I have a huge Apple //e problem

Is there such a thing as too many Apples? It seems my house is filled with them now, so perhaps it might be for me.
Part 1: This video!
Part 2: • Could the Apple IIe be...
--- Video Links
Wikipedia article on the Apple IIe:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIe
Information on Apple II disk controllers including the Liron Card:
wiki.apple2.org/index.php?titl...
Liron Card Clone:
www.bigmessowires.com/2018/01...
Adrian's Digital Basement ][ (Second Channel)
/ @adriansdigitalbasement2
Support the channel on Patreon:
/ adriansdigitalbasement
-- Tools
Deoxit D5:
amzn.to/2VvOKy1
store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.16...
O-Ring Pick Set: (I use these to lift chips off boards)
amzn.to/3a9x54J
Elenco Electronics LP-560 Logic Probe:
amzn.to/2VrT5lW
Hakko FR301 Desoldering Iron:
amzn.to/2ye6xC0
Rigol DS1054Z Four Channel Oscilloscope:
www.rigolna.com/products/digi...
Head Worn Magnifying Goggles / Dual Lens Flip-In Head Magnifier:
amzn.to/3adRbuy
TL866II Plus Chip Tester and EPROM programmer: (The MiniPro)
amzn.to/2wG4tlP
www.aliexpress.com/item/33000...
TS100 Soldering Iron:
amzn.to/2K36dJ5
www.ebay.com/itm/TS100-65W-MI...
EEVBlog 121GW Multimeter:
www.eevblog.com/product/121gw/
DSLogic Basic Logic Analyzer:
amzn.to/2RDSDQw
www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Logic-DS...
Magnetic Screw Holder:
amzn.to/3b8LOhG
www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-...
Universal ZIP sockets: (clones, used on my ZIF-64 test machine)
www.ebay.com/itm/14-16-18-20-...
RetroTink 2X Upconverter: (to hook up something like a C64 to HDMI)
www.retrotink.com/
Plato (Clone) Side Cutters: (order five)
www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-5-10PCS-...
Heat Sinks:
www.aliexpress.com/item/32537...
Little squeezy bottles: (available elsewhere too)
amzn.to/3b8LOOI
--- Links
My GitHub repository:
github.com/misterblack1?tab=r...
Commodore Computer Club / Vancouver, WA - Portland, OR - PDX Commodore Users Group
www.commodorecomputerclub.com/
--- Instructional videos
My video on damage-free chip removal:
• How to remove chips wi...
--- Music
Intro music and other tracks by:
Nathan Divino
@itsnathandivino

[@wbfaulk]

Clearly, your video about replacing power supply capacitors needs to be titled "Rifa Madness".

[@JimAlfredson]

This must happen.

[@TheSimTetuChannel]

So that's why they call it The Magic Smoke!

[@OneSmallStepWeb]

Seems logical that schools might disable sound. That cacophony of 8-bit micro bleeps and bloops would drive a teacher mad.

[@ncc17701a]

I'd agree. When I was a kid I wasn't always a saint. I used to program a delay and an annoying beep on the BBC Micro, timed to go off in some other class. And pressing the break key would just start it all over again....

[@Wok_Agenda]

Isn't anything that doesn't drive a teacher mad?

[@DavePoo2]

Maybe, but could they not just unplug the speaker? How come those speakers aren't working at all?

[@BilisNegra]

Yes, but if that was the case, how did they do that? There's actually audio output from the board, as shown by hooking up another speaker.

[@OneSmallStepWeb]

@@BilisNegra I imagine it would not be a software hack. More likely a specific hardware intervention. Probably even a hack performed by damaging the speaker through the chassis speaker grill - But I'm really just brainstorming. I really don't know

[@Apple2gs]

