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Compact Mac back case buckets and labels

Charlieman

Well-known member
Eric Rasmussen describes how to identify 128K and 512K Macs via the badge at the top of the rear case bucket. However, I am interested in different versions of the main back case label.

This label photo is taken from a heavily upgraded 128K (M0001P model). I presume that the "512" addition in handwriting is non-original. I have seen the same label on other Macs, and I also own a 512K with a similar label that identifies the Mac as model M0001WP (ie international Mac 512K) in print, not handwriting.

I have seen a different back label on photos of 128Ks. From memory, the different (presumably earlier) Mac 128K label does not have the boxes shown in the photo. Can anyone cast any light?

 

Mac128

Well-known member
Charlieman, are you interested in the US variants as well? Every Mac I have ever personally seen has identical text information required by law in the US on the back, with no boxes. The only ones I have seen with the boxes have been pictures of the international versions. Apple calls this the Agency Approval Label (P/N 825-4018, -1014 512K, -1254 beige Plus and -1345 platinum). The Service Source manual does not give part numbers for the international label, so perhaps it corresponds to whatever the local variant would be per the legal requirements in that territory. The local distributors adding it in much the same way as domestic liquor distributors label an otherwise good bottle of scotch with US legal information I'm sure they could give a damn about in Scotland. Apple provides a blank label with boxes to be filled in as the law requires. I seriously doubt hand writing was an accepted procedure as it doesn't make for a very presentable product, particularly given the price.

A very interesting project. I can certainly help you with a wide variety of domestic US labels, but I think the far more interesting aspect are what are sure to be an enormous amount of different foreign label variants. In my experience all of the original 128K through the Mac Plus look more or less the same in the US. But, I wonder if there even was a standard for the international territories or if it was left up to the individual distributors to address local laws, at least early on? This might account for your recollection that the early 128K in the UK had no boxes.

This may be helpful starting place ... I KNEW I had seen several international labels recently in one place: http://68kmla.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=4895#4895

 

Charlieman

Well-known member
Thanks, Mac128. You've pretty much wrapped up my query.

I can't recall what the back of a UK Mac 128K looks like -- it is twenty years since I last saw one that had not been upgraded in some way. Really: in the UK, most compacts had a hard life and Apple's upgrade incentives have removed many 68K Macs from circulation.

I am happy to accept that there was a standard US label and the international version with boxes. The international version includes some standards information (eg TUV) but that information is optional, unlike the US labelling.

There are a variety of different Plus labels in the EU, all of which correspond to Apple's marketing guidelines. I find it difficult to believe that any label on international products was not reviewed and approved in Cuppertino.

This may be helpful starting place ... I KNEW I had seen several international labels recently in one place: http://68kmla.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=4895#4895
I'd forgotten about that link. Great photos, and they confirm the existence of Platinum 512Ks deifinitively.

 
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