Other computers

Nearly all computers, especially the most valuable items, are securely stored. A public exhibition would of course be preferable, but it is not that simple. The collection includes more than 1,000 vintage computers, and they all require care.

Just a glimpse of my collection is visible on my private Website.

For more than 30 years, I have been collecting computers and computer components. In the beginning, these were mainly mainboards, selected plug-in cards and especially hard disks, large ones that were impressive in physical size, though 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 only much later that complete computers themselves came into the picture. The real reason was a nostalgic look back and the wish to sit once again in front of an Apple II and a Basis 108 with UCSD Pascal. These computers were found and bought, and the next desire was the first IBM PC model I had worked with in the 1980s.

This led to the desire to acquire further computers. Many computers of the 1970s and 1980s had been completely 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 when originally offered by the manufacturer. The Apple-1 is a prime example of this.

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

In 2015, an Apple-1 appeared on eBay, and I came across the auction by chance. A real Apple-1? At first, it was hard to believe. For many collectors, the Apple-1 is the Holy Grail. Only later did I take part in auctions held by well-known auction houses.

After that, several hundred other computers could be added to the collection.

Meanwhile, I have visited not only Bob Luther, the seller of the Copson Apple-1 in Alexandria, Virginia, whom I thank for a very interesting impression of Halloween celebrations in his neighbourhood, 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 great deal 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 accidentally in 2017 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. The future of this project 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 being scrapped. Awareness of historical value emerges only slowly. Computers dominate most people's everyday lives and have changed society worldwide like almost nothing before.

In 2018, I bought a masterpiece for my collection: the only existing prototype Kenbak-1 with Rev. A mainboard.
More 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. Only 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 whether 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 had given it to an auction house just a few weeks before I called. My final bid was not high enough, and for technical reasons, there was no chance to bid more. By chance, contact was made with the new owner of the Kenbak-1. After some emails and phone calls, a deal was made. 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 for almost two days about the early days of computers.

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 in any case, it was the Kenbak-1 that was chosen by the experts.

Over the years, my collection has grown to include many remarkable and exceptionally rare computers, such as the Lilith, Mark-8, JOLT and Cray-1S. While these machines are fascinating in their own right, this website is focused on Apple computers and is therefore not the right place to explore them further.