Apple 2 serial number

[will]

Is there a way to determine the date of manufacture with the serial number? My oldest Apple 2 has a white sticker on the MB, says 1391.

Will

 

[Micom 2000]

I remember that there was a source which identified II-e motherboard serial # with date of manufacture, however a quick Google search didn't turn it up. A more extensive search by you might be more fruitful.

Lawrence

 

[david__schmidt]

The topic comes up from time to time in comp.sys.apple2. The early Apple II/II+ machines had a hand-written code in the rear-left of the motherboard. In the years '78-'81-ish had codes like 7912 (December, 1979) or 8005 (May, 1980). Earlier models (1977) just had serial numbers. That sounds like what you have there. What color are the slots? Earliest examples were light green.

 

[mwillegal]

Just to amplify on what Dave says. The first 6000 with serial numbers(like yours), instead of dates written on the motherboard were sold between introduction in April 1977 and mid 1978. I'm not exactly sure when the switch over to the rev 1 board occurred. My machine which originally had an motherboard in the mid 2000's was made in April 1978, (if my memory serves me right). I know this because the keyboard PCB has a date stamped on it.

If you still have your original keyboard, you may find a date stamped on it, which may shed some light.

Regards,
Mike Willegal

 

[will]

Thanks very much fellows. I believe it was purchased for Xmas 1977 at Computers are Fun in Los Angeles. I will check the color of the slots and look for the keyboard date stamp on Monday.

Would be great to get it working again. I've found a guy that repairs most Apples, but not the early 2's.

Will

 

[Druid6900]

Would be great to get it working again. I've found a guy that repairs most Apples, but not the early 2's.

Will

What's wrong with it and where do you live?

 

[will]

What's wrong with it and where do you live?

I'm in L.A. The power supply doesn't work, but I believe it wasn't booting years ago when it had power. Would you like to take a shot at it?

In answer to the other questions, the slots are sort of dark green, at least darker than the mb. The 1391 on the mb is handwritten. Can't see any datestamp on the keyboard board, but that's probably because I can't figure out how to remove it from the case. There's a serial number on the underside of the case, looks like A251-1111.

I'm going to try to attach some camera-phone pics.

Will

 

[Druid6900]

Yeah, I would like to fix it.

To save on shipping costs, pull the motherboard and send it, along with the cards to me (I have a few PSUs) and I can use the casetop/keyboard from my II+ to repair and test it.

I even have a spare II+ board, if it comes to that.

I'm in Canada, in Ontario, so, if you're interested, PM me.

 

[will]

Well, well. I replaced the power supply in my old 2, and it booted. Amazing how something like that can work after all these years. The drive was pretty noisy, and the 'e' key sticks, and it's dirty, but it works.

I'm a bit confused about why it wouldn't boot dos 3.2, but 3.3 works. It has the language card, so perhaps there was an upgrade chip that went with that.

Will

 

[david__schmidt]

I'm a bit confused about why it wouldn't boot dos 3.2, but 3.3 works.

There was a change to the Disk II adapter card firmware between DOS 3.2 and 3.3 that is keeping your DOS 3.2 disk from booting directly. You can use a program on the 3.3 system disk called BOOT13 that will boot your older 13-sector (i.e. 3.2) DOS disks.