Yes, working examples would be a great help, science museums and libraries would be a great help here. You would have to try to restore the least damaged items from the old intermediate tech level using parts from derelict equipment. Once you had a base of intermediate tech running, you can use that to build more spare parts.
This is course assumes the following
1) the restored intermediate technology is not immediate use to build weapons or luxury goods for the rullers
2) you have the knowledge to restart the old equipment - you might have a few old timers who were about 20 in 1130 - provided they have surived the TL drop, or knowledge handed down. Most computer records will have gone, so its whatever paper books you have available - otherwise you have to start from 1st principles again, and open a university. The one advantage you have is you know certain things can be done.
3) The high tech equip was not destroyed by vengeful mobs after the immediate collapse.
Worlds that have dropped below TL5 will have lost so much technical knowledge and basic machine tools, they will not be able to restart the old equipment (except in the simplest cases, and will not be able to change settings on machines, or repair them when they fail).
----- Original Message -----
From: Eamon Watters
To:
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 7:51 AM
Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Technical Level recovery in TNE
Hi All,
I was pondering how worlds which have gone through the Collapse generally recover their tech levels (if they are inclined to do so).
Myself, I figure that with the existence of intermediate and Imperial tech levels they generally focus on regaining those tech levels, as they have experience/examples to go by - though if the tech levels are too separated this might be too much of a leap. So, for example Keipes could focus on regaining the intermediate tech level of A, putting effort into areas which will allow it to restart the Tech A machinery and equipment, and so one day go from being termed Tech 6 to Tech A. After that some more effort will yield the original tech level of B. On the other hand, somewhere like Fisher's World will find even the intermediate tech level of 8 far beyond the capability of their tech 3 civilization to re-start - and will either have to go up the hard way, or get some outside help to get back.
Eamon