Vintage computer collection
Overview of my vintage computer collection, with short introductions to selected items of particular historical interest.
My interest is not limited to collecting and preserving historic computers. Above all, it is the history behind these machines that fascinates me. For many collectors, monetary value or functionality are the primary considerations. My main focus, however, is their historical significance and the preservation of that history. Technical details come next, while functionality is the final consideration.
Since 2017, one of my original Apple-1 computers has been on loan to the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany.
Classic Computer Museum collection overview
My collection includes hundreds of vintage computers, together with many other vintage items such as hard drives, software, manuals and related artefacts. Some items are extremely rare.
The main focus of my collection is on items from before 1984. It is dedicated to the preservation of historically significant computers and related material.
Examples of especially rare items include my Apple-1, Apple II Rev. 0 (including two ventless), the one and only prototype Kenbak-1 (the first ever commercially available personal computer), Apple Lisa 1,
Commodore C65, Datapoint 2200, Q1 computers, a Micral S, a DEC Straight-8, many Altair and IMSAI, various PDPs and
Mark-8,
JOLT,
Ontel OP-1,
RGS-008,
WDR-1-Bit-Computer,
Baby!1 from STM Systems Inc. (it is really the name of this super-rare computer),
Intel Intellec 4 and 8 and Prompt 48, SwTPC 6800 and 6809, IBM 5100, IBM 5120, AIM-65, KIM-1, SYM-1 and VIM-1, Compukit UK-101, SIM8-01, NRI-832, Cogar System 4, Intel MCS-85, Cosmac ELF, RCA Super ELF, several Programma 101 and 203, HP-9810/9825/9830/9835 etc., IASIS IA-7301, Olivetti P6060, Northstar Horizon, Polymorphic 8813, Micro-68, Science of Cambridge MK-14, NASCOM 1 and 2, SuperJOLT, Vector-1, Byt-8, DPS-1, OS Model 600, Signetics Instructor 50, IMSAI 8048, IMSAI PCS 80, Intel SDK-85, MMD-1, Compucolor II, DAI, Baby!1 from STM systems (serial #16) and so many more.
In 2021, a new fantastic object came into my computer collection: Apple Disk Drive S/N 2. The case AND the Shugart disk drive both have serial number 2. Both were bought directly from the famous Wendell Sander. Thanks, Wendell!
2024 and 2025 were by far the best years for collecting vintage computers. There were countless new acquisitions, including many items I never thought I would find, such as a DEC Straight-8, a Mark-8 bought directly from its builder, a JOLT, finally one of the hardest computers to find, an Ontel OP-1, I do not know of any other owner, an RGS-008A, of which I am aware of only two examples: one at the CHM and mine, many WANG 2200, WANG 600, WANG 700A, HP 9100A, an Anita MK VIII, and much more.
Pascal was the first programming language I learned, and it remains my favourite to this day. Its inventor, Niklaus Wirth, together with his team, created the magnificent Lilith computer in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This remarkable machine featured a graphical user interface and a mouse, long before such things became commonplace. I am fortunate to have the very first edition of the Lilith in my collection. The design was heavily inspired by the Xerox Alto, just as the Apple Lisa, Macintosh, and Windows would later be.
In 2025, I got in touch with the son of the developer of the 1-Bit-Computer, Kai Ludwig, and we immediately had a very good connection. He gave me one of these handmade and extremely rare computers. We are planning to realize some projects together.
I also own IBM mainframe front panels and consoles, for example from the IBM 360/30, IBM 360/40, IBM 360/50, IBM 370/155 and the mighty IBM 360/75. Hopefully, one day I can also find the even bigger IBM 360/90, IBM 360/91, IBM 360/95, IBM 360/195, IBM 360/155 and IBM 370/195.
For 39 years, I held on to the dream of one day owning a CRAY-1. What once seemed impossible finally became reality in August 2025, when an original CRAY-1 entered my collection. As one of the most iconic and sought-after supercomputers in history, its arrival marks a milestone that every dedicated collector will immediately recognise and understand.
I am also in discussions with several people about other very rare computers. Some computers have already been promised to me by their current owners; it will simply take some time until the deals are finalised.
Selected vintage computers from my collection
So far, I have not had time to bring a dedicated website about my vintage computer collection online, but here is a presentation of some of my vintage computers:
Selected highlights of my collection.
A small photo gallery of my vintage computers.
There are dedicated websites for my
Apple-1 computers and for
the one and only Prototype Kenbak-1.
Confidential contact
If you own or know of a historically important computer, documentation, software, manuals, parts, photographs, provenance information or related artefacts, please contact me. Messages, photographs and provenance details are treated confidentially.