1 Aug
2005
1 Aug
'05
9:07 p.m.
I usually just listen in to the folks on this list, but I was curious why
there has been no mention here of the Kenbak-1 that's been on ebay all week?
I know I bid on it, but once it exceeded $5k, it got difficult to comprehend
the price. Only 40 made, if it was a rare coin or stamp, it would be worth
tens of thousands I guess. Thanks.
1 Aug
1 Aug
9:46 p.m.
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1 but I guess not as historically
significant(?), maybe that Nova Scotia guy will start
selling his lot of seven Kenbak-1's, 70K worth of
computers, not a bad investment
--- lance sprung <lsprung at optonline.net> wrote:
I usually just listen in to the folks on this list,
but I was curious why
there has been no mention here of the Kenbak-1
that's been on ebay all week?
I know I bid on it, but once it exceeded $5k, it got
difficult to comprehend
the price. Only 40 made, if it was a rare coin or
stamp, it would be worth
tens of thousands I guess. Thanks.
____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
10:27 p.m.
Are there any PDFs or scans of the schematics online? I poked around a
little, couldn't find anything.
--jc
steve wrote:
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1 but I guess not as historically
significant(?), maybe that Nova Scotia guy will start
selling his lot of seven Kenbak-1's, 70K worth of
computers, not a bad investment
--- lance sprung <lsprung at optonline.net> wrote:
I usually just listen in to the folks on this
list,
but I was curious why
there has been no mention here of the Kenbak-1
that's been on ebay all week?
I know I bid on it, but once it exceeded $5k, it got
difficult to comprehend
the price. Only 40 made, if it was a rare coin or
stamp, it would be worth
tens of thousands I guess. Thanks.
____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
10:48 p.m.
I couldn't find anything either. A year or so ago I
talked to both Robert Nielsen (apparently the
original owner of the seven Kenbaks) and John
Blankenbaker himself, both were totally uninterested
in providing me with any information whatsoever. I
guess its in the "vault":(
--- "J.C. Wren" <jcwren at jcwren.com> wrote:
Are there any PDFs or scans of the schematics
online? I poked around a
little, couldn't find anything.
--jc
steve wrote:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1 but I guess not as historically
significant(?), maybe that Nova Scotia guy will
start
selling his lot of seven Kenbak-1's, 70K worth
of
computers, not a bad investment
--- lance sprung <lsprung at optonline.net> wrote:
>I usually just listen in to the folks on this
list,
>but I was curious why
>there has been no mention here of the Kenbak-1
>that's been on ebay all week?
>I know I bid on it, but once it exceeded $5k, it
got
difficult
to comprehend
the price. Only 40 made, if it was a rare coin or
stamp, it would be worth
tens of thousands I guess. Thanks.
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home
page
11:47 p.m.
John sent me original coding sheets but hasn't located anything else of
interest (or doesn't want to provide it.)
The Computer Museum of Nova Scotia sells a CD with most of the original
docs, but they are photos and not scans (i.e. he propped the book up on a
stand and took a digital photo of it) so they are harder to use than I'd
like, but hopefully he'll scan stuff someday.
I'd post those, but they aren't mine. . .
I don't know anyone else who has docs. My Kenbak didn't come with any.
Erik Klein
www.vintage-computer.com
www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum
The Vintage Computer Forum
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of steve
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 7:48 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Kenbak-1 on Ebay
I couldn't find anything either. A year or so ago I
talked to both Robert Nielsen (apparently the
original owner of the seven Kenbaks) and John
Blankenbaker himself, both were totally uninterested
in providing me with any information whatsoever. I
guess its in the "vault":(
6 Aug
6 Aug
8:20 p.m.
On 8/1/05, steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com> wrote:
I couldn't find anything either. A year or so ago
I
talked to both Robert Nielsen (apparently the
original owner of the seven Kenbaks) and John
Blankenbaker himself, both were totally uninterested
in providing me with any information whatsoever. I
guess its in the "vault":(
Yep, In Robert Nielsen's article he says that he has no intention of
making the documents or schematics available. I assume that's because
that would allow someone to recreate the machine and prevent Nielsen
from protecting the machine. "The only way I can
protect the
Kenbak-1s, is "sell" them for a substantial price."
