How to cash in on the cult of Apple
In a workshop in Nebraska, Jake Harms is busy putting the finishing touches to his iMacAcquarium. It is a proper working aquarium made from old broken Macs that Harms has taken apart and repurposed to sell on his website for US$299 (about S$425).
An iMacAquarium, designed and built by Jake Harms
With orders flowing from the US, the UK, Australia and Japan, it seems that Harms’ predilection for the sleek design and jewel-like colours of the iMacs is widely shared. Said Harms,
“With Apple products… the design is so good that they can look just as good hanging on your wall as a clock or sitting in the corner as an aquarium.”
While Harms scoops up old iMacs at scrap prices of around $5 from electronic recycling centres, a growing cohort of tech enthusiasts are vying for rare, vintage Macintoshes at six-figure sums. Apple’s success and historical significance mean that the Apple-1 has become highly collectible with an eye-watering price to match.
A fully assembled Apple I computer, with a homemade wooden computer case
The first vintage Apple model that was auctioned was an Apple-1 from 1976. Sold with original manuals and a bill of receipt signed by Steve Jobs, it fetched £133,250 (almost S$300,000), although it was not in working order! Another Apple-1 from 1976 that did work was sold for $387,750 – or just over half a million Singapore dollars.
Original 1976 Apple 1 Computer in a briefcase. From the Sydney Powerhouse Museum collection
The reason the Apple-1 is so coveted is because of its rarity. Said a technology specialist,
“Also, it serves as the birth certificate for what is now probably the most important company in the world.”
While the Apple-1 is the most sought-after item, early examples of the Apple-2 and the Lisa, named after Steve Jobs’ daughter, are also prized.
An Apple II computer
What about the iPhone? Unfortunately, the iPhone was released in millions upon millions. It’s unlikely that something that was that common make the same sort of price. Then again, it’s difficult to predict. Perhaps the iPhone in 20 or 40 years is going to be considered one of these revolutionary moments that shaped the modern world.
An Apple Lisa, version 2
Therefore, before chucking out an old model, it may be wise to check which Apple products may be worth something, even if it means hanging on to it for the next 50 years.
(All images - credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)
