Something? Nothing?

[mst3k]

I am speaking only of the chassis itself, as well as the rear panel with B (brightness) and F (focus) markings.

I bet we'll find many of the body panels to read "PTA prototype" debossed on the inside, too, though several examples of those panels have been found on retail machines also. No other changes seem to have been made to the body panels and the PTA prototype markings weren't visible from the outside, so Apple seemingly didn't care that remaining pre-production panels snuck through onto production machines.

Following your post I checked the panels, and they do indeed say 'PTA prototype' (photos to follow).
That, along with everything else, leads me to believe this was an in-house machine that was taken/purchased/kept by the aforementioned Apple employee and converted internally to a Lisa 2/5 at some point. Again, all conjecture but since the machine never left the owner's possession (according to his daughter) it seems logical. Hard to believe(?) that so many case variations could escape Apple without assistance from an employee?
Whatever it is, it's lots of fun to look at!

 

[mst3k]

 

[ried]

Neat! The lack of an Apple logo on the rear panel is also a tell. I've never seen one fall off of that particular panel, and Apple prototypes often lacked logos.

 

[stepleton]

That, along with everything else, leads me to believe this was an in-house machine that was taken/purchased/kept by the aforementioned Apple employee and converted internally to a Lisa 2/5 at some point.

I agree that this is the most likely explanation. It would have been nice to have heard from the employee about it. What was this machine's job inside Apple? Nothing to do for now but wonder about it, I guess...

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Neat fractals on the inside of the case panels. Is that dust that's been arranged by the HV from the CRT hardware, or is it in the plastic itself?

 

[mst3k]

Neat fractals on the inside of the case panels. Is that dust that's been arranged by the HV from the CRT hardware, or is it in the plastic itself?

That is dust artfully arranged by electricity. I'm glad I took photo's of it because at first I thought it was the plastic.
Turns out it was physics.

 

[obsolete]

I don't think they are quite fractals; dendritic dust, maybe? Anyway I agree, cool

 

[stepleton]

Do those patterns really rub off? If not, I think they might be artifacts of the injection moulding process.

 

[mst3k]

Do those patterns really rub off? If not, I think they might be artifacts of the injection moulding process.

Yes, they had a very permanent look about them, but they washed right off.

 

[fri0701]

I knew I remembered seeing those "B" and "F" logos on the back case somewhere before! http://adam.trideja.com/Apple Computer Pics/Lisa/Lisa 1/Prototype Lisa 1/
(http://adam.trideja.com/Apple Computer Pics/Lisa/Lisa 1/Prototype Lisa 1/IMG_8427.JPG)

As for the "PTA Prototype" stamp on the case plastics, I've seen that on many production machines, too.

 

[mst3k]

I knew I remembered seeing those "B" and "F" logos on the back case somewhere before! http://adam.trideja.com/Apple Computer Pics/Lisa/Lisa 1/Prototype Lisa 1/
(http://adam.trideja.com/Apple Computer Pics/Lisa/Lisa 1/Prototype Lisa 1/IMG_8427.JPG)

As for the "PTA Prototype" stamp on the case plastics, I've seen that on many production machines, too.

Thanks for the photos and information. That is really interesting!
I notice the pictures of the proto Lisa included a 'dead man' switch on the front (held open by a screwdriver).
Also, can't see the actual case frame so hard to compare the 'square' vs. 'round' vent holes.
The CPU board looks nearly identical (of what i can see) including bodges (not sure if the means anything or not).
But, I think my drive cage is different.
Hard to tell on any of these what has been added post production.
Good stuff! Thanks again.

 

[mst3k]

Looking at the power supply now.
Lisa 1.2a PCB board burns between R17 and R19, at R24, and CR15,
The worst is R24.

PSU produces a flashing power light with continuous reboot on a working Lisa with no Profile or Widget connected.
I've ordered new caps.
Any common ailment for this pattern of burn and behavior (other than father time)?

 

[stepleton]

IIRC mine (which function well enough) are kinda scorched in the same places, but I am not certain of every single one of them. There'a a Lisa PSU repair thread underway now at LisaList2 (although it's for the 1.8A DataPower PSU and not the 1.2A Apple one), and one of the users there is familiar with which parts typically get toasty. It may make sense to ask there.