Midwest Computer Museum Blog

April 2026 Museum Newsletter

Midwest Computer Museum — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This newsletter is also available as a downloadable PDF.

Introduction
Recent Events
Recent Donations
The Museum's List of Wants
Conclusion

Welcome to Issue 1 of the official Midwest Computer Museum newsletter! The Midwest Computer Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to curate and propagate the history of computers. First founded in 2019, we meet that challenge by collecting and restoring vintage computers with the goal of teaching the history of computing to all generations.

Recent Events

Indy Vintage Computer Festival

During April 2026, the museum had a display at the Indy Vintage Computer Festival (Indianapolis) that featured computers released in 1980. Our display included:

TRS-80 Model 3
VIC-20
Tandy Pocket PC
Tandy Model 2
Atari 400
Atari 800
Apple II+
TI-99/4A

The show was a big success. Many visitors viewed our display and played on the computers.

In 2025, a twenty-foot-long cargo trailer was donated to the museum. In time, our goal is to fit the cargo trailer with everything it needs to be used to show off the history of computers. The cargo trailer was painted white on the inside and commercial carpet was laid in the main display area. The shelves installed are sixteen feet long on both sides. Currently, the shelves on one side are only temporary with the goal of making them hinged, so they can be lowered while the trailer is being moved or being used to transport computers. Our second priority is to find a building that would house our collection as a museum open to the public.

VCF East Festival

The museum's president (Ken Edwards) had a display at the VCF (Vintage Computer Federation) East Festival. The museum displayed the lineage of the Apple II computers; starting with Ken's replica of an Apple 1 that he is building.

Next, we had an original Apple II with period correct floppy drive and monitor on loan from Luis Alcaraz, the museum's vice president. After that we had an Apple II Plus on loan from Ken Edwards along with an Apple IIe, Apple IIe Enhanced, Apple Image Writer II, and Apple IIe Platinum also on loan from Ken Edwards. An Apple IIc Portable and Apple 2GS computer was also featured (owned by the museum). Finally, Randy Kindig loaned us his Apple IIc Plus computer. Dayton Computer Museum, at the table next to us, showcased the Apple III.

The VCF East Festival gave us the first opportunity to display our two new eight-foot banners, also donated.

There is a great little YouTube video showing the museum's set up: Watch on YouTube

PayPal Donations Now Accepted

The museum has set up PayPal donations. You can donate directly from our Donate page.

Franklin ACE 1000

The museum acquired an Apple II clone called the Franklin ACE 1000. It came with a CP/M card and 80 column card installed. The keyboard is currently being repaired with foam and foil pads.

Recent Donations Received

We are grateful for the following recent donations:

Two eight-foot-long banners with stands
An Apple IIGS (Woz edition) from System Source in Hunt Valley, MD
An Apple II Plus (keyboard needs to be fixed)
Three old style CRT TVs to be used with Atari 400, 800 and TI/994A
A non-working IBM 5151 CRT display for an IBM 5150 computer
A large collection from Ohio including:
- A group of older CPUs
- An IBM 5150 (needs speaker and speaker bracket)
- An IBM Convertible
- An IBM 5155 portable
- A TI 99/4A
- Some older computer magazines
- A Hercules Graphics card for the IBM 5150
Various operation systems on CD
An original Apple IIGS keyboard with cable and mouse

Items We Would Like to Have Donated

If you have any of the following items and would like to donate them to the museum, please reach out!

An original Apple II computer, monitor and disk drive

An Apple II super serial card

A Bell and Howell Apple II computer with monitor and disk drive

An Apple IIc Plus and monitor

An Apple IIe with dual disk drive and color Apple monitor
A Tandy Color Computer 1 (we already have a CoCo 2 and a CoCo 3)

A completed replica of an Apple 1
A TI 99/4 (we already have a TI 99/4A)

A TI monitor that was sold with the TI 99/4A
An Altair 8800

A Model 33 ASR (Automatic Send and Receive) Teletype
An IMSAI 8080

Conclusion

Ken Edwards (museum president) would like to thank all the people who have supported the start of this museum. That includes all the people who volunteer their expertise to repair our computers and help set up and take down our displays. And of course, those who have given vintage computers and financial support; without all of you, there would be no Midwest Computer Museum.

We would like to display the trailer at various festivals and libraries in Indiana this summer. Our two biggest challenges are needing $800 for the museum trailer's liability insurance and to find insurance for the trailer itself.

If you would like to help the museum or would like to make a financial donation, please contact Ken at ken.edwards@midwestcomputermuseum.com or use our Donate page.

Explore Our Byte Magazine Archive

Midwest Computer Museum — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

We're thrilled to announce a new addition to our website: the Byte Magazine Archive! This collection features covers and links to full issues from the magazine's formative years, spanning 1975 through 1979.

What Was Byte Magazine?

Byte Magazine holds a special place in computing history. First published in September 1975, it became one of the most influential computer magazines of the microcomputer era. While other publications of the time focused on hobbyists or business users exclusively, Byte covered the entire spectrum of personal computing—from hardware projects and programming tutorials to reviews and industry analysis.

The magazine was founded by Wayne Green and was initially edited by Carl Helmers. Published monthly, Byte quickly became essential reading for anyone interested in the emerging personal computer revolution. Its technical depth and breadth of coverage made it a trusted resource for both enthusiasts and professionals.

The Early Years (1975-1979)

The issues in our archive represent a pivotal moment in computing history:

1975: The debut year, with just four issues (September through December). These chronicled the Altair 8800 era and the very beginning of the microcomputer movement.
1976: A full year of coverage as the personal computer industry began to take shape. Companies like Apple, Commodore, and Radio Shack were just getting started.
1977: The year of the "Trinity"—the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80 Model I all launched. Byte documented this explosive growth.
1978-1979: Personal computers moved from hobby projects to serious tools. These issues capture the evolution of software, peripherals, and the growing ecosystem.

Explore the Archive

Our Byte Magazine Archive provides thumbnail images of each issue's cover, organized by year. Each thumbnail links to the full issue on Archive.org, where you can read complete scans of these historic magazines.

Whether you're researching computing history, looking for vintage technical information, or simply enjoying a trip down memory lane, these issues offer a fascinating window into the birth of the personal computer industry.

Visit the Byte Magazine Archive and start exploring today!

Welcome to the Midwest Computer Museum

Midwest Computer Museum — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the Midwest Computer Museum website!

We're excited to launch this new platform where we'll be sharing stories, updates, and fascinating pieces of computer history from our collection.

Stay tuned for more posts about vintage computers, restoration projects, upcoming exhibits, and the incredible history of computing technology. We have so much to share with you!

More news to come soon. Thanks for visiting!