Vintage Computer Sold For N150M At Auction

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October 28, 2014 3:22 PM

The computer made in 1976 broke its previous record, selling higher than expected.

A working vintage Apple-1 computer has been sold at a New York auction for $905,000 (N149,759,309.49), smashing a record set last year in Germany for the highest price ever paid for an Apple-1.

The computer, one of only 200 to ever be made, is among just 64 units known to currently exist. It is also only one of 15 Apple-1s that are thought to be working. The device is thought to have been built by Steve Wozniak in Steve Jobs' family home back when Apple started in 1976 - around 50 were built when Apple operated from the garage of that residence.

Auction house Bonham expected this Apple-1 to fetch anything between $300,000 (N49,643,970) and $500,000 (N82,739,949.99), according to reports - making the $905,000 figure all the more impressive. It was bought by the Henry Ford organisation, which reportedly plans to display the relic at a museum.

"Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs put technology directly in the hands of the people with the creation of the Apple-1, completely altering the way we work and live," said Patricia Mooradian, president of organisation.

"The Apple-1 was not only innovative, but it is a key artifact in the foundation of the digital revolution."

The actual device is simply a motherboard, though with the computer came the famous wooden keyboard, as well as an owner's manual and an Apple-1 cassette interface. A power supply and vintage Sanyo monitor completed the $905,000 package.

Given that there are so few Apple-1 computers in existence, they routinely fetch high prices at auctions. Last year's record from Germany saw an Apple-1 go for $671,000 (N111,037,012.89), narrowly beating out the previous record, also set in Germany, of $640,000 (N105,907,135.99). Sotheby's in New York also recently sold an Apple-1 for $374,500 (N61,889,482.59).

Culled from ArabianBusiness

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