The other is, that in other things generally
considered "collectible"
(such as automobiles, for example) it is considered acceptable to
have some non-original equipment installed, provided it is correct
for the period (and that the added stuff in of itself is historic).
But I think this only holds to a point: the system board and power
supply would probly best kept 'stock', but one of those Quadram 8086
add in boards would be definitely cool, for instance.
It's interesting that the collecting of computers will be held to the
same standards, protocols and preferences as those in collecting cars.
I agree. It's also interesting to read between the lines of this thread
and note that some people would definately be the type to do "concours"
restorations. (Personally, I draw the line at worrying about the color of
the ribbon cables.)
It makes one wonder whether there will someday be a market for
reproductions of computer manuals, FCC stickers, etc. the same way that
such a market exists in the automobile collecting world.
This may as yet come to pass-- but let's hope not during our
lifetime! Once it gets to this point, it will cease to be a 'fun'
hobby, and will turn into a commercialized, over-marketed
'investment vehicle'. Coin & Stamp collecting, Baseball cards, and
even beer cans have fallen to this fate. Its 'goodbye hobbyist' and
'hello bigbucks'.
Anyway, is it such a crime to strive to put together a system that is
truly historically correct? I mean, if you are talking IBM-PC era
stuff, that's what would make it worthwhile. That's the challenge!
In the future I predict that those original 4.77Mc motherboards will
not be so easy to find (especially with the original BASIC chip set).
If you're into older computers such as myself, then the situation is
a little different; you generally don't have this plethora of cheap
imitations floating around. If you do happen to run across something
that's compatible with the bus 'X' machine in you collection, you
know it's probably going to be of some historic interest anyway.
As for myself personally, I just think it's cool to focus on
'firsts': the first PC accelerator board, first 3rd party ram
board, etc. These 'firsts' all shaped the products to come later.
To me, that's the appeal of 'Historically Correct'.
Jeff
