Apple-1 Registry

Many people interested in Apple-1 computers want more information, especially details about the history of each Apple-1 computer. It mostly depends on the Apple-1 owner whether more information and pictures are provided. I enjoy working with anyone who has information. Someday, the list will be handed over to the next enthusiast.
In 2018, Mike handed over the Apple-1 Registry to Achim Harald Baqué. I expressly thank him for this opportunity. You can see his announcement. I am the owner of some Apple-1 computers.
All information up to early 2018 was taken from Mike Willegal's website with his permission. He started the Apple-1 Registry on May 21, 2010.
Some people, like Sellam Abraham (founder of the Vintage Computer Festival), had their own records on Apple-1 computers and provided Mike Willegal with some information.

Since the relaunch of the Apple-1 Registry in March 2018, many new pieces of information, revisions, pictures, and newly discovered Apple-1 computers have been added.
This Apple-1 Registry is designed to help maintain the provenance and history of known Apple-1 computer boards. It is also about preserving the legacy of Steve Wozniak, who invented the Apple-1.
Intentionally, this public registry does not contain enough information to determine the authenticity of a board, as this could assist counterfeiters in trying to pass off a replica as the real thing.
All information must be evaluated carefully to ensure it serves the general interest without aiding counterfeiters.

Despite all care taken, no guarantee can be given for the accuracy of the information. The content is compiled to the best of our knowledge and belief. Errors and mistakes are expected.
All additional information about Apple-1 computers is welcome. Owners are invited to contribute information, pictures, and videos. Everything can be treated confidentially.
The order in the Apple-1 Registry list does not reflect the order in which Apple-1 computers were built. In the past, every Apple-1 was added to the list based on version and components. The numbers in the Apple-1 Registry will no longer change to maintain a unique reference. Any newly discovered Apple-1 will be added at the end of the list.
This website is privately run. Everyone is free to use the information from this website by adding proper credit (for example, “information from Apple-1 Registry www.Apple1Registry.com”).
To use any pictures or footage, you need (as always) permission from the rights holder.
It is not allowed to copy, build, or update another list that includes information taken from this list.

The first Apple computer was, foremost, a hobbyist computer. Many were modified by their owners—back when they were new—to perform tasks that required cutting circuit traces, soldering new components, and general hardware hacking. There are many opinions on restoring an Apple-1 board to its most original condition, as it left Steve Jobs’ parents’ home in 1976/1977. For some boards, these modifications make that impossible.

As with any antique, unmodified units are most desired—unless the provenance of modifications makes the artifact more interesting. For example, Dr. Wendell Sander’s Apple-1 was modified to 20k of RAM. Dr. Sander was a very early Apple employee and used the Apple-1 to develop *Star Trek*, which would eventually become one of the first games Apple made available for the Apple II.
Also, museum curators might have a different perspective on modifications than collectors.

Additionally, Apple was a very small company in the beginning. Beyond the first 50 boards delivered to the Byte Shop, which were assembled in the same 30-day window, many Apple-1 computers were assembled as needed in small batches and might have slight variations in components. Some came with a plastic AMI 6820, a few came with a ceramic 6820, and some NTI units came with a plastic 6520 PIA. Some of these components have gone missing over the years and may have been replaced with more common—but date-correct—parts. While it might seem difficult to determine if a component is original, this is not the case for an expert. There are known commonalities among small groups of Apple-1 units, which can help determine the date of assembly and identify replaced components. This information is not shared on the Registry to prevent counterfeiting.

There are also many Apple-1 boards that were traded into Apple for newer machines and were kept as souvenirs by Apple employees. Many of these were missing chips or components that the original owners removed before sending their computers to Apple. There were also 25 NTI boards that were never populated or sold. A few of these survived, though some were never functional and contained defects. One such board is currently owned by Steve “Woz” Wozniak. This board had a solder whisker shorting an address line, which was corrected during a recent restoration.

It should also be kept in mind that running condition and originality are both interesting aspects of the Apple-1. As with any vintage computer from the 1970s, they are simple enough and use off-the-shelf integrated circuits, which are easily replaced if originality is not a priority. Additionally, capacitors, power supply components, and memory chips are still manufactured and available today. Cut circuit traces, fire damage from exploding capacitors, and bad sockets can be repaired to function “electronically,” though with visible signs of the workaround or rework. Some boards may sound like they are in poor condition, but that does not mean they cannot be restored to working order. However, the amount of replacement parts and rework may not be desirable. Is it better to have a working Apple-1 where only the fiberglass board is original, or one where 90% of the components are original but it doesn’t run? This is a question each collector must answer for themselves.

Documentation is always highly interesting. While some Apple-1 computers may have been purchased second-hand in the late ’70s with photocopied documentation, others still include original bound documentation and schematics with handwritten corrections by Steve Jobs or Daniel Kottke. Documentation can also be found separately, as dealers were sometimes sent copies to help sell the computers. The same is true of the Apple Cassette Interface Adapter.

Finally, a word on accessories and documentation: While patience and a large bank account can help someone find “matching” 1976 accessories for their Apple-1, some boards are still paired with the original monitor, keyboard, and transformers purchased by the first owner. Some Apple-1 units even include the original cases built by their owners or purchased from the Byte Shop. Remember, Apple only sold the mainboard, the Cassette Interface Adapter, and documentation—nothing else.