Kenbak-1

The Kenbak-1 is a computer system designed and produced by John V. Blankenbaker, and is considered to be the first personal computer. It features a power switch and input buttons on the front, a hardwired power cord and fuse port on the back, and is enclosed in a grey and blue steel enclosure. The Kenbak is programmed via a custom “machine code” language by using the input buttons on the front to modify and run programs with 256 bytes of memory at the user's disposal.

Regarding this specific unit (#197), it was purchased in 1971 by Tim Crosley, who would modify the computer to be able to utilize a teletype to load programs faster than the buttons on the front. Erik Klein would purchase this unit off eBay in 2003, and donated it to System Source in 2024. It may be the most documented Kenbak, as Erik took many photos of it in their endeavor to create a replica PCB.