Apple II Bits

Depending on your definition, computers have been around much longer than the Apple II. For example, Charles Babbage’s analytical engine was documented in 1837, demonstrating a mechanical means of computing and converting data.

But such devices weren’t always so pragmatic; starting in the late 19th century and peaking in 1924, another sort of computer was the player piano. By “reading” a spool of paper, the machine could interpret the data encoded onto those sheets and translate it into aural tones.

Although player pianos have waned in popularity, there was a brief period in which their manufacture was aided by the Apple II, itself a musical machine. This video shows an Apple II being used to create spools of music for player pianos:

(Hat tip to IonFarmer)