Restoration: how far should it go??

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sat Jun 14 17:31:11 2003

> How much do people think is too much restoration??? Now obviously

Well, my view is simple. The machine originally worked. I want to restore
it to as near original condition as possible. Therefore it must work again...

I am not interested in collecting as an investment. I collect computers
because they _are_ computers -- they're interesting (and sometimes
complex) electronic systems that can be investigated, programmed,
modified, etc. A non-working computer -- one that can't be made to work
-- is of little interest to me.

> you aren't going to spent thousands on a system that even in the distant
> future will not even generate hundreds, and obviously you aren't going to

Actually, I might. If I had no chance of getting another one, then I'd
_certainly_ do whatever was necessary to get it going again. Hobbies do
not make financial sense!

> rebuild and replace every part in the item, because then it's a replica not an

I wouldn't replave unnecessary parts, and I'd replace the smallest part
that I could (e.g. I'd change a chip, not the entire PCB). But I would
replace as many chips as were necessary. And I'd certainly inspect and
maybe rebuild mechanical sections (including fans!)

> antique. Obviously however a going system is more valuable than a broken one.

It's certainly more valuable for me. In that it can provide me with a
source of interest -- programming, interfacing, etc.

> Opinion 2: The collector who collects with the intention of
> restoration. Who might go to extreme lengths to rebuild and restore the item
> he has brought, because to him the idea of keeping something that isn't
> working as planed is against God and nature.

I am definitely of that type...

>
>
> Without getting into protracted discusion about the theology of either
> collector, I would like to hear the opinions on the list about how far a
> restoration should go before it starts detracting from the value of the piece.

Well, I'm not really interested in value, but I do have some ground rules
to follow :

1) _Never_ change the basic architecture of the machine. Ripping out all
the boards and replacing them with a PC running a simulation of the
original machine is not a restoration

2) Do not make permanent modifications, unless unavoidable. Don't cut PCB
traces if you can avoid it, and avoid drilling holes larger than
screwholes.

3) Use components as close to the original as possible. Personally, I
don't care about date codes, and I might well use a 74LS00 to replace a
7400 if that's all I had.

4) Don't fake things. Others will moan about this, but I object to the
practice of hiding modern capacitors inside the empty shells of old ones
to preserve the appearance of the machine. Such practices might well
confuse restorers in the future!. NEVER fake IC numbers (as in changing
that 74LS00 number to 7400, or worse changing a GAL16V8 to PAL16L8). This
will cause problems

5) Document what you've done. Certainly in a separate log book (yes, I
know it can get lost, but it's better than having no docs at all). Maybe
on a label stuck to the chassis if the mod is non-obvious and could be a
problem later.

> Obviously however I do not wish to "distroy" the "vintage" significance of the
> unit either

Well, I've done the above sort of thing to machines where the total known
number cna be counted on the fingers of both hands (and sometimes on the
fingers of one hand) -- in unary. Maybe I did ruin the vintage
significance of these machines, but to be honest, a working machine has
much more significance to me (and to the owners of the machines I did
this sort of thing for) in that we can now see what the machines were
like to use, to program, etc.

-tony
Received on Sat Jun 14 2003 - 17:31:11 BST