He does say that he would reproduce them for people buying is
machines. Yep, the only way to protect these machines is to prevent
information about them from being available to the public. No doubt
those paying ultra-inflated prices will agree with that sentiment.
It's all about the Benjamins.... :(
16 Aug
16 Aug
12:46 p.m.
On Sat, 6 Aug 2005, Eric J Korpela wrote:
On 8/1/05, steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com>
wrote:
Well, it's his property, I guess. It's also rather short-sighted and...oh
sure, I'll throw in ignorant as well.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
I couldn't find anything either. A year or so
ago I
talked to both Robert Nielsen (apparently the
original owner of the seven Kenbaks) and John
Blankenbaker himself, both were totally uninterested
in providing me with any information whatsoever. I
guess its in the "vault":(
Yep, In Robert Nielsen's article he says that he has no intention of
making the documents or schematics available. I assume that's because
that would allow someone to recreate the machine and prevent Nielsen
from protecting the machine. "The only way I can protect the
Kenbak-1s, is "sell" them for a substantial price."
He does say that he would reproduce them for people buying is
machines. Yep, the only way to protect these machines is to prevent
information about them from being available to the public. No doubt
those paying ultra-inflated prices will agree with that sentiment.
It's all about the Benjamins.... :( 
2 Aug
2 Aug
12:04 a.m.
--- steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com> wrote:
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1
Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the winning
bidder is the same guy who bought that "hobby computer
in a wooden case" that was the subject of such wild
speculation a few weeks back. He also bought an NRI
832, which I have heard claimed to predate the Kenbak
and be in fact the first computer kit ever marketed.
Does anyone know the real scoop on that?
--Bill
12:24 a.m.
>> Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the
winning bidder is the same
guy
Was there more than one Apple 1 for sale? The one mentioned on this list on
July 21 was withdrawn with no bids. (Although the seller, Steve Fish,
happily answers his email.)
http://tinyurl.com/bb4dl
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of William Maddox
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 12:05 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Kenbak-1 on Ebay
--- steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com> wrote:
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1
Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the winning bidder is the same guy
who bought that "hobby computer in a wooden case" that was the subject of
such wild speculation a few weeks back. He also bought an NRI 832, which I
have heard claimed to predate the Kenbak and be in fact the first computer
kit ever marketed.
Does anyone know the real scoop on that?
--Bill
1:05 a.m.
Nevermind, I misunderstood. In the place where BM wrote "Speaking of the
Apple 1, I just noticed the winning bidder is the same guy who bought that
'hobby computer'...", I thought he meant the guy who bought the real Apple
1, who isn't yet known (at least to me).
Instead, BM meant our friend Dennis Komisky again. Dennis, please, check in
with us here on cctalk!!
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of 'Computer Collector Newsletter'
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 12:25 AM
To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'
Subject: RE: Kenbak-1 on Ebay
>> Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the
winning bidder is the
>> same
guy
Was there more than one Apple 1 for sale? The one mentioned on this list on
July 21 was withdrawn with no bids. (Although the seller, Steve Fish,
happily answers his email.)
http://tinyurl.com/bb4dl
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of William Maddox
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 12:05 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Kenbak-1 on Ebay
--- steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com> wrote:
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1
Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the winning bidder is the same guy
who bought that "hobby computer in a wooden case" that was the subject of
such wild speculation a few weeks back. He also bought an NRI 832, which I
have heard claimed to predate the Kenbak and be in fact the first computer
kit ever marketed.
Does anyone know the real scoop on that?
--Bill
1:14 a.m.
--- 'Computer Collector Newsletter'
<news at computercollector.com> wrote:
Instead, BM meant our friend Dennis Komisky again.
Dennis, please, check in
with us here on cctalk!!
No, no, no! Not Dennis. This was "collectrhc".
Here's the ersataz "Apple-1" auction I was
referring to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80286&item=5…
--Bill
1:30 a.m.
