I now have two HP-65 calculators.
One (which I reported on earlier) has had the card reader pinch roller replaced by a previous owner. I also had to open it up, and remove and reinstall the motor; the motor squealed and eventually failed, but a tiny bit of Break-Free CLP completely repaired it. The rear label ("useful conversion factors") is quite obviously pulled back and the pulled back areas no longer adhere. It is now fully functional, including card reader, and cosmetically is about 85% condition.
The other is a virgin. It's newer (s/n 1606A 03xxx vs. 1333A 15xxx) in about 95% cosmetic condition. The rear label is the "user aids", and appears never to have been pulled back. The card reader's pinch roller has defintely turned to goo, but otherwise the calculator is fully functional.
I am trying to decide whether or not to do one or both of the following two restoration steps:
1) I have a replica rear label on order for the fully-functional 85% calculator. It's the newer style "user aids" because the vendor's "useful conversion factors" label has an obvious error ("B" instead of "8"). I would, of course, retain the old label after removal.
2) send the 95% calculator to the nice folks at fixthatcalc for a pinch roller transplant.
Here's where I'm having trouble.
The replica label would be less-authentic. But, as a calculator that is actually being used (I fully intend to submit some new programs to the MOHPC), it would be a desirable restoration especially since the old label is vulnerable to further damage.
Then again, replacing the pinch roller isn't fully-authentic either. Perhaps a virgin calculator in 95% condition should be left as a virgin, unsullied by any restoration. As long as the other one works, I have no need for a working card reader in the virgin, and I can always have it changed later.
My original plan was to keep one, and sell the other (with a working card reader). Now, I am tempted to change the label on the non-virgin, leave the virgin untouched, and keep both.
I'd like to hear feedback from other members of the forum.