Re: Apple /// and it's beige color finish.

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article pdueck@pli.mb.ca (Perry Dueck) writes...

>I just acquired an Apple /// for $5. The system is in fairly good
>condition, except that the beige plastic casing (keyboard cover, cpu
>cover, and disk drive latch) is severly discolored for the most part.

    My Apple III came in the same cosmetic condition, the plastic had
turned an almost mustard yellow  (at least it was evenly discolored, 
so it would appear to a stranger that was how it originally looked).
My Disk III 5.25 is equally as bad, but at least it matches. :)

>I took the whole machine apart, and gave the plastic casings and disk
>drive latch a good cleaning with industrial strength hand soap and lots of
>hot water.
> 
>Unfortunately, I cannot restore the original beige color this way, so I
>was wondering if anyone out there knows of the exact color code
>specifications that Apple used for those models that had beige colored
>casings such as the Apple ///?
> 
>Or, is there a type of spray can paint on the market that would closely
>match this "Apple Beige" color?

    A fair bit of the hardware I've picked up has been discolored, my
Apple IIc's are a yellowly white, several my Apple IIe's are a darker
shade of beige and unfortunately, even my Apple IIc Plus came badly
"UV-zapped". The only things that still look factory new in terms of 
color are new are my IIgs's, Apple II and II Plus (the latter because
they were apparently painted, rather than molded plastic with dye).

    Short of finding the exact color dye (biege, white, platinum) and
using an air-brush, the only immediate solution is to scrub down the
plastic case with something abrassive (bathroom cleanser, etc). This
will somewhat restore the original color, but you'll be damaging the
case (your actually scratching away the discolored layer of plastic).
I did this to my IIc Plus because it was so badly discolored, it looks
much better but it now has a more smooth texture finish. :/ 

    I really wish companies would spray all computer plastics with 
some kind of anti-UV coating, to protect against discoloration. Or
maybe they'll just change the color scheme to black in future. ;)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca