Record-breaking auction sells Wozniak Apple-1 for $905k as iPad Air 2 hits shelves

A vintage Apple-1 computer built by Steve Wozniak sold at auction on Wednesday night for $905,000. The news comes after the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 devices hit the shelves in parts of the US and UK this week.

The Henry Ford Organisation purchased the machine, which the company’s president Patricia Mooradian said is “not only innovative, but it is a key artefact in the foundation of the digital revolution”.

The device was apparently “in superb condition”, had had no changes made to its motherboard, included a pre-7400 series military spec chips and a vintage power supply kept in a wooden box.

This computing relic also came with two tape-decks and a video recording of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s “Applevention” speech, which he delivered back in 1980.

Said to have been constructed in Wozniak’s Californian home in 1976, the machine was expected to sell for between $300,000 and $500,000 according to Bonhams auction house.

This sale sets the world record for the most money anyone has paid for an Apple-1 computer, until now the most was $671,000 at a German auction in May last year.