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Help Find Woman Who Accidentally Threw Out A £130k Original Apple Computer

Help Find Woman Who Accidentally Threw Out A £130k Original Apple Computer

Help Find Woman Who Accidentally Threw Out A  £130k Original Apple Computer
01 June 2015

The Apple 1 computer looks like a pile of junk. 

One of the first desktop models (seen above in a wooden case) made by Apple founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne, only 200 were put together back in 1976, the exposed motherboard and naked wiring looking unfinished by modern standards.

Which would go some way to explaining why an unidentified Californian woman dropped one off at a recycling centre. 

San Jose News reports that the woman visited the Clean Bay Area recycling centre with several boxes of computer components that belonged to her recently deceased husband. When examining the electronic clutter, officials from the centre - which recycles computers and lab equipment - realised that the assortment of components included the historic Apple 1 computer.


Related: How To Make Your Own Apple Watch


In accordance with the Clean Bay Area's policies on valuable donations, the rare find was sold to a collector for $200,000 (£131,464), with the group now searching for the donor to give her half of the proceeds. Having declined a tax receipt and leaving no further details, the firm's Vice President Victor Gichun isn't sure how they'll track her down - but is confident he'll be able to identify her should she return to reclaim the money.

"She said, 'I want to get rid of this stuff and clean up my garage,' " Gichun said. "I said, 'Do you need a tax receipt?' and she said, 'No, I don't need anything.' To prove who she is I just need to look at her."

So, next time you're doing an attic clean out, be sure to take every conceivable piece of unwanted tat to a specialist valuer first. Just in case.

(Image: Wiki Commons)

[Via: San Jose Mercury]