To all with interest in preservation

It depends -- a lot -- on the machine (or peripehral), and I must admit I tend to actively colelct machines i know I can keep going. The first point (and this will probably start another flamewar) is that I do component-level repair. You might well find it impossible to find, say, a memory address PCB for an HP9820 calculator. But the ICs on that board are all pretty noraml TTL parts, only 1 or 2 types are even moderately obscure. You can get parts taht will work quite easily. And if not, well, you know what the chip should do so you can make some circuit to replace it. Of course some chips are goign to be hard to find. ASCIs are amongst them (fortunately the machines I like don't have ASICs :-)), as are some older RAM chips, microprocessors, etc. I nthis case you grab al lthe related bards you can find and raid chips fromthem. Why not just swap the board? well, firstly it might not be the right board (something like an old RAM -- Intel 1103 anyone -- can turn up in various machines), the 'spare' board might be defective due to a fault other than in the chip you want, and in any case if you reduce a board to its compoents you can use them to repari sevearl machines. Of course discete components are gernally still avialable new, or at least something is avaialbel that wil lreplace the failed part. Transformers, motors, etc cna be rewound. It takes time, but it's doable. Flyback transformers are the exception, theare vacuum inmpregnated. I am still lookin for ways to make replacements, I must talk to the model IC engine guys who make ignition coils this way... In a lot of cases swithces (a common problem) can be taken apart and cleaned and will then work again. Mechancial may be standard 9like ball races) or can be made/modified i na reasoanble workshop. Of coruse not everything can still be easily made or obtained but I am often pleasantly suprised by how many parts for my classic computers are still listed. -tony