Have you ever wanted to own a piece of history? At this point in time, there’s probably nothing more representative of the late 20th century than the Apple-1, the first computer created by Steve Wozniak and marketed by Steve Jobs. This is the machine that Jobs sold his VW Microbus to help finance, and it’s the one that was hand-soldered in the Jobs family home that served as the first Apple factory. For a bidder with deep pockets, a working Apple I can be yours, and you can do some good at the same time.
Bob Luther of Alexandria, Virginia is auctioning off the Apple-1 as part of an eBay Giving Works auction benefiting the ALS Association. The specifications of the vintage computer are as follows:
Original Apple-1 motherboard, labeled “Apple Computer 1 Palo Alto. Ca. Copyright 1976” with four rows A-D, and columns 1-18, white ceramic MOS Technologies 6502 microprocessor, labeled MCS 6502 1576, 8K bytes RAM in 16-pin 4K memory chips, original 3 “Big-Blue” power supply capacitors by Sprague, firmware in PROMS (A1, A2), low-profile sockets on all integrated circuits, two external period correct power transformers; all mounted inside period clam shell case as originally provided by selling dealer Byte Shop or original owner, case dimensions 13.25” by 16.6” by 5”; with integrated Datanetics keyboard date June 2, 1976 stamped on backside; period Sony model TV-115 Solid State television; contemporary replica Apple-1 Operation Manual autographed by Steve Wozniak, 8 ½ in by 11 in.; original Apple-1 cassette interface board; Panasonic RQ-2102 cassette recorder.
This machine was given a “serial number” of 01-0022 by the Byte Shop, and was originally owned by Joey Copson, a deceased Atari and Apple employee who purchased the computer as a Christmas present for himself. Copson is also famed for designing the Atari game “Star Raiders”.
With eight days left in the auction, the bids are surprisingly low for a working Apple-1. The top bid is $20,600, a steal for a computer that’s in museums around the world. A similar, but later Apple-1 was sold to the Henry Ford Museum in September 2014 for $905,000. There are a number of other items available from Luther’s collection of Apple memorabilia that are part of the charity auction, so be sure to take a look. The auction started on Monday and runs through April 23, 2015.
