deimos3428 wrote:Adam Shultz wrote:I agree with Al. Everyone just send me your copies and I will get a good tally together on this worthless item. Ok, they're on their way. We were supposed to shred them first, right? Right?
Adam Shultz wrote:I agree with Al. Everyone just send me your copies and I will get a good tally together on this worthless item.
Sorry to take a bit in replying. And I saw the updates on your site. The answer to the question about how did one box make it is now somewhat awkward. When I worked in the warehouse and the order came to destroy the B3's, there was no idea that they would become valuable. We were all curious as to what was in there. You see, most of us were aware of Jean Wells and her taste in literature. I can't remember the name of the popular series of fantasy/sci-fi paperbacks at the time, but she was really into them. So, of course, a box of 9044's (72, the smallest bulk quantity in the warehouse) was lifted from the trash later that evening. I won't say who did it, and I certainly don't want to implicate myself. Still, there were several copies floating around, and not in the editorial or creative offices. I had about a dozen at one time. I read elsewhere the comments on whether the stuff inside was really all that controvertial, and it would be good to remember that there was a LOT of controversy about D&D to at that time in the late 70's and early 80's. Remember that kid in Texas that went down in the steam tunnels, and all the right-wing christian Moral Majority concern? When B3 made it back from the printer and there was this sado-imagery inside, the s**t hit the fan. It wasn't really Day 1 that this item became valuable. It was later at GenCon in 1982, one of the other warehouse workers sold a copy at the auction for something over $100. I can't remember the exact amount. We were all flabbergasted. You have to understand that was a bold move and certainly could've been risky for that person. They were supposed to be destroyed. And, here several of us were sitting on copies. I actually gave several copies to friends when I was later working at Mayfair Games in exchange for some other game items including Dragon #'s 1-6.BTW, I left TSR in May of 1983 on "Black Friday". There were about 50 or more of us in the first wave of layoffs. The company had some serious financial difficulties due to the inabilitiy to forecast its sales curve at the peak of popular D&D mania. There were two or three more layoffs over the next few months.
FoulFoot wrote:So, of course, a box of 9044's (72, the smallest bulk quantity in the warehouse) was lifted from the trash later that evening.
So, of course, a box of 9044's (72, the smallest bulk quantity in the warehouse) was lifted from the trash later that evening.
afoolandhis$ wrote:Thanks for the additional details, Scott. Here's what gets me:FoulFoot wrote:So, of course, a box of 9044's (72, the smallest bulk quantity in the warehouse) was lifted from the trash later that evening. That alludes to one individual salvaging one box, apparently on the very evening of the day the disposal was ordered. Surely, that can't have been the only instance. I wonder how long the "trash" sat there before it was removed. Once word got around among the guys working in the warehouse that someone had lifted a box, it's almost a certainty that others would have done the same.
FoulFoot wrote:Jeff, could you stack some modules in there and see how many actually fit?Foul
a2jeff wrote:If everyone would send me their OB3, I'd gladly stack them up and see where we land.
a2jeff wrote: FoulFoot wrote:Jeff, could you stack some modules in there and see how many actually fit?FoulI'll take another look at this.My original estimate was based on an attempt at what you described. I measured the inside of the box height, and the thickness of the module. 36 OB3 mods @ 1/16 each gets you 2.25 inches. The OB3 is definitely smaller than 1/8 thick and closer to 1/16 but may be a little thicker than that.
toymom wrote:That being said... this item does have a few minor flaws, but appears to me to be in excellent shape. I purchased it as part of a collection here in southern, WI... not far from where D&D got it's start. I understand that you would all like to hold and look over this item before bidding. Since that is not an option, I have taken the time to take additional photos of this item for you to look over. I have taken close-ups of the exteriors and have photographed every interior page. I have supersized photos available through links from the regular sized images. I highly encourage you to look over the photos before placing your bid. I am sure you will be happy with this item, but I want you to be sure as well.
toymom wrote:There is a name on one of the books.... let me find it.... ok found it. There are actually a couple different names. So far I found Chuck Mann and Bruce Wallin. These were on the rules books.
bclarkie wrote:On a more serious note though, I just measured 36(21 of the aforementioned A3s BTW) shrinked modules stacked together and it comes to ~ 4 1/4 inches. However when I stack 24 together, it comes out to be almost exactly 2 1/2 inches. So assuming that they are packed in that box pretty tight, I would have to say that the box that you have Jeff originally contained 24.
a2jeff wrote:bclarkie wrote:On a more serious note though, I just measured 36(21 of the aforementioned A3s BTW) shrinked modules stacked together and it comes to ~ 4 1/4 inches. However when I stack 24 together, it comes out to be almost exactly 2 1/2 inches. So assuming that they are packed in that box pretty tight, I would have to say that the box that you have Jeff originally contained 24.If A3 is the same thickness as OB3 then I agree with you.
bclarkie wrote:Well, I just checked one of my opened A3s and sure enough it has exactly 28 pages, the same amount as the OB3. With that, I think we can safely say that Jeff's box had 24 OB3s originally in it. Question is where do we go from here?