FYI: The Platinum IIe, released in 1987, is basically a cosmetic update of the original IIe with some cost-cutting measures. I documented it thoroughly on Wikipedia (I'm the author of the article!) if you're curious about every minute detail, but essentially it is identical to the Enhanced IIe. The only functional difference is the shift-key mod is active by default, and the Game I/O socket has some filtering that lowers bandwidth to cut down on RFI noise (no effect on joysticks or paddles for the most part). The keyboard layout differs slightly, mostly to match the IIGS and Macintosh. Only the original 1986 Apple IIGS motherboard (ROM 00/01) has the connectors or solder pad locations for the IIe powersupply and numeric keypad. They were completely removed from the 1989 (ROM 3) motherboard, as the IIGS upgrade for the IIe had been discontinued by that point. The Extended 80 Columns Card (what provided the extra 64K RAM, 80 columns text and Double-Hi-Res graphics) was drastically reduced in size for the Platinum IIe, and included as standard in each machine at no extra cost. Prior to that you had to purchase either the 80 Columns (1K) or Extended 80 Columns (64K) Card and install it separately. By the time of the Platinum IIe, the 5.25 controller with the single D-19 connector was standard, as was the Apple UniDisk 5.25 or Apple 5.25 drive. The Liron card (I've always pronounced it "Lie-ron") was fairly atypical, most schools only had 5.25 drives, not the intelligent UniDisk 3.5. Beside being more costly, very little 8-bit Apple II software shipped on 3.5" floppies. There was a different "Platinum IIe" available in Europe that reused the old keyboard and case design from 1984, but still included the newer IIe motherboard from 1987. It's a sort of a rare hybrid. Still missing a Platinum IIe from my own collection, I could kick myself for not grabbing one (boxed and brand new) for US$99 from Sun Remarketing the mid 90's!

[@CommodoreFan64]

I would do an eBay charity auction for the working machines, where you keep 1/2 to help fund the channel, and give the other 1/2 to a worthy cause like Child's Play, or juvenile diabetes.

[@russellhltn1396]

Good idea. But I'd like to see the money to go to something that supports kids and computers. Seems fitting.

[@CommodoreFan64]

@Mike Haha!, seriously though not funny, Child's Play is a legit charity that donates toys, and video games to hospital for kids in long term stay like those with cancer.

[@CommodoreFan64]

@@russellhltn1396 We also have to remember Adrian was born with diabetes, so helping to fund more research for that is right up his alley.

[@minty_Joe]

@Mike Hi! I'm Chucky! Wanna play?? Hahahahaha!!

[@fredygump5578]

My highschool still had a lab filled with these machines in 2000. And then a couple years later they got a new lab with the eMac machines, I believe. I wasn't sure why the eMac needed to be designed for aerodynamics....but the technological leap between the two was massive.

[@johncullen965]

Karateka playing in background when Adrian got the lyres card working. Loved that game, the sound / music on it was very appropriate. Only ever played it on Atari’s though

[@notlessgrossman163]

Yeah that was playing on a IIe in the college basement..

[@RealGengarTV]

First part of this video is sponsored by Adrian's analoge living Room

[@rchltmedia]

Adrian's Analog Room.

[@raggededge82]

it's the upper basement

[@ZanaGBYT]

So, what living room is Adrian's living room an analogue of?

[@coyote_den]

There were "network" systems that could simultaneously boot an entire lab of Apples from a floppy image stored on a server. They required a SmartPort card and used dongles to daisy chain the machines via more conventional network cabling.

[@jamesbarantor7094]

Honestly since they are engraved on the side with the school district info I would keep the painted logo on there as a show of their history. It's unique and honestly doesn't look that bad. As far as what to do with the machines, if you have the time and energy you could do a giveaway at a certain sub number?

[@victorvangrimgamming6784]

I have to agree, sometime school/buessness/ government marks are interesting and can add to a PC (I have a few older server casses from schools and government facilities with unique markings. Ive also use a decent beige IBM netvista case for my LAN party pc)

[@MotoRideswJohn]

Yes, definitely keep the history of the machine. It adds to the nostalgia.

[@jamesbarantor7094]

@@victorvangrimgamming6784Exactly, it's interesting to think about how many kids learned about computers on those machines back in the late 80s and early 90s. It gives it a sort of provanance that I feel needs to be kept. The font that was chosen and the placement isn't bad either in my opinion.

[@homeFall1]

Agree, I would just leave the property marks...

[@The65c02]

I agree. In future we will have 1,000's of clean retro brightened computers that have no history. The high value computers will be those that have some history of previous owners.

