Importance of "original" parts - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

7 Dec 1997

...
 How important is it to obtain computers in their
"original" state? Is it
worth it to save a computer that is known to have been hacked together?

I think it's worth saving anything that might eventually fill in part of a
jigsaw.

...
 For example: I have an original Mac 128k. However, I
believe that the
motherboard has been upgraded to the 512k "Fat" Mac. I purchased it at the
University of Michigan's Property Disposal warehouse, which means I was
lucky to find a matching keyboard and mouse and I have no hope of finding
the original manuals or shipping boxes for it. .
.
...
 Should I even bother to restore this machine to
it's original state by
purchasing an original (but not _the_ original) motherboard, assuming I
can even find one, or should I just use the machine as is and forget about
any attempts at historical accuracy? At what point do I wind up with
Washington's Hatchet, or does it even matter? 
Mostly, you will be very lucky to pick up the bits you want. I think
eventually a swap culture will arrive but you need to have something to swap
with. We are in a rescue-from-the-garbage phase at the moment, so I believe
in hoarding everything I find .....  that I can find space for that is!

Hans