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Author Topic: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams  (Read 1876 times)

ried

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Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« on: October 03, 2024, 11:12:06 am »

Here's a unit from former Apple demo software developer Pete Burnight: https://www.applefritter.com/content/yet-another-twiggy-mac

It's going up for Auction at Bonhams later this month: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29514/preview-lot/5918785/apple-twiggy-macintosh-prototype-used-in-the-development-of-demonstration-software-macintosh-personal-computer-apple-computers-inc-cupertino-ca-1983-with-5-14-inch-twiggy-disk-drive-with-corresponding-slot-in-front-panel/

Unknown whether it's working or not. I understand the Macintosh Twiggy drive has a slightly different pinout vs. Lisa's Twiggy drive. Still, I suspect it could be made to work if the right folks got their hands on it.




« Last Edit: October 03, 2024, 11:13:54 am by ried »
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anotherLISAguy

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2024, 06:24:03 am »

noticed the keyboard wasn't plugged into the front keyboard location - for a prototype, it seems odd to have the final incarnation of the front completed and route the cable around the back.
Even in this earlier 2020 auction, the molds show the final location so it wasn't an afterthought during the prototype phase.
(interesting to note that there is another Twiggy Mac in waiting with that serial number)

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/26078/lot/71/apple-macintosh-evolution-group-of-3-original-molded-plastic-faceplates-apple-inc-1983-1984/
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ried

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2024, 07:52:02 pm »

Good eye. I suspect that keyboard cable isn't plugged into anything back there and it's just been routed that way because the photographer didn't want to risk damaging it by plugging / unplugging anything.

Just a guess.
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ried

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2024, 08:21:51 pm »

It sold, but only achieved the opening bid of $65K + buyer's premium = $83K in total. The market has definitely cooled.

In any case, Pete Burnight kindly sent me a photo of the rear. Here it is:

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anotherLISAguy

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2024, 05:34:41 am »

seems the only diff back there is the final location of the printer and modem ports. (with no keyboard port) :)
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ried

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2024, 11:44:12 pm »

Thought folks might like to see the Twiggy Mac's prototype mouse. It's an interesting Lisa / Macintosh hybrid design:

https://imgur.com/a/uJhHunT

The only other one that I am aware of was photographed and shared here over at the 68kMLA forums:

https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/a-bit-of-a-rarity.36020/page-2#post-388814
« Last Edit: October 29, 2024, 12:16:59 am by ried »
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TorZidan

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2024, 07:46:13 pm »

Thought folks might like to see the Twiggy Mac's prototype motherboard.  Found at https://www.bonhams.com/auction/26897/lot/48/apple-macintosh-prototype-the-earliest-known-macintosh-to-appear-at-auction-macintosh-personal-computer-cupertino-ca-circa-february-1982/

The components are the same as on the earliest Macntosh (aka 128k), but their layout is completely different.
Notably missing is the  floppy drive controller IWM (integrated woz machine) "344-0041-a" chip, similar to how it is not present on the Lisa 2/5 i/0 board.

Also, something is odd: There is a IDC20 connector on the back of the board, where the DB19 female connector is on the Macntosh 128k.
Still, other pictures from the same auction show a DB19 female connector on the back of the computer. I can't explain this...
« Last Edit: November 02, 2024, 12:47:26 am by TorZidan »
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ried

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2024, 08:15:05 pm »

Also, something is odd: There is a IDC20 connector on the back of the board, where the DB19 female connector is on the Macntosh 128k.
Still, other pictures from the same auction show a DB19 female connector on the back of the computer. I can't explain this...

That auction included the Twiggy Mac and an even earlier version of the logic board. I agree that the language is ambiguous. From the description:

"Extremely rare early 1982 prototype with the earliest iteration of the logic board to ever come to auction."
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fri0701

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Re: Twiggy Macintosh Prototype up for auction at Bonhams
« Reply #8 on: November 03, 2024, 03:33:01 pm »

That auction included the Twiggy Mac and an even earlier version of the logic board. I agree that the language is ambiguous.

Huh, that is confusing indeed. Interestingly, the logic board shown here is old enough that it would have interfaced with an Apple II disk drive - pre-Twiggy.
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