Apple 1 is for sale on eBay, i am shy to tell you the price

[Bud]

Here is your chance to snatch a piece of history 

 https://www.ebay.ca/itm/APPLE-1-Original-1976-Computer-System-1st-Steve-Wozniak-designed-computer-and-/174195921349

[james_s]

Yikes, I mean that's cool, but the asking price seems extremely optimistic by at least an order of magnitude but I guess we'll see.

[Bud]

I recall a story about someone buying an Apple 1 board for heck of a money, then flying to Woz to sign it, then selling it for X times higher price.

[Ed.Kloonk]

But can it run Linux?

[cdev]

The one I saw was basically housed in an old suitcase and it also had a cassette deck to load programs and an acoustic coupler to "connect to the phone network". I dont remember if it had a case like this one did. It had a keyboard which may have been integrated into the board.(That might have been, it probably was the Apple II - I think the keyboard was separate on the Apple (1) They were selling the bare boards. They had a bunch of cardboward boxes within which were these boards in open antistatic bags. Even then they were way out of my price range. I was basically just a kid.

[cdev]

But can it run Linux?

No, Linux didnt exist back then. The Apple was an 8 bit computer made with a 6502 microprocessor. It was not very powerful at all. Not even compared to an Arduino.

A modern Raspberry Pi would likely be FAR more powerful than the most powerful computer in the world back then.

Unix was in its infancy and mostly used for telephone stuff as it came out of Bell Labs.

[Syntax Error]

The PCB would make a facinating teardown

But ebay? An artefact of this design importance and provenance should be in the sale room of Sotherby's. Maybe next year it will.

[TK]

Sold by Steve Jobs???  It must be a fake replica

[Bud]

The one I saw was basically housed in an old suitcase and it also had a cassette deck to load programs and an acoustic coupler to "connect to the phone network".

That sounds to be in line with Woz saying that Apple 1 was not dedigned to be a computer, it was designed to be a remote terminal to connect to computers located elsewhere.

[floobydust]

I'm suspicious of the IEC 60320 connector. In the 70's a line cord and (chassis mount) NEMA 5 was all you'd see, which is above it.
Dangerous if the incoming mains is on the IEC, as the prongs would be live. Doesn't make sense, total sacrilege for the asking price.

The PCB provisions for MC6800 are interesting too.

[rdl]

$1.5 Million and you don't even get free shipping?
!!! 

[Bud]

Yeah, the seller wants to make an extra buck on shipping 

[cdev]

It was designed to be a computerized "blue box". Woz and Jobs were "phone phreaks".

The one I saw was basically housed in an old suitcase and it also had a cassette deck to load programs and an acoustic coupler to "connect to the phone network".

That sounds to be in line with Woz saying that Apple 1 was not dedigned to be a computer, it was designed to be a remote terminal to connect to computers located elsewhere.

[james_s]

But can it run Linux?

No, Linux didnt exist back then. The Apple was an 8 bit computer made with a 6502 microprocessor. It was not very powerful at all. Not even compared to an Arduino.

A modern Raspberry Pi would likely be FAR more powerful than the most powerful computer in the world back then.

Unix was in its infancy and mostly used for telephone stuff as it came out of Bell Labs.

I'm pretty certain that was a joke.

[floobydust]

Yeah, the seller wants to make an extra buck on shipping 

The listing says no insurance on shipping the item... UPS Supersaver!? $224
I mean at this price you'd use a real auction house with security and insurance- pay their commission for a reason, and let them ship it.

[Alex Eisenhut]

Suddenly this seems like a bargain...

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Commodore-PET-4032-Restored-and-working-Nice-condition/203014695448?hash=item2f449e6a18:g:ON4AAOSwxMle3VH-

[sleemanj]

I'm suspicious of the IEC 60320 connector. In the 70's a line cord and (chassis mount) NEMA 5 was all you'd see, which is above it.
Dangerous if the incoming mains is on the IEC, as the prongs would be live. Doesn't make sense, total sacrilege for the asking price.

It should be noted that all the cases you see on Apple I computers are custom jobs, Apple didn't make them.

Anyway this one looks safe enough to me, the power is provided by the IEC socket with pins, the socket above it with holes provides power to the display.   The original IBM XT used the inverted IEC socket to similarly power the monitor, so the IEC socket isn't out of place.

[floobydust]

I mixed up the monitor connector as the male NEMA 5 power connector for some reason.

[ebastler]

Yikes, I mean that's cool, but the asking price seems extremely optimistic by at least an order of magnitude but I guess we'll see.

According to the offer history, this auction has been up since February, so it may be a while...

I don't think the seller actually expects anywhere near $1.5M, but just wanted to set an "anchor" in the potential buyers' minds. Having seen this initial number, maybe someone is stupid enough to offer $500k, thinking they would get a bargain.

Edit: It's been for sale since October 2019, and the $1.5M are already the discounted price: 
https://9to5mac.com/2019/10/25/apple-1-custom-wood-case-1-75m/

[ebastler]

It should be noted that all the cases you see on Apple I computers are custom jobs, Apple didn't make them.

That's right. But the Byte Shop had a small batch of wooden cases made, to be able to offer complete computers to those customers who did not want to roll their own case. And since the auction's description stresses that this is one of "less than 6 known surviving original Byte Shop KOA wood cases", it would be nice if the case were indeed in its original state.