[@unebonnevie]

You hit a GOLD mine! There was a time at a flea market where I live, a seller was selling Apple II/IIe's for $25 a machine! I should have gotten them ALL!

[@minty_Joe]

"Are you keeping up with the Apple II? 'Cause the Apple II is keeping up with you..."

[@mikespangler98]

Two Liron cards at once. Those are close to unobtanium. I'm so so glad you finally looked them up, I was getting tired of yelling at the screen. "Only works with 3.5 unidisk!" Those are pretty scarce too.

[@idahofur]

Me Too.

[@Torbjorn.Lindgren]

And that's two cards in the first FOUR machines!

[@junker15]

I'd been looking for an affordable UniDisk 3.5 forever. Finally found one for "only" $100 one time on ebay. The Liron controller that allows it to work in the old non-enhanced Apple IIs was much harder to find. That popped up on eBay recently at a bargain price of $167. Whenever I get the impression that this is an expensive hobby, I remind myself that normally the prices for these are about 3x what I paid, IF I can find them.

[@HeyBirt]

Soak a rag with DOT3 brake fluid, lay it over the paint. Add a bit of fluid as needed to keep rag damp and let the rag sit there for 2-8 hours and it will soften the paint without harming the plastic.

[@cbaxter6527]

It will remove paint from your car too, oops!

[@T3hBeowulf]

I'm reminded of the "Trash to Treasure" series Neil from RMC made a while back, restoring a pallet of retro DOS computers and selling them and donating the proceeds for charity. 🤔

[@GalileoAV]

Knowing that these computers could have been in a school library, it makes sense to me that someone manually disabled all the speakers to keep the noise down. Really amazing find, I vote you leave the Clover Park logos on them. In a way it gives it a cool style.

[@devttyUSB0]

Looking forward to more on these machines, Adrian!

[@travisjones3615]

I would leave the painted on school name and engravings. I think it's kinda cool to see the history of ware the machine started out life at. I have also ran into the old sharpie issue. My c64 had the origional owners name written on the bottom. I did manage to get it about 80% cleaned off with the dry erase marker trick. But it took so many times to get there the machines texture is noticeably worn down. I'm really glad it's on the bottom side so it's not seen usually.

[@amigaman2305]

ex school computers with engravings are amazing

[@stonent]

My thoughts were that the school purposely killed the speakers to cut down on noise especially if there were just one of these in the classroom and other students were working. We had a lab full of IIGS computers at my school that were not disabled. Lots of Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, and Odell Lake sounds going off at once. Ours booted off of a server and had a blue screen where you could select which game you wanted to run.

[@joelavcoco]

You'd think, though, that the easier way to do it would be to unplug the speakers. Or if they wanted to make sure kids didn't open them up and plug them back in, just remove the speakers instead of intentionally damaging them but leaving them plugged in. I guess that if they have been purposefully scuttled, there should be pretty obvious evidence of it, like the wire leading to the speaker coil being cut. And if you wanted to permanently disable many speakers without spending an inordinate amount of time doing it, the quickest way would probably be to cut one of the wires running from the board to the speaker, rather than doing microsurgery on the speakers themselves.

[@raggededge82]

@@joelavcoco probably kids stabbing pencils through the case

[@richardbrobeck2384]

I still Have A copy of Oregon Trail for my Apple !

[@msmyrk]

I was an arsehole at school. I wrote a TSR for what I guess were 286s or 386s back then, that waited a random amount of time then play a tone right at the top of audible range. I then installed it on every PC in the lab.

[@donmoore7785]

@@raggededge82 Through the bottom?

[@aureliomarsili3902]

It is a real pleasure to see a green phosphor monitor after so many years, and all that it brings with it looking back at those times ... thanks !!!

[@Renville80]

I remember running a demo on the lone Apple ][ in my school’s library, and when it started blaring out music on the speaker, everyone that was in the library was soon looking in my direction, and the librarian came by to gently remind me that I needed to be quiet, so I could see the school district taking the time to disable the speakers in these.

[@steincaron]

This is my kind of gold! Great episode!

[@timmooney7528]

Awesome video. Back in the old days I never paid much attention to the Apples because I knew more people with C-64's, so seeing machines such as the Platinum are new to me. Keep up the good work!

