The Kenbak-1 Registry

The world’s first commercially available personal computer

Built in 1971 in a garage in Los Angeles. At the dawn of the computer age. Inspiration for many engineers and developers. The Kenbak-1 computer is -year-old.

Mission statement

This website is dedicated the Kenbak-1 computer. The world’s first commercially available personal computer. The Kenbak-1 Registry exists to preserve the history of the Kanbak-1 and to preserve the legacy of the inventor John Blankenbaker for future generations. John Blankenbaker's enormous achievement is the design and construction of a working computer, often referred to as the first commercially available personal computer. He built the computer years before other developers produced more powerful and significantly better computers thanks to modern CPU. In the mid and late 70's there was a boom in the computer scene. At that time there was not only the CPU, but already a lot of literature and a lot that could be copied.

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Kenbak-1 Registry

After taking care of John Blankenbaker's former webpage to preserve his legacy and the history of the Kenbak-1 I decided to make a registry of the Kenbak-1. Someone should preserve it and follow the path of the few original Kanbak-1. I also maintain the Apple-1 Registry already. It is more effort and work than you can imagine. But the result is worth it.

In 2022 John Blankenbaker gave me the permission to preserve his legacy and continue to host his original own website. It is now available at www.kenbak-1.info.

THIS IS JUST THE VERY FIRST SIMMPLE VERSION OF THE REGISTRY! I need the help from other owners to add more and more content over the time.

Only about 40 Kenbak-1 were made. The former Computer Museum of Nova Scotia had a list of all known Kenbak-1. The museum was closed years ago but the website was alive longer. The museum sold all Kenbak-1s.
A few Kenbaks are known to still exist. The Kenbak-1 has a serial number. John started with 167 as the first number. John picked this number from his residential address at this time 12167 Leven Lane in Los Angles, California, USA.

Not much is known about the last Kenbak-1. With the help of this registry it will be possible to collect and preserve more information.

#1 Kenbak-1 (Prototype)

It is the only Kenbak-1 prototype John Blankenbaker built. John Blankenbaker auctioned it through Bonhams 21 Sep 2015. Since 2018 the owner is Achim Baqué. Achim had contact to John just weeks before he signed the contract with Bonhams. He told him on the phone, that his grand-daughter would play with the computer o the carpet right in front of him. John was wondering that nobody asked him earlier if he would still own a Kenbak-1. More information and pictures are available at the website dedicated only to the prototype TheFirstPC.com.

#2 Kenbak-1

It is at the Computer History Museum in California. John Blankenbaker donated the computer to the museum. It is on display. Picture.

#3 Kenbak-1

Owner is Erik Klein. Erik Klein's website.

#4 Kenbak-1

Owner was Vinal Applebee of the Maine Computer Museum. This museum closed.

#5 Kenbak-1 (CTI)

It is a 'CTI version' sold by CTI Education Products Inc.
Owner was Robert Nielsen Sr., South Carolina. Robert Nielsen sold 6 Kenbak-1 to the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. Robert Nielsen Sr. worked for the CTI Education Products Inc. He made a very nice video.
April 2022, John Blankenbaker wrote to me about Robert Nielsen Sr.: Neilson used Kenbak-1 computers in teaching. He developed exaggerated ideas about his contributions. He was a big fan.".
It was sold at eBay on August 9, 2009. Owner is unknown.

#6 Kenbak-1

It was sold by John Blankenbaker auction. Serial number 0183. John restored this computer and wrote about it. Read his PDF. Owner is now the Old Computer Museum. From the Old Computer Museum: Kenbak #183 was fixed and sold by John through an eBay auction on May 8, 2010 for $25,600 to an Italian collector. I purchased it from that collector also on eBay in February 2016 and flew to Milan to pick it up.

#7 Kenbak-1

Sold on eBay in August 2005. Owner is unknown.

#8 Kenbak-1

Owner is a person in Tennessee who wants to remain anonymous.

#9 Kenbak-1 (CTI)

It is a 'CTI version' sold by CTI Education Products Inc. It has a modified power supply. The fan is on the outside.
Owner is unknown. It is #1 of the 7 Kenbaks that were in the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. The museum sold all.

#10 Kenbak-1

It has modified input switches. Owner is unknown. It is #2 of the 7 Kenbaks that were in the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. The museum sold all.

#11 Kenbak-1

Owner is unknown. It is #3 of the 7 Kenbaks that were in the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. The museum sold all.

#12 Kenbak-1

Owner is unknown. It is #4 of the 7 Kenbaks that were in the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. The museum sold all.

#13 Kenbak-1

It is a 'CTI version' sold by CTI Education Products Inc.
Owner is unknown. It is #5 of the 7 Kenbaks that were in the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. The museum sold all.

#14 Kenbak-1

Owner is unknown. It is #6 of the 7 Kenbaks that were in the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. The museum sold all.

#15 Kenbak-1

It is a 'CTI version' sold by CTI Education Products Inc.
Owner is unknown. It is #7 of the 7 Kenbaks that were in the Computer Museum of Nova Scotia. The museum sold all.

Unassigned Kenbak-1s

Fallowing Kenbak-1s can't be assigned to one of the above listed Kenbak-1 at the moment. If it is possible to get the serial number of most Kenbak-1 this number could be used as a sort criteria.

A Kenbak-1 is in the Deutsches Museum Munich. Serial number 0185.
https://blog.hnf.de/kenbak-1-ein-computer-macht-schule/ Sold at auction at Auction Team Breker in 9 November 2015 for 41,582 Euro including buyers premium (34,000 Euro without) to the Deutsches Museum Bonn. Anyway, now it is in the museum in Munich. It was acquired by Anja Teuner (Curator of the Deutsches Museum Munich). I know her since 2017 when I lent an original Apple-1 to the museum. She is not working at the museum anymore. Here is a blog entry of the museum about the Kenbak-1. It is in German language but as you know, you can easily translate it via google etc.

One or most of the Kenbak-1 of the former Computer Museum of Nova Scotia are most likely in the Computer Museum of America. One is on display but I have no further information. We will see if the museum share some information. For the Apple-1 Registry I also hope to get information from the museum. I already contacted the museum and Lonnie Mimms (owner of the museum) several times. Lonnie invited me to his museum long before it was open to the public. Unfortunately I lost contact with him. He didn't give me any picture or information of his Apple-1 or the Kenbak-1. From my experience this museum and Lonnie Mimms do not share pictures or information except with the press.