When was the last time you looked in your attic? Do you think there’s anything valuable up there? Vintage electronics like retro radios and classic gaming consoles or other treasures of a previous era?
Amidst the clutter and chaos of attics worldwide lie relics of the past, forgotten technologies that once captivated the world. Here are some electronics you might uncover and turn into a small (or large) fortune.
1. Nintendo Game Boy
Remember these old handheld gaming consoles? According to eBay listings, you can sell your old Game Boy for up to $5,000. Most original Game Boys sell for between $120 and $250 online, though rare, factory-sealed editions sell for thousands.
2. Rotary Phones
Vintage rotary phones may seem like useless items, but many collectors appreciate their nostalgia, beauty, and simplicity. Some sell for nearly $200 on Etsy and eBay. While rotary phones are outdated, many people keep them for collecting and decorative purposes.
3. Original Apple iPod
Before streaming platforms became the norm, many music fans viewed Apple iPods as the future of portable music. These devices have fallen out of favor in the era of Spotify but now sell for thousands online. One eBay listing prices the 1st Generation iPod at nearly $15,000, while another lists the factory-sealed version for $60,000.
4. Record Players
If you have an old record player in your closet, bring it out and check the model online. Record players have come back into style, and music enthusiasts are often in the market for such an adornment in their homes. Vintage record players, known for preserving sound while playing records, can sell for up to $1,000.
5. Film Projectors
Only a few movie theaters use film projectors in this digital age, where digital projectors are the norm nationwide, which makes vintage film projectors in good condition challenging to find and worth a lot. Vintage film projectors such as the 1934 Bell & Howell Early 8mm model can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
6. Typewriters
Typewriters predate the computer keyboard as a popular way to write. Typewriters were the go-to technology for creating printed messages, from novels and memoirs to notes and letters. Though contemporary technology has left these devices obsolete, collectors will pay big bucks for specific antique, vintage models.
7. Calculators
Calculators may sound boring, but various antique calculators are worth a lot of money. Take the Hewlett-Packard (HP) 97, which is listed for $789 on eBay. Similarly, the Sinclair writer calculator is listed for $1,300 on eBay.
8. First Edition Tamagotchi
Released in 1996, Tamagotchi reigned as a popular digital pet in the 1990s. These devices still intrigue many collectors. If you find an unopened one in your attic, you can sell it for up to $1,800.
9. Collectible German Cuckoo Clocks
Considered cultural treasures in Germany, cuckoo clocks have become a collector’s item. Older versions of these intricately designed clocks, dating back to the 1970s, can be worth $300 or more. The clocks that still play music and those that are in excellent condition tend to have the most value.
10. Cameras
Old cameras can be highly valuable. The Leica M6 Rangefinder, for example, goes for nearly $5,700 online. Other brands, such as Hasselblad, can be worth anywhere from $500 to $2,400.
11. Busy Barbie
What made these Barbie dolls unique were their “busy” hands, which, like human hands, can grasp items. The hands even turned at the wrist, and she had a twistable waist and knee. Today, these dolls sell for around $150 to $250 each.
12. 1970 Hot Wheels Mechanical Watch
Before the Apple Watch, back when children wore watches featuring their favorite toys, the Hot Wheels mechanical watch was a bestseller. Currently worth as much as $265, this watch is a hot-ticket item for many Hot Wheels collectors.
13. Original Sony Walkman
In the age of digital music, cassette players are no longer needed unless you’re a collector. Find a retro portable music player, such as a Sony Walkman TPS-L2, in your attic, and you can sell it to a collector for as much as $800.
14. Early Cell Phones
Early cell phones are obsolete, which makes some of them quite valuable to antique collectors. One of the first wireless phones, the 1983 Motorola DynaTac 8000C, is listed on eBay for $1,500. Other models (from 1987 to 1996) are listed online from $395 to $1,200. It’s generally pretty easy to look up your phone’s value online. They might be worth more than they look.
15. Original Polaroid Cameras
With instant photography on the rise thanks to widespread smartphone use, instant Polaroid cameras have surged in popularity. The older versions of these cameras can sell for up to $200. Retrospekt, which restores a number of vintage electronics, lists refurbished Polaroids for $159 to $1,200.