Vintage Computer Collectors Preserve Digital Revolution's Roots
Josh Dersch is a software engineer who has spent countless hours tinkering with his vast collection of vintage computers and devices in his Seattle home. He estimates he owns more than 200 machines, each one a piece of computer history that's worthy of attention and respect.
Dersch is part of a growing community of hobbyists preserving classic computers like the Atari, Commodore, and IBM machines that helped launch the digital revolution. While Silicon Valley has shifted focus to artificial intelligence, these hardware enthusiasts are dedicated to saving the early machines that paved the way for today's laptops, wearables, and smartphones.
The Vintage Computer Federation, led by Erik Klein, president and a former collector himself, organizes annual festivals at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. The events bring collectors together, with over 3,500 attendees this year celebrating Apple's 50th anniversary. More than a dozen similar gatherings have sprouted up across North America, South America, and Europe.
Rare computers like the Apple-1 can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars online, reflecting growing interest in vintage technology. Sellam Ismail, who co-founded the Vintage Computer Federation, has seen the community mature since he organized the first festival in 1997 with just 150 hobbyists. The next year marks the 30th anniversary, and Ismail expects the community to continue growing.