Apple II S/N 5

[dorkbert]

Interesting unit. The logic board and power supply have obviously been replaced. But the case lack vents common to later units. The serial number tag might've been pulled and reapplied. Keyboard appears to be consistent with a unit of that vintage.

The shot of RF modulator appears to have vent hole above it but other photos do not. In the same photo the velcro stub on the lower case appear to be flush but other photos shows it as not. This listing looked suspicious.

The Monitor IIe is interesting too; it has an amber tube inside a unit clearly marked as being green phosphorous.

fleaBay link

 

[Moonferret]

There is also a great big fan visible in that photo of the modulator. He does have another listing with loads of Apple kit. Perhaps he has occidentally included a photo of the ][+ from that lot in this listing by mistake. Shame it doesn't have the original board and power supply.

The amber monitor looks kinda cool though

 

[lisa2]

My opinion (you are all welcome to have your own opinion) is that SN sticker is fake or has been tampered with. The printing on the SN# sticker is clearly pixelated (as if it was printed on a modern ink jet or laser printer - not printed in 1977) and you can see that corners have been hand cut (not die cut as in the real ones). Also the sicker is upside down (normally the apple logo is near the edge of the case). I would ask for some other from of proof it's really Johnny #5. Buyers beware!

 

[falter]

Wow.. $3000 for basically a case and keyboard. This hobby is getting way too expensive!

 

[dorkbert]

My opinion (you are all welcome to have your own opinion) is that SN sticker is fake or has been tampered with. The printing on the SN# sticker is clearly pixelated (as if it was printed on a modern ink jet or laser printer - not printed in 1977) and you can see that corners have been hand cut (not die cut as in the real ones). Also the sicker is upside down (normally the apple logo is near the edge of the case). I would ask for some other from of proof it's really Johnny #5. Buyers beware!

If the content of this video is factual, it appears to be of the very same unit.

 

[HoJoPo]

If the content of this video is factual, it appears to be of the very same unit.

Great find in the video! It does look exactly like the one on eBay, and the cover is missing in the video. The earliest labels were likely hand cut from printed sheets and the number typewritten, it was 1977 after all. The glue and fibers, along with defects in the label match the video, so do the missing screws on the bottom.

This very likely proves that it is serial number 5, and as stated in the video, they used it until the mid-80s, after the Macintosh was released, so having the power supply and motherboard replaced over that time isn't too far fetched.

If the provenance is correct to this being the first system delivered to the first distributor for the Apple ][, that makes it worth a lot to a museum....

 

[HoJoPo]

I just noticed the video and owner are referenced now in the Q&A on eBay. This is looking more legit... and if this is truly serial number 5, could it be the lowest serial number left in existence?

 

[olePigeon]

Also, if the serial number looks off, it could be because it's computer number 5 and they switched serial number stickers later on. Even the bag is off without the bite mark.

Very cool. He shoulda gone through Sotheby's.