[@MoosesValley]

Every speaker beep and disk drive grunt brings back so many memories. Long live the Apple ][ ! 💖

[@stevencarlson5422]

I'd so love to get one of these and learn to use one, I've never even seen one in person, but I sure love how they look

[@atomoworkshop3327]

Wow that's a lot of Apple IIe stuff! My suggestion for what to do would be either a giveaway on the channel to give back to the great community you've got here, or perhaps a series of eBay listings that at least in some part donate to charity, again as a way to help others! Edit: Also in my experience, if it is paint that you need to get off, honestly baking soda and scrubbing should do it, unless it is really tenacious! Most paint strippers would melt the plastic as far as I know so might be too risky.

[@mal2ksc]

It _might_ be worth trying MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) on the inside of one of the lids to see if it melts -- and if it doesn't, then maybe that can be used to get the marker out. It dissolves most of the things acetone dissolves, but is nicer to certain plastics.

[@julianbarron5293]

I can’t wait to see the rest!

[@granitepenguin]

I just got into retro systems with a //e Platinum this fall. Last time I had an Apple ][+ was 35 years ago. So cool seeing a truckload of them :-)

[@jadefreeman6952]

a working apple II is rapidly becoming a valuable collector item

[@davefarquhar8230]

Purple cleaner on the paint. Purple Power and Super Clean are two good brands, available at any auto parts store. Won't damage the plastic, unlike acetone. If you don't want to risk the factory lettering by soaking the whole part, saturate a paper towel set on top of the paint, let it sit overnight.

[@sgbarn]

i soaked a trs80 with a pained on college logo in purple cleaner overnight then scrubbed it with a toothbrush. it worked great. I frequently use it on resin cast miniatures and unless its Gloss acrylic paint it does a great job.

[@CaptainPiracy]

I have been looking for an Apple II for so long.. :-(. I dream about getting one to relive some Elementary school memories!!

[@terosaarela4555]

That is indeed a nice haul of Apple IIs! Model kit paint remover might help into the painted logos.

[@brentboswell1294]

Adrian: on the //e, the card you are calling the "RAM card" is actually the Extended 80 column card. The computer cannot display 80 columns without it. There was also just an 80 column card that fits in that slot (no RAM expansion). If populated, slot 3 is off limits (this card uses the I/O resources for slot 3). Just a little //e peculiarity. Oh, and there was an RGB version of the Extended 80 column card, for the very rare Apple RGB monitor.

[@michaelblair5566]

I used Apple IIe's in high school back in 1987-1991. Ironton St. Joseph had a room full of these! I personally had a Commodore 128.

[@neonnoir9692]

Oh man, some of my happier memories are of walking into our school library in the late 80s to an array of Apple IIs and playing Number Muncher, Odell Lake, and Oregon Train. I still remember the MECC logo on the big white binders for the floppy disks. We were allowed to play the sound.

[@TheFrenchy82]

wow .. impressive collection !!!

[@nighthawk-gaming]

Having just inherited my first Apple //e from my Great Uncle last week, I completely understand how the addiction starts. My unit hasn't been touched in nearly 20 years and I'm going to try my hardest to restore it properly. Waiting on some replacement caps for the power supply so I can give it a test run. Hoping everything runs well, if not the hunt for replacement chips will begin. I'll also start going through the few hundred pieces of software I was given along with it.

[@RetroTechToys]

This stack of Apple II computers is a problem I'd be ecstatic to have. Great pickup!

[@garethfairclough8715]

Oh wow! I thought that pile of upended apple II's at the start was an old fashioned radiator for a moment! xD Honestly, I'd leave the painted logo on that first one. That looks really nicely done, imo.

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Looks like the Cloverleaf School District had an Adrian Digital Basement style operation running swapping out bits and pieces from a large stock of machines to keep the inventory running. Would love to see you interview a person who maintained a large stockpile of retro machines before they were retro, or just after.

[@cagroundhog]

I just chill and watch this man do his magic. So cool!

[@AndrewHelgeCox]

Some Clover Park kids are going to have nostalgia overload when they see those machines with painted labels.

[@douro20]

I'm very fond of the older versions of the IIe which have the power light in the keyboard and the original Disk II.