Doh! I thought you meant... Well who knows, I'm clearly losing track of the
auctions. Sorry.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of William Maddox
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 1:15 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: RE: Kenbak-1 on Ebay
--- 'Computer Collector Newsletter'
<news at computercollector.com> wrote:
Instead, BM meant our friend Dennis Komisky again.
Dennis, please, check in
with us here on cctalk!!
No, no, no! Not Dennis. This was "collectrhc".
Here's the ersataz "Apple-1" auction I was referring to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80286&item=5…
--Bill
1:10 a.m.
I don't think you can ever claim any computer as the
first one without some qualifications(computer using
relays, tubes, TTL, microprocessor etc), I think in
the 1950's a relay computer kit called Simon was
available from Radio Electronics.
For microprocessor based computers the original
manufacturer always made the first computers based on
their processor (so if you assume the 4004 was the
first microprocessor then Intel Intellec or its single
board cousin Sim-4 could be considered the first
microprocessor based computers).
--- William Maddox <wmaddox at pacbell.net> wrote:
--- steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com> wrote:
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1
Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the winning
bidder is the same guy who bought that "hobby
computer
in a wooden case" that was the subject of such wild
speculation a few weeks back. He also bought an NRI
832, which I have heard claimed to predate the
Kenbak
and be in fact the first computer kit ever marketed.
Does anyone know the real scoop on that?
--Bill
1:19 a.m.
Regarding the "first" PC specifically, Doug Salot explains it quite well:
http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of steve
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 1:11 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Kenbak-1 on Ebay
I don't think you can ever claim any computer as the first one without some
qualifications(computer using relays, tubes, TTL, microprocessor etc), I
think in the 1950's a relay computer kit called Simon was available from
Radio Electronics.
For microprocessor based computers the original manufacturer always made the
first computers based on their processor (so if you assume the 4004 was the
first microprocessor then Intel Intellec or its single board cousin Sim-4
could be considered the first microprocessor based computers).
--- William Maddox <wmaddox at pacbell.net> wrote:
--- steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com> wrote:
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
well it went for ten of thousands, rarer then an
apple-1
Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the winning bidder is the same
guy who bought that "hobby computer in a wooden case" that was the
subject of such wild speculation a few weeks back. He also bought an
NRI 832, which I have heard claimed to predate the Kenbak and be in
fact the first computer kit ever marketed.
Does anyone know the real scoop on that?
--Bill
9:26 p.m.
On Tue, 2 Aug 2005 01:19:52 -0400
"'Computer Collector Newsletter'" <news at computercollector.com>
wrote:
Regarding the "first" PC specifically, Doug
Salot explains it quite
well: http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of steve
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 1:11 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Kenbak-1 on Ebay
I don't think you can ever claim any computer as the first one without
some qualifications(computer using relays, tubes, TTL, microprocessor
etc), I think in the 1950's a relay computer kit called Simon was
available from Radio Electronics.
For microprocessor based computers the original manufacturer always
made the first computers based on their processor (so if you assume
the 4004 was the first microprocessor then Intel Intellec or its
single board cousin Sim-4 could be considered the first microprocessor
based computers).
Well, Intel didn't originally really intend the 4004 to be the basis of
a general purpose programmable computer. I suppose their early
development hardware can be considered a 'personal computer' kinda
sorta.
Speaking of which: are there other people out there who collect
development hardware? I have an assortment of 'development systems' all
the way from the little cheap 'evaluation kit' boards to my MDS system
with 8051 hardware ICE. (I also have the Intel 'bubble memory
development kit' which includes bubble memory on an ISA card, docs and
'sample' drivers to make it a small DOS non-volatile memory, which is
probably one of the more rare Intel 'Development Kits') I grab up
emulators and what-not where I can get them, like I got another 68HC11
emulator and a 68HC16 at the last IUPUI auction for five bucks each
(complete in-the-box with everything).
3 Aug
3 Aug
12:19 p.m.
