Other computers

Nearly all computers, especially valuable items, are under lockdown and in storage. Unfortunately, a public exhibition would be better, but it's not that simple. More than 1,000 vintage computers are in my collection, and I take care of them.

For more than 30 years, I have been collecting computers (components). In the beginning, these were mainly mainboards, selected plug-in cards, and especially hard disks—large ones that were impressive in physical size, but not in capacity. Many hard disks look more like spaceship models, with impressive dimensions and a charming weight. A 39" BRYANT hard disk is the most wanted historical object on my wish list. Of course, Cray, Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC), Gemini Computer, and IBM's AP-101 are also desired.

It was not until much later that computers themselves came into the picture. The real reason was a nostalgic retrospective and the wish to sit in front of an Apple II and a Basis 108 with UCSD Pascal. I looked for it, bought it, and my next desire was the first IBM—the one I had worked with in the '80s.

This led to the desire to acquire further computers. Many computers of the '70s and '80s were absolutely unaffordable at the beginning of my career in the computer business. Thirty years later, the situation was different, although some had increased in value and were more expensive than those originally offered by the manufacturer. The Apple-1 is a prime example.

More and more devices came into the collection, and computers became increasingly exotic. With a few exceptions, I concentrated on computers produced before 1984 that fall into the field of microcomputers.

In 2015, an Apple-1 appeared on eBay, and I saw this auction by chance. A real Apple-1? At first, I couldn't believe it. For many collectors, the Apple-1 is the holy grail. Only later did I take part in auctions of well-known auction houses.

After that, I was able to buy several hundred other computers.

Meanwhile, I have not only visited Bob Luther, the salesman of the Copson Apple-1 in Alexandria, Virginia—whom I thank for an interesting impression during the Halloween celebration in his neighborhood—but also David Larsen. He had a gigantic collection of old computers, including four Apple-1s. I was a guest on his farm, and we talked a lot about computers. To this day, I deeply regret not having accepted his offer to take over the entire collection.

My name came into the public eye in 2017 accidentally in connection with the Apple-1. This resulted in contacts with other collectors.

In 2017, I talked to a city administration about founding a computer museum. Cities suffer from financial difficulties, and without sponsors, such a project is hardly feasible. A museum only covers its own costs in rare cases. This project's future has not yet been decided.

The collection of historically significant computers is not only a collector's passion. Many people are not yet aware that these devices are a piece of history.

At the beginning of the automobile age, few people thought about collecting vehicles and saving them from scrapping. Awareness of historical value is only slowly emerging. Computers dominate most people's everyday lives and have changed society worldwide like no other event before.

In 2018, I bought a masterpiece for my collection: the only existing prototype Kenbak-1 with Rev. A mainboard.
Some information about this remarkable computer can be found here.
The Kenbak-1 is often called "The first commercially available personal computer." And my Kenbak-1 is the very first Kenbak-1. Pretty special. I have always been fascinated by the Kenbak-1. Very rarely is this unique computer from 1971 available to buy. John Blankenbaker created this computer from scratch by himself. Later it was sold in small numbers. I called John Blankenbaker and asked if he still owned a Kenbak-1. And yes, he still had his one and only prototype of the Kenbak-1. More unique is impossible. His granddaughter was playing with it when I called him. Unfortunately, he gave it to an auction house just some weeks before I called. My final bid was not high enough, and for technical reasons, I had no chance to bid more. Just by chance, I had contact with the new owner of the Kenbak-1. After some emails and phone calls, we made a deal. Probably only 15 Kenbak-1s still exist—and only one prototype. The last owner of the Kenbak-1 is a very friendly and interesting man from California. He has his own business and also works for the Computer History Museum. We spent a day talking. After picking up the Kenbak-1 in a small town near San Francisco, California, I visited John Blankenbaker and his wife in Vermont. They invited me to stay at their home. Both are such friendly people. Eventually, John signed the prototype for me. We talked almost two days about the early computer days.

Judged the "first commercially available personal computer" in 1987 by a panel at the Boston Computer Museum (later the Computer History Museum, San Jose) that included Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. This makes this Kenbak-1 the first of the first personal computers. The Altair 8800 was later called the “first commercially successful personal computer.” A very emotional discussion continues about the question of the first personal computer. But anyway, it was the Kenbak-1 that was chosen by experts.