34/2012
Collection
Domestic Appliances
Brief description
Macintosh Classic computer with keyboard, keyboard lead, mouse and power lead, manufactured by Apple Inc. in England, Singapore and Malaysia, c.1990. Given second-hand to the donor and used in his living room for word processing and accounts before being donated to the Museum.
Title
Macintosh Classic
Object name
computer
Object number
34/2012
Production organisation
Apple Inc. (manufacturer and/or retailer)
Production date
September 1990
Production place
Singapore (manufactured)
Malaysia (manufactured)
England (manufactured)
Malaysia (manufactured)
England (manufactured)
Period
Twentieth century (1900-1999)
Material
plastic
glass
metal
glass
metal
Technique
manufactured
Physical description
A Macintosh Classic desktop computer consisting of a screen, keyboard, lead, mouse with lead and a power lead with three-pin plug.
The computer has a beige plastic case and a 9” screen set above a floppy drive, with ‘Macintosh Classic’ and a rainbow coloured Apple logo. The reverse of the computer has a number of input/output ports - for a printer and modem, a mouse, the keyboard, a fax machine, an external floppy drive and sound out. There is also a socket for the power lead below a white plastic ‘on/off’ switch. There is a small grid section on the reverse and four lines of perforations along the bottom edge of the right and left sides of the casing to allow for ventilation. There is a recessed section on the top of the computer.
There are two manufacturer's labels adhered to the reverse of the computer. The larger label reads ‘Macintosh Classic / Apple Computer Inc / Cupertino California / Made in Singapore / Model number: MO420 / FCCID: BCGMO4420’ and the smaller label reads ‘Manufactured September 1990 / SG0393h7011’.
The keyboard has 59 keys in the 'QWERTY' layout and is constructed in beige plastic with a manufacturer's sticker on the reverse. The computer mouse is beige plastic with one large button at the top and a small Apple logo moulded into the lower left. There is a manufacturer's sticker is on the reverse of the mouse. The power lead has a three-pin plug to fit into a wall socket at one end and at the other a plug encased in plastic that fits into the back of the computer. There are inscriptions moulded into the plastic casing at both ends.
The computer has a beige plastic case and a 9” screen set above a floppy drive, with ‘Macintosh Classic’ and a rainbow coloured Apple logo. The reverse of the computer has a number of input/output ports - for a printer and modem, a mouse, the keyboard, a fax machine, an external floppy drive and sound out. There is also a socket for the power lead below a white plastic ‘on/off’ switch. There is a small grid section on the reverse and four lines of perforations along the bottom edge of the right and left sides of the casing to allow for ventilation. There is a recessed section on the top of the computer.
There are two manufacturer's labels adhered to the reverse of the computer. The larger label reads ‘Macintosh Classic / Apple Computer Inc / Cupertino California / Made in Singapore / Model number: MO420 / FCCID: BCGMO4420’ and the smaller label reads ‘Manufactured September 1990 / SG0393h7011’.
The keyboard has 59 keys in the 'QWERTY' layout and is constructed in beige plastic with a manufacturer's sticker on the reverse. The computer mouse is beige plastic with one large button at the top and a small Apple logo moulded into the lower left. There is a manufacturer's sticker is on the reverse of the mouse. The power lead has a three-pin plug to fit into a wall socket at one end and at the other a plug encased in plastic that fits into the back of the computer. There are inscriptions moulded into the plastic casing at both ends.
Dimensions
Height: 34cm
Width: 24cm
Depth: 28cm
Width: 24cm
Depth: 28cm
Website keywords
electronic communication
Label
Label text for the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):
Macintosh Classic computer
Plastic, glass and metal
Manufactured by Apple Inc. in Singapore, Malaysia and England, about 1990
The Macintosh Classic marks a turning point in computing. When it came out in 1990 it cost $1000, about £560, making Apple computers affordable for the home, rather than just being used at school or work. Today, home computers are commonplace, and being able to access the internet has brought the world into our homes in a completely new way.
Macintosh Classic computer
Plastic, glass and metal
Manufactured by Apple Inc. in Singapore, Malaysia and England, about 1990
The Macintosh Classic marks a turning point in computing. When it came out in 1990 it cost $1000, about £560, making Apple computers affordable for the home, rather than just being used at school or work. Today, home computers are commonplace, and being able to access the internet has brought the world into our homes in a completely new way.
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
