Basement Mac Collection

Basement Mac Collection: A Tribute to Apple's History

Some people collect stamps, coins, or baseball cards. Others collect something more unusual: vintage Macintosh computers. In this article, we will explore some of the most impressive and unique basement Mac collections in the world.

One of them belongs to Jeremy Mehrle, a graphic designer from Missouri who has turned his basement into a sleek and stylish Mac museum. He has about 75 Macs on display, ranging from the original Macintosh 128 to the colorful iMacs and the rare Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh. He also has Newtons, Apple IIs, and a NeXT Cube. His collection is arranged in eye-catching ways, such as a wall of iMacs and a bar area surrounded by compact Macs. Mehrle says he started collecting Macs in 2000, before he was even a Mac user[^2^].

Another basement Mac collection belongs to an anonymous Mac nut who goes by the name \"Soyburger\". He lives in O'Fallon, Illinois, and has about 100 Macs in his basement. His collection is also very well organized and presented, with museum-quality furnishings in iPod-white. He has every Mac model ever made, including the highly-collectible Color Classic and the clunky 20th Anniversary Mac. He also has Newtons, Apple IIs, and other Apple memorabilia. Soyburger says he is a video editor, animator, and graphic designer[^1^].

Both Mehrle and Soyburger have posted pictures of their basement Mac collections on Flickr , where they have received thousands of views and comments from other Mac enthusiasts. Their collections are not only impressive displays of Apple's history, but also expressions of their passion and appreciation for the design and innovation of Macs.

Not all basement Mac collections are as polished and pristine as Mehrle's and Soyburger's. Some are more like treasure troves of Mac history, where you can find rare and obscure items that most people have never seen or heard of. One example is the collection of Adam Rosen, who runs the Vintage Mac Museum website. He has over 100 Macs in his basement in Massachusetts, along with peripherals, software, books, magazines, posters, and other memorabilia. His collection includes prototypes, developer systems, foreign models, and oddities like the Macintosh TV , the PowerCD , and the Apple Network Server . Rosen says he started collecting Macs in 1997, when he bought a Macintosh SE/30 for $25.

Another example is the collection of James Savage, who has over 200 Macs in his basement in Michigan. He also has a large assortment of Apple II computers, Newtons, iPods, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and other devices. His collection features some very rare and valuable items, such as an Apple I computer , a Lisa I , a Twiggy Mac , and a TAM signed by Steve Jobs . Savage says he started collecting Macs in 1984, when he bought his first Macintosh 128K.

These basement Mac collections are more than just hobbies or obsessions. They are also valuable sources of information and preservation for the history and culture of Apple and its products. Many of these collectors share their knowledge and passion with others through websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, and social media. They also help other collectors and enthusiasts by providing technical support, repair services, spare parts, and advice. Some of them even donate or lend their Macs to museums, schools, libraries, and other institutions that want to display or use them. aa16f39245