The immediate reason for this post, is that an Apple 1 reproduction now sports a plastic 6502 that has been converted to look like a white ceramic 6502. Details of this conversion can be found on the retro-restore yahoo group. I plan on converting one of my own, as I’m not that excited about the price of real ones. Also be aware that many of the white ceramic 6502s that have recently come to market were pulled from interesting vintage gear, like Kim-1s or arcade games, a practice I have mixed feelings about.

I’ve heard from several people over the years about the risk of reproduction parts and systems being sold as the real thing. As the popularity of the vintage computer hobby and value of the rare vintage systems increases, it is inevitable that new kinds of reproductions will appear.

My position on reproduction components and systems is that they will allow people who couldn’t otherwise afford to operate the real thing to get a better understanding of this vintage technology and have some fun. The closer the reproductions are to the real thing, the more accurate the experience will be and the more we will learn about the original systems and the history of computing. Usage of reproductions instead of originals also saves wear and tear on original systems.

A number people get great enjoyment from making a reproduction that both operates and appears as authentic as possible. This is similar to the enjoyment that skilled craftsman in other hobbies get from their efforts to make life size and scale reproductions of everything from stone tools to railroad empires. We should enjoy our hobby and marvell at the skill some of our friends, who go the extra mile to make their creations as accurate as they can.

One of the favorite things that I have heard during a VCF event, was when one visitor commented that he never thought he would ever get to operate an Apple 1. Of course he was operating a Mimeo, but to that visitor, it didn’t matter that it was a reproduction. So reproductions can give enjoyment not only to hobbyist, but to visitors to our hobby.

The best thing that can be done to defend ourselves from fakes, is to be made aware of the possibilities and educate ourselves as much as possible. This is one reason why I created the Apple 1 Registry. In this respect, I think the registry has been a success, as, since the registy’s creation, I am unaware of anyone trying to pass off a fake Apple 1 as real. However, be aware that some time ago, there was an attempt on eBay to pass off an Obtronix Apple 1 clone as the real thing, so I will not be surprised when it happens again.