Hopefully I can help you guys with the authenticity of this computer as I am the person who owns it!
In short, I was the manager of the computer repair center in Tandy Tower I for a short time in 1979, the regional computer tech rep for Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, and later was the manager of Computer Technical Support and Training until I left Tandy/Radio Shack in 1982. Please read my profile for my background with Tandy/Radio Shack.
When Tandy Advanced Products created the S/N 100,000 Model I there was an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper about it being presented to an executive of Tandy. At one point in time I found an archive of that article but I have searched and searched and have been unable to find it. The best I can remember, it was presented to Bernie Appel who was at that time the VP of Computer marketing. I saw the computer in 1979 and several times after that as I worked in both Tandy Tower I and Tandy Tower II. The computer was originally displayed, in a glass case, on the executive offices floor and was later moved to John Roach's office.
When I saw the computer in the tent sale at the Radio Shack Outlet store on Terminal Road it was in a junk box and I could NOT believe my eyes! They had cleaned out a bunch of stuff from offices, engineering and other areas in Tandy Tower I & II and those items were in the tent sale. I asked the sales person "how much" and he said $5.00. I quickly paid him cash and secured the computer in my vehicle. Why was it in the tent sale, probably because by then the Model I was history and no one it Tandy/Radio Shack cared about the history of a single item even though it was a milestone!
I have had the computer in my possession since the day I purchased it. I can assure you the label has not been altered. The area that looks like a small crease you see in the upper left of the label appears to be a flaw in the printing of the label or a mark in the label as to where to lift it for placement on the computer. That corner is NOT lifted, it is FLAT and has not been tampered with.
As for the feet being removed, one or two of the feet were missing when I purchased the computer so I removed the others.
I have talked to several previous employees of Tandy/Radio Shack that remember the computer and its history and they also have stated they saw the computer in 1979 or 1980. They also wondered where the computer went and assumed it was misplaced or thrown away.
As for as the NIB Monitor.... I purchased this monitor still taped from the same RS Outlet store about the same time. I personally opened the box. I also questioned the label on the back being deteriorated, but in the bottom of the box I found another label that apparently fell off the back of the monitor. The label in the bottom of the box is the same physical size to cover the original label and is dated Feb 1979. I can only assume they had a problem with the monitors and returned them to TAP for modification prior to being sold. Yes, there a couple of nicks on the monitor and I have had it out of the box a few times to check the condition as it was stored in a 45' Semi Trailer. The styrofoam is nice and white, the foam around the monitor is nice and old yellow, the rubber bands are nice and dark yellow and ready to pop!
If you have anyone that worked at Tandy during the 1979-1980 in Technical Support, at TAP or an executive I am sure they can help verify this computer. Unfortunately, Bernie Appel has passed and friend of my Ed Juge has passed.
In another note, I have a Altair 8800 that was assembled by Ed Juge prior to our just after he became an employee of Tandy/Radio Shack.
As for the for sale ad in Japan, I know NOTHING about that. It appears to be a Japanese translation of the Ebay posting.
Thanks!!!
Ronnie Franklin