Thread
Steve Job's Personal Apple IIe
That's right folks. I am the proud owner of Mr. Steven Job's personal Apple IIe. Here's the backstory:
I found it in a dumpster outside his mansion before it was torn down (The Jackling Mansion), as well as a few other odds and ends. Very unique stuff, property deeds, letters to Steve, old Apple dealer pricing guide, blue prints, contracts for items to be sold inside the house, copies checks for said contracts, lots of 800K floppies one says "Book Keeping". I still have the machine, it works, it will stay with me. Now that I have a machine old enough to read the floppies, I've been able to gain access to Steve's personal expenses during the 80's.
The Apple IIe isn't special, no prototype or cool parts buts its all there, works and most importantly was SJ's. The machine has been engraved and I've had some expert weight in on the signature. They say its real but since it's an engraving it's "really tough to say". Regardless the serial number is 1501 which I'm not sure if that means the first or what but it is low. Moreover, I know this is/was Steve house and I'm sure people will be skeptical, as they should, but considering I could drive you back to the spot, right down the street from my house, and have all these weird documents I'd rather not argue about how is is or isn't real. I know what it is, and what I have but wanted to share with people who would appreciate something of this nature. There are some other disks I have yet to check out since my Portable is out being recapped. I think some of them had poems and stories which I will touch on more in the future once I have my machine back.
I'm sure Steve had many computers at that house at one time, but for some reason he left this Apple IIe. Who knows when it was left/abandoned or maybe Steve didn't even know if was still there. Either way the computer came from a dumpster outside his house, with all sorts of documents that were to him or about him.
I could certainly see how the story seems outlandish but I assure you its not. I have my own set of photos entirely different from the ones that were posted many years ago here of the Jackling Mansion on a gorgeous night. The difference between my photos and the others are extremely apparent. In the original photos posted on MR the lights at the mansion were on. My photos taken probably 2 years later have no lights on. I do have a different angle/photos of the Godfather VHS tape, pool table, organs, and bedrooms that have never been displayed publicly.
I only picked up the computer from the dumpster because it was the oldest computer I had ever seen (born the same time this machine was new). Not until many years after having it did I actually open it up and see the S. Jobs. I also have a good amount of very unusual documents from the same location. I know I have Steve computer which is the closest I will ever get to him at this point. If I wanted to stage this story, I would have found a much rarer machine than an Apple IIe. I think they are one of the most common older Mac around. It's more just a very interesting talking piece.
I found it in a dumpster outside his mansion before it was torn down (The Jackling Mansion), as well as a few other odds and ends. Very unique stuff, property deeds, letters to Steve, old Apple dealer pricing guide, blue prints, contracts for items to be sold inside the house, copies checks for said contracts, lots of 800K floppies one says "Book Keeping". I still have the machine, it works, it will stay with me. Now that I have a machine old enough to read the floppies, I've been able to gain access to Steve's personal expenses during the 80's.
The Apple IIe isn't special, no prototype or cool parts buts its all there, works and most importantly was SJ's. The machine has been engraved and I've had some expert weight in on the signature. They say its real but since it's an engraving it's "really tough to say". Regardless the serial number is 1501 which I'm not sure if that means the first or what but it is low. Moreover, I know this is/was Steve house and I'm sure people will be skeptical, as they should, but considering I could drive you back to the spot, right down the street from my house, and have all these weird documents I'd rather not argue about how is is or isn't real. I know what it is, and what I have but wanted to share with people who would appreciate something of this nature. There are some other disks I have yet to check out since my Portable is out being recapped. I think some of them had poems and stories which I will touch on more in the future once I have my machine back.
I'm sure Steve had many computers at that house at one time, but for some reason he left this Apple IIe. Who knows when it was left/abandoned or maybe Steve didn't even know if was still there. Either way the computer came from a dumpster outside his house, with all sorts of documents that were to him or about him.
I could certainly see how the story seems outlandish but I assure you its not. I have my own set of photos entirely different from the ones that were posted many years ago here of the Jackling Mansion on a gorgeous night. The difference between my photos and the others are extremely apparent. In the original photos posted on MR the lights at the mansion were on. My photos taken probably 2 years later have no lights on. I do have a different angle/photos of the Godfather VHS tape, pool table, organs, and bedrooms that have never been displayed publicly.
I only picked up the computer from the dumpster because it was the oldest computer I had ever seen (born the same time this machine was new). Not until many years after having it did I actually open it up and see the S. Jobs. I also have a good amount of very unusual documents from the same location. I know I have Steve computer which is the closest I will ever get to him at this point. If I wanted to stage this story, I would have found a much rarer machine than an Apple IIe. I think they are one of the most common older Mac around. It's more just a very interesting talking piece.
I will post more photos of the whole machine shortly, as well as the deed/title, bill of sale for an organ in the property, and blue prints for Steve's new house
I remember the court battle about the fate of the Jackling House.
That's an amazing and one-of-a-kind IIe you've got there for sure! Definitely get the sig authenticated.
That's an amazing and one-of-a-kind IIe you've got there for sure! Definitely get the sig authenticated.
