Decades before co-founding Apple, Steve Jobs was already demonstrating a keen interest in electronics. His eighth-grade science project, a detailed exploration of silicon-controlled rectifiers, is now heading to auction, offering a rare look into the formative years of one of technology's most influential figures.
A Glimpse into Early Innovation
Dating back to February 29, 1968, the project is titled "What Is the Silicon-Controlled Rectifier?" It comprises a 10-page report alongside a three-panel plywood display. This display features two test circuits, one illustrating the fundamental principles of a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), and another showcasing practical applications like motor-speed control and light dimming. Jobs even included a handwritten note for the judges: "please unplug!" the second circuit after use, highlighting his meticulous attention to detail.
From Family Home to Auction Block
The project's unusual journey to auction began with Jobs' stepbrother, John Chovanec. After their father, Paul Jobs, passed away in 1993, the project remained at the Jobs family's Los Altos home for years. Despite repeated encouragement from Chovanec and his mother, Steve Jobs declined to take the project. Chovanec eventually preserved it himself, safeguarding it for decades.
Now, this historical artifact is a centerpiece in RR Auction's "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution - The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction Part Two." This sale coincides with Apple marking its 50th anniversary, drawing attention to various significant items from the company's and Jobs' history.
Anticipated Value and Other Notable Lots
RR Auction estimates the eighth-grade project could fetch more than $20,000. At the time of reporting, it had already received 13 bids, with the highest standing at $3,222. Bidding for the project and other items concludes on August 20.
The auction features 212 lots, including other high-profile Apple memorabilia. Among these are sealed first-generation iPhones and iPods, signed business cards and letters from Jobs, and vintage Apple hardware. Another highly anticipated item is a fully functional 1977 "Neumark" Apple-1 computer, which had reached $205,000 in bids. A 1983 Apple Computer business card signed by Jobs had also garnered $103,574.
These sales follow a previous high-profile auction where Apple's first-ever cheque, signed by both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, sold for a remarkable $2.4 million, underscoring the enduring value of early Apple and Jobs-related artifacts to collectors worldwide.