Smart Money: 5 of the best second-hand gadgets

There’s nothing quite like tearing the wrapper off a pristine new gadget, but we reckon second-hand tech should be an essential part of any geek’s diet too.

Why? For a start, other people’s lofts are home to some serious bargains, such as a Russian ex-military camera for £40 (see the Zorki 4 below). Vintage tech has other advantages over new stuff too – timeless style, backstories to bore people with and, if you buy smartly, an ability to hold or even increase its value.

Which is why the Stuff team recently scoured auction sites, climbed into attics and borrowed family heirlooms to bring you this platter of some of our favourite second-hand icons, plus some tips on how to buy your own.

Time to clear a shelf in the spare room and don your lucky auction hat…

Braun SK25 (from £180)

Buying tips – second-hand radios

1. Got a Braun addiction? The London store Das Programm sells original classics from its Dieter Rams era. Some are even available to loan.

2. Beware the switch-off. An FM switch-off is on the cards. So if you want it to be more than an ornament, make sure the radio has inputs for alternative music sources.

3. Planning to restore a vintage radio’s cabinet? Find a well-matched spray paint at a car repair shop. The Vintage Radio forums have lots of tips.

Germi Record Vintage Race Bike (£1245)

Buying tips – Second-hand bikes

1. Do your research. Trawling eBay is not research! Find out about the maker using Google. You don’t want to pay over the odds for a mass-produced bike.

2. Get it serviced. If you’ve bought from eBay, it’s probably worth your local bike shop having a look over it before you set off on a 40-miler into the countryside.

3. Buy ex-team bikes. Can’t give up the carbon fibre? Team bikes are replaced yearly and often sold cheaply. Plus they’ll have been looked after well by team mechanics.

Seiko RC-1000 (from £100)

Buying tips – Second-hand digital watches

1. Be an original. If you need watches to retain their value, go for ones that were firsts in their field. The first digital watch, Hamilton’s Pulsar, can still be found for under £200.

2. Spot the fakes. Buying a classic G Shock on eBay? All Casio watches have a model number on the caseback, so check for these in the photos or, if it isn’t mentioned, request it from the seller.

3. Visit the library. The Digital Watch Library is a vast database of virtually every classic LCD watch since the 70s, and includes free manuals plus a well-stocked shop.

Gibson Sonex (from £450)

Buying tips – Second-hand guitars

1. Do fret. Ask about the condition of the frets – if they’re badly pitted the guitar may need a costly refret to make it properly playable.

2. Check the neck. A repaired headstock break will knock hundreds off a guitar’s value, but if it’s been done well by a professional it should be solid.

3. Not born in the USA. Seen a Les Paul Standard for £300? Beware the curse of the ‘Chibson’ – these dodgy Chinese-made replicas are getting harder to spot.

Zorki 4 (from £40)

Buying tips – Vintage cameras

1. Read carefully. The Zorki has no meter, but the LightMeter app (from £free, Android/iOS) suggests the aperture and speed to use when pointed at your scene.

2. #yofilter. Filters can make a huge difference: the yellow one on my camera boosts contrast in black-and-white pics. Old packs can be found very cheaply.

3. Wind and wait. Send films to a lab and ask for high-res scans (£10- £15 a roll). The resulting images are as big as full-frame DSLR pics, but from a £40 camera.

4. R.T.F.M. Before buying a vintage snapper, find a manual online and read it in full. Old cameras have mechanical quirks you’ll want to know about to get the most from them.