Wow! What an amazing piece of history! To bad he didn't throw out a twiggy 128k with his signature. Have you thought about getting a certificate of authenticity for it?
The Apple IIe is not a Mac. The IIe runs AppleDOS where as the Macs run Mac System Software or (after OS 7.6) Mac OS.
Wow, ( not that i am keeping track )
LOL |)
- You have a or many TAM's
- You have Many fully working Macintosh Portables Back-lit and Non Back-Lit...
- You have a Prototype See-through Macintosh SE
- You have a 2mb Ram LISA
- And now Your posting - Steve Job's Apple IIe Computer? ! ? ! ?
Insane 8-o 8-o
LOL |)
- You have a or many TAM's
- You have Many fully working Macintosh Portables Back-lit and Non Back-Lit...
- You have a Prototype See-through Macintosh SE
- You have a 2mb Ram LISA
- And now Your posting - Steve Job's Apple IIe Computer? ! ? ! ?
Insane 8-o 8-o
- 4x TAM's (1 prototype with all boxes [just sold], 1 NIB TAM, 1 TAM iTunes Jukebox (Sonnet 400, 128MB RAM, 64GB CF Card reader SSD install, freshly cleaned Bose/CD drive), 1 TAM going to be for sale soon (Sonnet 400, 96MB RAM, 8GB CF Card reader SSD install, freshly cleaned Bose/CD drive, original 2GB Apple HD)
- Both M51250/M5126 (probably will only keep Backlit M5126)
- Transparent Mac SE
- Lisa 2 (currently undergoing massive repairs thanks [uniserver - rocks at recapping and repairs!!!])
AND the holy grail...
SJ's Apple IIe
Oh, you must be in the Bay Area. I saw the Craigslist for your TAM, as well as the Craigslist for that Prototype SE. I just couldn't afford them. Do you also have the Prototype PowerBook?
Also, PM sent.
Also, PM sent.
Guess it goes without saying that it's just a tad creepy and stalker-y to think of someone rummaging through a dead man's 30 year old mail and electronic bookkeeping, but whatchya gonna do.
More just a curious 17 year old with a set of wheels, too much time, and curiosity. I'd never seen a computer that old. It looked like something from StarWars and I figured no one wanted it so it could be a fun little toy. Who knew though...
This hobby sucked you in like a vortex.
The real question is:
Are you having fun yet?
haha
Charles
Ps:
Just don't re mortgage your house just to buy more cool vintage macs
The real question is:
Are you having fun yet?
haha
Charles
Ps:
Just don't re mortgage your house just to buy more cool vintage macs
Amazing, thanks for posting it up with pics. So you found it two years ago?
Unfortunately for legal reasons the letters and floppies are htings you can't really sell but it's the Apple II that might of just made you really wealthy.
Unlike Woz steve never signed anything. Even after Tim Burners signed a NeXT Cube, Steve refused to sign a cube as well.
It would be otherwise hard to say "This is Steve's IIe" without any markings but there it is.
He signed it. He freaking signed it!
If you didn't have all the other signed and addressed paperwork I would say it's a forged signature but.......My mind is blown.
Edited: Isn't this thread more suited for the Apple II subforum? :?:
Unlike Woz steve never signed anything. Even after Tim Burners signed a NeXT Cube, Steve refused to sign a cube as well.
It would be otherwise hard to say "This is Steve's IIe" without any markings but there it is.
He signed it. He freaking signed it!
If you didn't have all the other signed and addressed paperwork I would say it's a forged signature but.......My mind is blown.
Edited: Isn't this thread more suited for the Apple II subforum? :?:
I thought about it and it's been way longer than that. Time flies and I keep thinking about myself as the same age, I guess I still have yet to grow up! It's been more like 6 or even more years. It was midway in high school and I've been out of college for 2 years now.
I hope to NEVER sell any of it. Just more a cool story and a serious talking piece.
I love these machines and I will continue to collect them. I've got lots of other cool little Apple gadgets but those are my top pieces. I always have an eye out and usually pick things up fairly cheap (got a Lisa 2 for 150 all there last week). I'm handy and have a full machine shop at my disposal so I always try to do what I can. I'm not afraid to ask for help and too dumb to give up on thingsAre you having fun yet? Ps: Just don't re mortgage your house just to buy more cool vintage macs
Although it's really cool and I'd probably do the same and snatch it up, I'd be worried that legal issues could arrive if the Jobs estate found it was taken from the dumpster without permission. It's technically theft. :disapprove:
Yeh, it's not public domain until it hits the curb. I wouldn't go around advertising the fact you took this stuff off the property. It's one of those legal gray areas. I guess it all depends on where the dumpster was. If the dumpster was in the driveway and you entered the property to take it, I think you can be charged with trespassing and theft. It has to be on the curb (not the owner's property).
Curious that Jobs (famously litigious and security-minded) and Apple Inc (more lawyers than the whole of DC) would somehow allow potentially valuable and/or damaging items and documents to be tossed in a dumpster for a passing high-school kid to find. Well I guess Indiana Jones pulled off something like this, more than once in fact. :-/
Rick
Rick
Actually, is't not public domain at all regardless of where the trash is.
