Id be interested in what peoples first investment was with their own hard earned cash in terms of sound gear and setting themselves up as a 'soundie'. Maybe state if it was for TV or for Film and if you can remember the cost. Maybe you hired or the gear was already there for you to use initially but at some stage you wanted your own "stuff', even if it was recording direct to a wax drum, I know there are some old timers out there...What was it?
I did search the forums (probably not so well) so feel free to delete this thread if its has been discussed ad nauseum...