My boss has an old Roland Camm1 plotter/cutter stored in the attic that he hasn't ever used since he bought the business twelve years ago. I have asked about buying it for myself to use at home for plotting out stained glass patterns and maybe some personal vinyl art projects of my own. As far as I know, he doesn't have the manual or anything that goes with it. I have seen it work once so I know it did operate (three years ago). I found the drivers for it or at least I think they went with it.
So, my question is, how much do you think I should offer him for it or is it worth messing with even?
Thanks,
Rick
-------------------- Rick Haywood High Country Signs Waynesville, NC Posts: 12 | From: Waynesville, NC | Registered: Mar 2003
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Rick...There are many Camm1 models from 15"-24" in that era. Depending on the size I would say it would be worth $500-$1000 U.S.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
i gave mine away... i had a 10 year old working pnc1100...all i had asked for is the $30 to ship it...haven't seen that yet and it was almost a year ago..oh well. since he hasn't used it in 12 years and its in his attic...maybe he'll just give it to you. i wouldn't have felt right taking $ for something that was that old...sure in hell isn't worth $500! i do the same thing with stain glass patterns!! i hated tracing with carbon paper when i could scan in a sketch and cut it on calender vinyl...makes life sooo much easier!
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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If the machine has be in storage for 10 or so years.... I think the value of it is well worth the price! $500.00 to $1000.00 and asking if it can be let go for a cheaper price is great for the person just starting out in the industry.
Rick
The Plotter is only the Index finger. What you run it with is the Key...(Cocut,Corel,Photo,SignLab,Flexi,Omega Etc Etc.)
And your Brain Power!
"If you think that you can return the money for the output no matter the price you paid for it then you will gain after that!"
Good Luck! on the Stain Glass projects.
-------------------- Stephen Deveau RavenGraphics Insinx Digital Displays
Letting Your Imagination Run Wild! Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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perhaps you are right...it's just it's so old and you can buy new ones with warrantees for $1500.00.
sometimes i feel the time spent to make those old machines work again with newer computers is not worth the time spent. since i'm one person i don't have the time or patience to fart around with stuff...i just want to plug it in and go. i think rick should just ask the guy what he wants for it...if he says $200..cool, if he says $1000..i'd personally pass. good luck dude.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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A Camm 1 may well be worth more then a PNC1100, but I have a PNC1050 & I have had 2 idfferent people interested in it for $450. The first person asked if I could hold it for a few months & since I know him from here, I said sure, (I hadn't really been tryin to sell it anyway) It works great, is solid like a tank, & if I ever needed it as an emergency, it could make me $500 in a weekend. If I didn't already have 2 other plotters, I'd never consider parting with it. I can see how futzin around to get something old working would change its value, but the person getting the $500 should consider that to be their responsibility to justify the price. I would anyway.
posted
Rick, ask him to let you take it for a test drive - hook it up at home to find out if it even works with your hardware and if drivers for your current Operating system are available. If it passes that test, you'll be in a better position to evaluate it's worth to you. Cut a few things and get to know the machine's capabilities & limitations. You might hate it.
Even if you decide not to purchase, the owner will get an evaluation out of the process. By going through the exercise, all kinds of other scenarios may open up - for instance, once it's up and running, you might find another buyer for it, or find somewhere that will take it as a tradein toward a machine thats more to your liking. If you want it for yourself, part of your 'deal' may be that he would have first right to purchase it back from you, or agree to make it available for him to borrow if he has an emergency - a backup. Those kinds of things are worth a break on price.
I have made two great acquisitions of things I really enjoy, by offering to NOT buy them, but simply maintain and care for them as the owner's caretaker. These were musical instruments that the owner no longer played. Our standing agreement is he can have them back anytime, in the same condition he gave them to me, or he can come over here and play them anytime the urge strikes him. One is nice acoustic guitar, and the other is a classic 70s Ludwig drum set. There's no way he was ever going to take up the space to erect those drums in his livingroom <wife thing I think>, but they have too much sentimental value to sell. So now they are here, set up, polished, and new heads, ready for him to use. He never has come by in 2 years. I don't play them much either, but it was a shame to have them getting moldy in a basement. This is BETTER than owning them, and I think the drums are happier too.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Have a Camm-1 pnc 1000 that I bought about 5 years ago, 2nd hand, for what would have been about $850 US dollars equivalent. The dealer said if I wanted a manual it'd cost me an extra $100 (yeah right...). It had an adjustable knife holder (don't they all?). The drivers they gave me were for pnc 1000 and didn't work, but the pnc 1000A ones did. Later I downloaded new ones from Roland. It used to work on a Pentium 100, and now works on a P4-1800 mhz. (Windows 98se on both). Slow at times (15 cm/sec on the straights) but then I can only weed & mask so quickly anyhow. A quicker machine would be nice, especially a quieter one! It broke down 2 years ago, and I got it fixed locally- some new chips & cutting strip. The worst of it is inability to use small offcuts other than 2 or 3 inches wide. No automated tracking/eye sensor. You need to babysit it while it's cutting incase of a problem. But value for money...YES! Would I sell it for less than I paid ? NO!
Edited to add: Try Joe's idea & borrow it to see if it goes at all. There's a learining curve, and you can probably ignore the words on the LCD display except the one that you have to push to start. The rest of the settings were superseded 10 years ago by better software/drivers I think. Hope this helps
[ October 26, 2003, 04:27 AM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7016 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Thanks to all of you who have replied to my post so far. Great advice from each of you especially you Joe. I 'll see if he is agreeable to the "test Drive/care of" idea. At least now I know what to offer him for it if he will ever decide to part with it. He doesn't need it. We have two other Graphtec plotters (24" & 30") already. I think he is afraid I'll start competing against him which isn't entirely far fetched but the only thing he has to worry about is me doing stuff he doesn't want to do anyway. I learned the business on one of these things back in the 80's so I am already familiar with them. I like vinyl work and I love to experiment with new ideas and techniques like "embossed vinyl" and other layering techniques. Anyway, Thanks again for the advice and input.
Karyn, you are a trip you know that?
Later guys,
Rick a.k.a. "The Vinyl Master"
-------------------- Rick Haywood High Country Signs Waynesville, NC Posts: 12 | From: Waynesville, NC | Registered: Mar 2003
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if anyone else got a a PNC-1100, 960, 950 layin round and wants to get rid of it ...my address is on the bottom of my post....and ill gladly pay shipping.....even from new hamp-sha!!!!!
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have a PNC 1410(36") that I have had for 8 years. I am trying to find a backup for emergencies. I would like to have a 24" model if anyone wants to get rid of one. Call me 1-800-598-2406.
quote:Originally posted by Rick Haywood: I think he is afraid I'll start competing against him which isn't entirely far fetched but the only thing he has to worry about is me doing stuff he doesn't want to do anyway.
This is EVERY employer's fear. In his eyes, why else would you want a plotter at home, other than to tap a few commercial sign jobs? <jobs that would otherwise be his for the bidding>. Knowing that is a component of his decision, you might want to clarify "stuff he doesn't want" right up front - then stick to your word about it.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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