Apple ‘Twiggy’ Macintosh [Bonhams]
A prototype of a classic Apple Macintosh from 1983 is up for grabs at public sale, with the “Twiggy” drive mannequin anticipated to exceed $100,000 when it goes below the hammer.
Apple {hardware} is usually a characteristic of tech-focused auctions, and generally you may discover prototypes that weren’t bought to the general public. One October public sale presents the chance to select up one such prototype, in case you have deep sufficient pockets.
The public sale at Bonhams in New York is itemizing a particularly uncommon Apple Macintosh prototype on the market. The #M0001 prototype, relationship again to 1983, is the lesser-spotted “Twiggy” mannequin, because of its use of 5.25-inch Twiggy disk drives, as a substitute of the 400K 3.5-inch drives used for the Mac 128.
The rarity of the “Twiggy” Macintosh is seemingly because of Steve Jobs ordering the destruction of the pre-production machines, because of points surrounding the drive.
The unit being bought is accompanied by a prototype keyboard with a handwritten serial quantity, a prototype M01000 mouse with a prototype connector, and a dual-density “Twiggy” diskette labeled “Mac Word.”
Other than the {hardware}, the software program that runs on the prototype can be fascinating. Early variations of Mac apps that may run on the system characteristic notifications of Steve Jobs offering customers directions.
The prototype can be bought as a part of Bonham’s public sale, operating from October 13 to October 23. It has an estimated sale value of between $80,000 and $120,000.
Whereas extraordinarily uncommon, this isn’t the primary time that the prototype mannequin has appeared at public sale. In 2019, one bought for $150,075, whereas one other surfaced in 2012 on eBay asking for $99,995.
In each circumstances, the Macintosh was proven to be absolutely useful. Whereas there is no such thing as a point out on whether or not the lot is working, it may set new gross sales data if it does perform.