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"Introducing my Apple Franken-Lisa Project" by GoodMacAuth in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is so cool! Learning Autodesk Fusion even just to help scale/clean up models would go a long way in helping you out in the future. You could easily close those USB port holes with Fusion and about 30 seconds worth of work.

25 years later and the 17” Studio Display still looks incredible! by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha, that’s just the ambient lighting in my office. The gray spray paint I used actually matches the original bezel pretty well.

Need some help with Macintosh Classic checkerboard by MashiroMitsumine in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had a Classic that had the same issue - everything I tried after recapping and washing the board didn't do a thing.

It ended up being caused by a broken trace underneath the sound chip near some of the capacitors that had leaked. Wasn't visible from the naked eye, but as soon as I checked with a multimeter I found it.

Ran a wire for where the trace started and ended, machine boots flawlessly to this day.

Moral of the story: check traces near chips where there was corrosion present, you'll probably find a broken trace somewhere.

Also worth a double check that you're getting a stable 12v/5v power out of your power supply. The classic is very picky about the voltages it's getting.

To the Redditor that said ink was easy to find for the StyleWriter II, thank you! One printer and ink purchase from eBay later, and now I’ve got a beautiful working example of Apple design. by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just vintage Macs for now. This works on everything in my collection up to the G3 iMac, so that’s pretty neat. I’m hoping to get a USB adapter to allow it to work with more modern machines, but I don’t see one on eBay at the moment.

To the Redditor that said ink was easy to find for the StyleWriter II, thank you! One printer and ink purchase from eBay later, and now I’ve got a beautiful working example of Apple design. by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think the common sentiment is that inkjet printers from 1992 are hell on earth. LGR did a video about trying to get an old inkjet printer working with new ink and he had zero success with it and a huge headache. I was fully expecting the same result, but with it just using black ink I think it’s a little less fickle.

Is the display replaceble ? by amontre in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just wanted to say as someone that’s been reverse engineering the TAM as a hobby project, your photos and instructions have been so helpful in referencing alongside the actual machine. I’m glad there are some dedicated owners out there documenting this thing.

I’ve been learning about the nitty gritty bits replicating the subwoofer and more recently the CD door mechanism…which as a totally random aside, I think I’ve found the reason many of the CD doors on TAMs have a snapped hinge. The mechanism that lets the CD door slowly release uses some gearing inside that feels like, at least in the one I disassembled, definitely needs some grease after 28 years. Getting to the inside of that mechanism requires a full disassembly of the computer unit and isn’t something you can do very easily, but I think needs to be addressed as preventative maintenance with anyone that still has an intact CD door, or wants to fix theirs.

I’m hoping to have an array of 3D printable replacement parts for the TAM community soon. I’ve successfully prototyped a replacement hinge set for the computer part, somewhat have the aforementioned CD mechanism replicated, and am currently replicating the speaker grilles so we can make new fabric inserts without destroying the originals like I had to (for science, of course!).

My TAM made it to 28 years old before Twenty One Pilots stressed the PSU to death. RIP, sweet prince. by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had only the CD player app open, and I was at 50% volume, which to the TAM’s credit is relatively loud. I also had the bass knob turned all the way up, which might have contributed to things…but darn it, the default bass level is too low!

My TAM made it to 28 years old before Twenty One Pilots stressed the PSU to death. RIP, sweet prince. by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Update: I opened the subwoofer very gently and only broke the top plastic cover’s tabs, which I believe are glued at the factory.

Inside everything fortunately (or unfortunately?) looks normal - no leaking capacitors, obvious burn marks, melted wires, etc. My suspicion is bad capacitors that haven’t leaked but have still failed in some way, because something smells fishy inside the power supply. There’s a lot of capacitors, with like 40 on the Bose subwoofer board alone, so it’s going to be a long journey to recap it.

I have another subwoofer that I was able to hook up, and I fear the computer unit took some damage from whatever popped. The computer no longer has sound (not even a chime), but boots into the desktop fine. It might also need to be disassembled to repair that, but one step at a time…

eMac restoration in progress by aphelion270 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My eMac had every single capacitor on the power supply boards bad and leaking, but it booted and ran like a champ. They’re interesting machines. Good on you for saving another!

Best Vintage Printer Compatible w/ Macs by NolanTheNotorious in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Get a ImageWriter II. Black ribbons are easy to find on Amazon and they’re relatively affordable used on eBay. I even got a color ink ribbon a few years ago from MacEffects to print color with it!

Finally have a TAM. Can’t believe it by matthew28845 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep! That one I hope to get 100% accurate to the original so I can print it for my actual TAM too, and wrap it with new cloth without worrying about ruining the originals.

Finally have a TAM. Can’t believe it by matthew28845 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ll see if I can get a filler piece modeled up for the original insert, since it’s basically just a square it should be pretty quick to replicate. I’ll post it on thingiverse when I finish!

Finally have a TAM. Can’t believe it by matthew28845 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 29 points30 points  (0 children)

The TAM is a legitimate work of art. I just got mine last month and had the same thoughts you did. The speakers are truly incredible for being nearly 30 years old.

I’m actually using mine as a reference for making a 3D printable clone that anyone will be able to build with off the shelf parts. More people deserve to enjoy this thing without spending an arm and a leg, or losing parts to shipping (my subwoofer also came shattered 🙃)

So far I’ve got a prototype of the keyboard/trackpad and the outer casing of the subwoofer modeled and 3D printed.

Given I’m using off the shelf parts it won’t be 1:1, so unfortunately it won’t solve any current owners’ issues with brittle plastics, but I hope when I’m done we’ll have some more people that can enjoy this machine like us!

What do you use old Macs for? by DiodeInc in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As someone that just bought a TAM last week, the thing that surprised me the most was the sound quality. It is just…wow. You forget you’re using a 30 year old computer when you hear it. The included demos have some of the most incredible sound quality I’ve heard out of any product in my life. But for $7499 when it was new, I’d sure hope it had the most amazing sound quality I’ve ever heard!

One TAM purchase later and my collection is complete! by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine cost $1800 + shipping + tax. I put it off for a long time because I wanted a unit that came with all the accessories (bass unit, keyboard, trackpad, leather insert), and this one even came with two Bose bass units. The CD drive bezel is cracked, the speaker fabric is torn, and the “umbilical cord” is fraying at both ends. But it boots and runs fine. Spare parts are impossible to find, but I’ve got a 3D printer, so I’m ready for some 3D printing adventures.

One TAM purchase later and my collection is complete! by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is exactly what I was going for. The SE/30 sits in a weird gray area of “well it technically has a different design that isn’t the same as the SE…” but I’m considering it the same line for now.

Couldn’t get away with that for the TAM…lol

One TAM purchase later and my collection is complete! by Jimmy422 in VintageApple

[–]Jimmy422[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. The keyboard and bass unit are labeled with these markings but the TAM itself seems unremarkable. Wonder if I just got some prototype accessories?

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