New subject: Development Systems (Was: Kenbak-1 on Ebay)
Am 2 Aug 2005 20:26 meinte Scott Stevens:
Speaking of which: are there other people out there
who collect
development hardware? I have an assortment of 'development systems' all
the way from the little cheap 'evaluation kit' boards to my MDS system
with 8051 hardware ICE. (I also have the Intel 'bubble memory
development kit' which includes bubble memory on an ISA card, docs and
'sample' drivers to make it a small DOS non-volatile memory, which is
probably one of the more rare Intel 'Development Kits') I grab up
emulators and what-not where I can get them, like I got another 68HC11
emulator and a 68HC16 at the last IUPUI auction for five bucks each
(complete in-the-box with everything).
Singleboarders of any kind are basiclyaht I like most. Shure,
todays development kits, which work only with some kind of
PC are less fun then the old stand alone (not to speak of
'real' systems ala ISIS or Exorciser), but it's still a lot
of fun. I got me a Z80183 kit at VCF MW, and just ordered
the eZ80 Kit from Zilog.
Hans
--
VCF Europa 7.0 am 29/30.April und 01.Mai 2006 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/
2 Aug
2 Aug
1:21 a.m.
--- steve <gkicomputers at yahoo.com> wrote:
I don't think you can ever claim any computer as
the
first one without some qualifications(computer using
relays, tubes, TTL, microprocessor etc), I think in
the 1950's a relay computer kit called Simon was
available from Radio Electronics.
Simon was a construction project, but I am fairly
sure that it was never offered in kit form.
I certainly mean to exclude anything that is not an
electronic stored-program digital computer, including
the Geniac and various "electronic slide rule" analog
computers that were sold as kits as early as the
1950's.
For microprocessor based computers the original
manufacturer always made the first computers based
on
their processor (so if you assume the 4004 was the
first microprocessor then Intel Intellec or its
single
board cousin Sim-4 could be considered the first
microprocessor based computers).
Definitely. The question at issue is what was the
first computer sold in *kit* form. Neither the
Kenback nor the NRI 832 used a microprocessor,
however, though I wouldn't be surprised to find that
the Intellec or another Intel development system
predated them, as they were all roughly
contemporaneous around 1971 or so.
--Bill
10:42 a.m.
On Mon, 1 Aug 2005, steve wrote:
I don't think you can ever claim any computer as
the
first one without some qualifications(computer using
relays, tubes, TTL, microprocessor etc), I think in
the 1950's a relay computer kit called Simon was
available from Radio Electronics.
Yes.
http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/berkeley/
http://www.cedmagic.com/history/simon-personal-computer.html
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
10:38 a.m.
On Mon, 1 Aug 2005, William Maddox wrote:
Speaking of the Apple 1, I just noticed the winning
bidder is the same guy who bought that "hobby computer
in a wooden case" that was the subject of such wild
speculation a few weeks back. He also bought an NRI
832, which I have heard claimed to predate the Kenbak
and be in fact the first computer kit ever marketed.
Does anyone know the real scoop on that?
Wow, didn't see that! Didn't expect to see one of those on eBay though
(duh) makes sense. If you look through old copies of Popular Electronics
or Radio Electronics you'll see ads from the National Radio Institute
(NRI) hawking correspondence courses on digital computers. Part of the
package is the kit for the NRI 832 computer, which is what you get as part
of the course. I'm not sure if it pre-dates the Kenbak-1 but it is
defintely very early 1970s vintage.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
10:21 a.m.
On Mon, 1 Aug 2005, lance sprung wrote:
I usually just listen in to the folks on this list,
but I was curious why
there has been no mention here of the Kenbak-1 that's been on ebay all week?
I know I bid on it, but once it exceeded $5k, it got difficult to comprehend
the price. Only 40 made, if it was a rare coin or stamp, it would be worth
tens of thousands I guess. Thanks.
More interesting, why did (almost) everyone miss the Kenbak-1 that sold
for $2,000 on eBay only a couple months back?
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
6910
days inactive
6924
days old
19 comments
11 participants
participants (11)
-
chenmel＠earthlink.net -
classiccmp＠vintage-computer.com -
evan947＠yahoo.com -
gkicomputers＠yahoo.com -
Hans.Franke＠siemens.com -
jcwren＠jcwren.com -
korpela＠gmail.com -
lsprung＠optonline.net -
news＠computercollector.com -
vcf＠siconic.com -
wmaddox＠pacbell.net