The monitor power connector and the switch next to it do look like later additions to me, if one compares their style with the mains connector and switch just above. Edit: Here's a video of a different unit in a Byte Shop case. It has the same monitor power connector and a square fuse holder (?) next to it, although it does not have the toggle switch next to the mains jack: https://www.bonhams.com/video/24739/

Adding the holes, screws and washers to secure the transformers may not have been the brightest idea. (Given that it was only done in October 2019, just before the owner decided to sell this "historic artefact".)

[Bud]

Frankly, regarding the case, i did much better jobs when i was 13 years old, with a hacksaw, file and hand drill.

[Bud]

I don't think the seller actually expects anywhere near $1.5M, but just wanted to set an "anchor" in the potential buyers' minds. Having seen this initial number, maybe someone is stupid enough to offer $500k, thinking they would get a bargain.

Actually, someone did, for another one

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/28/wozniak-built-apple-1-computer-sold-for-almost-500000-at-christies.html

[RJSV]

  Seriously, I'd like to see a spread-sheet style GRAPH:
  Price per each week, regarding that one signed machine, having The WOZ ink. Watching good housing up there in the hills rise by 300,000 $ plus, and in only a couple years. But that photo / w a little history... I'd pay it... uh, ...
  Not to divert the eye, but I liked the TV set, in the photo there.  That would be great, in a flat screen version. /// Then I could put it on top my new, $5555555 Apple I ///////

[retrolefty]

The one I saw was basically housed in an old suitcase and it also had a cassette deck to load programs and an acoustic coupler to "connect to the phone network".

That sounds to be in line with Woz saying that Apple 1 was not dedigned to be a computer, it was designed to be a remote terminal to connect to computers located elsewhere.

 Well the fact that the Woz wrote and included a Basic programming language with the board did in fact make it a standalone computer. I meet both Steve's when they were touring the Bay Area showing off their creation to small groups. After talking to them for maybe 5 mins each I figured the Woz as the brains of the outfit and Jobs as a salesman type, using buzz words and slogans already.

 It was a very interesting time where mainstream computer companies were very ho hum about the early microprocessors and didn't see a market for them while a zillion small start-ups were flooding the hobbyist and early adopters with offerings. Most of course didn't survive but certainly Apple rode it to  end up being a giant force these days. However I think their cellphones are what made them the force they are today, their computers are too fancy and expensive for my taste.

[schmitt trigger]

I agree that for a sale of this relevance and magnitude, this should be better handled by a reputable auction house.

That way, you would have some sort of post sale guarantee, unless it is a Banksy self-shredding painting.

[Bud]

Most of course didn't survive but certainly Apple rode it to  end up being a giant force these days. However I think their cellphones are what made them the force they are today,

There was a video from early-2000 I believe I watched recently in which Jobs seemed to have no clue about cell phones. In the video he was promoting iPod stuff and a the Apple home router. And a guy from the audience came to the microphone and said like "I want all that stuff in my cell phone", to which Jobs kind of said "cell phone companies make good cell phones, buy yourself one". The guy said kinda "yes but I am letting you know again I want all that music and everything in my cell phone". Jobs looked rejective and clueless. I wonder if that was the the guy Jobs picked up the idea from of the cell phone that has everything in it.

[newbrain]

I'm suspicious of the IEC 60320 connector. In the 70's a line cord and (chassis mount) NEMA 5 was all you'd see, which is above it.
Dangerous if the incoming mains is on the IEC, as the prongs would be live. Doesn't make sense, total sacrilege for the asking price.

Anyway this one looks safe enough to me, the power is provided by the IEC socket with pins, the socket above it with holes provides power to the display.

I don't understand all the fuss about the display power connector.
If you are in doubt, just send the whole thing to the 8 bit guy!

[floobydust]

You want to pay USD$1.5M for a fake?
This listing is ~7 months now, 128 bids rejected. Come on Apple fanboys, buy it

[TheNewLab]

Nope still up for sale.

I noticed some of the recommended other items.

a 1978 Apple reference manual. Apple II  $449 USD

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1978-APPLE-ll-REFERENCE-MANUAL-JAN-1978-the-original-RED-BOOK-by-Steve-Wozniak/114263488155?_trkparms=aid%3D1110009%26algo%3DSPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200220094952%26meid%3De860f8e4f11b4b6287ccacb928be3cf8%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D174195921349%26itm%3D114263488155%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3Ddefault%26brand%3DApple&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

$20 USD for the multi-color apple label?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Apple-Macintosh-Computer-Rainbow-Logo-Lapel-Pin-Pinback-Vintage-1980-s-Made-USA/313289409832?_trkparms=aid%3D1110009%26algo%3DSPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200220094952%26meid%3De860f8e4f11b4b6287ccacb928be3cf8%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D174195921349%26itm%3D313289409832%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3Ddefault%26brand%3DApple&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

[floobydust]

I see the eBay auction is still up, almost 1-1/2years asking same $1.5M.  A different Apple-1 just went for $400K at auction.

[granzeier]

Well, at least he's offering almost free shipping - $1.00 for expedited shipping? 

It really irks me to see people who are this psychotically greedy.

[floobydust]

Who sells anything of this price on eBay? Cheap and greedy. No insurance, but you pay travel expenses:
"...CC and I are available to deliver this unit at his usual fee and travel expense, and myself at travel expense should the buyer request this. Corey’s original verification videos and pictures are available on request.  This item will not be shipped by the owner as it is too valuable to risk any damage, loss or fraud."

eBay posting is showing "Shipping: $258.53 UPS Worldwide Saver" so you must live next door lol

[SiliconWizard]

Yeah, selling stuff like that on eBay is dead stupid.
But I'm pretty sure - assuming the item actually exists, because, uh you know... - that the seller has put it on dozens of different web sites.