Amstrad founder Lord Sugar, who is planning a new museum dedicated to the company and its products, is asking for anyone with an old Amstrad computer to send him a picture.
There are museums around the world dedicated to a wide range of niche interests and quirky collections. Now, Amstrad founder Lord Alan Sugar is aiming to open a museum of his own, dedicated to the technology that built his career.
After feeling nostalgic on Twitter, Sugar asked for his followers to send in pictures of old Amstrad tech that they might still have, hidden in attics or storage.
I would like to hear from anyone who had an Amstrad in any form. If you have it in the loft send post a pic. Cheers. https://t.co/QgtERY3Inu
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) April 22, 2020
Amstrad nostalgia
The conversation began when someone Tweeted at Sugar saying, “This will make you feel old…My grandad told me he bought an Amstrad stereo 50 years ago!” Sugar responded with a picture of some newspaper coverage of the first Amstrad range of hi-fi amplifiers from 1970.
Yes it does. I first launched the Amstrad stereo amplifier range in 1970 – 50 years ago. https://t.co/hf4WgOgRFg pic.twitter.com/2W6pwqEMpF
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) April 21, 2020
He followed this up with a request for his followers to send in pictures of any old Amstrad products they might have. After receiving several submissions, Sugar then tweeted “AMSTRAD ARCHIVE: Please keep it coming. I’m loving the old Amstrad stuff people are showing me. Some items I honestly forgot I made them. 100% for sure when this Covod thing over I am going to offer to buy some of the old stuff and establish a museum. Thank you in advance.”
AMSTRAD ARCHIVE: Please keep it coming. I’m loving the old Amstrad stuff people are showing me. Some items I honestly forgot I made them. 100% for sure when this Covod thing over I am going to offer to buy some of the old stuff and establish a museum. Thank you in advance. https://t.co/vdNyUzNSqK
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) April 23, 2020
Technology in museums
https://youtu.be/kp91rgND7gI
This nostalgia for old computer technology is not new. In 2018, an exhibit opened at Living Computers: Museum + Labs in Seattle. Called Totally 80s Rewind, this recreated a day in the life of an 80s teenager.
The V&A also hosted an exhibition called Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt which looked at the development of computer games. This began at the V&A in London before moving to V&A Dundee last year.
Brands are increasingly creating brand experiences and museums. The IKEA museum documents the flat pack furniture store’s rise from its beginnings in rural Sweden.
