I don't think one can generalize about whether there will be newer
collectors based on the onslaught of the digital age.  I've always
felt we collectors have an aberrant gene that motivates us to collect
-- for a whole variety of reasons -- and I don't think that gene is
disappearing in new generations.

Here is a case in point.  Who would have thought that in the digital
age, anyone would consider an Apple 1 worthy of collecting, and even
paying up for?  The Apple 1 is just a PC board; it doesn't even have
a case.  It does have the Apple 1 logo imprinted on the board and it
can be accompanied with a pretty cool early character printer.  If
you're interested take a look at my article (done in the style of my
automatic music machine articles) at

  http://rickcrandall.net/article32.php 

At one point ten years ago, my "gene" kicked in and I purchased
several early microcomputers, including an Apple 1, for not much money,
but then I didn't pay much attention to it until I started seeing them
come up for auction.  The first one that hit $350,000 hammer price
really caught my attention!  I rummaged around my storage room and
found mine and had a nice case made for it in the style of the one
Steve Jobs had made for his Apple 1 back in 1978.

Then when another sold for over $600,000 I got _really_ interested
and inquired around.  It turns out some "digital age" folks also have
the "gene!"  This February the Henry Ford Museum jumped into the game
and paid over $900,000 for an Apple 1 at auction!

So I guess the real question is more along the lines of "what are
the real collectibles in the making today?"  I guess it won't be a
screen shot of a Facebook post of someone heralding that they just
finished breakfast, but it could be the first iPhone, or a Fitbit, or
an early music synthesizer or the amazing Bang & Olufsen stereo
products.

I for one believe that a well-restored, well-regulated automatic
music machine with a quality selection of music will always be a
delight and will be in demand -- for prices that will move with the
economic cycles of the market.  Perhaps those things that are available
in large numbers won't see much appreciation, but that's pretty much
true of all collectibles, art and other memorabilia.

Rick Crandall
http://www.rickcrandall.net/ 
rick@aspenventure.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]