Autograph/signed case value

[arrow_runner]

So I thought when I got my SE/30 that it was an SE because it's in an SE case. The case itself, however, is discolored and not evenly. There's spots where the original color was preserved because stickers were on it or because maybe it was shaded. The front bezel also has a small crack in it I believe.

Anyhow, I'm considering just painting the whole thing but I wanted to make sure that big case part isn't worth anything (more than $20 I guess) since it is one that has all the signatures in the plastic on the inside. It could probably be cleaned up with retrobright but I'd rather just paint it or put it towards the purchase or trade of a good SE/30 case.

 

[krye]

All Macs up to the SE/30 have the case signed. It's not worth any more than any other SE. Personally, I wouldn't paint it. I'd only retr0brite it. If you paint it, it'll have zero resale value, so you won't be able to sell it /trade it in the hopes to get a better machine. Either retr0brite, or leave as it.

 

[arrow_runner]

Ah, I didn't know ALL of them had that casing up to the SE/30. I'm not concerned about resale value for the whole machine since I'd just buy/trade for a proper SE/30 case to match the rest. I just want the thing to look nice and presentable and right now it looks pretty ugly. Since the casing is so common I'd almost wonder if it was even worth the price of shipping in the condition that it's in.

 

[beachycove]

The myth that there is something unique in having a "signed" case is regularly perpetuated on eBay and such, but it's bunkum. Now, if you have one signed by Woz in felt marker, that is a little different.

Another vote for Retrobrite. Retrobrite results in a much, much, much more attractive overall effect than painting. This is a good introduction:

. It is the only way to get a keyboard/ cables/ peripherals that match, and that is essential if what you want is a machine fit to display. The only real exception would be if what you wanted to display was not so much your machine as your paint job, but if you look around for images, you'll see that even the best of those mods are never typically displayed with the matching peripherals, because that way they look like crap.
I would just glue the crack with superglue or the like. If you have more serious damage, e.g., if the case has been hacked beyond recognition, then sure, it could be poly-bond and paint time, but that will never look as good as a properly restored case.

 

[krye]

I've done a ton of stuff with retr0brite. Have a look to give you an idea of what to expect:

Apple Scribe Printer

M2115 External Drive

SE Keyboard

Apple //c

Floppy Drives

CH Products Joystick

Mac Color Classic

Pro Keyboard

80SC External SCSI

You'll be glad you didn't paint it. You can find the Oxy Clean powder at pretty much any grocery store. You'll find the peroxide at any solon/hair care supply store. I use vol 20 and it works great. It's only $5 bucks.

 

[arrow_runner]

Okay that IIc looks gorgeous. And this is the first time I've seen/heard that you can just dunk everything in a big plastic container which makes me feel a lot better about trying this with some other stuff like my IIe.

I'll give this some more thought. I was actually considering painting the case, keyboard, and mouse flat black and painting the Apple logo white, so this wouldn't match the other peripherals anyway. I've got stickers that you can place over the keyboard letters.

 

[beachycove]

Krye:

Presumably you stir the parts around if everything is in at once, as in the Apple // sequence?

Those pics are indeed inspirational, by the way.

 

[krye]

Thanks!

There's no real science to it. I start with a bucket of warm water. Add about 3 scoops of Oxy and then pour in about a 1/4 of that peroxide bottle. I then mix it up so that the Oxy dissolves. I then add my parts and leave it in the sun.

About an hour later, I check on it. If it doesn't look like it's "doing anything" I add a little more peroxide/oxy. All the while moving the parts around here and there so the sun can blast all the surfaces evenly with UV. After about another hour, I pull a piece out and compare it to a good sample of plastic to match the color. If it still looks yellow, back in it goes. A lot of times, the insides of the chassis is the control since it rarely, if ever, yellows.

 

[CelGen]

Now, if you have one signed by Woz in felt marker, that is a little different.

Woz signs about anything you put in front of him from floppy disks to whole computers.

 

[Cameront9]

Just what Macs do have the case signatures? I haven't cracked my SE yet. I've seen some websites that say the SE doesn't have signatures, and some that say it does (like this very thread). I know the portable had case sigs, too.

 

[beachycove]

I think you are right. The signatures were not universal by the time the SE and SE/30 were manufactured, seemingly, but neither was it only "rare" machines that had them. Probably the ones without are rarer!

 

[Blinkenlightz]

From my relatively small sample size, having seen the insides of 15-20 SE's, I'd say it's about 50% that are signed. Certainly not "OMG SUPER RARE L@@K STEVE JOBS C-2 AUTOGRAPHED!!!", but special enough that my "I'm keeping this one" SE is signed.

 

[arrow_runner]

While we're (sort of) on the topic of restoration, what do you guys use to replace the missing pads on the bottom of Apple mice? I'm talking about the two plastic...friction?...pads.