What the heck is this thing?

[mst3k]

Howdy,
I need a little help here. Anybody know what this thing is?
It came with a Macintosh 128.
The connector goes thru the security slot and ties into a ribbon cable that goes to a board that sits between the motherboard and the analog board power.
There is a wire that runs to a chip leg on the motherboard.
The 'serial' cable on the back plugs into the mouse port and there is a pass through on the backpack for the mouse (which is attached to the back of the Mac 128).
There is a 'video' port, a 'switch' port and a 'power' port on the back of the MultiVideo 'backpack'.
I'm assuming this is some early way to add an external monitor to a Mac?
Any help is appreciated. I can't seem to find anything on the world wide interweb...
Thanks in advance!

 

[cheesestraws]

What is in the backpack? It definitely looks like video output.

 

[joshc]

From MacWorld 1986, various editions...

 

[joshc]

New!

Mac Video

On Any TV!

Mac Video Processor **

CONVERTS MAC VIDEO to standard TV video. Lets you use ANY TV or Big Screen Projection Unit as a Macintosh screen. Or record on a VCR.

Perfect for training presentations, sales presentations, or education.

PAN. FREEZE FRAME AND ZOOM (1:1 to 16:1) using your mouse!

No expensive special monitor or special projection unit is required. Attaches easily and is all you need to connect to ANY TV, Big Screen or VCR with direct video connector, or use with an RF modulator.

AFFORDABLE! All other video adaptors for the Mac require special monitors and special projectors that cost up to $4000.

If you already have a TV, ANY TV, then Mac Video Processor for $1295 is all you need!

SEE FOR YOURSELF! Send $15 (refundable with future purchase) for a VMS Video cassette recording of Mac Video Processor in use.

Multivideo INCORPORATED

4 Johnston Way, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 408-438-3663 Tlx: 650282 1 60 1 MCI VISA, MC OK. Dealer Inquiries Invited. NTSC, RGB, PAL. SECAM Available.

Macintosh’"— Apple Computer Inc.

MAC Video Processor and MVP are a trademark of Multivideo liKorporated

Circle 495 on reader service card

 

[joshc]

.

 

[cheesestraws]

PAN. FREEZE FRAME AND ZOOM (1:1 to 16:1) using your mouse!

That explains what the mouse passthrough is for!

 

[joshc]

Seems it was potentially unsuccessful / not popular - there are no mentions of it in MacWorld or MacUser beyond 1986.

 

[mst3k]

Thanks JoshC! That MacWorld advertisement kind of explains it all.
I'm not sure if it requires any software or drivers, but it looks like I just hook up the old 'TV' to the Video out with a composite cable and I'm living the dream of Mac on my TV!
I wonder what the 'power' din plug is for...?

 

[mst3k]

Greetings,
Having identified this thing (thanks to JoshC), I figured I could find some more info on it.
No such luck. It appears to be a very rare piece of hardware (and probably not too popular in it's day).
Anybody have any technical info on this thing? Manual?
Anyone familiar with Multi Video Inc from Scotts Valley, CA?
Thanks!

 

[Iesca]

I wonder what the 'power' din plug is for...?

Almost certainly this is for an external power supply, which means I'm guessing you don't have one for it. Takes some sort of DIN-7 cable, but of course that doesn't tell us anything, sadly.

 

[mst3k]

You are correct, sir. I do not have the power supply.

 

[mst3k]

Perhaps an Apple IIc power supply?
Same connection. Same time period.
Maybe?

 

[Iesca]

That would be extremely risky. The only way to be absolutely safe without the specs of the power supply and its pinout would be to carefully reverse engineer it. Sadly, that is beyond my own capabilities...

 

[joshc]

Perhaps an Apple IIc power supply?
Same connection. Same time period.
Maybe?

No, don't do that. It most likely uses a different voltage.