Maxell responded to the battery leak issue on Twitter

[3lectr1c]

I just saw this on twitter and thought it was funny, felt like sharing it here.

First, I saw this post from Garth Beagle showing that he somehow found a Maxell battery that still held charge, that's a new one!

https://nitter.net/GarthBeagle/status/1581051668665274368#m

Then, Maxell ended up noticing the tweet and liked it, which led to multiple people responding about how they clearly didn't get the point of the tweet

https://nitter.net/GarthBeagle/status/1588192856254033921#m

Next, they saw that one too and responded to the issue: https://nitter.net/MaxellCorp/status/1588314702844952576#m

Pretty unexpected! And now when you find an old Mac that's been blown up, at least you know that they're sorry about it

PS: Nitter.net is an alternative twitter client, I linked it here because I'm not on twitter, and the main site doesn't let you browse without popping up a message forcing you to log in.

 

[JDW]

Interesting someone from their company made time to even reply. I didn't know they had a PR department.

While that explanation is to be expected, it doesn't explain why a disproportionate number of Maxell branded batteries in vintage Macs tend to destroy those precious machines far more than any other vintage battery type. Even so, there is no explanation on that point which would prove flattering for the company. It's simply a fact that if you find an intact Maxell, say your sincere prayers of thanks and get that thing out ASAP.

Speaking of vintage Maxell batteries, check out this ancient one from the 1950's selling for $115:

RARE vintage 1950s Maxell battery PAPER LABEL dry cell HITACHI Japan UM 21.5V | eBay

Product of Hitachi Maxell - Japan - very mid century graphics/logo font.

www.ebay.com

 

[3lectr1c]

I mean, you just can't predict these things when they're new. I don't really blame Maxell here even, as the rep said, they were fine during their expected life span, it was only in the late 200s when the ones from the early 90s began to blow. They had no way of checking what formula and build VARTA and Tadiran were using, just that their formula worked and held charge just as well as the others.

As for the eBay battery you showed, I've seen similar photos of vintage dry cell batteries like these. These old cells looked so cool! Even the ones in the vintage macs looked pretty neat. In fact, Maxell's design is probably my favorite.

 

[JDW]

I mean, you just can't predict these things when they're new. I don't really blame Maxell here...

We shouldn't bash Maxell, of course. But realistically, when you read through this thread of horror and ponder what the owners of those machines must have uttered when they saw the disaster, I suspect they did cast at least a teensy bit a blame Maxell's way.

 

[3lectr1c]

Gosh, the damage in that thread was somehow even worse than anything in the 68kMLA thread on the topic, jeez! That one on Kai's poor SE board looks like it's about to burst!

 

[ClassicHasClass]

A blown Maxell ruined my Apple Network Server prototype (unfortunately before I got it).

Shiner ESB, an Apple Network Server prototype, and what it did at Netscape/MCom

The Apple Network Server was, with the possible exception of the Apple Workgroup Server 95, Apple's first true server. I have a particula...

oldvcr.blogspot.com

 

[3lectr1c]

Ouch, that really stinks

Also, I just have to give a massive thanks to you for your years of hard work and dedication on the TenFourFox and Classilla projects. You're a saint to this hobby!

 

[ClassicHasClass]

Aww. Very kind of you to say.