Nielsen8

Provenance:  This is one of the eight computers which Robert Nielsen acquired in the 1970's.  Nielsen learned computer programming in the Navy, then opened up technical schools teaching programming, electronics, and even truck driving in Charleston, SC.  His technical school utilized electronic training kits from CTI Educational Products, so they approached him in 1973 and asked him to review the Kenbak-1 computer.  They were considering buying the Kenbak-1 production rights to modernize their educational offerings.  Nielsen absolutely loved the small computer.  He wanted to incorporate it into his computer curriculum.  He also worked with CTI to develop sales and training materials for the computers.  When CTI went bankrupt, he purchased all the Kenbak-1 computers and materials they had at auction.  All of Nielsen's 8 computers had ventilation holes drilled in the top of the case, as they would overheat and lock up otherwise.  Then when his technical school closed, he stored all eight of the computers and documents in large storage bins in his garage.  In the early 2000's, he contacted many museums in hopes of selling his computers, but they only wanted donations.  Finally, in 2003 he contacted Herbert Eisengruber who ran the Nova Scotia Computer Museum, who bought seven of his 8.  But Nielsen kept this computer, Nielsen8, for himself.  He seemed to cherish this computer the most for some reason, and it's not clear why.  It's likely he liked the CTI name which meant more to him than the original name "Kenbak-1" as he worked closely with CTI.  But this computer only partially worked, according to the below video.

Around 2009 Robert Nielsen decided to sell this last computer of his on eBay, along with a large hoard of memorabilia from his Nielsen Electronics school, but it didn't meet his high reserve.   He reauctioned it in 2011, and it again didn't meet his high reserve, but he was approached by Lonnie Mimms, the founder of the Computer Museum of America, and made a deal to sell the entire lot for $20,000, feeling that Lonnie and the Computer would be a great home for his collection, to preserve it forever.  He made a nice video in 2005 of him with his computer, and this was published on YouTube in 2009 in support of his eBay auction.  It is available here:  https://youtu.be/lxsdL_OWumw?si=lfFwGymC_v7GClBZ

While this computer has a CTI branded front panel, the printed circuit board uses the earlier Kenbak-1 appearing components and white wires between the PC board and the front panel.  The PC board also has the Serial Number 203 stamped on it, as only the true original Blankenbaker computers had.  Also, the glue holding the buttons to the front panel is quite different than used on original Kenbak-1 computers.  This makes it seem that CTI took an earlier Kenbak-1 assembled computer, and just switched out the front panel with a CTI branded one (having to pull off and reglue the switches) and also used a newer CTI assembled power supply.  In short, this computer is mostly an original Kenbak-1, with just the power supply, and the front panel changed out by CTI.  

In addition to the front panel and power supply being changed, it appears several (five?) ICs have been replaced, and sockets were installed where ICs were replaced to facilitate any future repairs.  A lot of work seems to have been done to keep this computer working.