Steve Jobs, a co-founder of Apple, gave the owner of The Byte Shop a demonstration of a prototype Apple-1 computer in 1976. This resulted in a contract that put Apple on the road to success.
That prototype is currently up for auction and is anticipated to fetch $500,000 when it does.
Possibly the Most Important Apple-1 Ever Made
The Apple-1 was the first thing that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created after deciding to work together to create a computer. In 1976, Wozniak soldered it by hand, per the report of Mac Rumors.
Paul Terrell, the owner of The Byte Shop in Mountain View, California, witnessed Steve Jobs demonstrate the Apple-1 using the Apple Computer A printed circuit board. Terrell ordered 50 fully assembled Apple-1 and sold them to The Byte Shop for $666.66 apiece, making them the first retailer of the device.
The real start of the Apple we know today was that transaction.
An Auction Will Sell This Prototype
Cult of Mac said that RR Auction is now selling the Apple-1 prototype used for this demonstration. And the auction house has convincing proof of that.
The Apple Computer A has been matched to pictures Terrell took of the prototype while it was in use in 1976. This machine, which is ranked as the second machine on the Apple-1 Registry, was thought to be "lost" before being verified by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen.
The prototype differs from regular Apple-1 computers in that it has "Apple Computer A" written on it. The prototype has a different processor and lacks a green protective covering.
Apple Computer A is written in text on the board's left side, while "Apple Computer 1" is written next to production model units.
As stated earlier, it is anticipated to sell for more than $500,000.
Rarely do the few remaining models of Apple's first computer become available for purchase. Many of these are still in operation, particularly if they have been refurbished. The one currently up for auction, however, is particularly special because it is the exact model when Steve Jobs last had it.
Is It Still Working?
The missing piece has been lost, and the board itself is broken.
According to RR Auction, this prototype remained on the "Apple Garage" estate for years before being handed by Steve Jobs to its current owner some 30 years ago.
When Will the Bidding Start?
The auction began on July 20 and will last till Aug. 18. The opening offer is $50,000. However, none have been submitted to this point.
Despite the damage, RR Auction anticipates that the prototype will bring a high price at auction due to its rarity.
Piece of History
The encounter between Jobs and Terrell transformed Apple from a group of enthusiasts into the company we know today.
Wozniak remarked that the deal with The Byte Shop was the biggest single occurrence in the history of the tech giant. And because it is being auctioned right now, you may own a piece of it.
