Apple-1 Computer Prototype Selling at Auction, Expected to Fetch More Than $500,000
The auctioned Apple-1 computer is hand-soldered by Steve Wozniak in 1976. In addition, the printed circuit board was used by Apple’s late CEO to demonstrate the capabilities of the Apple-1 to Paul Terrell. Terrell was the owner of The Byte Shop which became the first retailer to sell Apple-1 computers. Terrell ordered fully assembled 50 machines and sold each unit at a price of $666.66. The Apple Computer A has been matched to the photographs taken in 1976 by Terrell that show the prototype in use. The computer going up for auction is listed as number two in the Apple-1 Registry. It was previously considered “lost” but now it has been authenticated by expert Corey Cohen. The RR Auction describes that there are some damages to the board. This Apple-1 computer is different from other production ones since it houses a different processor, lacks the green protective coating, and reads “Apple Computer A”. As mentioned earlier, the machine is expected to fetch more than $500,000 at auction. The board appears to have been damaged by pressure on the upper right, resulting in a crack that runs from adjacent to the power supply area above D12 down through the bottom of the board to the right of A15. The missing piece is presumed to have been discarded, but can be reimagined thanks to Paul Terrell’s photographs of the complete board. One of the distinguishing features of the “Apple Computer A” prototype was its use of three orange Sprague Atom capacitors, rather than the familiar ‘Big Blue’ capacitors used on the production Apple Computer 1. This is all there is to it, folks. We will share more details on the subject as soon as further information is available. Share your valuable insights with us in the comments section below.
