Mac Collections Around the World
With most Mac collectors the beginning of one’s collection is usually a rather random event. We have either been given or somehow acquired an old Macintosh, or decided to pickup a piece of our computing past. One model becomes two, then four, and soon the first space constraints emerge. Another Mac Collection is born.
My own Vintage Mac Museum (Boston, MA, US) had such roots, beginning in 2001 with the launch of Mac OS X. An old Mac Plus picked up at a flea market became a small circle of classic Macs, then a dozen 68k machines. Along the way, other collectors found me. Here are some fellow Cult of Mac members and their collections whom I’ve heard from or discovered in my travels:
Macca (Northwest Florida, US)
A comprehensive shrine to all things Apple from James Savage, co-host of the RetroMacCast. Many rare items and a great use of space. Bow to Macca…
A Little Byte Different (San Francisco, CA, US)
Henry “Hap” Plain’s incredible collection of transparent Macs and rare Apple prototypes. As he says, a little byte different. Mere mortals lust after this stuff.
Apple Computer Collection (The Phillipines)
Philippe Poppe has assembled an impressive collection of Macs both common and rare, complemented by a beautiful website showing off the details.
Jim’s Prototype Collection (Portland, OR, US)
James Abeles shares his amazing assemblage of unreleased Apple prototypes – transparent units, mockups, and concepts which never saw the light of day. You don’t often find these gems on eBay…
a personal collection of all things Apple (UK)
“The collection started with a discarded early Mac Plus … In a few minutes had a fully functioning example of why Apple Computer gave the masses an opportunity to join the digital revolution.”
tam – The Apple Museum (Newton, MA, US)
Another private basement collection, a sweet little space with lots of gear and old Mac/Apple resources.
Alex’s Apple Orchard (Maine, US)
Alex and his family have assembled one of the largest Apple collections around. Great presentation and expanse.
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This page will be updated periodically with new collections, as I learn of more efforts. If you are a Mac Collector with an online presence, please contact me or leave a link to your site in the comments.
ORIGINAL BLOGSPOT COMMENTS:
Stephen said…
Although I am currently downsizing it, there is my collection: http://popcorn.cx/computers/
November 21, 2009 at 3:12 AM
RetroMacCast said…
One of these days I’ll have a suitable website to document Macca, but until then photographs are found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/retromaccast/sets/72157601497626679/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/retromaccast/sets/72157602738679684/
November 21, 2009 at 7:51 AM
Gil said…
Hey, thanks for the nod to the Franklin Park, NJ Mac Museum. It’s nice to have links to all the other collectors assembled in one place.
November 21, 2009 at 1:07 PM
iamdigitalman said…
I have a decent sized collection, though it kind of has taken a back seat in the past few months or so: http://www.lowendmac.com/ed/lebron/index.html
November 22, 2009 at 4:47 AM
Tuomas Rosberg said…
Thanks for links to collections. In case you find it helpful, the name of the collection in Moscow is Technica. The first subtitle says Maja galerija, my gallery. Happy next decade!
December 31, 2009 at 3:47 PM
aftermac said…
Sigh… I’m a Mac collector, but I don’t have a web presence. If I ever get one, I’ll post a link! :) I have in the neighborhood of 60 Apple computers – mostly Mac’s, and roughly 70 computers total. Regardless, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog tonight!
January 26, 2010 at 9:58 PM
MJJ said…
My collection here in the UK. The Flickr pages have the most current items.
http://www.mac-collection.co.uk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mac-collection/
March 16, 2010 at 12:08 PM
manu said…
another one ^^
http://musee-informatique.fr/
October 6, 2010 at 5:21 PM
Anonymous said…
If anyone is interested I am currently selling a Twentieth Anniversary Mac (TAM) on ebay. Item number is 280667161577.
April 29, 2011 at 3:57 PM
Anonymous said…
My Apple G4 tower is looking for a new home! If yr interested please email me at: mhefferen06ster @ gmail.com
June 25, 2011 at 2:45 PM
Mel Lifshitz said…
@aftermac – same here but would love meet people who are collecting old mac models…
July 4, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Anonymous said…
http://www.allaboutapple.com/
the best one!!! :-)
September 13, 2011 at 8:21 AM
Melvin Ah Ching said…
I live in a small apartment. Unfortunately I had to get rid of some of my old Macs. Someone however gave me a Mac Performa 6360 a few weeks ago. Nice. I have pictures of some of my Macs, past and present. Some of the old Macs are still with me….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/macprohawaii/sets/72157600842146509/
my old website: http://headgap.com/~macstar/
October 14, 2011 at 10:08 PM
Anonymous said…
Shrine Of Apple: http://shrineofapple.com
December 25, 2011 at 7:53 PM
schk said…
I’ve got a mac OS9 blue belly one. Any collectors put there?
March 16, 2012 at 8:05 AM
Jason McCormack said…
I still don’t have my collection on my website yet, but The Mac Observer featured my remodeled office a few weeks ago:
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/tmo_workspaces_jason/
May 15, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Carmel Glover said…
I wonder if anyone could tell me the best place to try selling some old Mac software. The first software I bought for my Mac Plus in 1987 was Mac Calligraphy. Presented in a balsa wood box, manual looking like a calligraphy pad, printed on beautiful paper. It had a screen saver which simulated a Japanese teahouse … it changed with the time of day and the seasons. Quite magical.
I also have a copy of Fractal Design’s Sketcher. Presented in a box like an artist’s sketch box. Manual like an artist’s sketch block.
June 23, 2012 at 3:00 AM
Adam Rosen said…
eBay is probably your best bet, for the widest exposure.
June 23, 2012 at 3:33 AM
Anonymous said…
Here is a nice one: http://www.robsappeltjes.nl
Nice Apple and NEXT Computer collection.
August 31, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Tim Caroline said…
I recently retired from teaching and was going through a box of packed up items. I found an unopened box of the educator “Think Different” posters. There are thirty posters (11×17) still in plastic with the original letters and original mailing box. I am interested in selling the complete set. Some websites have a huge value on individual posters. Any idea of what the value is of this unopened set?
December 7, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Adam Rosen said…
Tim, what a great find! There were two sizes of those posters, 24×36 and 11×17. I’ve seen sets of 10 listed on eBay, but not 30 – are they all different or do you have three of each? I’m not sure what this is worth. A quick search of eBay Completed Listings for “think different poster set” averages about $250 for a set of 10, so maybe start from there…?
December 7, 2012 at 10:02 AM
I worked at Apple from 1986 to 1990. During that time I rescued from a trash pile the molded case of prototype #3 of the original Macintosh. I only have the molded back case. It has a few unique features. The modem and serial ports are reversed. And the rubber feet on the bottom have recessed apple logos molded into them. It has a very faint pencil mark indicating it was prototype #3.
Hi I have 14 rare pins of apple and two meassage pad. one is message pad 120 and other is messagepad h1000. the h1000 was working dont know why its not going on anymore. would someone be onterested in theses and how much