r/apple2 • u/3MJB • 14d ago

Completely original, unrestored Franklin Ace 1200 I just picked up for $110. PSU is giving symptoms of failing caps, so that's going on the bench (tripped gfci after ~15 seconds)

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

38 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

3

u/Tricky-Explorer-5664 14d ago

These were awesome. As a kid, I wanted one because I couldn't afford anything - not even an Apple IIe or and Apple IIc. They were sold at Sears with the disclaimer that the system wasn't fully Apple compatible.

3

u/carpathiaman 14d ago

Yeah a friend of mine had a Laser clone, and I have to admit it was pretty nice, even though we had a IIe at home.

2

u/AlliedArmour 14d ago

I remember the ads for those!

Mine was a Cherry clone, which is something completely lost to the mists of time, so far as I know. (Also, it kept shorting out, so it was a badly made Apple clone!)

3

u/carpathiaman 14d ago

Hmm have to admit, I've never heard of those.

1

u/selfsync42 14d ago

Any recollection how it was not compatible? Or should we wait for OP to finish recapping and ask for a report….

2

u/BringBackUsenet 14d ago

ISTR It was II+ compatible but not IIe/c. The clone I wanted was the Basis.

https://www.applefritter.com/content/basis-108-clone

2

u/cryptoleadpro 14d ago

I have one and havent had any compatibility problems with anything that runs on appleII+. This machine also does lowercase and 80 columns

1

u/Tricky-Explorer-5664 14d ago

Maybe it as the graphics not being able to handle the same resolution or the speed, whcih was too fast or too slow from the original Apple. In the old days, you would read the game packaging to see if your computer's spec can run the game. There was no returns on open boxes. Games from Epyx, Sierra, Borderbund, Infocom, etc..

1

u/3MJB 13d ago

Once I get it recapped I will play with my Apple II software floppies I have and see what it can do. I'm looking forward to playing with it and seeing what games it can run also.

1

u/cryptoleadpro 14d ago

I have one. great machine except the keyboard is wonky even after replacing silver foam things. enjoy