Mac 128K from 1985 with Early 84 Bucket Label?

[Mac128]

We have a new seller in the high end Mac department with a nice looking 128K Mac for a starting bid of $1,000.

What confuses me about whiteheadp's listing is the fact that the serial number of this Mac (the matching number of which appears on the included original box), indicates this Mac was the 5061st Mac manufactured during the 32nd week of 1985. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that mean this was a late model 128K with the "Macintosh 128" badging on the rear bucket sold following the introduction of the 512K Mac in September 1984? The 32nd week of 1985 would have been one of the last 128K's manufactured before it was discontinued in October 1985. Yet, the rear label of this Mac only says "Macintosh", without the red "128K". Does this mean that Apple stopped branding the 128K revision with the "128K" badge at some point after the 512K was released, or does this mean that the the 128K did not begin including the "128K" badging until late in the revised 128K's production run (i.e. after Mid-August '85), or did this particular 128K pick up an earlier rear bucket at some point during its life?

Based on other high end auctions I have seen on eBay, this one certainly seems in line for what is being offered and might possibly receive the minimum $1,000, bid, though personally, I think it might be a bit high. Assuming the case bucket is original to the serial number, I would say this auction is on the high side of an accurate appraisal based on similar machines that have been sold by other high end sellers such as robert2d3d and danapplemacman for $200-$300 less (however danapplemacman just listed one without the box, case, second drive and disks for $999.84, making whiteheadp's a discount with all the extras).

If the case bucket is not original to this Mac, would that reduce the price this Mac might receive or increase it? Typically, the "Macintosh" only badging is preferred by collectors since it is the original branding. However, if it is not authentic to the serial number and indicative revised logicboard, does this still remain the case?

 

[slomacuser]

there is also game Dark Castle that came on 800k diskettes, so if anybody asks him, if he can start that game then that mac is for sure upgraded ...

 

[Mac128]

there is also game Dark Castle that came on 800k diskettes, so if anybody asks him, if he can start that game then that mac is for sure upgraded ...

You bring up a good point. There is also an Excel disk which will not run on a 128k. However, that is not as big a mystery as the disks could have come from a different system. But it certainly raises more questions with the rear case discrepency.

 

[JDW]

Since someone spoke of "asking," I mentioned to the seller that Dark Castle originally came on 800k disks and then politely asked him if indeed the internal floppy drive was 400k. He replied back to me promptly as follows:

The internal drive is the original 400k. The external drive is Apple model M0130.

That is all he said. He made no comment on the 800k Dark Castle disks which were touch on in my question to him. Hence, his reply basically says the following:

1) Both the internal and external drives are 400k.

2) Dark Castle is included but cannot be expected to run on the Macintosh 128k machine be sold along with the disk. (This statement is not currently in the listing though.)

DISCLAIMER: This is an unbiased report on a classic Macintosh. I remain 100% neutral toward the seller in question. This post should not therefore be misconstrued as libel. The need for disclaimers to avoid flames, avoid angry EBAY sellers and avoid deleted threads annoys me tremendously.