Coins are restored or "conserved" to some extent, and it's even done by the grading companies. (Not real sure how I think about that.... )
https://news.coinupdate.com/testing-...ation-service/
Other stuff has been done for years, like filling in holes where the coin was drilled to make jewelery, or removing solder, etc. Pretty much any silver coin that looks silver has had tarnish removed.
All of which usually decrease the value except the tarnish removal, which can go either way.
Stamps are also restored. It's a bit controversial, the national collecting organization expects all restored stamps to be marked with indelible ink. At least one restorer won't do that unless it's requested. As usual, undescribed restoration is unacceptable. And even described restoration can affect value. The second item down here has a restoration and didn't sell for much compared to others.
http://stampauctionnetwork.com/y/y92368.cfm
For some items, conservation and/or restoration is appropriate. Especially deacidifying really bad paper that's in poor condition and will eventually destroy itself. Most strip cards would be good candidates for that.
I collect bicycles, and have "restored" some. Not total restorations as we see with cars, although that's also done.
Here are a couple examples. None of what was done can't be reversed with an hour or so of work.
1920's motorpacing bike. As found, apparently converted to a bike for getting around or for warmups after a pretty serious crash.
And after locating the right size front wheel, chainring, type of handlebars, and a few other parts.
Second, a bike used to win a gold medal in team pursuit at the Pan-Am games in 1983. As found.
And after locating or making a bunch of special parts that aren't available.
Obviously, neither is 100% original, but the pros swapped out parts for nearly every race. And neither was even close to original as found.
When I showed pictures of the 1983 bike to the guy who originally built it I told him I didn't do a good enough job on the front hub as it really wasn't all that close to what I'd seen in pictures. He told me not to worry, making a hub wasn't easy, and that there were probably only a handful of people who would know the hub wasn't quite right and that I would be the only one who cared. Also, that they had experimented with a number of hubs and other parts, and that at least one set looked nearly identical to what I'd made.
Restoration is always a bit tricky, how far to take things, and which things to change. With paper stuff at least to me it's more about preservation, cleaning, deacidifying (actually not needed for T206s)
I'd also prefer the un-restored card, but it's not for everyone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrvster
these are "cards" ....not "cars"........a huge difference!!!
1)coins are not restored or "recreated" are they  (besides cleaning polishing, distorting them)....NO ONE WOULD ADD MORE GOLD , SILVER, RESTRIKE IT???
2) what about stamps???someone going to add paper and recolor the upside airplane???????
these examples would ADD MATERIAL to something that is original thus altering the integrity of the original!!! thus changing the object...
this Wagner is a RE-CREATION" and not a "RESTORATION"
flip should state "FRANKEN WAGNER RE-CREATION" and not "RESTORED"
think about this....you can only "go by the restoration report"
what if the idiot doing the restoration forgot to add something or delete something he/she didn't do or do to the card?????it is tampered with significantly enough to change this card into something other than an original WAGNER!!!
it has foreign material added to it!!!!!!!!!!(card board from another card, foreign ink that they didn't use back then)
it is ok to soak the card and remove the paper from the back and maybe dirt on it, but that would be enough!!!
this card was altered significantly enough to ruin it!!
someone ruined this card , and some poor sap is going to buy something where technically you don't really know what was done to it!! only an invoice 
I don't know, I don't like "fake boobs" either....
if your thing is paying out the asshole for something someone basically re created, more power to you!
don't get me wrong, I am obsessed with owning one, if I had this one, it would drive me nuts to the point of where I would want to trim the fake ass border off!! 
THIS IS INSANITY!
I would take the die cut wagner or the wagner cut in 2 before I bought a recreation.....shit, get a reproduction and cut and paste heinie wagner on the fucker |