Date   : Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:47:53 -0500
From   : jules.richardson99@... (Jules Richardson)
Subject: making replica acorn cards

stuart wrote:
>> For me it's "because that's how the original manufacturer intended
>> it" - when using it or working on it, I want it to appear as close to
>> the original experience as possible, warts and all. (the
>> "untrained/unknowing eye it would seem still in mint condition" bit
>> bugs me a little I suppose, because someone could sell a machine and
>> use that to their advantage, and at the very least it suggests
>> pulling the wool over others' eyes!)
> 
> How about adding a small symbol to the PCB, hiding it under a socketed
> chip; pull the chip out the socket to determine if the card is a
> replica.

I suppose I'm just not seeing a good scenario (amongst the general 
public[1]) for having boards / machines that look exactly like the original 
to the untrained/unknowing eye; it just seems like a good way to pass off 
an item as something that it is not. I'm all for using original parts and 
look-a-like boards, so long as it's obvious even to the unwary that it's a 
replica rather than an original.

Having said that, I know that I wouldn't buy a machine without knowing what 
boards were in it and being able to see the condition of each one - but 
maybe there are people out there who'd buy a System machine based on the 
case appearance alone, so even with 'branded' replica boards there's still 
scope for deception?

[1] less of an issue with museums, I think, because they'd make the replica 
status obvious amongst the surrounding display material (well, I hope 
anyway. I'd be upset if they didn't :-)

>> Hmm, I have a few Eurocard backplanes - but not enough to justify a
>> run of boards for them, I'd think. Are the cases still available
>> even? I hung on to a couple of 'empties', but that was it.
> 
> Yes, Vero/Schroff chassis are still available and still far too much
> money for what they are!

:-) They certainly were expensive 'back in the day'; I was rather glad when 
I acquired a couple (but I think one is sans-PSU and doesn't necessarily 
have all its card runners).

>> The eventual plan is to build my own TTL machine into them - *if* I
>> can find a box 'o connectors at a sensible price!
> 
> What kind of connectors are you looking for?

Same as on the System boards - the DIN-type ones with 2x32 rows of pins. I 
think my cases will each take 2x16w backplanes (or 1x16w + 1x10w with PSU), 
which makes a good basis for a microcoded TTL CPU :-)

cheers

Jules