Is This a Prototype or PreProduction Disk II?

[jajan547]

So I recently won this and I'm curious this appears as a Disk II but the vents are strange, cable would I think be multicolored (rainbow) if early, Screws are same style but flatheads not Philips, and last but not least the board is unlike anything I've ever seen. Ive spent a few hours looking through clones but none match this board. Please if you have any ideas or know anythings about this item let me know. I was also told this weighs 1.5 (US) Pounds more than typical Disk ii drives, not sure if that means much or helps. I've added photos below.

 

[David Cook]

The chips appear to have 1983 date codes. The initial Disk II shipped in the summer of 1978. Apple switched to Alps mechanisms in 1982, which would be before the 1983 date codes. So, it is unlikely a prototype for those.

Very cool. Not sure what it is.

 

[jajan547]

The chips appear to have 1983 date codes. The initial Disk II shipped in the summer of 1978. Apple switched to Alps mechanisms in 1982, which would be before the 1983 date codes. So, it is unlikely a prototype for those.

Very cool. Not sure what it is.

I was thinking maybe could it be a late model prototype before they switched to the smaller 5.25 style in 1983?

 

[bibilit]

Looks more like a clone to me, no Apple logo anywhere (except for the front one... those are stickers) but the EG (EO) something instead.

Early models are Shugart units modified to suit, and are somehow different to Alps later models.

I will remove the case to have a look for any brand.

 

[jajan547]

Would be very, very interesting to see. But who knows what it really is.

 

[bibilit]

here is some clues concerning early drives :

early Disk II drive

is there any difference between early Shugart drives and late units ? Just collected an early model, which is quite different from late units. Seems more heavy, a blue plastic guide is present inside the unit for the disk, even a small foam piece holds the disk in position (never seen this...

68kmla.org

 

[jajan547]

Thanks I’ll take a look.

 

[bibilit]

I was also told this weighs 1.5 (US) Pound

Original units casing were in some sort of alloy as well, probably this one is rather steel.