[@DanafoxyVixen]

I love it when people keep talking yet dig themselves into an even deeper hole.. first class

[@Liberty309]

Wow 🤯 nice haul .

[@jengelenm]

Droooooool😀 So amazing such huge lot got saved!

[@TranceTrousers]

I'll take one off your hands! I don't have any Apples in my vintage computer collection!

[@CoiledDracca]

Your voice comforts me and I love to see every piece of tech that you somehow revive. Please survive the zombie apocalypse, and teach, you'll be needed.

[@rodneylives]

The psychic residue of so many failed expeditions to Oregon has soaked deeply into these machines.

[@greywolf6443]

I kinda would keep the painted School District markings, if that doesn't interfer with the restoration of the case. It doesn't look bad and is part of the history of the mashine.

[@AmstradExin]

I have a Commodore PC and an Apple IIGS that have the marking BRANDED to them. The Commodore PC has it made it with a branding iron, like for cows. The 2GS has it written in with a soldering iron onto the 'ledge' of the 2GS. Completely not restorable unless you sand it down and repaint the part and filling the holes. Prettery Terrible. I think he can just use some magic eraser with alcohol or a normal dishwasher brush and sopy water.

[@coryengel]

Same here. I have a couple of school computers, and my rule of thumb is that if the ID markings look like crap then I try to restore them but if they’re unobtrusive or neat then I leave them on. These were done by an artist.

[@tankgrrl]

Ditto. I was thinking 'if he were to sell these, I'd want one with the school markings left on'. (I do need an Apple IIe, Adrian. hint hint! 😁)

[@retro-futuristicengineer]

I think, together with your personal Adrian's Digital Basement Quality Check sticker, they would make up pretty good on Ebay for a charity auction.

[@BertGrink]

Yes! I was thinking charity auction too.

[@CooChewGames]

I think the painted logos, etc should be left on the machine as part of the history of them. Also, it could be worth selling them on eBay to raise money for a local charity.

[@gordoncreAtive]

I guess you'll end up with a museum just like RMC. :)

[@selfinflictedlife]

Just some thoughts, but on some of them I would keep the schools name just to preserve the history of the machine. Likewise it could be neat to get a few of them up and running and then possibly sell them with some of the proceeds going to either support the channel or support a charity of some sorts. Awesome video!

[@amigaman2305]

Removing that paint would be an unforgivable crime for anyone in the retro computer scene

[@ToxicwasteProductions]

I love your long videos =)

[@dimensiongamer534]

First time I've heard the word Lairon outside of the Pokémon games XD I kept thinking, these things are going to evolve into Aggron any minute. Great video!

[@ethanspaziani1070]

I would leave the paint on it looks awesome it's super retro and part of their history

[@DavidWonn]

Nice. I’ve never encountered an Apple ][e with the added numeric keypad. My dad bought one in the early 80s as our first home computer, and didn’t upgrade until 1996 to a Pentium Pro. The technological leap was massive, to put it mildly.

[@Lilithe]

OMG the calligraphy! I would preserve that!

[@annareismith6843]

I enjoy this. Want to see more.

[@evilskunk1]

I went to school in Tacoma and most of the computer labs had networked the Apple II computers together with some kind of data base that had all of the available programs and games together. All you had to do is boot up the Apple II and a list would come up with all the programs and games, select one and it would start. To start a new program, you would have to press "open apple" control and reset together, or power cycle the machine.

[@shadowtheimpure]

When it comes to identical shaped ports, when in doubt check the pinout is my motto. It's way too easy for manufacturers to use the same connector in different ways that cause destructive incompatibility by sending voltage down data lines.

[@BlakeWhoLivesAtHome]

Apple 2e was my first computer. I loved it so much. Jealous lol. Thanks for the video

[@desiv1170]

Great vid... Love my //e... And the Platinum with the keypad is nice, but I have to admit I am surprised they sold for that long. Lots of competition by then. Heck, the Amiga 500 was out in 87, but they were still selling the //e into the early 90s... Impressive... (maybe..) ;-)

[@FrankenLab]

Some Goo Gone / Goofoff type orange oil cleaner might help with the paint. I would *avoid* IPA, IPA tends to melt or soften plastic and it could just make the paint & plastic merge and it'll never come off. Retrobrighting after will probably help too. After using the Goo Gone, since it's oily, use some soap & water to remove the oily residue so that the retrobrighting isn't masked by the oil. Some mineral oil might help too.

