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I have been looking at this power supply for more than 30 years now and it just occurred to me to wonder about the change in the model number.
The overwrite on the model number is how it was delivered from the dealer. I've seen a lot of A2M001 power supplies, but I don't think I've seen any A2M030s. Was that an Apple power supply model? I suspect not, since Google doesn't turn up anything.
(Sorry for the giant image.)
Unless there is also an image from the switchside ( backpanel ) i guess there will be no replies.....
probably the backpanel might offer a conclusion on modification for use outside of US....
I couln't figure out how to add another picture, but you can see the back at the link:
http://moclipswa.com/images/apple/P9270009.png
Am suspecting that it's the predecessor to the A2M0030, which was meant for 240 volt machines, whereas your M030 has the capability to be switched between voltages. Just checked my stash here in Duvall, WA (noticed that you're in Moclips? - good to see another Washingtonian here), and only have the normal M001, A2M0001, and later power supplies in stock.
-J
That seems like a good guess. I've never had a non-US II, so I didn't even consider that.
Maybe they were looking at moving to a selectable power supply and then changed their minds.
Yep, I'm in Moclips. In the Apple II community, I guess that makes us neighbors.
hello billw,
after i´ve seen the backside - it confirms my guess, that it was one of the early "tryouts" to make the II series "exportable" to the european market. Remember that the Apple´s were sold first in US market and they started exporting Apple´s few years later to european market and in several countries there 220 Volt is common. When switching over the pond ( you could take this for wordgaming ) the first Apple powersupplies were switchable.... later ( when introducing the IIeuroplus ) they made supplies "only for 220 Volt - without a switch".
sincerely speedyG
Just one correction - a few years ago, during an email power supply discussion with Woz, he mentioned that Apples were sold internationally, "from the very beginning". Overseas owners with incompatible power, must have used step down transformers or replacement power supplies, until the switchable versions came out.
Regards,
Mike Willegal
I have seen several of these PSUs with the "30" labeled like that, and believe they were all from systems originally purchased outside the USA. Original A2M001 PSUs (even ones with later serial numbers than this one) have only 4 rivets on the top face, making a diamond shape, rather than 6 in this one and later models (since we're talking trivia here!). So looks like during the transitional phase when Apple was deciding on a new PSU from ASTEC to be the new standard (remember, Apple didn't actually make the power supplies) they simply used existing stickers from the assembly line even though internally the power supplies are not identical.
Howie
This one wasn't purchased outside the US - it is from the Apple II that I grew up with. It was purchased in May 1980 in Fresno, CA.
It is always possible that the PS was swapped out by the dealer before delivery, although I don't know why US dealers would have this kind of PS in stock if it was only used overseas.
Hmmm...well there goes my theory then! Maybe Apple was installing these transitional models in all systems regardless of destination market, until the 605-5701/3 models with their own proper sticker became standard. May 1980 is certainly a late system for an original Apple II...I'd think not shortly after that both the II and II Plus systems would have shipped with the 605-5701/3 as standard.
This is all perhaps more about trivia, but maybe of interest to those who are gauging the originality of a system they are eyeing.
Howie
Hello billw,
we did not say that they were not sold in the USA....! We just said that the computers with them were determined to be used also in europe.... especialy those which have been switchable would have been likely sold also to businessmen in the US that intended to travel often to europe and probably intended to take the computer along with them... when returning to the US they could switch back to 110 Volt.... later computers without the switch in the PSU didn´t offer that chance....
I wasn't disagreeing, just offering additional detail.
I enjoy the trivia. There are a few mysteries with this machine. Another is that the motherboard code is 8024, but we bought it May 8th, 1980. The motherboard has never been replaced. Apple really was ahead of its time.
Funny. No sooner did I post this than a system with the same power supply turned up on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-1979-Apple-II-Computer-with-Disk-Drives-Original-Motherboard-and-Joystick-/261105504161?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item3ccb19cfa1
More trivia...
Not too long ago, I asked a question about original II prices on eBay and since then there has been a flood of them. I don't know what happened - maybe I am just spending more time scanning eBay than usual. Anyway, a new one popped up yesterday and I have been comparing it to the machine that has the power supply discussed in this thread.
This is my Apple II SN35265:
http://moclipswa.com/miscwiki/index.php/Apple_II_35265
This is the eBay Apple II SN37482:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-1979-Apple-II-Computer-with-Disk-Drives-Original-Motherboard-and-Joystick-/261105504161?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item3ccb19cfa1
The thing that caught my attention was that they have the same voltage-selectable power supply. They are also very close in serial number. I found that particularly interesting because, while the eBay unit's serial number is 2217 later than mine, its guts are older. The MB is 7947 vs 8024 in mine. The power supply is hard to read, but looks like 47249 vs 54690 in mine.
Obviously, it is possible that either machine had parts replaced. I can account for mine since purchase in 1980, so any replacements would have to have been done before original purchase.
The eBay machine could have had replacements, but they are surprisingly close to what would have been the original serial numbers, if so.
That leads me to wonder if Apple was assembling units in different places during this time period. I'm thinking different manufacturers with different pools of parts - they each get a stack of serial numbers and the one that fulfills more orders sends out higher serial numbers sooner than the other.
I know next to nothing about where and how Apples were built, but I'm guessing somebody out there know in excruciating detail.