5 Jun
1998
5 Jun
'98
4:14 p.m.
Agreed... But for a technical artifact, 'original
condition' implies that
it works IMHO. Most computers (for example) worked when they left the
factory.
Like the Coleco Adam?
IMHO it's a very shallow viewpoint to examine a
technical object,
whatever it may be, on the basis of the appearence of the components.
There are (IMHO) idiots who hide new capacitors in the
empty cases of the
old ones, just so an old radio looks right.
I do not have a problem with doing that, _provided_ that the part is
obviously "filled". A non-removable tag stating the repair, cleverly
hidden but clearly obvious to anyone doing an audit, is my standard. With
this, the object could be viewed and photographed without the distraction
of the tag, yet if anyone was to study the components, the truth would
clearly be revealed.
What I do it to mount up the
new one without drilling large (or preferably any) holes and make a note
that the component has been replaced. And keep the old one.
Yes!
Before all you radio collectors flame me, let me point
out that we don't
know how a future collector will examine the set. He may well open up the
capacitor cans. And if he finds a second can hidden inside he may thing
that's how it was made at the factory. And that would be a Bad Thing.
Documentation, documentation, documentation...
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net