Filed under: Odds and ends, Apple History
Mystery Apple box
Gabriel writes "One of our customers noticed that we have a small collection of Old Macs in my service department and thought That he would give me something to add to the collection... Problem is I have no idea what it is or why it has the Apple name. Is this an after market fan boy box or a real product from Apple Computer? Any help from the readers or you would be awesome."
It looks like the 1980's Apple logotype, but I don't remember seeing a box like this anywhere. It's small enough that it could only contain something like an Apple IIc. Do any of you wonderful TUAW readers know what this box was used for? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Thanks to Gabriel for today's stumper!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dan said 6:38PM on 7-14-2008
this is the original Apple I, whose CPU was in a wooden box enclosure. probably still a collector's item
dan
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dean said 6:52PM on 7-14-2008
Not an Apple I box.
dean said 6:53PM on 7-14-2008
This is what an Apple I box looked like. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_I
CUBSWILLWIN said 7:31PM on 7-14-2008
Anyone notice that isn't the old Apple logo. It isn't the newton one or the colored apple but the current silver logo. I'm guessing a fanboy made his own special case for some old Apple I circuit board. Probably doesn't work
CUBSWILLWIN said 7:34PM on 7-14-2008
I take that back. I just looked at the gallery, and I saw it open. That sure in hell is a wine box. It even has that special hay stuff in wine gift sets. I'm guessing it was special company gift/perk for employees. I know my company does have a lot of stuff like that.
Jeremy said 6:44PM on 7-14-2008
I don't know where it came from specifically, but that's a wine box.
Typically the lid slides off and there are two bottles of wine inside, nestled in shavings. The tops are often silkscreened with a logo because the wine is usually a special promotion for an event etc.
So maybe it's part of some now defunct Apple event/promotion?
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Michael said 7:21PM on 7-14-2008
Yeah, looks like a promotional wine box to me.
Charles said 8:52PM on 7-14-2008
Yeah, I'll concur with the wine box idea. I used to work at an Apple dealership during the times these graphics were in use, and I recall that Apple used to ship a lot of dealer gifts in custom boxes like that. I think my favorite Apple gift is a walnut box for 3.5in floppies, it has "Macintosh Plus" embossed on it in gold leaf.
Fritz Laurel said 6:50PM on 7-14-2008
Umm, this might sound simple but ... what's in it? Has he tried opening it?
Also, as I understand it, there was no official box for the Apple I, it was BYO. And this would be too small anyway.
And yes, I recognize the type as the same that's on my manuals for my Apple II+ 48k. Or was it for the Mac? I can't remember, but I recognize it. Maybe it was a wine box from the Mac launch promo...
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Dann Fry said 6:51PM on 7-14-2008
Yes, I would guess it's either the box the original Apple computer came in (since you just got the CPU), or something a purchaser of an Apple I board made.
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CUBSWILLWIN said 7:30PM on 7-14-2008
That's what I'm thinking. On wikipedia, they also show an example of a self made box, so I think some fanboy created his own detailed box for the boards. The logo also isn't the old colored logo, but the new silver one.
Metryq said 6:52PM on 7-14-2008
The Apple I did not include a wooden box -- it was just a circuit board. Users had to supply their own case, keyboard and TV. The pictured item may be an Apple I with a "value added" case.
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Tyler Woodfin said 6:57PM on 7-14-2008
Um, have you tried opening the box? That might work...
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mike said 6:59PM on 7-14-2008
cmon dont be thick. obviously it's been opened.
Tyler Woodfin said 7:01PM on 7-14-2008
how can you tell?
Argent said 7:19PM on 7-14-2008
Um, because when you click on the link to the gallery, you can see a photo of it open?
It does look like a wine box to me (with protective wood shavings and all).
Gaberm1972 said 7:24PM on 7-14-2008
Please look at te gallery link in the article. I did open it.
Chris Kinsman said 6:58PM on 7-14-2008
It's a box full of apples!
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Andrew said 9:00PM on 7-14-2008
You mean: "My god, it's full of ..."
Darren said 7:05PM on 7-14-2008
The styling seems consistent with the type of promotional junk (phones, shirts, belt buckles, etc.) that Apple was known for around 1982-83. I'm guessing it's a wine box from that era.
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