The Apple-1 Registry

Serial number on the back

The serial number on the back of the Apple-1 was most likely written by Steve Jobs. According to available information, a forensic analysis has not yet been performed for this Apple-1. However, for some other Apple-1s with a serial number on the back it has been confirmed that it is Steve Jobs' handwriting. More information.

Description

Wooden case with built-in transformer and keyboard.

History

The original owner, who had brought the computer to the meeting in an effort to sell or trade it, met with the current owner who expressed interest, and a swap was made. At the time, the computer was in completely functional condition.
Eventually, he contemplated adding disk drives to it. Being a technician for a large disk drive manufacturer at the time, he arranged a visit to Apple Computer's headquarters in Cupertino, California, to discuss the possibility of adding disk drives to the computer. The conclusion was that a disk drive could be added, but not without a significant amount of work that the owner was not interested in undertaking, so the computer was finally retired at that time. The Apple Computer visitor badge, visible in the photos of the interior of the enclosure (with the owner's name blurred out to protect his privacy), was put there as a memento of this visit.
Bought in 1981 at an Apple users group meeting in Santa Clara, California, USA.
An interesting red label from Apple Computer Inc. is inside, with the owner's name and the date 8/26/81. It is from the owner's visit to Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, where he discussed the possibility of adding a disk drive and kept the visitor badge.
Maybe it was sold at the VCF 2003.

Auctions

no auction
(see History for more information)

Components

White ceramic CPU MOS 6502 (pin 17 all off due to corrosion), plastic PIA AMI S6820, 8 KB DRAM mixed plastic and ceramic. All blue capacitors.

Equipment

Wooden case, built-in transformer and keyboard. Original Apple Cassette Interface. Datanetics keyboard. No original manuals (only reproductions).

State

Prototype area with some wires and a transistor. Monitor connector missing. Keycap 1 is missing. The 74257 (row B, 5-8) was replaced by a 74157. A decoupling capacitor was soldered on the back of the 74157. Two power transistors have been replaced.

Last update

Jul 29, 2025

Change log (since March 20, 2018)

May 16, 2019: Verification status added
May 25, 2019: Verification status. Components (shortlist). Components
May 25, 2019: Name. State added. Equipment. Description added. History added
Jun 12, 2019: Equipment. History
Jun 12, 2019: 8 picture(s) added
Jun 15, 2019: Components
Jun 18, 2019: Description of picture(s)/video(s)
Jun 25, 2019: Components
Nov 16, 2021: Working condition
Nov 16, 2021: History
Jul 29, 2025: State. History

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