[@TieDyedShawn]

Hello Adrian. Thank you for sharing. My first computer was a apple 2e. Miss it. As I am sure you are going to be asked this many times. I would like one if you decide to let some go? Thank you for your videos. I enjoy them. You have taught me a lot.

[@iocat]

That Liron card is the holy grail!

[@JamesPotts]

I'd try Citristrip on the paint. It's used a lot in the arcade collecting community. Pretty great stuff. I believe it's safe for ABS.

[@squirlmy]

one problem though is that on the wrong plastic, those citrus and certain "Goof-off" products will dissolve the plastic, quickly and permanently. They don't just "not work" in those cases, they cause damage.

[@JamesPotts]

@@squirlmy citristrip is fairly gentle, though it certainly will attack some plastics. That said, a lot of people use it on abs. I'd certainly test it on an inconspicuous spot, first.

[@randelstuckey5494]

I've enjoyed watching all your videos and it makes me want to be able to do what you do in restoring all the machines that you do. One thing that I'd like to know is would you be interested in letting me acquire one of the Apple IIe machine that you are working on now? I don't have the sight to repair one for myself. Anyway I'm looking forward to seeing how they all turn out. Take care.

[@BG101UK]

35:23 I've had this happen with the products used for cleaning car windscreens/windshields (delete as appropriate) when putting the stuff into spray bottles for cleaning the loft windows. The spray assemblies didn't last long in some cases. I guess it depends on the type of plastic used.

[@benjaminscherrey1124]

Great score! If you're looking to unload any I'd be willing to take a couple off your hands at reasonable rates. Apple II was the first machine I really learned about computers and programming on.

[@Denvermorgan2000]

Thanks for another great video Adrian I don’t comment often but I just want to be sure say it.

[@CallousCoder]

Getting the paint of can be done with nail polish remover if it’s acrylic (do drip test on the plastic, some plastics don’t like the acetone compound, most do btw). Another approach an ammonia solution (smelly), even 99% IPA sometimes helps, in all cases really soak it on a paper towel, push it down on the markings and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. And then start to rub it. Terpentine (paint thinner) if it’s oil based paint and that often works well on acrylic paints too.

[@calico1997]

Thanks!

[@kevincozens6837]

Nice haul of old Apple computers. Interesting to see that first machine. I didn't know that //e platinum machines existed. For the machine to have 128k of RAM with a 6502 processor must mean it is accessing the memory through bank switching. An Apple ][+ was the first real computer I owned.The machine got lost in a move but I still have all the books and documentation I had for back then.

[@wishyouknew3074]

I actually bought one of those Clover Park Apple //e Platinum machines that was rescued out of a landfill and despite some rust, the thing still boots up. Unbelievable! The Clover Park paint came off quite easily with some isopropyl alcohol and some elbow grease. It just needs some retrobrite.

[@aviat4ion]

I like the old school labeling, and would definitely consider buying an Apple II with that kind of lettering.

[@peacefrog5099]

I hope all is well with you from that storm you just had.

[@ashtonsretrocomputerroom]

I’ve got a IIGS from the clover park school district!

[@stphinkle]

I read somewhere when the Apple IIe originally came out, Apple sent one computer to every school in the nation. I heard that while expensive, the school districts around the country bought many more Apple IIe computers.

[@joncrawford3485]

The warehouse with computers rings a bell with me. 15+ years ago I visited a in-town warehouse to buy a 21" CRT monitor; they had advertised that they had pallet loads of the things. They weren't kidding; 5-10 metre tall racks of every brand of UK computer going; including hundreds of ex-schools BBC Master 128 computers which at the time they were selling for ... ready for this ... £1 each. Sadly I didn't take them up on the offer, and also the warehouse in Northampton is now flats so I don't have a clue what happened to them.

[@compu85]

I tried the dry erase marker trick on the //e I picked up a while back... it worked mostly, but the green marker spread out some and left a green shadow on the paint that won't come off. Perhaps this would be less of an issue on a later //e that's not painted.

