My ebay A2 rev 0 replica motherboard closeout on ebay is done.  I successfully sold 4 kits for an average price of a bit under $300.  Subtracting ebay fees, paypal charges, the net take was similar to the cost of putting these kits together.

However since my motivation was to bring in some cash, so I could move some other projects ahead, I consider the sale a success.  The money is earmarked to make my Datanetics keyboard replica project a reality.

The ebay sales indicate that the current fair market price of the these kits is just under $300.  Given that the cost of putting together kits is nearly as much, it is just not economically feasible to sell these kits.  Maybe someday in the future things will change, but that is how it looks to me at the moment.

Here are some facts about the A2 rev 0 project.

Motherboard laid out 1st half of 2007

First board brought up summer, 2007

Last kit shipped fall, 2010

Production run:

2 batches total of 18 boards

1st batch 6 boards (glossy solder mask)

2nd batch 12 boards (matt solder mask)

Kits sold – 14

Bare boards sold -1

Build and tested motherboards sold – 1

Built and kept -2 (one from each batch)

I was hoping that the profit from this effort would be enough to pay for an original rev 0 or perhaps one of Grant’s Altair kits (no longer available).  Though, financially,  I did just a bit better than break even, the main profit came in other forms.   I had a great time with this project.  I made some great friends.   I learned a ton about PCB layout and working with various  suppliers.    Also, I don’t think I could have done the more difficult Mimeo PCB as well as I did, without taking on this project, first.

Finally for those of you interested in the Mimeo kits,  don’t worry,  I will continue to produce and sell these kits as long as there is continuing interest and components available.