IMSAI Score update/Spare BYTEs/Got an Altair too

[Curt at Atari Museum]

You can reap a lot of benefits from the SAA (Society of American 
Archivists)    Which I've been a member of for the last two years.     
You can tap into a lot of professional details on the handling of 
materials, storage, cleaning and restoration of various surfaces and 
materials, even understandings into properties of inks, papers, tape and 
other materials to understand long term breakdown, acidity and other 
information.     So if you really want to get a lot of good solid 
answers, join up and you'll start getting the monthly newsletters and 
the network contact information, plus they send out catalogs on 
storage/restoration materials.

I've got close to 40,000 documents on file here in my office from Atari 
as well as original pencil drawn blueprints, so I'm trying to take 
archival of these items very seriously.


Curt


Vintage Computer Festival wrote:

>On Sat, 4 Jun 2005, Dave Dunfield wrote:
>
>  
>
>>>You never defined "original condition".  This could mean the condition it
>>>was in when it left the factory, or the condition it was in when it left
>>>the nth generation owner.
>>>
>>>At any rate, this is all getting a bit nazi.  If Rich wanted to saw it in
>>>half so he could display the innards then that would be his perogative.
>>>      
>>>
>>I'm sorry, but I really don't know what your problem is with my postings.
>>Rich's asking on the list how to fix the IMSAI logo seemed like enough
>>evidence to me that he wants it visible like when it left the factory and
>>not blacked-out as done by the previous owner (he would not have had to
>>ask how to keep it blacked out as it was already done).
>>
>>Are you suggesting that I am a Nazi for giving my opinion that there is merit
>>in keeping the original artwork if it is reasonably possible instead of
>>replacing it (which he had indicated that he was considering).
>>    
>>
>
>The problem has been in assuming that by making or not making
>modifications to something that you are doing the right thing.  I doubt
>many if any people here are trained in conservation practices, and I'm not
>claiming I am, but I do understand the issues.  Suggesting the use of
>solvents on any material has long term effects that, if not understood,
>can do permanent damage.  Rich's solution of deciding to purchase a
>separate face panel was in fact the correct and proper solution in this
>case.
>
>  
>
>>At no time on any of my postings did I attempt to coerce Rich into doing
>>anything (or not doing anything) with his machine that he didn't want to
>>do - I simply gave my suggestions and opinions in response to his inquiry.
>>I was unaware that this would cause a problem.  How does one determine
>>what suggestions and opinions are considered acceptable to this list?
>>    
>>
>
>This might sound rude but it's part common sense, part logic, and mostly
>understanding how real conservation work is done.  If you really want to
>know what is generally considered acceptable based on time-tested research
>and study then enroll yourself in a museum studies program.
>
>  
>
>>>>Obviously any cleanup should be attempted with great care, and if it's not
>>>>going to work, then by all means get the replacement, and keep the original
>>>>in a safe place.... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least investigate
>>>>restoring the original first.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>Everything has a story.  You have to decide if you are going to continue
>>>writing the story where the last guy left off by removing the ink or
>>>considering it complete and leaving the computer as is.  Rich decided to
>>>continue the story.
>>>      
>>>
>>Yes, thats how I understood his postings, which is why I offered what I
>>considered to be helpful suggestions to that end.
>>    
>>
>
>There are different ways to look at this.  First of all, is Rich a new
>user of the piece, or is he a conservator?  I would say he's more the
>former than the latter: he fully intends to continue using this item.  Of
>course, as a collector he's sensitive to preservation issues, but he also
>wanted the piece to look like it was when new out of pride of ownership.
>By changing out the front panel, the piece is no longer "original", but
>original is merely a refernce marker.  It could have ceased being
>"original" as soon as the previous owner made even the smallest
>modification, such as plugging in a third party interface card.
>
>One can assume perhaps that Rich was sensitive to the issue of altering
>the history of the piece by removing the ink, or perhaps he didn't feel
>that would be an adequate restoration and opted for a replacement panel.
>In either case he would be modyifying the machine, therefore altering its
>history.  The less destructive method of alteration is to replace the
>front panel as he opted.  However, noting this alteration is up to Rich.
>He may not consider himself a conservator or collector but a hobbyist
>wanting to restore his new found fancy to "factory" condition.  As I
>mentioned before, whatever he decides to do is his perogative.
>
>  
>
>>Just recently, a thread went by where opinions were given as to the merit
>>of keeping original screws in machine - I don't recall anyone bashing the
>>person with that option
>>    
>>
>
>Do you have a filter on Tony's messages?  He completely lambasted Jules
>for replacing the screws on a power supply, which I did not consider to be
>a major or irreversible modification.  This is the same issue.  Rich is
>replacing the panel which is reversible, and should he ever want to
>demonstrate the condition in which he received the unit he can replace the
>new panel with the old.
>
>  
>
>>- how is it different to discuss the options in
>>replacing or not replacing front panel artwork? ... In other words, what
>>did I do to incur the "Wrath of Sellam"? (hey, we could make a movie with
>>that for a title!)
>>    
>>
>
>It wasn't directed at you in particular but at the tendency of people in
>general to voice their opinions which are clearly either wrong or
>uninformed, and then coming off the heels of the Screws Debate it just
>seemed a bit overwhelming.  My must everything be open to argument all the
>time here?  Especially when we're debating issues that have already been
>argued and resolved many times over?
>
>  
>


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