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