The Apple-1 Registry

Website(s)

Auction at Charitybuzz including pictures

Description

Round stamp with number 7 on the back.

It is unclear why some components are so different. But it was not a prototype. Almost all ICs have different date codes compared to all other Apple-1s; some date codes are from long after 1976, and sometimes even different brands are used (Apple never used TI ICs in 1976). It is more likely that the ICs were added later.

Here is a comment from Mike Willegal:
"That board is not likely a prototype — it was built after the initial production run. We know this from the date codes on the chips. However, it is also not a board from a 'production' run; we know that from the unique component mix on it and the unusual amount of manual soldering. It is a unique example that we don't really know much about. Paul Terrell has a picture of a true prototype board. We don't know if that prototype board survived and, if so, who has it."
Similar statements exist from different experts and early Apple employees.

History

Original owner thought to be an early Apple employee.
Acquired by second owner in 1977.
Acquired by third owner on January 8, 2000 (sales receipt still exists).
Sold at Charitybuzz auction for US\$ 815,000. According to interviews with the owner, he would have bid even 1.2 (some sources say 1.6) million US\$.

Auctions

Aug. 2016
(see History for more information)

Components

White ceramic MOS MCS 6502 CPU (3775), ceramic Motorola XC6820 PIA (7511), 8 KB ceramic DRAM with gold cap (from 7451). Large blue capacitor (from 1975). Both 2400 µF capacitors are silver (date code 7617). All other capacitors are silver. Different diodes in the power section. Different capacitor above D12. Very unique. Different 2504v chips (SY 1404A) are used in yellow sockets. The heatsink on this board is smaller than on all other Apple-1s (appears to be never replaced). This Apple-1 has the more expensive Robinson Nugent sockets, but production runs used the less expensive sockets. Additionally, it has a larger crystal and a variable capacitor above D12. Different electrolytic caps used. Different slot (hand soldered, different part number and date code 3175).
The Apple Cassette Interface (NTI) is different from others. Different capacitors, resistors, and transistors.

Equipment

Original Apple Cassette Interface (NTI), Apple BASIC, and Star Trek cassette. Original Operation Manual with schematics. Original Preliminary BASIC Manual. Original Apple Cassette Interface Manual. Original Apple-1 ad. Schematics on archival paper. TRIAD power supply from 1974.

State

Mechanical switch at switch board section. Added wire and capacitor on the back at power supply section. Added wire between 6820 pin 21 and B1 pin 1. Missing socket C1 (for 6800 only) — appears to have never been used. LM323K corroded. One trace on the back cut. Missing video pot (added today after restoration). Corrosion on some ICs. PROMs of the mainboard and ACI from 7610 and not labeled Apple A1/A2.

Last update

Jul 27, 2025

Change log (since March 20, 2018)

Apr 02, 2018: Newly added to the Apple-1 Registry
Apr 11, 2018: Number/Sticker/Stamp info added. Components. State. Equipment. Description.
Dec 07, 2018: Auctions added
Feb 15, 2019: On display status
May 23, 2019: Description. History
May 27, 2019: Number/Sticker/Stamp info
Jun 16, 2019: Description
Jun 18, 2019: 1 picture(s) added
Nov 16, 2021: Labels / stamps added
Aug 29, 2022: Description of picture(s)/video(s)
Jul 27, 2025: Components. State. Equipment. Description. History

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