The Apple-1 was built by hand by early Apple founding employees Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ron Wayne. It was priced at $666.66 (because Jobs “liked repeating digits”) and included a 1MHz processor with 4KB of working memory.
Now one has been left at the Clean Bay Area recycling depot in Silicon Valley. The firm has already sold the computer to a museum run by collectors but is now seeking the mysterious woman who left it at their tip in the first place.
The firm — specialists in disposing of computers, lab equipment and semiconductors — want to split the proceeds from the sale with the woman in line with their company policy, netting her around $100,000. The computer is believed to have come from a garage clear out after the death of her husband, according to Digital Trends.
The woman did not ask for a receipt or leave any contact information with Clean Bay Area. But the firm’s vice president, Victor Gichun, says that he would recognise her if she returned, telling the San Jose Mercury News: “She said, ‘I want to get rid of this stuff and clean up my garage.’ I said, ‘Do you need a tax receipt?’ and she said ‘No, I don’t need anything.’ We are looking for her. I remember her. To prove who she is, I just need to look at her.”
The valuable computer was hidden amongst several boxes of equipment that the woman brought with her. The firm did not look through them for some weeks as each drop-off is processed in order and they already had boxes stacking up.
Clean Bay Area are now searching for the mysterious woman who brought the $200,000 computer but no personal details. All she needs to do to claim a $100,000 check is present herself again at Clean Bay’s warehouse on 1310 Piper Drive, Milpitas.
