera. Quality can be a bit spotty - some are great, while others are plagued with problems. If you're willing to take a chance, you can pick one up for a few hundred bucks, such as this camera with an Arsat 80mm f/2.8 lens, dual 6x6 backs, accessories and even a manual in English.
Disclaimer: I don't know the sellers of these items and cannot vouch for their condition or authenticity. Ask lots of questions and bid with caution.
