Beat up reflector is no big deal as long as the electrics are working OK. My magnetic ballasts are 20+ years old and still work fine. The 1000W MH with a Hortilux conversion bulb is flowering a room full of plants right now just fine.
If she had it running for you then it must have a ballast that should plug into the wall so it can power the light unless it's wired for 240 instead of 120 which would need a special outlet to power the ballast. The magnetics can be converted to run on a few different voltages.
If you can get it real cheap it would be worth it. Good bulbs cost more than a magnetic ballast so check out what kind of bulbs you get with it. Polish up the inside of the reflector and you're good to go. The 1000W conversion bulb was $170 and I can get a new ballast for 100.
This is one of my 3 - 400W HPS ballasts that I bet is 30 years old and I've been using it for the last 16 years.
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