Documenting how old computers were used

From: John R. Keys Jr. <jrkeys_at_concentric.net>
Date: Fri May 26 12:15:42 2000

I try and keep all parts together as I got them and I document each
piece with serial numbers, part numbers, dates printed on the labels,
and any other information that I can get off the units themselves. I
also write any important information given to me by the person I get
the item from. Sometime I learn important historical information from
the person if they are the original owner. When I get the museum going
I would like everything to be in factory shipped order. and working if
possible. I use a zip drive to store all this information on so that I
do fill up my main system's hard drive.
John Keys
----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Gregory <mgregory_at_vantageresearch.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 11:49 AM
Subject: Documenting how old computers were used


> When people receive complete systems (with software, manuals, etc.) do
you
> make any attempt to document the state of the system when you received
it?
> For example, do you record what programs were on the hard drive, what
> peripherals were included, what the system was used for (either what
you
> were told, or could infer), etc?
>
> It seems to me that increasingly, social historians and museums are
more
> interested in _how_ an artifact was used than in the thing itself. But
> often , especially when I receive multiple examples of the same
system, I
> mix and match parts and programs to suit myself, and lose track of
which
> disk drive came with which CPU, which software was originally
installed on
> each, etc. Information is obviously being lost here.
>
> I'd be interested to know what other list members are doing, and how
> important you think the information being lost is.
>
> Regards,
> Mark Gregory
>
>
Received on Fri May 26 2000 - 12:15:42 BST