Time to sell your stuff lads....

OFF to a boot sale at the weekend? Snap up Eighties gems - the once mod-cons
that have become odd-cons up in your attic could be worth a bundle.


Games consoles, Sony Walkmans and Soda Streams were must-haves 20 years ago.
But technology has raced ahead so much they'll soon be ANTIQUES.




Suntiques collectibles expert Paul Hayes, star of TV's Cash In The Attic,
says: "These are the antiques of tomorrow, but are selling well at auctions
now too.


"If you're heading to a boot sale, keep an eye out for anything from the
1980s, as long as it's in good condition."


Here, Paul, explains what to watch out for - and how much they could fetch
at auction in ten years.
ATARI GAMES CONSOLE





In 1976, Atari launched one of the first home game consoles - a
cartridge-based machine.


Four years later they brought out their cartridge version of Space Invaders on
the Atari 2600 - a console that sold in the millions.


Play time ... original Atari could earn you a bundle



NOW: Original Atari games consoles are around £50. Games cartridges are
in demand and an original Space Invaders or Pac-Man could fetch £20-£40.


IN 10 YEARS: Atari Games console, £200. Games, £200 each.

NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM




In 1985, the Japanese giant became market leaders with the Nintendo
Entertainment System or NES. This sold in its millions, as did the Gameboy,
which took consoles to another level in 1989 by making it a hand-held.


The most highly collectable Nintendo is the Colour TV Game 6, launched in
1977.


NOW: Nintendo consoles and Gameboys can fetch between £30 to £50 at
auction.



IN 10 YEARS: NES, £150-£200 and Gameboys, £100-£150.


SEGA




The Service Games Of Japan or SEGA, first produced coin- operated video games
for American servicemen stationed at military bases.


In the Sixties, they launched a submarine-simulator game called Periscope
which was a huge hit.


In 1986 they launched the Sega Master System whose mascot became Sonic the
Hedgehog. The Sega Mega Drive is memorable for many. In ten years, kids who
played on it first time round will be looking to buy one, fuelling the
market.


NOW: Original Sega Mega Drives, in good condition, would fetch around
£30-£50 at auction.


IN 10 YEARS: £200.


HOME COMPUTERS




The ZX80, launched by Sir Clive Sinclair in 1980, was the world's first home
computer to retail at less than £100.


It was self-assembly but later sold fully built. It had just 1kb of RAM
(Random Access Memory) - a millionth of that of today's home computer.




An updated version, the ZX81 came out the following year. This was replaced by
the ZX Spectrum, with 16kb of RAM.


Nice little earner ... Sinclair computer



NOW: Early self-assembly ZX80s, more than £100. A ZX81 or Spectrum,
slightly less. A Sinclair C5 - Sir Clive's futuristic electric vehicle -
over £300.


IN 10 YEARS: The ZX80s and Spectrum, £300-500. Anything by Sinclair
will rise in value, and the C5 could reach £2,000.

SONY WALKMAN





The Sony Walkman was launched in Japan in 1979 and at first had two headphone
sockets, so two people could listen.


Legend has it that it was developed by a Sony engineer who wanted to listen to
music during transatlantic flights.


NOW: Walkmans fetch £10-£20 at auction, though early examples marketed as
Soundabout or Freestyle are more in demand.


IN 10 YEARS: The Sony Walkman could fetch £100-150.

SODA STREAM




This great invention by British gin-makers W & A Gilbey & Sons meant
people could make fizzy drinks at home.



Time to invest ... in an original Casio

Flavoured syrups were mixed with water then placed in the Soda Stream. Carbon
dioxide was forced into the mixture - which sounded like someone passing
wind, and was considered hilarious.


NOW: Original boxed examples can fetch around £30.


IN 10 YEARS: £150-£200.

DIGITAL WATCHES




One of the fastest growing collectibles. The first electronic digital watch -
by the Hamilton Watch Company of America - used light-emitting diode (LED)
technology. But this used a lot of power so the screen was only lit when a
button was pressed.


The first commercial example, the Pulsar, was made from 18ct gold and was very
expensive. Eventually the LED dial was replaced with liquid-crystal display
(LCD).


NOW: An original 18ct Pulsar LED watch would fetch £3,000-£5,000 at
auction and a Casio digital watch about £20.



IN 10 YEARS: The Casio should fetch £100-150 and an original 18ct
Pulsar £10,000-£15,000.

MOBILE PHONES


Ring the changes ... DynaTEC 8000x could be worth £800



The first commercially successful mobile phone was made by Motorola and went
on sale in 1983.


The DynaTAC 8000x was initially only available in America and cost the
equivalent of £4,000 in today's money. Since then, the race to produce
smaller, more complex mobiles has led to a glut in the market.


NOW: A good example of a DynaTEC 8000x would fetch around £50 at
auction.


IN 10 YEARS: £500-£800

CONCORDE MEMORABILIA




The fastest passenger jet of all time could top 1,300mph.



When the plane was decommissioned after 27 years' service, many parts were
sold off.


At an auction in Paris in 2003, a nose cone made over £434,000 and a pilot's
seat £36,400.


NOW: Two seats bought for £800 together in 2003 are now worth £3,000
each and recently two notepads went for £50 each.


IN 10 YEARS: The seats could be worth £5,000-£10,000 and the notepads
around £200 each.


Interview by JENNA SLOAN