[@cliffshockley4406]

Can anyone else smell the pile of computer? I remember the times I've seen stacks of vintage computers, there was a unique (not bad) smell to the warehouses. I so wish I could stumble across such a warehouse today (like Computer Reset)

[@aminorjourney]

That reminds me. Ours has stopped working and is making the video lines… it’s a perfect winter project…when we have time ;). Also, hi neighbor!

[@aenoymotors]

I remember when these things were everywhere. Gave all of mine away many years ago, wish I would have held onto one of them.

[@mnoxman]

The Ebay for charity is good. It is a confidence to watch 5 min of video showing the diagnostics you ran on that computer that is up for auction. Not to mention a few follow up videos on re-capping, retro bright and other tasks. I think the marketing wankers call this 'vertical integration'

[@johnathanstevens8436]

We had a handful of platinum with the mouse card .. it was definitely different seeing a mouse paint program on the //e. Found out later they had a text character set with GUI looking elements

[@FennecTECH]

I smell a giveaway in your future. For some people without any vintage macs

[@steveshah5059]

Please please please do a keyboard stem fix on the second channel for machine #2. I have a //e Platinum with a key which has a broken stem but haven't seen a replacement video for that specific machine elsewhere. It would be great to see how to repair the rest of it. Don't need polish on the video -- same the time for the first channel. :-) Thanks for the diverse universe of machines that you tear apart -- always fascinating to watch.

[@bitoxic]

What a gold mine!!!!! 😁👍

[@ms-dosman7722]

Pretty amazing that this school had so many computers in the late 80s. My primary school only got its first (and only) pc in 1994 or so. Maybe these Apple IIs were issued to staff rather than students? I'm not from the US, so I'm not sure if it was common to have this many machines for student use.

[@leandrocosta3709]

Holy crapola! If the exchange rate wasn't so absurdly bad right now, I'd make an offer for one of those. Been after an apple II or a clone for a looong time, but just the shipping would have me living under a bridge or something lol. Hope they find a good home ☺️

[@horusfalcon]

I'm not a big Apple fan, but you make even Apple hardware interesting. Thanks again. Paint removal on plastic surfaces is tricky. Solvents always seem to destroy the texture of the plastic. Are you certain that's paint, and not calligraphy ink (like Sepia)? If it is ink, try WD-40 with some elbow grease.

[@patrickdeunhouwer5926]

So many machines, I’m jealous ;) nowadays almost impossible to find these for a descent price

[@todddennis523]

Fascinating...I went to school to in the Clover Park school district from 2nd('77-'78) through 7th('82-'83) grades. It's about 40 miles south of Seattle.

[@neddreadmaynard]

No one can ever say your not super serial about your work Adrian. 😋

[@kofteburger]

Adrian's Digital Living Room.

[@jameslewis2635]

So does this mean that your Apple IIe collection is reaching the same scale as your C64 collection? By the way for removing the paint I would start by trying some WD40 and if that doesn't work some paint stripper would probably do the job, just take care to make sure it wouldn't harm the plastic before use as I think they are often petroleum based and that stuff eats through a lot of plastics. On removing the old marker stains I would try using a stiff bristled brush like a nail brush to get in between the bumps in the plastic.

[@kirkwagoner2388]

For old sharpie removal with dri-erase markers you must wipe it before dri-erase has dried. Try doing it in smaller sections also. For very old marks I have used a new sharpie over old ink first then immediatly the dri-erase marker technique. I have had good results on a variety of surfaces using these techniques.

[@TPIR_Fan_1972]

Great video Adrian. I am, however, envious. I'd love to get a stack of these machines (even though I have nine of them already). I really enjoy cleaning them up and getting them into shape again. Denatured alcohol removes paint, and you are correct - these cases are not painted (that's only true for the early IIe machines). Keep up the great work, sir!

[@unikron2003]

LOL I just bought an Apples IIgs from ebay recently and it was also marked as Clover Park School District. And just now seeing this video a few months later. I was able to remove the same painted text off the side but even with retrobright it did not come fully off and you can see a lighted shadow of the text. The seller on ebay was selling dozens of them so I snagged one for a huge bargain. Totally working condition and didnt have any issues.