Don't Chuck Old Apples Away!

[Yorkie]

Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction!

A 1976 model Apple-1 computer has fetched a whopping 133,250 pounds (nearly $210,700) - approximately 425 times its original cost of $666.66 - at Christie's auction house in London on Nov 23.

Do what???

The world's gone mad!

What price ZX81s in a decade?

BBCs?

Spectrums, QLs even?

[Joe]

A boxed ZX81 made £15 at the beginning of the month in my local auction house.

- Joe

[Skywave]

David - you forgot to mention the Commodore 64. I had a lot of fun with one of those.

Al.

[Yorkie]

It has to be said that these weren't any old Apples bought from Dixon's, Tandy or wherever - they were assembled by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in their garage, and at least two have been sold at auction.

Quote from June 2010:

A rare, still-working Apple I Computer from 1976 sold at Sotheby's auction house on Friday for $374,500, or more than 500 times its original retail price. The computer, one of only a handful in full working condition, had been estimated to sell for about $150,000 at the auctioneer's sale of books and manuscripts. The Apple computer, built by the company's founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, included the original cassette interface, operating instructions and BASIC computer language user's manual. But like all Apple 1's, it did not come with a monitor or power supply.

Two bidders competed for the machine, the first compact computer to allow casual users to type on a keyboard and operate basic programs. An anonymous telephone bidder prevailed for a final cost of just under $375,000 including commission.

End quote.

Also:

A 1976 model Apple-1 computer has fetched a whopping 133,250 pounds (nearly $210,700) - approximately 425 times its original cost of $666.66 - at Christie's auction house in London on Nov 23:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11821470

“Its significance in making computer technology accessible for all cannot be undervalued.”

Earlier this summer, another Apple I hit the auction block at Sotheby’s auction house, as well as a memo and handwritten note from Steve Jobs, Apple founder and late CEO. This particular Apple I was said to be only one of 6 completely functioning units remaining. Early estimates for the June auction started at $120,000 to $150,000. When the final bid was placed, this functioning Apple I reached slightly over $374,000, more than double pre-sale estimates and setting a new record for the price of a piece of Apple gear at auction, according to the Daily Mail.

As for the notes in this June auction, they sold for $27,500, surpassing the $10,000 to $15,000 pre-sale estimates.

Elsewhere in the litany of vintage Apple goods at auction, the original three-page contract between business partners Jobs, Wozniak and Ron Wayne which established Apple Computers as a company sold at Sotheby’s last December for a whopping $1.6 million.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/...on-083012/

Interesting that people will buy objects which have no earthly use, simply because of the provenance of the item and its rarity.

I recall buying my younger son a 16k Spectrum on the early 1980s for £175, and later upgrading it to 48k for about £50 extra. A measure of how far things have progressed.

(Remember the annoying screeching sound as programs loaded from cassette tapes?).

[Joe]

Remember the same noise dial-up internet made?

- Joe

[dennishoy]

I couldn't resist an old iBook G3 for £5 at my local auction house last week.
I've now got it 'working' and the Apple logo lights up when I turn it on. Ok, still got a bit to do, but as a 'Mac' will it actually do a lot more when it is fully working.... Hm..
I blame ed731pdh as he started this stupid 'collecting old computers' thing.

[ed731pdh]

Vintage radio, vintage computers, what's the difference?

My son, who is six, going on seven, is now enjoying the delights of programming either a vintage Acorn Electron (or the nut computer as he refers to it) or a Spectrum +3. I didn't force him, he took a curious interest and just went with it. In 30 years he will probably look back with nostalgia at 30 year old PCs or hopefully 60 year old Sinclairs/Acorns with the same fondness.