[time-nuts] Heathkit GC-1000

[Brad Stockdale]

Hello all,

    Back 'in the day', when I was about 14 or 15, I went to a local 
computer/technology meeting... This was back around 94 or 95, and 
there was an underground group of computer users in the area that got 
together once a month and traded knowledge, etc... After the meeting, 
I was taken to a friend-of-a-friends house. This guy, named Doc, was 
about 60 years old or so. Lived alone (except for his cat and dog)... 
His 'living room' was nothing short of a combination of a datacenter, 
hamfest, and video editing suite.  Three or four Commodore Amiga's, a 
betacam editing system, a huge front projection TV. Walls lined with 
random equipment. His kitchen table was stacked with computers of 
various vintages...

    In any case, on his mantle sat a Heathkit GC-1000 quietly ticking 
away, sync'd to one of the WWV stations... This was my earliest 
contact with 'accurate time', and is what prompted my fascination 
with it. That little 1 PPS LED made me fall in love...

    For years I had no clue what that clock was. Years later, I 
finally identified the make/model. I looked around online randomly 
over the past decade and never found one... Recently I added 
'Heathkit GC-1000' to my eBay saved searches... Well, today I got an 
email that someone listed one. It appears to be in good working 
order, complete with manuals.

    I bid on it, but was promptly outbid by the original bidder. I 
didn't figure I would get it for what I offered anyway, but I figured 
I would try. No harm in that, right?

    Anyway, I digress. I apologize for the trip down memory lane that 
I subjected you all to... I'll get to my questions...

	1) How prevelant are Heathkit GC-1000's? Are they a common find, or
	   are they fairly rare?

	2) What would be considered a reasonable price for one in working
	   order?

Thanks,
Brad