Thanks footloose! Yes, it is my T.U. report i am referring to.
Your advice helps. I will let sleeping bears lie...

You must be referring to a TransUnion credit report. Their policy is to retain all positive "tradelines" for 20 years. Equifax's policy is to retain all positive "tradelines" for 6 years. These accounts dating back to the 90's have no effect on your credit score either positively or negatively. These paid accounts that show as open mean nothing and probably result from sloppy reporting or follow-up. Nothing to worry about.

Some old loans paid off in the 90's are still on my report.
Some are still listed as open-do these have a ngative effect?Is there anything I should do with these that would result in increasing my score.
My goal in the next 4-5 months is whipping my CR into wicked shape to get a mortgage.

(**I will be on mat leave so i want all my "t's crossed and my i's dotted")