Mac SE Prototype PICTURES

Scott Baret · Jun 9, 2008

LCGuy · Jun 10, 2008

Very interesting...thank you for sharing

benjgvps · Jun 10, 2008

Interesting...

Mac128 · Jun 10, 2008

Here they are, round one of the Mac SE Prototype pictures! I've got more coming later tonight as soon as I clear off my digital camera's card (so I can take them).

It's odd that it has a serial number that conforms to production runs. Did you run it through the serial decoder?

What's the origin of this thing?

Scott Baret · Jun 10, 2008

I found it in a storage facility alongside dozens of other Macs. It looks as if it was used as a regular machine.

I did run it through the decoder and it came up an SE. That is why I want to look at the logic board of this computer. I ran MacEnvy on it and it said it was an SE.

It does still have the "rat cage" fan and the hard drive doesn't appear to be a MiniScribe, at least based on sound.

Also, I am not going to be able to get the pictures of the inside up tonight simply because I need to find my Torx T-15 and since the rest of the family is going to sleep I don't want to be up rummaging through tools. I'll probably get them up sometime tomorrow since I plan to work on a few vintage computers anyways. I'll try to get these taken and up in the morning.

MacG4 · Jun 10, 2008

looks sweet, and it looks like it needs a good cleaning

Quadraman · Jun 10, 2008

The plastic looks a lot smoother and shinier than my SE. Did they originally plan to use a different type of plastic for the cases?

Unknown_K · Jun 10, 2008

I would think prototypes get cases made differently using different plastics since it costs alot of money to make production injection molding dies and to harden and sandblast them (which is what gives them that texture).

Scott Baret · Jun 10, 2008

Before I snap the Mac back together, there are a few logic board comments I need to make. None of this information would have shown up well on the picture due to my low-end camera.

1. The serial number is M70208578.

2. The sticker is located to the left of the "bar code label" space.

3. Above jumper C57 it reads "Macintosh SE 820-0176-B ©1986 630-4125".

4. Underneath SIMM 3 it reads "Apple Computer 820-0176-B ©1986".

5. Along the side near the expansion slot it reads "TPB-D.VO"

The logic board looks like an early production model. If anyone with an SE made in 1987 wants to confirm that this is indeed a finished board, please let me know.

I say this because the board looks identical to a regular SE board, the computer acts like a regular SE and is recognized as such, and I remember reading that plans for the SE in mid-1986 called for a 68020.

Now to snap the computer back up and get the rest of those pictures online...

EDIT: I also took a picture of the computer running. Interestingly, there is a "Sleep" command available under the Special menu. It's running 6.0.7.

Scott Baret · Jun 10, 2008

OK, here we go, round two...

The basic inside view:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/MacPlus512/IMG_0622.jpg

The logic board itself:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/MacPlus512/IMG_0623.jpg

Side view showing the analog board cover (note lack of printing on it):

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/MacPlus512/IMG_0624.jpg

The "rat cage" fan...for all the younger folks who have never seen one (let alone heard one):

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/MacPlus512/IMG_0625.jpg

The inside etching of the case rear:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/MacPlus512/IMG_0629.jpg

Up and running!!!

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/MacPlus512/IMG_0630.jpg

Bolle · Jun 11, 2008

I´ve got an early SE board in my regular SE

1. seria number M80237970

2. sticker is on the barcode label thing

3. Macintosh SE 820-0176-B ©1986 630-4125 over C57 here too

4. Underneath SIMM 3 it reads Apple Computer 820-0176-B ©1986 for me too

5. expansion slot it reads TPB-D.VO is there for me too

everything the same on my mobo xcept teh serial number is higher.

looks teh same too

just out of interest. you got the same varta battery i got... where is yours made?

Scott Baret · Jun 12, 2008

OK, to answer some questions for everyone here...

Mac128: Already answered yours in my earlier post, but to lump them together here with the others: I found it in a storage facility alongside other Macs (including many other compacts). It looks to have been used as a regular Mac. Also, the serial number came up as an SE made in late 1986 on the decoder.

MacG4: Yes, it's filthy. It was covered in dust when I got it. I don't really want to use anything harsh on it though, maybe just a little water. There's also an area on the front near the "Apple logo" where I removed a sticker, so it looks a little grimy there.

