The Apple-1 Registry

Description

So far, the only existing Apple-1 (except the prototype) that was manually, and not wave-soldered!
No peeling or bubbles on the back. Original Apple-1 mainboard, original ACI, original PROMs, and original manuals were sold by Steve Jobs in 1976. Woz confirmed in February 2023 that some Apple-1 boards were blank. The owner built a printer interface for the Apple-1 in 1976. It is inside the wooden case.

More information about this Apple-1 will follow someday. The Apple-1 Registry has many pictures, a 2-hour interview with the owners, many emails about this Apple-1, and a video showing Woz signing it.

History

1976 Steve Jobs sold the blank Apple-1 mainboard and blank ACI to James J. Scardino. James met Woz and Jobs at the Homebrew Computer Club in 1976. James' best friend was Dick Sherman, who was more into the 6800 and founded the 6800 club.
James had all the instructions and schematics from Woz and used his own components to build this unique Apple-1. He spent many weekends in Steve Jobs' parents' garage working on it. In 1976, it was working, including a handmade printer interface.
In February 2023, it was switched on for the first time by Daniel Kottke in Palo Alto, and it worked instantly.

James bequeathed the computer to his grandson Daniel. James' lovely daughter, the granddaughter, and the grandson talked many times and wrote to Achim Baqué about this computer and, more importantly, about its remarkable history.
In February 2023, Achim Baqué acquired this Apple-1. Achim met Steve Wozniak for dinner in San Jose to give him copies of previously lost documents. Woz looked at this Apple-1 and signed the mainboard and the ACI.
James Scardino had really good soldering skills. Woz was very impressed and wrote in an email the next day that he could not have had it soldered so well.

Components

Original blank Apple-1 mainboard and ACI board, original PROMs, and the rest completed in 1976 by the first owner, mostly on weekends in Steve Jobs' parents' garage.

Equipment

Original ACI (NTI). Homemade wooden case (mahogany) with keyboard (M.E.G. 602109) and power supply. Original Preliminary Apple-1 Basic Users Manual, original white Apple-1 Operation Manual, original Apple-1 Cassette Interface Manual. Envelope with Steve Jobs' and Steve Wozniak's phone number. And 4 copies of unique documents (information about them will follow someday). Handmade printer interface for the Apple-1.

State

Signed by Woz Feb 23. So far, the only Apple-1 (except the prototype) that was not wave-soldered! No peeling or bubbles on the back.

Stories

In 2022, a family contacted the Apple-1 Registry. The (grand)father of the three people had passed away, and he owned an Apple-1.

As it turned out, this is the most unusual and, from a historical point of view, the most interesting (except for the prototypes, of course) original Apple-1. This Apple-1 was given as a bare board by Steve Jobs to Homebrew Computer Club member James J. Scardino. Woz gave James his instructions for building an Apple-1.

James' best friend was Dick Sherman, who was more into the 6800 and founded the 6800 club.

The history of this computer is phenomenal. James worked on it for some time, and according to his daughter, James spent many weeks in Steve Jobs’ parents’ garage. He liked Jobs, and finally in 1976 the Apple-1 worked. The Scardino Apple-1 really looks like a homemade computer.

James’ heirs spoke extensively with Apple-1 Registry curator Achim Baqué in 2022. This Apple-1 was published in the Apple-1 Registry as #99 ‘James J. Scardino’.

So far, it is the only existing Apple-1 (except the prototype) that was not wave-soldered! No peeling or bubbles on the back. Original Apple-1 mainboard, original ACI, original PROMs, and original manuals were sold by Steve Jobs in 1976. Woz confirmed in February 2023 that some Apple-1 boards were blank. The owner built a printer interface for the Apple-1 in 1976, which is inside the wooden case.

We promised to stay in touch. James’ daughter asked Achim if he was interested in the computer. It was her father’s wish, and the express wish of the family, that this computer should go to a museum or to an enthusiast who would truly appreciate this unique Apple-1.

Initially, the family wanted to keep the computer. After discussing it within the family for two months, they decided that Achim could buy the computer if he wished. Everyone quickly agreed on the price.

In February, Achim flew to San Francisco.

His short version of a very interesting two days in the Bay Area:

On the first day, I visited Stanford University for two hours, saw the Apple collection, and talked for two hours with a professor about the early Apple days.

Later that day, I spent several hours at Apple Park, walking miles inside and outside. Highlights were the buildings themselves and the meeting with Arion Paylo and Chris Espinosa (Apple employee #8). We talked extensively, and it was fascinating and inspiring. Apple Park is a masterpiece of architecture and design in every detail. I was allowed to take pictures outside.

Day two was spent meeting Daniel Kottke again and later meeting the wonderful family who owns one of the most interesting Apple-1s, if not the most interesting from a historical perspective, the Scardino Apple-1.

Steve Wozniak gave away his schematics and all information to build this Apple-1. So far, no other Apple-1 built by a Homebrew Computer Club member has been found. And here we go, it was done by James Scardino, who talked a lot with Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. James first met Woz at the Homebrew Computer Club. James’ best friend was Dick Sherman, who was more into the 6800 and founded the 6800 club. James bought from Steve Jobs the original BLANK Apple-1 and ACI boards and all four PROMs. Woz told me that Steve Jobs didn’t tell him about the sale. Everything else was done at James’ home and on weekends in Steve Jobs’ parents’ garage. James liked hanging around there. This Apple-1 is hand-soldered (not wave-soldered), and for that reason it has zero peeling or bubbles! It looks like it came from a factory belt, but it does not look brand new. It is another wonderful example of people really using the Apple-1 to understand and work with it. It was not used like a museum piece. James Scardino had excellent soldering skills. Woz was really impressed and recently wrote to me that he could not have soldered it better. This Apple-1 worked in 1976. During my second day, Daniel Kottke switched it on, and it worked instantly 40+ years after its last start. I am the proud new owner of this historically important Apple-1 and took this Apple-1 and the huge wooden case on my flight back home. Thank you again, Lufthansa.

There is even more than just the Apple-1 and ACI: original manuals, more handwritten items, a hand-built wooden case (mahogany) that looks a bit like the Byte Shop cases, keyboard, and transformer. Also, some documents that everyone believed were lost, four documents are copies from 1976. More information about these documents will be published later. I told Woz about it, and he was really excited and asked if he could have a copy. On the same second day of my visit, he asked if we could meet for dinner, and so we met—Woz, his wife, a man from the early computer days, and me. Woz now has the copies of the ‘lost’ documents, and thankfully he signed the Scardino Apple-1. We talked a lot, followed by some emails we exchanged.

Last update

Jul 27, 2025

Change log (since March 20, 2018)

Dec 03, 2022: Newly added to the Apple-1 Registry
Mar 01, 2023: 24 picture(s) added
Mar 01, 2023: Description. Story added
Sep 27, 2024: Description
Jul 27, 2025: Components. State. Equipment. Description. History
Jul 27, 2025: Story

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