When my father brought home our first Apple II, it came from Computer Systems & Software, an authorized Apple dealer. Back then, this was one of the only ways to get an Apple product: there was no online ordering, few mail-order opportunities, and definitely no Apple Stores, which didn’t debut until 2001.
When Apple opened its first retail stores, doing so cut out the middleman — small businessmen such as the proprietor of Computer Systems & Software. That competition, combined with the advent of Internet sales, made it difficult for mom-and-pop, brick-and-mortar shops to stay in business. It was unpleasant but unexpected when CS&S closed up shop some time ago.
The next victim appears to be one of CS&S’s contemporaries. Tekserve has served New York City since 1987, providing sales and service to consumers and businesses alike. And while Tekserve will continue to exist, its quaint retail outlet — featuring not only classic computers, but “ancient radios, an antique Coke machine… massive old RCA microphones… and a stereoscope with hundreds of photographs” may soon be closing shop.
As reported by Jeremiah Moss, Tekserve will be reducing or eliminating its consumer retail presence this fall. They will continue to sell and service products for small- and medium-sized business clients, so the company as a whole is not going away. But a lot of employees, services, and artifacts are likely to disappear as a result of this transition.
I visited Tekserve in 2012 and received a behind-the-scenes tour, resulting in the below photo gallery. It’s a damn fine place with a heritage of and respect for Apple products — including the Apple II — that you don’t often find. If you can visit the store before their September transition, please do.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
Here are some familiar faces.
Here are some familiar faces.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
Sage advice on both sides.
Sage advice on both sides.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
Need a video adapter or six?
Need a video adapter or six?
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
Where hard drives go to die.
Where hard drives go to die.
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
Filed under Hacks & mods, History; Comments Off on The Iconic Apple coffee table book
At some point in the last four years, you’ve probably come across the Shrine of Apple, where photographer Jonathan Zufi has set out to produce a gallery of every Apple product ever, from the Apple-1 to the iPad Mini. It’s a gorgeous Web site with intuitive navigation and high-quality photos from multiple angles of all Apple hardware and packaging.
Iconic features over 650 photos across six chapters: desktops (including the Apple II); portables; peripherals; iOS devices; prototypes (whether or not they went into production); packaging; and people. (For those counting, the video says there are six chapters but lists only fives — the narrator forgot about peripherals.)
The book is available in two hardcopy editions: a now-shipping $75 "classic"; and a yet-to-be-released special edition that comes in a slip sleeve that looks like an Apple IIe case. (There is, naturally, no coffee table e-book edition.) Shipping on the classic edition to my New England home is an extra $11.
Unlike a living Web site, a book immediately becomes a moment in time, a product of its publication date and unrepresentative of all the Apple products to come. Regardless, it’s something I wouldn’t mind as a holiday gift. It’s nice to see a book like this become a reality without a Kickstarter project, especially since the book trailer could’ve just as easily served as a pitch video, which probably would’ve motivated me to by it on impulse, knowing I was contributing to moving the book from concept to coffee table.
While attending WordCamp NYC with representatives of IvanExpert last month, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Jazmin Hupp, director of marketing for Tekserve, New York City’s oldest Apple specialist. She graciously provided us with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tekserve space, from the classroom to the break room to the museum. I was pleasantly surprised to find a number of objects reflecting Tekserve’s and Apple’s heritage, including a typewriter, the Cirqus Voltaire pinball machine, and many models of Apple II and Macintosh models.
You don’t need to have connections to see these artifacts for yourself: several will be placed on display on the main floor July 17 – September 6 as part of the store’s 25th anniversary. In the meantime, this photo gallery should provide an intriguing vicarious experience of my tour.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
The PowerBook 1400cs — my first Macintosh. I replaced it a year later with a PowerBook G3 ("Wallstreet") which, courtesy its ADB and SCSI ports, made an excellent Apple II emulator.
Here are some familiar faces.
Here are some familiar faces.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
The downstairs classroom is populated with an array of classic Apple systems.
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
Tekserve had a Father's Day contest: "Get your photo taken with whatever product in our store you'd like to give your dad, and you could win it!"
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
There's always an innovative use for older technology!
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
The story is that the Sands donated these doors to Frank Sinatra, and Tekserve won them in an auction.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
A series of classic figures were captioned to advertise Tekserve.
Sage advice on both sides.
Sage advice on both sides.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
This hole puncher is designed to make your old data unreadable.
Need a video adapter or six?
Need a video adapter or six?
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
There's no backspace key here, so think before you type!
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
Who doesn't love classic cabinet art?
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
This pinball machine was buried under detritus but was declared operational by the staff.
Where hard drives go to die.
Where hard drives go to die.
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
As I descended into the basement and rounded the stairwell corner, I was greeted by an old friend!
Remember Lim Xin Mei? She was the inaugural star of the Cult of Mac’s "Me and My Mac" series, which profiles Apple users and their rigs.
That series apparently has a variety of scopes, as rather than continuing to offer an in-depth profile of an individual user, the second installment spotlights many Apple fans in a photo gallery that’s heavy on the visuals and light on the text. The change in format isn’t what surprised me most, though — it was finding myself pictured.
As I previously detailed, Mike Maginnis staged the above photo shoot and took several shots, including the above with my camera. Little did I know that he’d also snapped one of his own with his cell phone and submitted it to Cult of Mac.
As it’s an awesome opportunity to plug the Apple II, my surprise did not eventually shift into annoyance at the lack of forewarning. To be honest, I’m more disappointed in Cult of Mac’s lack of links back to the stars’ Web sites!
Given the quantity of photos in each Cult of Mac post, odds are good you’ll recognize someone in each. Sure enough, the third installment features James, co-host of the RetroMacCast podcast. As far as I can tell, this third blog post is also the first to not sport an Apple II, unfortunately.
What I want to know is: where the heck is Blake Patterson? The gallery won’t be complete without his setup!