Quadraman and Unknown K: I'm answering both of yours together. Yes, the case is very smooth and shiny. Check out the picture of it next to the regular SE, you'll see the production SE has more of a matte finish than a glossy one. All prototypes seem to be made of these lower-cost plastics. There's a picture of a prototype Quadra 700 somewhere and it was the same way. I think this was done to save on costs since that computer could have been scrapped at the last minute for an alternate design. I don't think it was ever going to be glossy like that because Apple was already using the platinum plastic with texture at that point on the IIGS. I do get the feeling the plastic used is immune to yellowing--there's no trace of it anywhere.

Bolle: I'll have to check on the origin of that battery. Most SEs with soldered batteries seem to have Varta brand in there for some reason. I've got Monday morning off and will check on it then. I'll also pull out the hard drive to get some details on that, since I'm thinking it may be a replacement drive--we all know MiniScribe reliability isn't the best.

I have a question for all of you--do you think that cover over the second floppy bay is third-party or something Apple put out there, maybe using leftover IIc-coloured plastic? (The shade looks about right, I have several ImageWriter IIs that are "white" to compare to).

MacDan · Jun 21, 2008

Wow, that's good stuff. Never thought I'd ever see that. Thanks!

Franklinstein · Jun 21, 2008

... do you think that cover over the second floppy bay is third-party or something Apple put out there ...

I've seen several dual-floppy SEs with hard drive upgrades, including covers with light windows and (internal) little metal retainer clips to hold the covers in place. Since many of the drives were Apple EPROM'd MiniScribes (though one was Seagate) and had original-style hard drive mounting cages, I'd guess that they were an Apple upgrade option.

funkytoad · Jun 22, 2008

That's fascinating!

stevep · Jul 5, 2008

Scott and others as well, you may recall my posting of a Plus that appeared to be a prototype / pre-production sample before The Big Crash.

I thought I would tag on to this post and see if anyone knows more about how these make it out to the general public etc. I think there have been other Macs mentioned in discussions that seem to fit this description.

With this Plus, there is no evidence of the logo or name ever being applied, and same with the missing s/n on bottom - very clean and smooth. The rear label fits the description of the first release label (no copyright date).

Pics if anyone would like to have a look:

front:

Logo area closeup:

Bottom:

:?:

Trash80toHP_Mini · Feb 27, 2013

The prototype's plastics aren't necessarily inferior, it's the soft tooling used for the prototyping run that's inferior. As I understand it, you can only make so many injections before it degrades and the parts aren't made as crisply on soft tooling as on hard tooling.

Re: Soft/Hard Tooling

If a different plastic was used, it wouldn't be a good prototyping test. The reason the prototypes are generally smooth/glossy is that adding texture to the hard tooling is the very last step done in preparation for production.

My M.E. little bro says tooling for injection molding is a black art, it costs a fortune to get it just right. The plastic has to cool enough to be ejected as quickly as possible, shortening the cycle time. Time on the injection molding machine is the most expensive portion of the part being produced.

Ike · Feb 28, 2013

You know, since we are talking about an SE prototype;

I have always wondered why they silkscreened the name on the right side of the SE and SE fdhd/superdrive models.

All other macs just seem to have it on the left. Even the SE/30

Anyone knows if the placement has any reason?

volvo242gt · Mar 1, 2013

Did decide to run the serial number through the decoder...

"Manufactured in: F => Fremont, California, USA

Year of production: 1986

Week of production: 47

Production number: BWX => 13767

Modell ID: M5011 => Macintosh SE FDHD

Your Macintosh SE FDHD was the 13767th Mac manufactured during the 47th week of 1986 in Fremont, California, USA."

http://myoldmac.net/FAQ/Mac-Serialnumber-decoder-e.php

Of course, as we know, pre-SuperDrive/FDHD M5011's were just marked Macintosh SE 800k, HD20SC on the back. Or just Macintosh SE in some cases.

-J

Mac SE Prototype PICTURES

Scott Baret

LCGuy

LC Doctor/Hot Rodder

benjgvps

Mac128

Scott Baret

MacG4

Quadraman

Unknown_K

Scott Baret

Scott Baret

Bolle

Scott Baret

MacDan

Franklinstein

funkytoad

stevep

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER

Ike

volvo242gt

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