In California theft/burglary can have a statute of limitations anywhere between one and six years, depending on the facts of the case and the value of the property. HOWEVER:
A: Theoretically someone buying the machine *might* be open to a charge of receiving stolen property even if the statute of limitations has elapsed on the initial "theft" and the crime was never prosecuted, and:
B: If you were to reveal something that the Jobs estate didn't like while rifling through those letters and files you could also in theory be civilly charged with what's essentially criminal trespass, with a three year statute of limitations starting from whenever you "do the deed", not from when you picked up the items.
"A" is an interesting one because it does *in theory* make trading Apple prototypes a somewhat dangerous game, unless the item has a paper trail or other provenance proving it was "given" to an employee or whatnot rather than stolen from a lab.
A: Theoretically someone buying the machine *might* be open to a charge of receiving stolen property even if the statute of limitations has elapsed on the initial "theft" and the crime was never prosecuted, and:
B: If you were to reveal something that the Jobs estate didn't like while rifling through those letters and files you could also in theory be civilly charged with what's essentially criminal trespass, with a three year statute of limitations starting from whenever you "do the deed", not from when you picked up the items.
"A" is an interesting one because it does *in theory* make trading Apple prototypes a somewhat dangerous game, unless the item has a paper trail or other provenance proving it was "given" to an employee or whatnot rather than stolen from a lab.
I have an will continue to reach out to the Job's estate regarding these items. I have no intention of doing anything inappropriate with them, they are not up for sale and will never be. I'm just happy, that for now, I can say that I've owned this machine. If anyone from the Job's estate ever contacts me and wants everything back it's theirs. I recognize the Steve's legacy is something that many of us followed, but at the end of the day its his family that really lost someone. For that exact reason, I would never keep something from Steve's family. I cannot and will not ever share the information I find in or on any of his personal items but it is the backbone of validating the legitimacy of my claims, especially the letters to Steve and financial documents.
I'm not too worried about the legality of my situation, that isn't to say I have no fear if someone is to contact me but given the fact that his occurred nearly 7 years ago,that I am willing to give it back and haven't done anything with it to begin with allows me rest easy. Ignorance/innocents isn't a reason to allow someone to commit a crime but taking something from a garbage, regardless of the law, is not something I feel too bad about. I would and will never enter someones property without permission and furthermore would never take anything from anyone. I will post some more photos of the machine, in its entirety, soon.
I'm not too worried about the legality of my situation, that isn't to say I have no fear if someone is to contact me but given the fact that his occurred nearly 7 years ago,that I am willing to give it back and haven't done anything with it to begin with allows me rest easy. Ignorance/innocents isn't a reason to allow someone to commit a crime but taking something from a garbage, regardless of the law, is not something I feel too bad about. I would and will never enter someones property without permission and furthermore would never take anything from anyone. I will post some more photos of the machine, in its entirety, soon.
But all the same, that is a pretty killer find!
Thanks and yes, its definitely the coolest thing I've ever found, and probably ever will!
is there anything cooler?
Seriously?
i guess a prototype lisa
or a Twiggy Macintosh
Prototype Apple II
Prototype Apple I ?
Seriously?
i guess a prototype lisa
or a Twiggy Macintosh
Prototype Apple II
Prototype Apple I ?
I'm no legal expert, but let me ask you this. Where was the dumpster located? If it was out on the street, it's yours fair and square... Rest easy...
Except that you're still stealing from the trash company. The Jobs had reasonable expectation that once placed in the dumpster, the property ownership had been transferred to the trash company. That's why dumpster diving is technically illegal in many places.
The statue of limitations only applies after the discovery rule, in which case both parties must be aware that it is stolen and reasonable attempts were made to inform the previous owner. There is no set time limit from when something is stolen and someone finds out that it was stolen. So if someone takes something valuable from your trash, and you didn't know it was thrown out or stolen, then discover that item on eBay 15 years later, you can still get it back.
The discovery rule came under scrutiny when family members of/and victims of the holocaust wanted to get their personal belongings back when they saw them go up for auction or ended up in museums (or were in possession of private citizens who inherited them after the theft from Nazis.) How long is too long to make a claim on stolen goods that you thought were lost for ever?
Wouldnt stop you… Ya Beast
HAHA LOL [
] ]'>Well then we better not make to big of a stink over it, maybe LISA might want her dads stuff back?
Like I said... no legal expert, especially not for any region other than where I live. However, I'll say this is a very common practice in my line of work. Once the trash hits the street there is no longer any expectation of privacy. My only concern is where the trash can is located...
so if it was on the street then it should be fine?
The dumpster was so far out in the street, due to its size, that I had to pull a 6 point turn around to get back in the direction I needed to go. It could have been any one of the houses at the end of the cul de sac based on the dumpster location. Not after years and all the stories about Steve's Jackling Mansion did I put two and two together. Now, looking back, I wish I had jumped head first into that dumpster and searched for more. I'm sure I would have found other cool/unique stuff but the computer was a good enough little take away from me. Little did I know, that the real surprise would come over 5+ years later when I opened it up. Truly the gift that keeps on giving.